Harry Kane admits Tottenham have to improve quickly if they are to have a hope of challenging Manchester City and Liverpool for the title.

Man City and Liverpool dominated the top flight in 2018-19, but Spurs were tipped by most experts to compete with them for Premier League glory this time around.

But Mauricio Pochettino’s outfit have already suffered a setback due to a shock 1-0 loss at home to Newcastle on Sunday and now face a tough match at rivals Arsenal, where they haven’t won since 2010.

The gap to Liverpool and Manchester City is already five and three points respectively and Kane has cause for concern.

When asked if he felt Tottenham were the best equipped to compete with the defending champions and European Cup holders, Kane said: “Yes hopefully, but it is still going to take a lot of hard work.

HIGHLIGHTS | Tottenham 0-1 Newcastle

“As you’re seeing from Manchester City and Liverpool there is no letting up from them. I said before the start of the season that if we could put a run together, get that momentum, maybe winning for two-three months on the spin without dropping any points, then that’s what it’s going to take. It’s a disappointing start but there is a long way to go.

“I said as much (that Spurs couldn’t fall behind early) after the first weekend of the season. Liverpool won on the Friday night and then Manchester City won early on the Saturday. They set the standard with those results and I knew we had to keep up with them, make sure we win especially at home.

“It is disappointing that we haven’t done that in only our second game. But there is still a long way to go, there are a lot of big games ahead of us.

“It just means we are going to have to pick up points in the big games, the tough games and try to improve on what we did against Newcastle.

“You never want to go into an international break (which follows the Arsenal match) having lost or drawn.

“Of course a north London derby is as big as it gets. If we win that it makes the first four games a bit brighter. It won’t be easy, but we have to make sure we are prepared and ready for that one.”

Spurs had 79.8 per cent possession during the contest with Newcastle, but managed only three shots on target.

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They struggled to break a resolute opponent down, who claimed all three points courtesy of Joelinton’s strike in the 27th minute.

Kane says Spurs must learn from their mistakes and added: “Obviously winning the first game of the season (against Aston Villa) was great and getting a point at Manchester City is not a bad result.

“But this is where we needed to step up if we want to be up there come the end of the season. These are the games at home that you have to win. We have a week before another big game and we have to address it, see what we can do better to improve and go from there.

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“I think we have to learn teams that come here and get an early goal are going to defend and make it tough. We need to have the answers to that.

“Obviously we’d like to go ahead, go 1-0, 2-0 up and finish the game from that point of view. That isn’t always going to be the case so when it gets difficult, tight moments in the opponent’s half of the pitch, we have to find more answers. That’s all of us, the stuff we need to work on. That is what we have to try and do.”

Spurs might have won though had two penalty decisions gone their way, but neither were given by referee Mike Dean nor VAR.

Kane was the victim for the second one when Jamaal Lascelles dived across his path and brought him down, but nothing was awarded.

Kane said: “It is hard to understand how it hasn’t been given. Just like when a keeper comes out, uses his arms and trips you up – it’s a penalty. I kind of tripped over his (Lascelles) arm and then his body. Whether it was deliberate or not, from my point of view it is hard to take.

“I said last week (after the city game) that sometimes you are going to get the rub of the green with VAR, sometimes not. I felt it didn’t go our way against Newcastle.

“Maybe we’ll see if they contact the club and explain why not, but it’s gone now. There is nothing we can do now. It is hard to take, it’s a disappointing loss but we have to move on.”