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Sun 12 February 2017 9:22, UK

By Matt Farr

Football Insider analyses three major talking points from Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.

Tottenham are mentally weak

Mauricio Pochettino’s side still had a considerable chance of catching Chelsea in this season’s Premier League title race, arguably the best chance of any one of their title rivals. However, they blew their opportunity. The defeat to Liverpool now leaves them nine points behind the league leaders, with Antonio Conte’s side still to go up against Burnley on Sunday. The title race is not mathematically over yet, but Tottenham’s defeat only offered further proof that it is Chelsea’s to lose. The manner of the defeat for Tottenham, however, will be of great concern to Pochettino. They have been superb defensively this season, but they were blown apart in the first half at Anfield on Saturday, paying the ultimate price. Their abysmal first-half display – in which they conceded twice in just over two minutes and could have let in more – echoed their end of season slump in the title race last season, where they fell away from Leicester when the going was tough. Having won just two of their eight league games against title rivals this season, they proved once again that they simply do not have the mental strength to pursue the league title at the moment.

Defensive depth not good enough

Tottenham’s defence has been one of their strongest assets since Pochettino first took charge at White Hart Lane. That is though, only when their premier defensive quartet are fully fit. Both Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose were ruled out of their trip to Anfield, meaning Ben Davies and Eric Dier came in. However, the unconvincing duo both endured shaky displays, raising questions over the capabilities of Spurs’ second-string defence. Kevin Wimmer was overlooked in favour of Dier at centre-back, but even Wimmer has struggled at times this season. The only answer, however, is not likely to come until the summer transfer window, so Pochettino will have to cope with his depleted resources until the likes of Rose and Vertonghen return to full fitness. Nevertheless, he will need to look at his defensive options at the end of the season and assess one or two potential areas of weakness. If they were to lose Toby Alderweireld as well in the coming weeks, it is safe to say that a Davies-Dier-Wimmer partnership, would create more problems than it would solve.

Time to reflect

On the plus side, Tottenham now have a two-week absence from the Premier League, which should give them valuable time to reflect on their recent display, and come back stronger against Stoke on February 26. They still have important business elsewhere, taking on KAA Gent in the Europa League, while they also have to negotiate safe passage in the FA Cup away at Championship side Fulham; but a break from the Premier League should do them good. Pochettino’s side will have an opportunity to regroup, and look into where the Liverpool clash fell to pieces in greater detail, and come up with a plan to bounce back at the end of the month. The Europa League clash in particular will be an interesting test of their resolve, having wasted an opportunity to progress in the Champions League earlier in the season, as the Belgian side will be no pushovers. But they can draw valuable momentum and confidence from their cup runs; particularly if that becomes the only realistic area of success for Tottenham this season.

In other Tottenham news, this Premier League rival is prepared to sanction a world-record bid for this Tottenham star.

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