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Spurs lose out 6-3 to Liverpool at home, with Spurs' goals coming from James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham lost their final game before Christmas to Arne Slot's Liverpool, a game in which the Lilywhites were on the back foot for the whole 90.

Tottenham made no changes from their 4-3 win over Man United in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup, but Destiny Udogie did return to the bench following a slight injury.

Ange Postecoglou spoke pre-match on the criticism of his style of play and the concept of his football, saying how, "I don't need validity, and it won't change"

Postecoglou stuck by that, going all out against the Redmen, but Arne Slot's counterattacking football came out on top.

Spurs will head into their boxing day clash against Nottingham Forest eight points off of them and 11th in the table.

Story of the Match

Ange Postecoglou stuck with what worked in their previous match, with Djed Spence still starting ahead of the returning Destiny Udogie at left-back.

A scary start for Spurs saw Mohammed Salah come close, hitting the side netting after a wayward pass from Fraser Forster fell directly to him.

Liverpool looked quick from the off, and Spurs were looking nervy with their passes out from the back.

Salah came close again in the 10th minute, but a big save from Forster kept the game goalless.

Liverpool were getting the chances, but Spurs were holding off well, forcing the away side to take their shots quickly.

Another chance for Salah saw the Egyptian hit the bar this time, his fifth attempt in just the first 20 minutes.

Liverpool got their opener just minutes later, a pinpoint cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold found Luiz Diaz, who headed it past Forster.

It was poor marking from the Spurs defence, and they found themselves a goal down.

At the 30-minute mark, Spurs were pushing with their regular attacking football, but nothing was working for the Lilywhites.

The evening got worse for Tottenham though, a ball into the box was met by Dominik Szoboszlai who headed it into the air for it to be contested.

Alexis Mac Allister came running in however to head the ball home and put the Redmen 2-0 up.

However, just minutes later, Spurs grabbed a lifeline through James Maddison.

Dejan Kulusevski won the ball off of Mac Allister high up the pitch and played it to Maddison who curled it in past Alisson.

The game was still up for grabs for Spurs who cut the deficit to only one goal just minutes before the end of the first 45.

Not too long after Spurs' lifeline, the woes came back for the home side as Liverpool grabbed a third.

Radu Dragusin missed a header which allowed Salah through on goal, the Egyptian then played the ball to Szoboszlai who put it through Forster's legs.

The half-time whistle then blew, and Spurs were down by two with the scoreline reading 3-1 to Liverpool.

Tottenham started the second half looking lively but still making the same mistakes with passes as they were in the first half.

Liverpool, on the other hand, were showing no signs of slowing down and quickly grabbed a fourth.

A shot from Cody Gakpo was blocked by Archie Gray, Szoboszlai's follow-up effort was also blocked by Gray, but the second follow-up from Salah was put into the back of the net.

Spurs were looking down and out being 4-1 down, but were still sticking to their style of play.

The goals didn't stop there, and on the hour mark, Liverpool grabbed a fifth.

A quick counter saw Szoboszlai run through and play it into Salah, the Egyptian placed it in easily to make the scoring 5-1.

It marked the first time Spurs had conceded five at home in their new stadium.

A second goal came the way for Spurs with 20 minutes to go, and it was from the man on form, Kulusevski.

A lofted ball from Dominic Solanke saw Kulusevski volley it home and cut Spurs' deficit to only three goals.

Spurs continued their attacking efforts, and 10 minutes later, they grabbed a third.

A ball into the box saw substitute Brennan Johnson head it down for Solanke who on the turn hit it past Alisson in net.

Spurs made it 5-3, but Liverpool were quick, and just a minute later, made the score 6-3.

Luis Diaz grabbed his second following a cute ball from Salah.

With five minutes to go, the action was showing no signs of slowing down, both sides were still attacking in numbers.

Added time finally saw the game slow down, and the whistle eventually blew.

A game of frantic action was finally over, and Liverpool came out on top, winning 6-3.

