Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool missed opportunity to secure second league win of season

Sturridge came on eventually with a couple of minutes left to play although it is not hard to see why he does not make the cut in these games. But we showed we can be good. We played football and defended really good. We had wonderful moments with passing and all that stuff, the direction in our game. I wish we could have won but we will accept a point.

Sturridge will have fewer games to go at with Liverpool this season as the Reds are not involved in European competition, something which is sure to mean when Klopp throws him chances he must grab them with both hands.

“Without Dembele, we do not exist, Tottenham does not exist”, said Pochettino, deadpan. “We started to make some mistakes and we knew that Liverpool is a team that likes to run if you give them space, with [Sadio] Mane, [Roberto] Firmino, [Philippe] Coutinho, [Adam] Lallana or [Georginio] Wijnaldum who can damage you”. Milner, in for Alberto Moreno at left-back for the second time this season, confidently steered the penalty into the bottom-left corner.

“I think we started well”. We needed a goal, but we needed a winger with pace to help push Spur’s full-backs back into their half.

Milner added: “I have played in enough positions throughout my career, I just have to adapt to position”. That inconsistency shown from Liverpool during 90 minutes encapsulates the Achilles heel of this side and was emphasised the following weekend against Burnley, where dominance could not be translated into success. “It takes smart, intelligent people to play if different positions”.

Both Tottenham and Liverpool have been tipped to challenge for the top four this season, but Spurs aren’t yet showing the kind of form that nearly took them to the title last season. “Ultimately, if he thinks that is the best thing for the team then I will do it”.

“Sturridge needs a season like he had other Brendan Rodgers a few years ago and be fit for a prolonged period of time”. “I sign again to do the same”. For much of this tussle they toiled, they endeavoured, but clear chances did not come easily.

Liverpool, with Jordan Henderson dictating the tempo, controlled midfield with such ease the Spurs manager also found himself being unhappily interrogated about a player absent from the starting line-up: Moussa Dembele.

“I’m very pleased. It was a very competitive game”. I want to see how far I ran because I have never been this exhausted after a game.

“The effort was fantastic and the character we showed”.