3 Things We Learned From Liverpool’s 5-0 Riot Over Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs were looking to get themselves back on track while Liverpool were aiming to keep the heat on Arsenal after they dropped points at Manchester City. Here’s what we learned from the high profile matchday 16 clash:

Andre Villas Boas not good enough

Gareth Bale may be gone, but that is no excuse for conceding 11 goals and failing to score in their last two games against sides Spurs are aiming to match in the Premier League. A 6-0 hammering by Manchester City and now a 5-0 mauling by Liverpool, what has happened to the side that pushed for fourth place until the final day last season? Gareth Bale may have been their best player, but after investing almost everything back into their squad on the likes of Vlad Chiriches, Etienne Capoue, Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen and Roberto Soldado, they are a far superior side now than last season.

So what is the problem? It was a world class talent that was bought in, so the squad is not what is pulling Tottenham down, but seemingly the manager. A lack of tactical nous and starting the useless Andros Townsend over Chadli and Lamela is suicide. When we all wake up tomorrow morning to read the Monday newspapers, it will be a shock if we aren’t reading that the former Chelsea tactician has been relieved of his duties.

Liverpool are the real deal

In Liverpool’s recent years spent in mediocrity and mid-table, the main problem was their lack of direction and killer instinct. Sure they had Luis Suarez and a quickly deteriorating Steven Gerrard, but it wasn’t enough. Now though Brendan Rodgers has bought a game plan that brings out the best of his Uruguayan hitman, Daniel Sturridge, Iago Aspas and Philippe Coutinho, while Jordan Henderson no longer looks like a massive waste of money, and is playing well for the Reds.

In what will be the most testing period of the season for the Merseyside club, they will face Manchester City and Chelsea before the year is out, but they have started the difficult run of games in the best possible manner. The 5-0 destruction at White Hart Lane shows what they are capable of, firing a warning shot at City, Chelsea and leaders Arsenal. This Liverpool is here to stay, and unless something goes seriously wrong, we will see them deservedly back in the Champions League next season.

The Premier League will not be a two horse race this season

With the English top flight being tagged as boring by many for the lack of excitement in the title race and the mid table to relegation sides playing a style that can no longer be called football, the majority of Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga fans lost interest and stayed at the league which is home to their supported club for excitement, but that may no longer be the case. I for one am no Premier League fan, in fact I have a bit of a disliking towards it for the over physical game plans and the fact that it’s clubs try to cover up all of their problems with money, but currently there are 6 sides who all look capable of taking a Champions League spot, while 4 of those look capable of winning the title.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City have been impressive and all look to be in for a long and hard battle for top spot, while Everton and Newcastle are more than capable of keeping up in the race for 4th place. Whether you like the Premier League or not, the games involving the better sides in England have produced equally as exciting football as anywhere else in Europe.