Pochettino exposes Klopp tactics

As Harry Kane run Liverpool rugged last Sunday, the game read like a two-year old script -  another well drilled quality side punished Liverpool's school boy defending with cruelty and clinical precision. This wasn't just a bad day at the office for Jurgen Klopp's side. It was flustering. His team's  mundane inability to defend has become second nature and the big boys are now on full alert. Spurs didn't just profit from a pathetic defense; first they exposed it, then  left it in shambles. They destroyed Dejan Lovren's career, drilled holes in Jordan Henderson's rating, made a mockery of Emre Can's growing reputation. They embarrassed Simon Mignolet and put question marks on Joel Matip's alleged quality. All players with the responsibility to provide defensive cover but lacking in the fine art of defending.

It was said last season that Liverpool's greatest weakness is their failure to decode small team's defensive organization.  Spurs - just like City - have changed the conversation. Liverpool's most pressing needs are at the back not front. 15 goals conceded in five games away from home is a defensive tragedy. A catastrophe. The manner of Kane, Son Heung-Min and Dele Ali's  freedom and dominance was down to a lack of spine in Liverpool's midfield. No combatants. Spurs outstanding performers; Kane and Alli, whose trajectory has been rising over the last two seasons are the reason why the London club is getting rave reviews from all over Europe. On Sunday, they reveled in their destruction mode.

At just 24, Kane has averaged 25 league goals for the last three seasons. He is already leading scorer with  eight goals this season. Prolific. The last Premier League center forward to have such staggering statistics  was Thierry Henry, whose average was 23 goals over seven seasons.  Liverpool on the other hand do not have a striker with 15 goals in any of the last three seasons. Kane  is supported by  21-year-old  Alli, whose average of 14 goals in each of the last two seasons since joining from championship side Milton Keynes Dons, make him the most effective attacking midfielder in the Premiership.  Phillipe Coutinho, who scored 13 goals last season, is Liverpool's version.

The contest at Wembley however, was not between the two attacking pairs but rather, the two managers. Mauricio Pochettino has had perhaps the greatest impact on a Premiership club more than any other in the three seasons since moving from Southampton. For a team that had accepted mid-table status; at times even fighting relegation, Spurs have been a title contender and finished in the top three for each of the last two seasons. Ahead of Manchester United, Arsenal, City and Chelsea. The Argentine has turned  Kane, Alli, Eric Dier, Victor Wanyama, Heung-Min, Christian Eriksen and Moussa Dembele into some of the best players in their positions in the league today.

In each of the last two seasons, Spurs finished with the best goal difference ; 60 (2016-17) and 34 (2015-16). They are the most balanced side in the division and they play some of the most exciting brand of football. They lost the least number of games last season (four) and have the second least number of games lost in 2015-16. Clearly, Pochettino is not getting the full credit he deserves for his transformation of Spurs.

 On the other hand,  Klopp has managed to return Liverpool back in the champions league after three years of absence. Also, Liverpool managed to finish in the top four after three seasons. In addition, they exciting to watch, are breathtaking in attack and have some incredible players in Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohammed Salah. It's the balance of the team that has completely failed Klopp. His obsession with attack and possession football led to his stubborn refusal to buy more accomplished center backs and a world class defensive midfielder. For two seasons in a  row, Liverpool have had one of the worst defensive records in the league. This season they have the worst away conceding record in the league. The team lacks balance and both individually and as a team, they are tactically inept. This was the difference between them and Spurs on Sunday, who had their easiest game of the season so far.

There are signs that Klopp is steering Liverpool in the right direction but by remaining obstinate and  refusing to change tactics to make up for the weaknesses in defense, he is pushing a self destruct button. Embarrassing defeats like the ones suffered at the hands of Spurs and City can have a  lasting impact on  the morale of the team.  Spurs proved last weekend that Liverpool still have a huge gap to close with the serious title chasers.