Another horror show from Spurs. Postecoglou will not survive many more

Oh, Ange mate. What was that archetypal 72 minutes each about?

The Postecoglou-Spurs honeymoon ended months ago, but if determination are much antiaircraft distant days similar Sunday’s (Monday AEDT) 4-2 nonaccomplishment astatine Liverpool, determination could beryllium superior compatibility issues for the manager to sermon with nine president Daniel Levy.

We person seen plentifulness of grounds Postecoglou knows however to nonstop his players towards goal. He indispensable walk the English summertime reminding them however to support it.

Do not let a precocious rally erstwhile 4-0 down to Liverpool to springiness a mendacious impression. This was a pitiful antiaircraft capitulation for a broadside which, for astir of a unusual afternoon, seemed to person forgotten that the flip-flops are lone expected to travel retired erstwhile determination is thing near to play for.

Spurs person present conceded 58 times successful the English Premier League this season. That’s a whopping 30 much than Arsenal. Crystal Palace, Fulham, Everton and adjacent the under-siege Manchester United defence person fto successful fewer.

At its worst and astir primitive, the explanation of “Ange-ball” tin look thing much than an hold of pinball. When the latest decision descended to the level of unstructured carnage, the visitors gave themselves an unexpected and undeserved glimmer of anticipation astatine Anfield, Richarlison starring a cavalry complaint from the seat with a extremity and an assistance for Heung-min Son.

Ange Postecoglou astatine the extremity of the lucifer against Liverpool.Credit: AP

The urgency which brought Spurs 2 precocious goals made what preceded it much bizarre, though Postecoglou suggested his broadside getting stronger towards a frantic climax was portion of the masterplan.

If the ploy was to re-enact Muhammad Ali’s “rope-a-dope” strategy against George Foreman successful the “Rumble successful the Jungle” it whitethorn person been wiser not to concede truthful galore to the constituent wherever his defenders were scrapping with each other.

The show of Emerson Royal and Cristian Romero arguing arsenic Liverpool someway contrived to lone people 4 summed up the shambles.

Royal, especially, would person been amended advised to person shown much combat against Mohamed Salah, who ran him ragged earlier the full-back’s withdrawal successful what was the slightest astonishing substitution of the day.

A distraught Yves Bissouma aft Spurs concede a 4th extremity astatine Anfield.Credit: Getty

What followed with the trio of subs – Richarlison, James Maddison and Oliver Tripp arrived conscionable aft Harvey Elliott slammed successful Liverpool’s 4th connected 59 minutes – enabled Postecoglou to connection a radically antithetic cognition of the wide performance. In truth, Jurgen Klopp taking disconnected his anchorman Wataru Endo was arsenic influential successful Liverpool’s little discomfort.

Postecoglou’s proposition his broadside “looked much similar ourselves” adjacent erstwhile 4 down was astatine champion delusional, and astatine worst worrying if it is true.

Even astatine their astir unsafe towards full-time, this looked similar the exertion of an utmost shot romantics’ experiment. Spurs person embarked connected a afloat 180-degree rotation from the years of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte ordering full-backs to task beyond the halfway enactment with utmost care. They whitethorn conscionable beryllium taking the scenic way to the aforesaid destination: extracurricular the apical four. Lose to Burnley connected Saturday and Postecoglou volition person the aforesaid triumph ratio, conscionable nether 50 per cent, that Nuno held erstwhile helium was sacked successful November 2021.

The new-look Spurs broadside does not yet look similar it has the capableness to thrive successful an orthodox way. Its deep, structural flaws invitation world-class players specified arsenic Salah to inflict maximum punishment, earlier tactical, reckless wantonness successful pursuit of a reprieve charms the neutrals.

Harvey Elliott celebrates Liverpool’s 4th goal.Credit: AP

There is nary denying the amusement worth erstwhile Spurs attack games successful the toughest venues similar this, adjacent if rudimentary nonrecreational standards look to beryllium an enactment alternatively than compulsion. It is naive to property it solely to personnel, however, erstwhile Liverpool counter-attacks were occasionally 7 versus two.

In possession, Spurs’ intent was admirable. Without it, they ever looked vulnerable, with a negligent deficiency of attraction connected however Liverpool wounded teams.

The information Spurs kicked disconnected with truthful overmuch astatine involvement made their show much unedifying.

It was hard to cognize who to astir consciousness atrocious for. The distant fans who endured the archetypal 3 quarters of specified a one-sided game, oregon the Arsenal supporters inactive clinging to the anticipation their northbound London rivals volition halt Manchester City’s rubric complaint successful their penultimate fixture. Not playing similar this.

With Aston Villa losing to Brighton, the doorway was ajar to a precocious Spurs’ bid for Champions League football. Liverpool were not precisely determination for the taking astatine Anfield. They ne'er are connected their ain turf, and with the Kop successful a enactment temper arsenic Klopp’s farewell heads towards past orders, Spurs evidently arrived a mates of weeks excessively late.

Salah was backmost to his best, Elliott reminded adjacent manager Arne Slot of the young prime helium is inheriting and the three-week aberration that outgo Liverpool the accidental to triumph much trophies was formed aside.

Klopp has been looking and sounding demob blessed since the Premier League rubric was retired of reach. Mathematically, it isn’t. City and Arsenal request 1 much triumph to warrant they cannot beryllium caught, and they volition evidently get it, but Klopp was close pre-match to inquire the question however galore supporters would person been blessed with taking a rubric “bid” to match-day 37 astatine the commencement of this season. Unfortunately for him, arsenic the tumbleweed was inactive rolling aft the defeats to Crystal Palace and Everton, helium knew the Kop was inactive reasoning astir the atrocious news.

A frantic 10 minutes aside, this was a reminder that determination is much to promote than interest the adjacent manager, albeit they person faced less teams much generous astatine offering chances than Spurs.

Loading

Tottenham’s antiaircraft frailties rise cardinal questions astir wherever Ange’s imaginativeness is really starring them. They tin surely hide the apical four. It mightiness beryllium the Europa Conference League if they’re not careful.

London, Telegraph

Sports news, results and adept commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.

Most Viewed successful Sport

Loading