Antonio Conte explains team selection for Tottenham - Liverpool clash
Antonio Conte has explained his team selection for Tottenham's disappointing 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday evening.
Spurs started with Ivan Perisic and Harry Kane up front together, but were unable to create many chances in the first half with this set-up. The Lilywhites went 2-0 down before a slight tactical change bringing on Dejan Kulusevski and moving Perisic out wide led to the home side grabbing a consolation goal.
Speaking after the game to Sky Sports, Conte explained his starting XI: "To have this type of performance in a difficult moment for us, because we are managing a situation with many, many injuries, [is good]. You need to find a solution, and to play Kane and Perisic as strikers was a good solution because to play only with one striker you deliver yourself to Liverpool.
"I think Ivan played a good game with Harry and Dejan Kulusevski, when he came in, played 20 minutes in a good way.
"We're a squad and we need to have all of the players [available] to try and be competitive in the Premier League and Champions League otherwise, if we have three or four injuries, for us it becomes difficult but, at the same time, to have this sort of performance against a team like Liverpool gives me satisfaction.
"This type of game shows that hard work, works."
Conte also gave his assessment of his side's performance in general, stating that was pleased - even with the first half performance:
"It's difficult to explain the defeat tonight. I think we deserved much more, but also in the first half, honestly we were in the dressing room and I was happy. I was happy with the will, the desire, for what we did also in the first half because we put a lot of pressure on Liverpool."
He added: "We were 2-0 down but didn't know why. In the second half we played very well, we created many chances. I think the goalkeeper [Alisson] made good saves and we hit the crossbar. It's a pity.
"It's difficult to explain this type of game. Our fans won't be happy because when you don't win I don't like to be happy, but at the same time to see a team from the start and until the end I think we have to be proud."