Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino rues costly Big Six away form as they chase just his second win in 19
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Mauricio Pochettino admits his Tottenham side’s away from against their biggest rivals may have cost them the title in the last two seasons.
Spurs have the best recent record at home in Big Six clashes since Pochettino’s 2014 appointment, but the worst on their travels.
They have won just one out of 18 (see below) — a 2-1 win at Manchester City in February 2016 — collecting nine points on the road, compared to Sunday hosts Liverpool’s 22 in the same period.
Spurs have come up just short in the last two title races, finishing third and then second.
POCHETTINO'S SPURS AWAY RECORD VS THE TOP SIX
DATE TEAM RESULT SCORE Sept 27 2014 Arsenal D 1-1 Oct 14 2014 Man City L 4-1 Dec 3 2014 Chelsea L 3-0 Feb 10 2015 Liverpool L 3-2 Mar 15 2015 Man United L 3-0 Aug 8 2015 Man United L 1-0 Nov 15 2015 Arsenal D 1-1 Feb 14 2016 Man City W 2-1 April 2 2016 Liverpool D 1-1 May 2 2016 Chelsea D 2-2 Nov 6 2016 Arsenal D 1-1 Nov 26 2016 Chelsea L 2-1 Dec 11 2016 Man United L 1-0 Jan 21 2017 Man City D 2-2 Feb 11 2017 Liverpool L 2-0 Oct 28 2017 Man United L 1-0 Nov 18 2017 Arsenal L 2-0 Dec 16 2017 Man City L 4-1
And ahead of their next big away date, at Liverpool on Sunday, Pochettino said: “That [record] is why maybe we miss a title, why we don’t win the Premier League.
“We finished second last season, third the season before, and of course if in the case we win more games away from home, I’m sure that we would win the title but we miss something to achieve that.
‘Maybe it is because we are the younger team in the Premier League, maybe we need time to mature. There are many reasons why this happens that we cannot win most of the games that we play away from home.”
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(Image: Reuters)
But Pochettino was keen to point out Spurs are not the only ones who have travel troubles in the big six clashes.
He said: “In 19 games away from home in the top six, there have been only four victories for the teams away — for everyone, it is a problem.”
There are few grounds where Spurs have found it harder to win than Anfield, recording just two victories in 25 Premier League visits — in 1993 and 2011.
Pochettino said: “It’s always difficult to play away from home with a top side like Liverpool.
“Liverpool is one of the best squads in England and Europe, with a great manager and coaching staff, and the atmosphere will be amazing. They are so tough to play at Anfield. It will be a very, very difficult game for us.
“For me, Anfield is one of the most enjoyable 90 minutes. The fans are amazing, and the crowd and everything is very good. Of course, the atmosphere will be tough. But these are the types of games that you love to play.”
Pochettino blasted his sloppy side after they lost 2-0 at Liverpool last year, having arrived on the back of an 11-game unbeaten run.
(Image: Getty/Tottenham Hotspur)
Almost a year on, they return to the scene of the crime having not lost any of their last nine.
Pochettino, whose side were convincing 2-0 home winners over Manchester United on Wednesday, added: “I think the team is more mature and we improve from the previous season.
“The game will be tough, but we arrive in a good moment after the victory against Manchester United.”