It’s all falling apart for Tottenham Hotspur after another damaging defeat in the Premier League.
Ange Postecoglou’s side had 26 points after ten Premier League matches, but have only picked up 34 points from 25 league matches since then.
That includes Tottenham losing the north London derby last week, then getting beat by Chelsea in midweek and now Liverpool putting four goals past them.
Tottenham’s issue is that they were toothless in attack for the majority of the game, couldn’t string passes together and their midfield and defence was all over the shop.
One of the big talking points of Spurs’ season has been their style of play under Postecoglou and how it’s too expansive to compete at the top table.
Liverpool, who have had issues of their own of late, probably could and should have scored more, with a late flurry from the away team, with goals from Richarlison and Son Heung-min, the only thing to cheer about.
But the game was lost in the first half when Jurgen Klopp’s side went 2-0 ahead, with the defending from the London club leaving Michael Owen baffled.
The former striker was critical of Emerson Royal and how he allowed Mohammed Salah to head his team ahead via the back post, before also questioning Guglielmo Vicario, as he told Premier League Productions (05/05/24 at 5:25 pm).
Emerson, a naturally right-sided fullback, is only starting at left-back because Destiny Udogie is injured and will be out for the rest of the season.
For large parts, the 25-year-old has been a back-up player under Postecoglou and you can see why after his ‘really strange’ defending.
Emerson Royal and Guglielmo Vicario against Liverpool
“Yeah, no surprises Mo Salah is back with a goal,” said Owen. “We mentioned it could be a key area (flanks) before the game.
“Mo Salah, in his normal position at the back post, It’s very strange from Emerson Royal. He checks his shoulder, he sees and knows, then all of a sudden, he starts ball-watching. He then starts to make a move like he is trying to play someone offside when he has two defenders in his eyeliner and actually behind him. Really strange.
“The goalkeeper here, he is almost going backwards. I don’t know why he would do that – Mo Salah can do nothing but put the ball into the back of the net and it’s something he does very well.”
Tottenham’s Champions League dreams
It wasn’t so long ago that Spurs were beating Aston Villa at Villa Park and putting their Champions League hopes firmly in their own hands.
Yet, fast forward to the present, and if they lose at Burnley next week, then Unai Emery’s men will secure fourth spot and you can’t say that it’s not deserved when looking at the whole campaign.
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What will annoy the supporters is the fact that, just before kick-off, Villa were beaten at Brighton, so they would have known about that result, yet they were still beaten themselves, and that comfortably.