Player of the Match - Archie Gray

Despite the result, the 18-year-old played his heart out in the centre of defence.

Gray was played yet again out of position but did well when called upon, a fair few goals were conceded, but Gray stood out amongst the team.

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In the Premier League...

Referring only to the times they have faced each other in the Premier League, we count 162 duels, where the numbers are in favor of Liverpool with 78 wins, while Tottenham has won 43, for a balance of 41 draws.

If we take into account the number of times Tottenham has played at home against Liverpool in the Premier League, there are 81 matches, where Spurs have the advantage with 37 wins over the 26 that the Reds have won, and 18 draws.

Liverpool had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Fulham during their last Premier League match, so they come into the game with the opportunity and responsibility to recover points they have let slip away.

Now unbeaten in 20 games in all competitions, the Reds have been in the top half of the Premier League, however, their lead is no longer insurmountable and they must get the three points.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking forward to matchday 17 after a 5-0 away win over Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium and after knocking Manchester United out of the EFL Cup to qualify for the semifinals.

After breaking a four-game winless streak in all competitions on home soil, the next objective for Ange Postecoglu's side will be to avoid going four games without a home win in the Premier League, something they have not suffered since 2013.

This stadium is also preparing to be one of the venues for the next UEFA EURO, to be held in 2028.

My name is Jhonatan Martínez and I will be your host for this match. We will bring you pre-match analysis, score updates and live news here on VAVEL.

Tottenham have so far gifted Crystal Palace and Ipswich their first victories of the season, but any inclination that the team's tendency to gift points to lower table sides was quickly put to bed with five first half goals.

The first came through vice-captain James Maddison inside 36 seconds, Tottenham's quickest Premier League goal since 2018. Djed Spence, who made his first top flight start for the Lilywhites, cleverly turned his marker on the half way line and accelerated towards the Southampton penalty area, before slotting through his compatriot who calmly finished through the legs of Alex McCarthy.

Boos echoed around St. Marys for under siege Russell Martin, as Southampton's defence carelessly gave away another two goals in quick succession courtesy of Son Heung-Min and Dejan Kulusevski.

The home side made a substitution after just quarter of an hour and reverted to three at the back, but the onslaught continued, with Pape Matar Sarr scoring his fourth goal of the season with a well taken finish, after maneuvering his way through the lacklustre Saints defence in the 25th minute.

Maddison added a fifth on the stroke of half time, with an incredible, powerful right-footed shot from a tight angle, to stun the already infuriated Southampton fans.

The home side managed to hold out in the second half to avoid what many feared could have been another humiliating and record equalling or record breaking defeat - having lost 9-0 twice in the past five years.

The result will significantly boost the confidence of Ange Postecoglou's side, who were winless in five prior to kick-off.

The win will no doubt increase their hopes of beating Manchester United in their vital League Cup quarter-final clash on Thursday, as they desperately aim to end their near 17 year trophy drought.

Tottenham Player Ratings

Fraser Forster - 8

Forster returned to his former club with his sights set on continuing his fine run of form, since stepping in for the injured Guglielmo Vicario.

The Englishman did just that, although not tested too often, Forster was worked on a few occasions in the second half and was secure in his handling when called upon.

Djed Spence - 9

The number 24 really seems to have revitalised his Tottenham career, after multiple loans spells and strong links of a permanent move away.

Spence's impressive assist was followed up with a solid defensive display, also maintaining possession well while under high press, when playing out from the back.

Radu Dragusin - 8

Dragusin commanded the thin Tottenham defence with authority and often cleared the danger after the sparse Southampton attacks.

Archie Gray - 9

The 18-year-old deserves so much praise. Gray has had limited opportunities since joining in the summer, but when called upon to play in a completely unfamiliar centre back role, has really stepped in when his side were in desperate need of a central defender, due to their abundance of absentees.

Destiny Udogie - 7

Tottenham's misery of constantly losing defenders to injury was worsened when the Italian had to be replaced after half an hour.

