Hugo Lloris believes Tottenham struggle when it comes to their play in the final third away from home against the Premier League's best. Salvaging a point at Chelsea in August when far from convincing in west London, Spurs were deservedly beaten at the start of the month in the North London Derby at Arsenal.
Wednesday evening then saw the team fall to a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United, although the hosts could quite easily have scored five or six if it wasn't for the magnificent saves the shot-stopper pulled off throughout. Keeping the Red Devils scoreless at the break, Lloris has stated it became a different game altogether once Fred's deflected effort found the net shortly after the restart.
"It's not everything dark and everything bright, it was in between. I believe that the best team today won, that's the only thing I can say," explained the World Cup winner.
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"If we analyse the game, when you go to half-time at 0-0, you think we could not concede this early goal in the second half that brought the confidence very high to the Manchester United side. Then it became a different game, they go very fast in transition, they have a lot of quality up front and they use the space because we tried to play a bit higher. Then it was tough, it was tough.
"It's too early to analyse because - I know you're going to say after Chelsea, Arsenal and now Manchester United - we have to see also when they come to our stadium how it will be. But yes, it's frustrating to lose a tough game."
Earning four points from a possible six against the Premier League's top two last season as they won at Man City and drew at Liverpool, Spurs have just not performed when it has come to the away games at their top-six rivals where they are expected to leave with something. Perhaps a question of self-belief, Lloris has noticed the team's struggles in the final third against the top six.
"I don't know. I would like to say Arsenal game is on the side because we were all agreed that we missed that game, we were too passive for different reasons. Today was not the case, against Chelsea was not the case," he added.
"You can mention something it's like we struggle a bit in the final third, to bring the ball into the box, to make the last pass, to create big chances during that type of game. Also we lost too many balls in the centre of the pitch, especially in the first half, and from that ball they could create chances and in two or three passes they go very fast.
"We need to analyse the game tomorrow and continue the process. It's still a long way and then we have to make sure we get the three points against Newcastle. We have to bounce back straight after a defeat like this."
Tottenham have won all seven of their home games this season but they will be handed a real test when Eddie Howe's in-form Newcastle travel to the capital on Sunday afternoon. All Spurs fans will be hoping Dejan Kulusevski is back for the game after not featuring since the international break due to a hamstring issue, with Lloris pointing to the absence of the Swede and Richarlison at Old Trafford as they have the qualities to have a big say on games.
"They are very strong and they will be strong in the future. They came here [Old Trafford] to get one point, but also we could see Manchester United increasing the level against top sides like Liverpool, like Arsenal. We knew after the game but we could not match that today," admitted the veteran goalkeeper.
"We also miss important players that can affect the game, players like Kulusevski, Richarlison. They are offensive players and in that type of game they can create difficulty to the opponent. I think we are capable to play better and you have to also give credit to Manchester United's performance as today they were the best team."
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