KENNY DALGLISH bemoaned the poor start that sent nine-man Liverpool FC tumbling to an embarrassing defeat against top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Both Charlie Adam and Martin Skrtel were sent off for second bookable offences as Dalglish’s LFC men slumped to a 4-0 reverse at White Hart Lane yesterday.

Luka Modric’s seventh-minute goal sent Tottenham on their way before a second-half strike from Jermaine Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor’s brace completed the rout.

The Liverpool manager met with referees’ chief Mike Riley last week to address concerns raised by Mark Clattenburg’s performance in the 1-0 defeat at Stoke City. But Dalglish chose instead to concentrate on his own players rather than referee Mike Jones after suffering the heaviest loss in two spells as Liverpool manager.

“We started the game short of the level we have been recently,” said the Scot. “Tottenham started better and Modric scored a great goal to get them up front.

“Despite the other incidents that are best left unanswered I think we look at ourselves and the start we had. That dictated what was going to happen to us.

“I don’t know why we started so slowly. We will sit down and talk with them on Tuesday.

“We will have a look at the video and see what happens and if we have done anything wrong we will address that.

“The boys are upset and so they should be. The football club expects more than a 4-0 defeat when you come to play to places like Tottenham.”

Dalglish declined the opportunity to comment on the dismissals of Adam and Skrtel – the sixth time Liverpool have had two players sent off in a game – with the Anfield outfit facing an FA fine with Luis Suarez and debutant Sebastian Coates also booked.