Maurico Pochettino: Tottenham didn't deserve to lose against Liverpool

Mauricio Pochettino felt that his Tottenham side deserved more from their spirited performance at Anfield.

He told BBC Sport: "We are disappointed with the result because I think one point would have been fair for both teams. It was a great game, we played well but this is football. The players are very disappointed, sad and tired but we have to accept football is like this.

"I am proud of the effort and we have to look forward. The only thing we need to improve, in the first half we gave Liverpool some chances and made some mistakes. We deserved more from this game."

Tottenham came from behind twice to equalise in an end-to-end game. However Spurs lost a step in the final half hour, and they looked tired after playing Arsenal just three days ago.

Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe told BT Sport: "Brendan had to shoot off to catch a plane. Tottenham have been on a great run, it was two good teams but the way we came through was fantastic.

"Mario Balotelli has been working hard in training and for the last couple of weeks he's been ill so it's great that he scored the winner. Steven Gerrard felt his hamstring and felt he had to come off. It was important to win tonight, it was a great win and we deserved it."

Balotelli scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool on the night and grabbed a crucial three points for his team who are now seventh, just three points off a top-four spot.