Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou reacted strongly to a question about his team's defensive woes after they lost 6-3 at home to Liverpool.
Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah each scored twice for Arne Slot's side, who extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table after challengers Chelsea could only draw with Everton. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai also netted for the visitors, while James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke netted for Spurs.
Postecoglou's side are the top scorers in the Premier League with 39 goals, but their defensive frailty has been an issue. They have conceded 25 times in 17 matches, and haven't kept a home clean sheet in the league since a 4-0 win over Everton in August.
Centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero were both missing through injury for Spurs, forcing them into a makeshift back line, while left-back Destiny Udogie and first-choice keeper Guglielmo Vicario also missed out on Sunday. There have also been questions over Postecoglou's open style of play, though, and the Australian appeared in no mood to entertain further debate on that front.
"It’s obviously a painful one for us," Postecoglou told BBC Sport. "Credit to Liverpool, they were too good for us. They're in a great moment, great form, feeling confident. It was a bridge too far for us, We looked like we lacked energy which is understandable."
When asked about other factors besides the injuries playing a part, Postecoglou delivered a blunt answer. "I'm just going to stop answering these questions," he said. "If people can't see the obvious I‘m not going to point it out. Make of it what you want, yes we're conceding goals.
"If you want to discount the fact we’re missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and left-back and that hasn't coincided with what we're doing… I don’t know what to say anymore. I think people make up their mind in their own way. They either think what I’m doing is good or bad, and that’s fine.
"It’s fairly significant, if you took out Liverpool’s goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back - or any team other than Liverpool, they'd find it tough going as well."
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The defeat means Spurs have picked up just seven points from their last seven league games and they now sit 11th. They are also winless across their last three Europa League outings, though they were able to overcome Manchester United on Thursday to move into the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
"Very disappointed with the result and conceding six goals is really painful. What can I say?" captain Son Heung-min told Sky Sports after the defeat to Liverpool
"As a footballer, you always want to play. At the moment we have to work hard. I don't want to make any excuses. We tried to be as sharp as possible."
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