Until then, Udogie was dominant in winning his duals and it was his tackle to regain possession, which eventually led to his side's third.

Pape Matar Sarr - 8

Sarr made regular interceptions and always looked to advance the play forward after receiving the ball.

The Senegalese midfielder took his goal superbly, dribbling through a tight space between defenders, before poking the ball in with an outstretched left leg.

James Maddison - 9

Maddison continued his pursuit of regaining his international spot, with a fantastic performance. He took his two goals with sublime precision and really acted as the catalyst in every Tottenham attack.

Lucas Bergvall - 8

The Swede impressed during his first Premier league start, making some fine passes and showcasing neat footwork. Sometimes he took a bit too long on the ball and was subsequently dispossessed, but nothing drastic that can't be rectified with practice.

Dejan Kulusevski - 8

Tottenham's player of the season so far was once again fundamental in his side's victory.

Kulusevski caused trouble for the Saints from both the right wing and central midfield and added to his goal tally with a poachers finish.

Domonic Solanke - 6

A frustrating evening for the striker, who would have been desperate to get on the scoresheet.

Son Heung-Min - 9

The South Korean has suffered one of his more difficult seasons in his tenth campaign for the club.

Yesterday however, Son scored his 16th goal against Southampton, netting more against them than any other side. He also registered two assists, making him Tottenham's record assist provider in the Premier League (68).

Substitutes

Pedro Porro - 6

After his introduction in the 28th minute, Porro was rarely troubled in the right back position but was caught on his heels on a couple of occasions.

Brennan Johnson - 5

The Welshman was often wasteful and didn't pose much threat going forward. He also squandered a great opportunity from close range, which he would have been offside for anyway.

Alfie Dorrington - 7

The 19-year-old centre back impressed on his debut, keeping calm in possession and eliminating threat. A great opportunity to gain some experience, especially considering he may be called upon soon, with Tottenham's lack of defensive options.

Timo Werner - 6

After being heavily scrutinised by his manager for his poor performance against Rangers on Thursday, Werner didn't get many opportunities to make amends but also didn't make any mistakes.

Will Lankshear - 6

The young striker linked up play well during his short spell on the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur's visit to the St Mary's Stadium pitted Ange Postecoglou and Russell Martin - two managers under increasing pressure - against on another with both looking to arrest their side's poor form.

Ravaged by injury, the Spurs boss will be delighted that his side won the match very early on, giving him the opportunity to protect his threadbare squad in the second half ahead of Thursday's Carabao Cup quarter final.

Spurs got off to a flying start with James Maddison capping off an excellent move (not least due to an sublime turn, run and pass from Djed Spence in his maiden Premier League start) inside the first minute. In truth, the match was won 13 minutes later with goals from Son Heung-Min and Dejan Kulusevski forcing Russell Martin to make an early sub and change formation.

Unfortunately for the soon to be dismissed manager, this made little different with Pape Matar Sarr and Maddison sealing the 5-0 victory by half-time. This allowed Ange Postecoglou's team to take it's foot off the gas in the second half and withdraw Son, then Maddison, early to ensure no injury flare ups.

Here are four things we learnt.

Bergvall has what it takes

Lucas Bergvall started a Premier League match for the first time at Southampton, and he didn't disappoint. There were errors in his game, some dallying on the ball, a couple of misplaced passes and trying a little too much, but the way he handled filling in at the base of Spurs midfield showed a maturity beyond his years.

With Yves Bissouma having had a nightmare performance against Chelsea and Rodrigo Bentancur still suspended, the young Swede may have showcased enough to keep his place in at least one of Spurs remaining matches before Christmas against Manchester United or Liverpool. Most impressive was his ability to take the ball from the defence under pressure and move his side up the gears, but his Postecoglou will have been pleased to see him respond well to receiving some physical treatment from experienced opposition and never wilting.

It seems clear can expect bright things from Bervall.

