Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted he was wrong to criticise Tottenham's approach in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Anfield. Needing maximum points in their title challenge, the Reds required a late Luis Diaz strike to salvage a point against Spurs following Son Heung-min's opener.
Antonio Conte's side may have only had 35% of possession on Merseyside but they fully deserved their point following an excellent display at the back and the problems they caused when attacking. Giving Man City the upper hand in the Premier League title race as a result of Liverpool's failure to win, Klopp hit out at Spurs' style of football when speaking to the media after the game.
He said: "I don’t like this kind of football. I think they’re world-class, and I think they should do more for the game. They play a world-class team, they sit back. They drew against us now, they won against [Manchester] City. So the game plan works for these games but they’re still fifth, so that’s how it is."
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With City extending their lead at the top to three points after their 5-0 triumph over Newcastle United, Pep Guardiola stated after their win that "everybody in this country supports Liverpool" and wanted them to win the league. When pressed on the Spaniard's comments, Klopp reflected on what he said immediately after the Tottenham game and made it clear he couldn't respect Conte more.
"I live in Liverpool, and a lot of people here want us to win the league, that’s true. But even here, it’s probably only 50%," he said when previewing Liverpool's game against Aston Villa. "We’re all people, we’re involved in another fight, at least until yesterday, and yeah… Look, as managers, and I had this experience recently, after a game we are massively influenced by the situation.
"So I said after the game — would I say it again, no — 'Oh, (Tottenham) play how they play, and they’re still only fifth'. And it felt good in that moment! But anyway, wrong. It was just my feeling in that moment. I couldn’t respect Antonio more, what he’s doing, my god, how he organises teams.
"I don’t know exactly in which situation Pep was when he was asked, after getting knocked out of the Champions League, it’s obviously difficult enough to take, but of course, Liverpool make it to the final. And he’s right, on top of it!
"I was right with fifth place and Tottenham, and he was right that we have won the Premier League only once. I have no idea if the whole country is supporting us, it is not the feeling I get when we go to other places and play there, it is actually the opposite, but maybe he knows more about it than me."
