Tottenham Hotspur did not only suffer a 1 – 3 home defeat to Liverpool but also face a tough hurdle ahead of having to make do without one of their deadliest front men, Harry Kane, for some weeks after the striker suffered injuries to both ankles on Thursday night.
The visitors established a two-goal lead with Roberto Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold finding the back of the net, before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg pulled one back for Spurs.
However, Sadio Mane’s close-range strike with 25 minutes remaining sealed the match for the visitors.
Kane who has been a perfect combination with Son Heung-min for Spurs this season was forced off at half-time after having a first injury to his right ankle in a challenge with Thiago and needed treatment, though he appeared to be coping with that problem but he went down again following a challenge with Jordan Henderson, this time injuring his left ankle.
Tottenham’s manager Jose Mourinho updating on Kane’s injury said: “It is two ankles, not one, two. He was coping with one, he couldn’t cope with both. Clearly, he’s a guy with good spirit, good sacrifice, so for Harry to say, ‘no chance’ for the second half, we know that it’s not a simple one.
“There are some players you can’t replace. When it happens, it happens but I believe we have to fight against it, we cannot do anything else.”
Thursday’s match was a disappointing one for Spurs as they are gradually drifting away from a return to the Champions’ League target in Mourinho’s first full season in charge.
Spurs now sit sixth position in the league table after a run of just two wins in eight games leaves them four points adrift of the top four.
Mourinho’s men will have to redeem their top-four hopes back in their next game which is a trip to Brighton on Sunday.
