Mauricio Pochettino delivering a withering assessment of Tottenham's title ambitions after a 2-0 loss at Liverpool.
In just their third defeat of the season, Spurs were dismantled by a rampant Liverpool team who came into the game without a win in 2017.
A first-half double from Sadio Mane put the game to bed inside 20 minutes and Pochettino feels his players failed to deal with the pressure of being title candidates.
"We are in a position that is up to us," he told reporters.
"But if you show like today that you cannot cope with the pressure to play to win the league than it is difficult to challenge and fight for the Premier League.
"In the first 45 minutes, you saw a team that is not ready to fight for the Premier League."
Tottenham failed to win any of their final four games of last season to concede second place to Arsenal.
Heading into the game at Anfield, Spurs had built up a three-point lead over their rivals but, despite keeping second spot, are just two points ahead of Manchester United in sixth place.
"We were poor. They were better. No complaints," said Pochettino.
"We started the game very sloppy. It is difficult to understand, I am very disappointed in our first-half display. Second half we reached their level but it is really late.
