Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham manager will not be distracted by title talk

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Liverpool and Manchester City are “clear favourites” to win the Premier League despite Tottenham’s outstanding victory over Everton on Sunday, says Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Spurs, in third, won 6-2 at Goodison Park to move within two points of City and six behind leaders Liverpool.

Pochettino acknowledged his side have a chance of being crowned champions of England for the first time since 1961.

But he added: “There is a long way for me to say we are real contenders.”

Tottenham have won their past four league games and are five points clear of Chelsea, in fourth, and Arsenal, in fifth.

“It’s so tough to win the Premier League but we are going to try,” said Pochettino, who has been linked with Manchester United following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

“The clear favourites are Liverpool and Manchester City. We are there, but so are Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.

“Football is about being consistent. If we are able to be consistent and play in the way we did tonight I think maybe we could be a real contender, but there is still a long way.”

Pochettino’s side are also in the last 16 of the Champions League and the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, where they face Chelsea over two legs.

“Being involved in four competitions will be tough, but are going to try,” added the Argentine.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side had to come from behind at Goodison Park after Theo Walcott swept Everton in front.

Goals from Son Heung-min, Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen but Spurs 4-1 up, before Gylfi Sigurdsson pulled one back against his fomer side.

Son added the fifth for the visitors before Kane made it six to wrap up a comfortable victory.

And Pochettino insisted speculation about his future should not distract from what he is trying to achieve at Tottenham.

“Talking about rumours, there are a lot of rumours,” he said.

“This guy [Spurs’ press officer] became upset again or angry [because of questions about United], but we cannot talk; we need to be focused on our jobs at Tottenham and do our best to try to be successful.” – bbc.com