Liverpool scored fives time inside White Hart Lane yesterday.
They might also have hit Andre Villas-Boas for six, with the Tottenham Hotspur manager's position being questioned once more. This was not done politely yesterday as supporters chastised the home side as they made their way off the pitch after a match in which they were unable to place a single shot on target.
That is an unpalatable statistic and one which was even harder to swallow given the manner that Liverpool peppered the goal. Luis Suarez scored twice and served up a sublime performance, garnished by further goals from John Flanagan, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling. Each one will have been felt painfully by Villas-Boas and the Portuguese might yet be brought to his knees as a result.
He would not plead for sympathy afterwards, but instead assumed the responsibility for a result which is the worst suffered at home by Spurs. He will be aware, though, that the defeat will be added to a heavy defeat by Manchester City earlier this month - a 6-0 cuffing at the Etihad Stadium - which might be enough to tip the scales against him and cause some fans to demand his dismissal.
"Regarding my position, it's not me who decides," said the Portuguese, who reiterated that he would not resign as manager. "I can only work to make things better. We didn't have any shots on target. We are the team with the most shots in the Premier League independent of our poor goalscoring record. Today it wasn't to be because Liverpool had a great, great game.
"Again I assume responsibility for the failure. I don't need to convince anybody [of his ability]. Our run is magnificent in other competitions, but not in the Premier League. That is the reality that we face."
That was made in reference to a Europa League tie last week in which Anzhi Makhachkala were beaten 4-1. Roberto Soldado scored a hat trick for Spurs in that match but the striker took a back seat yesterday as Liverpool motored to victory - Suarez opening the scoring after just 18 minutes. Henderson doubled the lead just five minutes before the break with a volley, while Flanagan added another before Suarez chipped in his fifth. A good number of the home fans had already left by the time Sterling steered in the fifth.
The response from Tottenham was meek by comparison - Nacer Chadli missing a free header and Soldado swiping weakly at the ball as his side struggled to make any sort of impression. Paulinho, the Spurs midfielder, would have better luck with the sole of his boot when he planted a studs-up challenge into the Suarez's midriff after 63 minutes and was duly shown a red card.
His manager might yet be shown the door by Spurs and the Liverpool fans spent the final few minutes of the match revelling in his misery with chants which suggested his time is almost up. "It was difficult for us, Liverpool were spectacular," said Villas-Boas. "They made really good pressing and wouldn't let us play. Our response came in the second half but when Paulinho [was sent off] the game was difficult to turn. Liverpool started dominating possession and putting balls in behind.
"We struggled. I assume the responsibility for the failure. In the Premier League things are not going as we expected. It is normal that frustration is there from everybody."
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