Gray will be great

If Bergvall's performance wasn't enough to get Spurs supporters excited about the future, summer signing from Leeds Archie Gray will have done the rest. So far this season Gray has played in both full back positions and now finds himself at centre back, partnering the also inexperienced Radu Dragusin. All this from a central midfielder yet to see his 19th Birthday.

Gray's passing out of defence was crisp and precise while his composure under pressure was unwavering. What might have been less expected was this slender teenager playing in an unfamiliar position could read a pass in behind and block a shot from the edge of the six yard box, but that's exactly what happened as he prevented Yukinari Sugawara putting away Southampton's best chance of the match in the 88th minute from close up, preserving the Spurs clean sheet.

Spence can deliver

As with both of the above players, it should be noted that all of this has come against comfortable the worst side in the Premier League. That said, Djed Spence will be delighted to have begun the game by able taking on a pass from deep, turning his man and driving the ball forward before finding the perfect pass for Maddison to score. The former Middlesbrough right back may be 24-years-old, but he had only played 8 top flight matches for Spurs before this match and this was his first start.

Following on from his explosive beginning, Spence was composed, energetic and aggressive throughout his time on the pitch, moving to left-back when Destiny Udogie was substituted early on, and will have reassured Postecoglou that he can at the very least deputise more often for the Italian left back and Pedro Porro on the other side.

Don't be surprised to see Spence start more matches in the remainder of 2024 with the Spurs defence injury ravaged and him having only impressed in his limited minutes so far this season. This may be the platform for him to be more than a squad player if he takes his chances.

Spurs supporters have had enough

With Spurs having stuttered by and large during the first half of the season, the supporter base has become increasingly frustrated. Often the manager will receive their fair share of this ire, and Ange Postecoglou has had to deal with criticism recently (not always in the most constructive way), but by and large the away supporters were united behind the Australian. Daniel Levy and ENIC, however, were not made to feel so welcome.

With some exceptional performances from the team in white so far this season, and the reasonable assumption that the extensive injury list has been a huge reason for Spurs' inconsistency, the club's fans can be forgiven for looking at a summer transfer window which again left the squad thinner than necessary.

No wingers who seem to really suit the system this manager prioritises, a lack of a genuine 'number 6' midfielder to play deep and the requirement for 31-year-old Ben Davies to again provide cover at both left centre back and left back might more easily be forgiven if ENIC didn't have form for doing as little as could be got away with, or if there had been even one trophy since 2008. Imagine if Fraser Foster hadn't been rolling back the years this past few weeks in Guglielmo Vicario's absence?

ENIC have consistently left managers short of the tools they really need, and Spurs have been at best bridesmaids, never brides, in the past 16 seasons. The result? Scoring five goals by half-time to arrest recent form in yet another entertaining display and yet the chants of "we want Levy out" and "I don't care about Levy, Levy doesn't care about me" persisting up until and beyond the final whistle.

January provides the opportunity for Spurs to reinforce Postecoglou's squad, and if done so with some quality and Spurs finish the season with some success, this noise would likely calm. That is unless it is too little too late.

Two first half goals from Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap secured a 2-1 victory for Ipswich Town over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Tottenham Hotspur nearly cut into the two-goal deficit immediately after halftime when Dominic Solanke scored in the 49th minute.

The goal was overruled after a VAR check due to a handball from Solanke.

Rodrigo Bentancur opened the scoring for Spurs in the 69th minute, but the home side were unable to close the deficit.

Ipswich Town were able to secure their first victory in the Premier League and pull themselves out of the relegation zone.

We explored how each player performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Starting XI

Arijanet Muric - 8

Muric has been on a quality run of form over the last five matches. This match he definitely produced his best. He completed five saves, three from inside the box.

He helped protect Ipswich Town’s lead. Muric helped navigate the team through an early first half period where Tottenham Hotspur were pushing for a goal.

