ROBERTO FIRMINO sent Liverpool 16 points clear at the top of the English Premier League (EPL) by clinching a 1-0 victory over Tottenham on Saturday.

Jordan Henderson headed across to Mohamed Salah, who held the ball up in the penalty area before passing to Firmino, who struck in the bottom corner in the 37th minute.

It allowed Liverpool to take full advantage of second-placed Leicester losing to Southampton, with Jurgen Klopp’s side extending an already commanding lead with 17 matches remaining.

Liverpool is unbeaten with 61 points from 21 games — a record haul at this stage in the Premier League.

But back-to-back losses have left Tottenham drifting in eighth place after squandering chances to equalize in the second half against Liverpool.

Son Heung-min was played through by Lucas Moura but the South Korean placed his shot well over.

As the game was being played, Tottenham striker Harry Kane posted photos online from the hospital after surgery on his left hamstring.

Ending a 30-year wait to win the title is the only history Klopp is interested in.

“The problem is you don’t get anything for best starts apart from numbers,” said Klopp. “If people say in 50 years... it was the best start, cool, but the only thing we are interested in is what we can get in the summer.

“That is not done yet because this league is so strong, because we face so many strong opponents.”

“The moment when we have enough points that nobody can catch us anymore, then we start talking about it. Until then I couldn’t be less interested.”

Lo Celso’s miss left Jose Mourinho on his knees in anguish and the honeymoon period for the Tottenham manager is already over after just two wins in their last eight games in all competitions.

The Portuguese’s game plan to cede possession to Liverpool before the break backfired, but he still believed his side deserved at least a point for their onslaught in the final quarter.

“Liverpool have worked with this coach for five years. The players are totally adapted physically to the football he wants to play,” said Mourinho.

“If we try to play the way we did in the last 20 minutes from the start, I think we would collapse because the players are not used to this style.”

“We knew that Erik Lamela, Giovani, in the last 25-30 minutes they could turn the game. I think we deserve more.”

Mourinho sprang a huge surprise with his team selection as Japhet Tanganga was handed his Premier League debut in defense.(SD-Agencies)