Tottenham Hotspur's perfect start to life under Mauricio Pochettino came to an abrupt end this afternoon as they were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool at White Hart Lane.

The visitors came flying out of the blocks and were ahead after just eight minutes when Raheem Sterling slotted the ball home from inside the area.

It was 2-0 shortly after half time as Steven Gerrard converted from the spot, while Alberto Moreno sealed the points with a fine solo effort on the hour mark.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at an entertaining encounter in North London.

Match statistics

Tottenham
Shots: 7
On target: 1
Possession: 61%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 14

Liverpool
Shots: 17
On target: 8
Possession: 39%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 11

Was the result fair?

Yes. The difference between the two sides today is best summed up by the stats - Liverpool had just 39% of the ball yet managed to produce 10 more shots and seven more shots on target than their opponents. The Reds were a lot more incisive and dangerous in the final third, while Spurs kept the ball well without ever doing anything with it.

Liverpool were on top for the majority of the match without needing to boss possession, instead relying on the speed of their counter-attacks to hurt Tottenham. Pochettino's style of high pressure created more room for the Reds, and they exploited that.

Spurs did grow into the first half as it went on but, as soon as Gerrard scored at the start of the second half, it felt like it was game over. Moreno's finish put it beyond any doubt whatsoever, and Spurs played out the remainder of the game like a beaten team. A deserved three points for the visitors.

Tottenham's performance

Having won two from two at the start of this season and looked very impressive against Queens Park Rangers in their last league outing, there was cautious optimism surrounding how Spurs would fare in their first major test of the season. However, while they played with pace and imagination against QPR, there was none of that today.

To have had 61% possession and only managed one shot on target is a damning statistic that goes some way to demonstrating the lack of creativity in the side today. The likes of Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen can usually provide that, but there was no cutting edge this afternoon as a number of good platforms were wasted.

It was the matches against the teams above them that let Spurs down last season, and the early signs are that they haven't improved in that respect. They were overrun in midfield today and unable to cope with the speed of Liverpool's attacks. They need to improve a vast amount in the big games if they are to push for the top four.

Liverpool's performance

The perfect response to their defeat to Manchester City on Monday. For the first time this season, Liverpool looked like the team of last term, when their quick attacks were a nightmare for the opposition to deal with. They looked dangerous every time that they came forward and made the most of their limited possession.

What was different from last season, however, was that they also looked strong at the back. Spurs created a couple of decent chances in the first half, one of which came as a result of a defensive mix-up, but on the whole it was a much better display from Liverpool.

The front three were impressive, with Sterling a constant threat. Daniel Sturridge always looking bright and Mario Balotelli enjoyed a very promising hour on his debut. They need to maintain that level of performance if they are to challenge for the title once again this season.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Raheem Sterling: Three games played this season, and Sterling has arguably been Liverpool's best player in each of them. The teenager is a vital member of the Liverpool team now and looks to be the most dangerous attacker at their disposal in the absence of Luis Suarez.

His speed was a thorn in the side of Spurs today, and he has added clinical finishing to his game - as shown by his well-taken goal. He should have had a second having beaten four Tottenham defenders inside the box, but, on that occasion his finishing let him down. Another very impressive display.

Biggest gaffe

He may be the man of the match, but Sterling was also responsible for the gaffe of the game. He embarked on an electrifying run inside the box to create space to shoot from close range, but his subsequent finish with only Hugo Lloris to beat was dreadful. He seemed to have too much time to think and, having done the hard bit with apparent ease, he passed the ball tamely to the Tottenham keeper.

Referee performance

There were a few big decisions for Phil Dowd to make today, and each one will have people offering differing opinions. The biggest one was Liverpool's penalty which, by the letter of the law, was the correct decision from the referee. However, it was a very soft one and Joe Allen went to ground far too easily, so Spurs will feel justifiably aggrieved at having been punished for it.

There was a second penalty claim late on for a tug on the shirt of Emmanuel Adebayor, but this time Dowd opted against pointing to the spot. Again, it would have been a very soft one, but it was probably as much a penalty as Liverpool's was. On the whole, Dowd had a decent game, but he will be questioned over those two decisions.

What next?

Tottenham: Spurs will look to get back to winning ways against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light after the international break.

Liverpool: Liverpool, meanwhile, host Aston Villa at Anfield on the afternoon of Saturday, September 13.