Leif Davis - 7

Another very strong performance from Leif Davis after he scored a stunning goal last weekend. He had six clearances and was a large part of the team securing their first victory.

Alongside his defensive contribution, Davis had two key passes and helped to influence play moving forward.

Cameron Burgess - 7

He assisted heavily with the defensive work for his side. He had nine clearances. He nearly scored from a header on the left hand side of the six-yard box in the 9th minute.

His effort hit the bar and he nearly opened the scoring for Ipswich Town early in the match.

Dara O’Shea - 7

Another defender who was valuable to Ipswich Town’s victory. He had nine clearances and three blocked shots. He had two tackles and won half of his duels in the match.

Axel Tuanzebe - 6

He had two interceptions and two tackles. A solid performance from Tuanzebe was needed for the result. He didn’t have much of an impact on the attacking side of proceedings.

Jens Cajuste - 6

He did well to get forward from his defensive midfielder position. He had three successful dribble attempts and played almost the full ninety minutes.

Sam Morsy - 7

Morsy completed 91% of his passes (30/33) and controlled the tempo of the match from midfield. He had three clearances and three interceptions.

Morsy has been influential in the last few matches with accurate passes from midfield.

Sammie Szmodics - 7

His overhead kick goal in the 31st minute opened the scoring for the match and stunned the hosts. This is the second time he scored against a traditional ‘Big Six’ side in the 2024/2025 season.

He scored against Manchester City at the the Etihad and opened the scoring there, too. Szmodics stepped up to the plate again today and helped his team once again.

Omari Hutchinson - 7

He completed 88% of his passes (23/26) and had a key pass in the match. Hutchinson helped defensively and had two tackles. He also had an interception.

The defensive side of proceedings is something Hutchinson will probably focus on developing as the season progresses.

Ben Johnson - 6

Johnson did not have much of an impact in the final third. A lot of his passes did not lead up to attacking chances. He completed one dribble attempt and had three tackles. He put forth a pretty good effort for Ipswich, but there wasn’t anything too extraordinary to speak about.

Liam Delap - 8

A goal and assist against Tottenham Hotspur have topped off some good performances over the last month. His hold up play was once again influential in a tough away battle.

He didn’t get many touches of the ball, 18, but did a lot when he did receive the ball. Another really good performance from Delap.

Substitutes

George Hirst - 6

He came on and contributed defensively, but did not provide much in an attacking sense. He won all four of his aerial duels and had a clearance.

Jack Clarke - 6

Clarke played 19 minutes and came onto the pitch for Sammie Szmodics. He got 15 touches, but did not pose much of an attacking threat.

He won a few duels and showed effort to protect the lead. This is the most important contribution someone can make for a team that has a one goal lead away from home.

Massimo Luongo - 6

He only came onto the pitch for eight minutes and did not have much of an impact. He only touched the ball one time and was subsequently fouled.

He won a ground duel and moved around the pitch. There wasn’t much to speak on his individual performance, and he was sent on to protect the lead.

Two first half goals from Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap secured a 2-1 victory for Ipswich Town over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Tottenham Hotspur nearly cut into the two-goal deficit immediately after halftime when Dominic Solanke scored in the 49th minute.

The goal was overruled after a VAR check due to a handball from Solanke.

Rodrigo Bentancur opened the scoring for Spurs in the 69th minute, but the home side were unable to close the deficit.

Ipswich Town were able to secure their first victory in the Premier League and pull themselves out of the relegation zone.

We explored how each player performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Starting XI

Arijanet Muric - 8

Muric has been on a quality run of form over the last five matches. This match he definitely produced his best. He completed five saves, three from inside the box.

He helped protect Ipswich Town’s lead. Muric helped navigate the team through an early first half period where Tottenham Hotspur were pushing for a goal.

Leif Davis - 7

Another very strong performance from Leif Davis after he scored a stunning goal last weekend. He had six clearances and was a large part of the team securing their first victory.

