Kop boss Brendan Rodgers was at his eloquent best when analysing the resounding 5-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur…
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has labeled his side’s performance during the 5-0 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as the best of his tenure.
The Reds beat their fellow Champions League chasers through a Luis Suarez brace and further goals from Jordan Henderson, Jon Flanagan and Raheem Sterling.
Liverpool could conceivably have had an even larger margin of victory as they totally outplayed and outworked the hosts, who had Paulinho sent off whilst trailing 2-0.
The White Hart Lane humbling ultimately proved to be Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas’ last game in charge after he was subsequently dismissed this morning.
Reflecting on the result at his post match press conference, Rodgers said: “I loved our arrogance today. The arrogance with the ball was very good – lots of angles, lots of people moving and interchanging positions. We looked a real threat whilst retaining that solidity in defensive shapes. It was very good.
“The model of our game today was outstanding. We were like animals without the ball, how we pressed, and our hunger for the football was great. Once we got it, the use of the ball was outstanding. It was a complete performance and a big victory for us.
“In football, it is very hard to sustain that level. We have had a lot of first-half performances that have been exceptional and sometimes it just tailed off in the second half, which is natural in the game.
“We knew today we had to retain our focus; Tottenham have an outstanding squad here, with a lot of talented players. If you lose your concentration, you can concede.
“Our concentration was good defensively – we had good shape to our team, the organisation was very good from the players when they pressed.
“What really pleased me was when they went to 10 men, how tactically we opened up the pitch with the ball but also pressed even harder to get the ball back.
“We work on overloads in training when you have the man advantage, and I thought we saw that through very well. We scored five and maybe could have had seven or eight.”
The result was all the more impressive given the absence through injury of key duo Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge.
Playing without the England internationals is something Liverpool will have to contend with for at least another month but should they win against Cardiff City on Saturday the Merseysiders will move, at least temporarily, to the top of the Premier League.
Despite that fact, and probably with impending away games at Manchester City and Chelsea in mind, Rodgers was quick to play down talk of a title challenge.
“I’m not even thinking about that, to be honest,” commented the Northern Irishman. “My job was to try to develop the style of football, whilst moving the club forward.
“What we’ve tried to do is move every aspect of the club forward. Obviously you dream and I didn’t come here to be fourth or third or second – eventually you want to win, but you’ve got to be realistic as well. Last year we were seventh.
“If we can stay clear of injury and just continue to improve our football and what we’re trying to do, let’s see where it takes us.”
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