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Pochettino questions Tottenham's desire, title credentials after loss

Carl Recine / Reuters

Tottenham bench boss Mauricio Pochettino took a significant shot at his side following Saturday's battering at the hands of Sadio Mane and Liverpool, calling out his men for a lack of desire.

Related: Mane stuns Spurs to get Liverpool back on track

The Reds, powered by a quickfire brace from the Senegalese star - Mane scored twice in 138 seconds in the opening half - claimed a 2-0 victory, and the result left Pochettino questioning Spurs' title credentials.

"If you start a game like we start then it is very difficult," the typically unruffled Argentine said after the disappointing defeat.

"It is difficult to fight for the Premier League if you show that lack of desire to play for a win."

Spurs, usually watertight in defense, looked leaky and disorganized without first-choice stars Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose - the latter's absence looming large as Mane repeatedly torched replacement left-back Ben Davies.

The loss also brought into question Tottenham's ability to procure the necessary points away from home against fellow heavyweights. Since Sept. 24, Pochettino's lot has won just twice away from White Hart Lane, a run that includes losses to Chelsea and Manchester United.

Is Pochettino - whose tactical nous has been celebrated since he took over on the Tottenham touchline - failing to properly prepare his players? Or are they solely at fault for continuously getting off the mark slowly?

Either way, the manager knows the opening exchanges at Anfield on Saturday were simply not good enough for a club that fancies itself a legitimate threat to the Premier League throne.

"In the first 45 minutes you saw a team that is not ready to fight for the Premier League," Pochettino added.

"We are in a position that is up to us. But if you show like today that you cannot cope with the pressure then it is difficult to challenge and fight for the Premier League."

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