Just days after achieving a thrilling victory over Manchester United to secure a spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, Tottenham Hotspur found themselves jolted back to reality. The 6-3 drubbing they received at the hands of Liverpool on Sunday, which manager Ange Postecoglou described as "painful," has left them languishing in 11th place in the Premier League, trailing fourth-placed Nottingham Forest by eight points.
The demands of juggling multiple competitions have taken their toll, compounded by a spate of injuries. It's now the third consecutive home match in which Spurs have conceded three goals, with Sunday's match seeing them ship three in each half—a new low.
During a chaotic 10-minute stretch in the second half, it felt as though Tottenham defenders Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin were in a relentless retreat, struggling to keep their footing as they were bombarded by Liverpool's attacking waves. In their frantic pursuit to claw back the game, Spurs left themselves exposed, allowing Liverpool to exploit their defensive frailties and score easy counters.
This season has been a rollercoaster for Tottenham. They’ve managed to defeat heavyweights like Manchester City and Manchester United, and delivered convincing 4-1 wins against Aston Villa and West Ham. However, they also suffered narrow defeats to Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace, and were overwhelmed in tumultuous matches against Chelsea and, most recently, Liverpool.
In the aftermath of their thrilling 4-3 triumph over Manchester United, Postecoglou defended his squad's approach when questioned about their performance. "I liked every bit of it," he stated to Sky Sports. "Are you not entertained? Do you want another scrappy 1-0? I’m aware that there’s chatter about my tactics, but I really appreciate our desire to take the fight to the opposition. The mentality of the boys is commendable, and while entertainment is our aim, we also want success. It's a fine balance, especially considering we've had 10 first-team players sidelined. I don't think that message has hit home yet, but that’s alright."
While Spurs’ games may be captivating for neutral observers, one wonders if their loyal supporters share the same sentiment. Since early December, Tottenham has ranked bottom in several defensive metrics: goals conceded (12), shots faced (85), shots on target against (37), expected goals against (14), and big chances conceded (25). With just one win from their last five league matches—against Southampton, who sit rock-bottom and recently parted ways with their head coach—the prospect of improving upon last season’s fifth-place finish seems to be dwindling.
Postecoglou has been vocal regarding the hurdles his team faces, particularly with senior players like Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Guglielmo Vicario absent from the lineup. He seeks greater sympathy from the fanbase for their plight.
Yet, if the situation is as dire as he suggests, a change in approach seems warranted. Alternatively, perhaps the team deserves credit for netting three times against both of the division's top teams. "There's a perception that I should just press a button and suddenly make us a better team," Postecoglou remarked post-Liverpool defeat. "I’m focused on developing this squad into the team we envision, and yes, challenges will arise as we navigate this process."
To be fair, Postecoglou was compelled to field an inexperienced defense up against one of global football's most lethal attacks. Gray and Djed Spence, who together had only five Premier League starts—entirely within the previous fortnight—were tasked with containing the likes of Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz. Their efforts were commendable, albeit lacking the necessary midfield support.
New recruit Radu Dragusin arrived from Genoa for £25 million and was anticipated as a long-term competitor for Van de Ven and Romero. However, Postecoglou’s decision to reinsert both into the starting XI against Chelsea last week, despite their recent returns from injury, raised concerns about Dragusin’s readiness. There was a moment against Liverpool when he visibly rebuked Dragusin for a poor pass that went astray.
It's evident that Dragusin is not as composed under pressure as his defensive colleagues. Frequently resorting to long balls, he often contributed to Liverpool regaining possession. A pivotal aerial duel was lost just after James Maddison's strike, which allowed Liverpool's Szoboszlai to break away and score while Dragusin struggled to recover. These individual mishaps can't be laid at Postecoglou's feet.
Judging a team capable of such starkly contrasting performances is a tricky business. There remains a glimmer of hope that Ben Davies and Mikey Moore could return for selection before the year concludes, but Romero, Van de Ven, and Richarlison may require additional time to regain full fitness. This suggests Spurs will likely face Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Newcastle United with a depleted squad.
A significant number of the starting XI against Liverpool had just come off an exhausting schedule of three matches in eight days. Postecoglou will be eager for the return of Van de Ven and Romero ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool scheduled for mid-January.
Despite the turmoil, it’s fair to note that the fans remain engaged. The crowd was vocal during the second half, with chants of Postecoglou's name ringing out as the team pulled off two quickfire goals.
"Following the City match, we recognized this would be our most challenging stretch," he said. "We've experienced shorter recovery turns than nearly every other squad we've faced, whether here in the Premier League or abroad. The lack of rotation has been a hurdle, but I have immense respect for the players' efforts during this tough period. Understanding the depth of our current predicament is crucial, and unfortunately, that’s unlikely to change soon."
As long as Spurs find themselves mired in such circumstances, fans should brace for a blend of entertainment and frustration in equal measure.