Alongside his defensive contribution, Davis had two key passes and helped to influence play moving forward.

Cameron Burgess - 7

He assisted heavily with the defensive work for his side. He had nine clearances. He nearly scored from a header on the left hand side of the six-yard box in the 9th minute.

His effort hit the bar and he nearly opened the scoring for Ipswich Town early in the match.

Dara O’Shea - 7

Another defender who was valuable to Ipswich Town’s victory. He had nine clearances and three blocked shots. He had two tackles and won half of his duels in the match.

Axel Tuanzebe - 6

He had two interceptions and two tackles. A solid performance from Tuanzebe was needed for the result. He didn’t have much of an impact on the attacking side of proceedings.

Jens Cajuste - 6

He did well to get forward from his defensive midfielder position. He had three successful dribble attempts and played almost the full ninety minutes.

Sam Morsy - 7

Morsy completed 91% of his passes (30/33) and controlled the tempo of the match from midfield. He had three clearances and three interceptions.

Morsy has been influential in the last few matches with accurate passes from midfield.

Sammie Szmodics - 7

His overhead kick goal in the 31st minute opened the scoring for the match and stunned the hosts. This is the second time he scored against a traditional ‘Big Six’ side in the 2024/2025 season.

He scored against Manchester City at the the Etihad and opened the scoring there, too. Szmodics stepped up to the plate again today and helped his team once again.

Omari Hutchinson - 7

He completed 88% of his passes (23/26) and had a key pass in the match. Hutchinson helped defensively and had two tackles. He also had an interception.

The defensive side of proceedings is something Hutchinson will probably focus on developing as the season progresses.

Ben Johnson - 6

Johnson did not have much of an impact in the final third. A lot of his passes did not lead up to attacking chances. He completed one dribble attempt and had three tackles. He put forth a pretty good effort for Ipswich, but there wasn’t anything too extraordinary to speak about.

Liam Delap - 8

A goal and assist against Tottenham Hotspur have topped off some good performances over the last month. His hold up play was once again influential in a tough away battle.

He didn’t get many touches of the ball, 18, but did a lot when he did receive the ball. Another really good performance from Delap.

Substitutes

George Hirst - 6

He came on and contributed defensively, but did not provide much in an attacking sense. He won all four of his aerial duels and had a clearance.

Jack Clarke - 6

Clarke played 19 minutes and came onto the pitch for Sammie Szmodics. He got 15 touches, but did not pose much of an attacking threat.

He won a few duels and showed effort to protect the lead. This is the most important contribution someone can make for a team that has a one goal lead away from home.

Massimo Luongo - 6

He only came onto the pitch for eight minutes and did not have much of an impact. He only touched the ball one time and was subsequently fouled.

He won a ground duel and moved around the pitch. There wasn’t much to speak on his individual performance, and he was sent on to protect the lead.

Last five matches

Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Fulham (Premier League)

Brighton & Hove Albion 0 - 0 Ipswich Town (Premier League)

Southamton 1 - 1 Ipswich Town (Premier League)

Ipswich Town 2 - 2 Aston Villa (Premier League)

West Ham United 4 - 1 Ipswich Town (Premier League)

Last five matches

Bayern Munchen 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur (Friendly match)

Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 3 Bayern Munchen (Friendly match)

Leicester City 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)

Tottenham Hotspur 4 - 0 Everton (Premier League)

Newcastle 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)

Update

It was a good day at the office for Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon as they came from behind to decimate Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in a 4-1 battering.

After Morgan Rogers had put the visitors ahead in the first half, Ange Postecoglou’s words at the break rejuvenated his side who put in a completely different showing after the interval.

Brennan Johnson tapped home the equaliser from close range four minutes after the restart before Dominic Solanke netted a brace and James Maddison delicately curled in his 50th Premier League goal courtesy of a free-kick in stoppage time.

However, a concerning statistic has emerged as in this calendar year Spurs have played 14 matches at home in the Premier League and they have conceded first in 12 of them.

