Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou remained defiant as he said there is no easy fix for his injury-hit side after a 6-3 thrashing at the hands of leaders Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.
It was another chaotic game for Spurs who have conceded nine goals in their last two home games; they had to dig deep in a 4-3 League Cup win over Manchester United in midweek.
In reality, a three-goal deficit masked the gap between Tottenham and Liverpool, but Postecoglou once again defended his tactics.
Tottenham started against the Reds without first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, centre backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, left backs Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie and forward Richarlison. However, Postecoglou did not elaborate whether there were other reasons apart from a lengthy injury list as to why his side were down in 11th place in the standings.
"You know what? I'm just going to stop answering these questions," the Australian told BBC Sport. "If people can't see the obvious I'm not going to point it out. Look, make of it what you want, yes we're conceding goals.
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Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring Liverpool's fourth goal in their 6-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur in North London on December 22, 2024. Reuters -
Luis Diaz scores Liverpool's sixth goal in the 85th minute. Victory sent the Merseyside club four points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand on second-placed Chelsea. PA -
Luis Diaz celebrates scoring Liverpool's sixth goal. PA -
Mohamed Salah scores his second and Liverpool's fifth goal. The Egyptian became he first player to reach double figures for both goals and assists before Christmas in a Premier League season. PA -
Dominic Solanke slots home for Spurs to make it 5-3 with seven minutes to go. Reuters -
Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring Liverpool's fifth goal with Luis Diaz at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. EPA -
Dejan Kulusevski volleys home Spurs' second goal to make it 5-2 in the 72nd minute. EPA -
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah makes it 4-1 in the 54th minute. PA -
Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai shoots past Spurs goalkeeper Fraser Forster to make it 3-1. Reuters -
Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring their third goal in first-half injury-time. Reuters -
James Maddison fires home for Spurs to pull the score back to 2-1. Reuters -
Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring in the 36th minute to make it 2-0. -
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou saw his team lose for the third time in four games. AFP -
Luis Diaz heads Liverpool into a 23rd-minute lead against Spurs. AP -
Luis Diaz celebrates after scoring the opening goal for Liverpool against Tottenham. AFP
"If you want to discount the fact we're missing a goalkeeper, two centre backs and a left back as well and that hasn't coincided with what we're doing... I don't know what to say anymore."
While he still seems to have the support of fans, some Tottenham supporters took to social media and radio phone-ins to criticise Postecoglou's tactics.
"If people want me to change my approach, it's not going to change. We are doing it for a reason, we are doing it because we think it will help us to be successful," he told reporters.
"I get the idea that people think that I should just flip a switch and change and somehow that will miraculously make us a better team."
Meanwhile, Arne Slot urged Liverpool to maintain the tempo as they moved four points clear at the top of the table.
Slot claimed Liverpool's goal-spree in north London ranked as their best away performance since he arrived from Feyenoord to replace Jurgen Klopp.
Mohamed Salah was the catalyst with two goals and two assists, while Luis Diaz also bagged a brace alongside strikes from Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Slot's team have won 21 of their 25 games in all competitions this term, a remarkable run that leaves them in pole position to win the title for the first time since 2020, while also competing for the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
But despite their great form, the two late goals conceded to Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke were frustrating for Slot.
"It was very good. Maybe it was our best performance away from home, although I really like what I saw from Man United as well," Slot said in reference to the 3-0 win at Old Trafford in September.
"Until the 60th to 65th minute, I really enjoyed what I saw. Of course we were caught one time in bringing the ball out from the back and it immediately led to a goal for Tottenham.
"I think if we would have gone into the dressing room with a 2-1 (half-time) lead, that would not have done justice to all the chances we had. That is why I was quite happy with the fact we scored for 3-1.
"Then 4-1, 5-1, incredible display, but then you also saw, no matter how much quality players you have, if they think they don't have to run any more in this league and especially against Tottenham, because they are so good with the ball as well, they immediately start to create."
