Ange Postecoglou will already be trying to mastermind a game plan for Tottenham Hotspur’s visit to face Liverpool at Anfield in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Although Tottenham were victorious in N17, it will be a completely different challenge facing Arne Slot’s Liverpool side away from home.
On his first visit to Anfield last season, albeit in the Premier League, Postecoglou and his side were beaten 4-2, a scoreline that was somewhat remedied by late goals from Richarlison and Son Heung-min.
But as they did on Wednesday evening, Spurs will need to find a way to stifle Liverpool’s attacking output, and Postecoglou may look to pack out his midfield again.
That being said, when speaking after the game, the Spurs manager made an interesting comment about the options available to Slot in comparison to himself.
Ange Postecoglou points to the advantage Arne Slot has at Liverpool
Postecoglou spoke to Spurs Play and was honest about the much better squad depth that Liverpool were able to call upon in the second half.
When chasing a winner themselves, the away side introduced Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez in a triple change, options Postecoglou would love to have.
The Spurs manager was proud of his players, but nodded to the advantage that Slot has right now.
Postecoglou said: “The players are really committed to the way we want to play, they haven’t wavered in that.
“People keep asking me to change what we are trying to do, but I just see players who believe in what we want to be and what we are trying to be.
“You saw tonight, Liverpool put some significant talent on the pitch in the second half. Some of the best players in the country came on. We can’t do that.
“We are relying on players who every three days are putting in massive efforts physically and mentally and through that whole time they haven’t wavered in still trying to play our football and be aggressive with everything we do.”
Tottenham sweat on fitness of several stars ahead of Carabao Cup second leg
Of course, once Tottenham recover the likes of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and James Maddison, things will look a lot brighter.
Sending a messenger after the game, Van de Ven was delighted with Dominic Solanke, one of Spurs’ ever-present options right now.
Perhaps when Richarlison is fully fit, Solanke can be afforded a break, but he’s already becoming vital to Spurs’ efforts.
Solanke loved Antonin Kinsky’s debut, another real position from Tottenham’s win over Liverpool.
A result that sets up a second leg at Anfield quite superbly, a game that will be a big test for both clubs, and Liverpool will hope to have recovered their best form by then.