Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes even he could have done a better job than his defenders in denying Tottenham their opening goal in the 4-1 loss at Wembley.
Harry Kane struck Spurs’ opener only four minutes into the match, a goal that set the tone for a display in which Liverpool plumbed new depths of inadequate defending.
Kane, played onside by Joel Matip, chased down a ball over the top from Kieran Trippier before lobbing it clear of an onrushing Simon Mignolet. Off balance, he was still able to collect the ball first before driving it into the net.
Klopp may have enjoyed a playing career that might generously be termed unspectacular, but the former Mainz defender is convinced he could have offered a sterner rearguard than Matip, Mignolet et al.
"These goals today… the first goal wouldn’t have been scored if I’m on the pitch," he said. "It wouldn’t happen [even if I’m] in trainers.
"Harry can’t get the ball. It was an open ball and we were there. We had more players than Tottenham but they came through.
"Was it perfect play of Tottenham? No. Was it a bit lucky? Yes. Do we need to be prepared for situations like this? Yes. We are usually. Each job is clear.
"I cannot fix it here but we will fix it."
Matip was hardly the only one to blame for Liverpool’s defeat. Dejan Lovren calamitously misjudged a header for Spurs’ second and was substituted for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain soon after, though Klopp admitted he could have taken off almost any of his team.
Though Mohamed Salah’s goal gave Liverpool a lifeline they wasted it, Matip heading a free-kick to Dele Alli, who volleyed home the third, before Mignolet flapped at a cross from which Kane struck his second.
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"If Tottenham needed to be genius to come through then we don’t have to talk,” Klopp added. "But if you make these easy mistakes… quality is obviously a mix of potential, attitude and mentality and we don’t show it consistently enough. That’s the truth.
"It was too easy for Tottenham today. After 2-1 everybody saw this game could change but unfortunately we were the other team."