Dejan Kulusevski insists Tottenham must “change for the better” after their heavy defeat by Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday.
Tottenham were beaten 6-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Arne Slott's side ran riot in north London, thanks to goals from Luis Diaz, Alexis McAllister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah.
Kulusevski was among Tottenham's targets, along with James Maddison and Dominic Solanke, but it was a largely miserable evening for Ange Postecoglou's side.
The Australian, who kept the same squad after a 4-3 win over Manchester United on Thursday, was without several key defensive players, including Micky van de Ven, Christian Romero and Destiny Udoji, as well as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Enter 💪🔴 #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/abECvx8l3V
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 22, 2024
The injury list is proving costly: Postecoglou's side have now conceded 10 goals in their last two home league games, and they now find themselves in the bottom half of the table despite being the division's top scorers.
Kulusevski believes Tottenham must learn from the defeat.
“You have to improve, you have to find ways,” the Sweden international said.
“Maybe we should let them (Liverpool) have more possession, but you know, that's not how we play. So we went out and gave it everything. It didn't work out, maybe (we'll) learn next time.
“You have to think about how we are physically? Who's playing? How many games have we played in the last week? Who are we playing? Did they rest for one week or something?
“You have to put everything in its place because it's like life. It's not just black and white. There are a lot of factors that go into it.
“We have to learn because we conceded six goals. I cannot sit here and say that we are doing something perfectly, but we are not. We have to change a little for the better, and we always try to change for the better.”
Son Heung-min is equivalent to Harry Kane today 🤝
Only Hugo Lloris (361) has more Premier League appearances for Tottenham.#TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/wHiVRnpoC7
– BBC Sport (@BBC Sport) December 22, 2024
Meanwhile, Postecoglou could not hide his frustration when asked by a BBC reporter if anything other than Tottenham's injuries were to blame for his team's recent struggles.
“I will stop answering these questions,” Postecoglou said. “If people can't see the obvious I won't point it out.
“Do what you want, yes we are conceding goals. If you want to discount the fact that we are missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back, that does not coincide with what we are doing.
“I don't know what to say anymore. I think people make up their own mind. They either think what I'm doing is good or bad, and that's fine.
Next up for Tottenham is a meeting with their former manager Nuno Espirito Santo when they make the trip to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.
