Mourinho blames Spurs defeat to Liverpool on ‘individual mistakes’

*…worried about Kane’s injury

TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho cited errors made by his players as the reason for their 3-1 Premier League home defeat to Liverpool on Thursday night. Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane scored as champions Liverpool got their season back on track and ended their five-match winless streak.

Pierre Hojbjerg scored for a cautious Spurs side who lost Harry Kane to injury in the first half.

Despite having to start with midfielder Jordan Henderson in central defence, Liverpool played on the front foot and was hardly troubled by the hosts, who had just three shots all game.

However, Mourinho insisted the outcome might have been different if his players had not committed individual mistakes.

“The performance was totally affected by defensive individual mistakes,” he told reporters.

“The team was very solid. The team was very confident. And in the first half, we made three defensive mistakes, individual.

“The third goal hurts me, because the third goal was a mistake by a kid that played very well. Joe Rodon played very well. So I feel very sorry for him. But I’m very happy with his performance.

“Kane is Tottenham’s most important player and has contributed the most goals this season.

The England striker suffered blows to both ankles and did not return for the second half, leaving Mourinho worried.

“He is injured in both ankles and he says that to cope with one pain, he probably could, but he says with both, it is very painful, very sore and both ankles are getting big in both feet,” Mourinho told BT Sport.

“He couldn’t [carry on]. He is a guy with a good sacrifice spirit, he can fight against pain, but it was difficult for him.”

The former Chelsea manager added in his post-match press conference: “You know, for Harry to leave a game when he wants to play always and with the team losing, it is not a nothing injury. For how long I cannot tell you, I don’t know, we have to wait and see”.

Liverpool moved up to fourth in the Premier League table with 37 points from 20 matches, while Tottenham stay in sixth place with 33 points from 19 games.