Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur are title contenders, says Klopp after Liverpool clinch table-topping win
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, it seems, was impressed with the way Tottenham Hotspur have begun their Premier League season, saying Jose Mourinho’s men are title contenders. Klopp’s comments came after Liverpool defeated Tottenham 2-1 at Anfield to steer clear of the chasing pack on the Premier League table.
A late winner from Roberto Firmino sealed the win and 3 crucial points for Liverpool on Wednesday. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring at Anfield while Son Hueng-Min equalised for Spurs in the first half but the visitors not only missed a hard-earned draw but could have won the game as Steven Bergwijn hit the post and Harry Kane missed a great chance.
“They will be top of the table until the end of the season because they are really good. But to play against them is a proper challenge and to play like us, is pretty special,” Jurgen Klopp said.
With the win, Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League table with 28 points, 3 more than 2nd-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Mourinho unhappy with Klopp’s touchline antics
Meanwhile, there was a fiery exchange between Mourionho and Klopp after the game and the Tottenham Hotspur boss took aim at his Liverpool counterpart, saying the German’s touchline antics were over-the-top.
Mourinho revealed the chat in a post-match conversation, saying he had told Klopp that the best team lost and the latter disagreed to it.
“I told him the best team lost. He disagreed. That’s his opinion. By the way, if I behaved the way on the touchline like he does, I have no chance to stay there – and I’m out after a minute,” Mourinho told Amazon Prime.
Mourinho, speaking to the BBC a while later, played down the touchline drama, saying everything is fine between him and Klopp.
“Everything is fine between us. The referees let him behave the way he does. It’s not my problem. I feel sad because I can not do it but it’s just the way it is.”
Arsenal held to 1-1 draw by Southampton
Southampton sealed a hard-fought draw at Arsenal on Wednesday after a goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng in the 2nd half cancelled out a first-half strike from former Gunners forward Theo Walcott.
The result left Arsenal, who had lost their previous four home games, in 15th place on 14 points from 13 games while Southampton moved up one place to third on 24 points.