Kenny's Spurs verdict
Kenny Dalglish believes Liverpool's sluggish start was the overriding factor behind Sunday's 4-0 defeat at Tottenham.
The Reds conceded a stunning opener to Luka Modric after seven minutes before losing Charlie Adam to a second yellow card just prior to the half hour mark.
Martin Skrtel also saw red in the second half as further goals from Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor (2) capped a miserable day for Dalglish and co.
Speaking at his post match press conference the Liverpool manager said: "We started the game short of the level we have been at recently.
"They started better than us and Modric scores a great goal to put them one in front. Then Daniel Agger gets injured in the process of trying to make the tackle, but it's a great finish.
"That was the start of our downfall. We started poorly and they began better than us, despite the other incidents which are best left unanswered. We can look at ourselves and the start we had in the game because that dictated what was going to happen to us.
"I think Tottenham started really well and played really well. It's best that we stick to what we can dictate the future of and that is playing football. We cannot legislate for results.
"We also want to be respectful to Tottenham who played particularly well."
Asked about his views on the incidents that saw Liverpool reduced to nine men inside 63 minutes, Dalglish said: "We are better just leaving it.
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"It's best left unsaid because whatever happens then takes away from a great performance from Tottenham.
"We'll have a look at the video and if we've done something wrong then we can correct that.
"One thing that you didn't see was a mass of Liverpool players running around the referee to dispute a decision. That doesn't necessarily mean that they agree with the decision. It's just that they have respect for the referee. If you have respect for the referee I don't see why there is (the suggestion of) a disciplinary problem.
"How you start the game dictates what you get from it.
"We'll find out if we did something differently or if they prepared differently. We'll sit down and talk about it on Tuesday."
The first-half dismissal of Adam was compounded by an injury to Agger that saw the centre back replaced by debutant Sebastian Coates.
However, Dalglish had no news on how long the Dane could be out for.
He said: "It's his rib cage. It happened when he slid in to make the challenge (on Modric) so I don't know what it is yet. We don't know, but it must be painful."
Dalglish made one change to the side that lost 1-0 at Stoke last week by drafting Andy Carroll in for Dirk Kuyt.
Quizzed as to why he had opted to make the switch, the boss said: "You can stick with the players you want. As I've said before, it's not just about a team. It's about a squad and that will be used throughout the season.
"When there is a victory no comments are made about the team but if it's a defeat then whatever players you use are wrong.
"With how we started the game we would still have lost, irrespective of what else happened."
Dalglish was also asked if he felt the result would affect many pundits' view that Liverpool would claim a top four berth this season.
"That still might be true. But it's not difficult to be upset when you have lost a game," he said.
"The boys are upset too and so they should be. If they weren't they wouldn't be here. The football club expects more than a 4-0 defeat when you come away from home.
"To be fair to them they take pride in the club themselves as well. So they'll be disappointed."
He added: "It will be a tight league. You can see that from the way it has started. It is tight for everybody.
"Everyone is capable of picking up points wherever they go."
Liverpool must now regroup in time for Wednesday's Carling Cup clash at Brighton.
The game has already been mooted as a contest that could see the return to action of skipper Steven Gerrard, but Dalglish refused to be drawn on when the No.8 will be back.
He said: "He's fine. We'll try to get over this before we start worrying about something else. I've said all along, he's done fantastically well to get where he is. We'll just monitor him and pick the right moment for him and us before we get him back.
"Its natural everyone wants to chase for Stevie, especially after you have lost 4-0. But we'll monitor it, take it how it goes and when both parties agree he'll play."