But as long as Spurs keep finding a way to win, Postecoglou and his coaching staff won't mind lulling their opponents into a false sense of security.

This performance showed some resilience and personality in this Tottenham side. Here are four other things we learnt.

Pape Matar Sarr is becoming indispensable

The Senegalese was once again a vital component in the system and he dominated a midfield pairing of Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana.

In recent weeks, Sarr has been one of the club’s top performers and he earned his place from the start against Villa after a sumptuous strike in their Carabao Cup tie with Manchester City on Wednesday night.

His presence did not go unnoticed on the weekend as he used his lanky frame and long strides to cover every blade of grass, intercept passes and dictate the tempo.

In fact, Tottenham’s third goal was created by Sarr as he cut out Pau Torres’ attempted pass before playing in Richarlison, who set up Solanke.

You would be forgiven if you had forgot that the former Metz man is still only 22, as the box-to-box midfielder is performing with maturity way beyond his years.

The simple truth of the matter is Spurs look way more comfortable when Sarr is on the pitch.

Spurs set piece woes continue

There is a narrative circulating around this team that they are vulnerable from set piece situations. Weak.

Guglielmo Vicario is a fantastic shot-stopper, who uses his quick reflexes and agility to make the most unlikeliest of saves.

But from corners or free-kicks, the Italian looks feeble and seems to get distracted too easily by opposition players.

On Sunday, Villa’s solitary goal stemmed from this exact description as Vicario looked way more interested in tussling with Rogers than commanding his box.

In Vicario’s defence, he reacted well to prevent Rodrigo Bentancur from diverting the ball into his own net, but he could only parry the ball into the path of Rogers who had the simple task of smashing the ball into the empty net.

However, the blame of this issue doesn’t just fall on the goalkeeper's shoulders but rather it is a tactical problem which concerns the whole team.

Too often this season Tottenham players have lost their concentration or have not shown enough physicality or adept positioning to adequately defend crosses.

The frustrating aspect of the loss of the clean sheet for Spurs was the fact that Emery’s team created very little.

To concede a goal that easily is inexcusable at this level, especially for a team aiming for silverware this term.

Not only are Spurs struggling to defend set-pieces, they also can’t seem to score from one.

The Lilywhites have had 90 corners this campaign - 25 more than Nottingham Forest, who have the third most, and only eight away from Manchester City’s tally at the top.

From these 90 corners, Spurs have only scored from two of them, which can be calculated to a percentage of a 2% success rate.

This is even more bizarre when you consider the height amongst the Spurs roster including 6’4 Micky van de Ven, 6’3 Radu Dragusin and 6’2 Solanke.

If you cast your mind back to Antonio Conte’s regime, Gianni Vio was employed as an offensive set-piece coach and corners were a fruitful avenue.

Having someone of Vio’s ilk as part of Postecoglou’s back room staff could be hugely beneficial and give Spurs that edge in pursuit of realising their ambitions of lifting trophies.

Postecoglou’s not afraid to make controversial substitutions

The Australian made a tough decision in the 55th minute as he opted to take off Spurs captain Heung-min Son.

Moments before he was replaced, the South Korean had just manufactured a way back into the contest for the hosts as he swung in an inviting ball into the path of Johnson to level the score.

Son was in a confident mood and he was orchestrating every Spurs attack by demanding the ball off his teammates and driving the team forward with his mazy runs.

So when the fourth official held up the number seven on his board, a sense of bemusement filtered around the stadium and no one was as surprised and angry as Son.

The 32-year-old begrudgingly exited the field of play before taking his seat on the substitutes bench with a frustrated slump and was seen remonstrating with his colleagues about how he disagreed with the alteration.

Ultimately, the change paid off as Son’s replacement Richarlison picked up an assist and the skipper managed to get a sizeable rest after being plagued with injuries over the last month.

In his post-match press conference, Postecoglou admitted that the decision to take Son off was pre-determined as he wanted to protect his star winger.

