How are you defining a rival or when it counts?
We lost narrowly away to a side in form. It happens. We only lost to their trademark late goal - they've done that with infuriating frequency recently but they won't keep doing it. They haven't lost at home since early November in the league and drawn with ManYoo and beaten Chelsea at home in that time. I can't say too much about our performance. People on here are notoriously negative when we lose - sometimes even when we win. I suspect the match reaction thread is full of pant wetting. A Spurs fan friend said he reckoned they just about deserved to win, he certainly didn't suggest it was a pasting.
In terms of 'when it counts', doesn't it a always count in a league? Until late April, early May there are no especially high pressure game, we lost yesterday but the position is recoverable - midweek Spurs go to Anfield, we're at home vs Leicester. And, as we have always finished top 4, we have always won those games at the end of a season 'when it counts', even if we have rather stumbled over the line at times. In terms of rivals, in the run of good results we've beaten Southampton at home and West Ham away (not traditional rivals, but sides who this year have been a threat to our top 4 position) and City away.
Overall I'm happy enough with what I've seen from us more recently. It's always disappointing to lose, especially at Spurs

but I don't think they'll be above us come May if we keep playing like we have recently.