Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool had won ugly and got lucky – but was happy to take that after their last-gasp victory over Tottenham.

The title-chasing Reds reclaimed top spot in the Premier League – albeit having played a game more than Manchester City – thanks to an injury-time own goal at Anfield.

Toby Alderweireld was the unfortunate player to turn into his own net after Hugo Lloris failed to hold a Mohamed Salah header, handing Liverpool a 2-1 win.

Manager Klopp said: ‘Of course it was a lucky punch, the header and the ball rolls in. But I told the boys after the game, there are 500,000 different ways to win a football game and today was rather ugly. No problem, we take that.

‘Without a bit of luck you cannot be in the position we are in. It’s not possible. The boys work so hard, I think they deserve a bit of luck. I am obviously very happy about the result.’

Liverpool had led at half-time after a 16th-minute header from Roberto Firmino, but Spurs recovered after the break and claimed an equaliser in the 70th minute through Lucas Moura.

Klopp felt he learned more about his side winning in the manner they did than if they had enjoyed a convincing victory.

The German said: ‘If you win 5-0 – I don’t think that would have been possible today – it can lead you on the wrong path.

‘People always the 100% package. We have to find a way to win games much more often than in the past. Until now it worked. It is all good.

‘If you go through the season of other teams, you will find these moments as well.

‘For all the points we have now, we worked really hard. It is not important when you score, but what it is on the scoresheet afterwards. Today it is a nearly perfect result for us.

‘Momentum is not a coincidence, it is something you take, you keep and you use. That helped today obviously.’

Defender Virgil Van Dijk appeared to suffer a knock in the latter stages and will be assessed.

Klopp said: ‘I don’t know if he twisted it or it was a knock, but he was walking into interviews with a big ice pack. I hope it is nothing serious, but I don’t know yet.’

Spurs’ defeat was their fourth in five games and left them hanging on to third place in the table on goal difference only, with two other teams just a point behind.