Tottenham 0 Liverpool 5: AVB takes full responsibility for thrashing
Tottenham 0 Liverpool 5: Andre Villas-Boas takes the blame after his Spurs side are thrashed by the Reds
Andre Villas-Boas quickly accepted full responsibility for Tottenham five-goal thrashing at the hands of Liverpool as his side lost ground in the race for a top-four finish.
Luis Suárez handed the Reds the lead in the 18th minute, before Jordan Henderson volleyed home to make it 2-0 before half-time at White Hart Lane.
Paulinho was shown a straight red card for a high tackle on Suárez midway through the second half, before Jon Flanagan’s cool finish made it 3-0 in the 75th minute.
Regarding my position, it is not for me to decide. I can only work to make things better
Andre Villas-Boas
Suárez then netted his 17th league goal of the season with a deft lob, before Raheem Sterling completed the rout late on.
The heavy defeat leaves Spurs in seventh place in the Premier League table, five points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
And Villas-Boas accepted the blame for the result after the final whistle.
“It was difficult for us,” Villas-Boas told Sky Sports. “I think Liverpool were spectacular today. They wouldn’t let us play and deservingly they reached half-time 2-0 up.
“It was difficult after the sending off. We said at half-time a goal would put us back in the game. The third goal was the killer and ruled our confidence out.
“I assume the responsibility for the failure and we have to bounce back again like we did against City. In the Premier League things are not going as we expected and wanted so it’s normal that frustration is there from everybody.”
The defeat will heighten the pressure on the Spurs boss, whose side have only won two of their last seven league games.
But the Portuguese coach continued: “Regarding my position, it is not for me to decide. I can only work to make things better.
“Today was not to be because Liverpool had a great, great game. They deserve credit.
“I don’t need to convince anyone. Our run is magnificent in the other competitions but not in the Premier League.
“Our form in the Premier League is not there, our ambition to win trophies is the same and to qualify for the Champions League is the same.”