Still, considering the circumstances it was a brave action by the Australian manager and if the outcome of the match had been different, he would have been subjected to a lot of criticism.

Solanke is proving his value for Spurs

Much was made when Spurs parted ways with a club record £60 million to sign Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke in the summer.

But the Englishman has proved his value so far, with his all-encompassing displays spearheading the best attack in the division.

The former Chelsea and Liverpool striker is a tireless presser who works incredibly hard for the team, and his selfless actions mean he might not always receive the adulation he deserves.

But most importantly, he is a really intelligent footballer.

He has the innate ability to understand when the best time to trigger the press is, he uses his bulky frame adeptly to win fouls and his movement is exemplary.

For his first goal and Tottenham’s second, the striker tracked back roughly 30 yards to help regain possession before beating Villa’s offside trap with a perfectly timed run and having the elegance and composure to delicately dink the ball over the onrushing Martinez.

Solanke’s second was a pure poacher's goal as he used his instinct to evade his marker and tap home.

Postecoglou was very complementary of his striker after the match hailing the forward as "unbelievable" and stating that when Solanke is on the pitch it makes his side a lot better.

If Solanke can consistently deliver these type of displays, the £60 million fee will start to look like a bargain.

The first of two Premier League matches this Sunday saw Tottenham Hotspur host Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a vital top four clash.

The first half started well for Spurs as they dominated early on, looking like the more threatening side in the match. In the opening 20 minutes the Lilywhites managed seven touches in the opposition box, compared to Villa’s one.

It was the visitors, however, that had the first big chance as the initial corner was cleared, Villa swung a second cross back in and Amadou Onana rose the highest to nod a header towards goal but Guglielmo Vicario got down quickly to stop the away team from going in front.

However, from the resulting corner Rodrigo Bentancur flicked the ball towards his own keeper, who saved it, but Morgan Rogers was in position to poke home the rebound. Spurs yet again concede from a set piece, an issue that arises doubt towards Vicario.

The second half was a different story, Spurs started quickly and in the 49th minute Heung-Min Son delivered a brilliant ball into the Aston Villa penalty area and Welshman Brennan Johnson arrived at the back post to level the game.

Tottenham took the lead with quarter of an hour left to play, Johnson set the ball for Dejan Kulusevski who played a teasing ball into the danger area and Dominic Solanke managed to stay just onside and the Englishman showed great composure as he chipped an oncoming Emiliano Martinez.

Just four minutes later Spurs found themselves 3-1 up as Solanke grabbed his second of the day. Pape Matar Sarr intercepted a loose ball from Pau Torres before playing a ball to Richarlison who unselfishly squares it to Solanke who slots it home and puts the game out of reach for Villa.

With the game all but finished in the 96th minute, Spurs found themselves with a free-kick in a dangerous area and substitute James Maddison bent it round the Aston Villa wall to make it 4-1 to Spurs and seal off an important victory.

After a convincing win for Ange Postecoglou’s side, here are the player ratings.

Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings

Guglielmo Vicario– 7

The Italian didn’t have a whole lot to do, facing only two shots on target all game. He got down well to save Onana’s header in the first half and kept out Bentancur’s flick towards his own goal.

However, Spurs conceded yet another set piece goal which has been a big talking point recently with questions being raised over Vicario’s ability to defend them.

Pedro Porro – 7

Solid performance from Porro today but nothing too spectacular. He attempted 6 crosses and only found his target with half of them.

The Spaniard also found himself in the referee’s book with a sliding challenge that could’ve been avoided if he stayed on his feet.

Cristian Romero – 7

The centre back once again showed off his passing ability today, completing 37 of his 39 attempted passes.

However, a foot injury forced him off after 60 minutes as he was replaced by Ben Davies.

Radu Dragusin – 8

Another solid defensive performance by Dragusin today as he covered for the injured Micky van de Ven. The Romanian international looked very comfortable on the ball and played four passes into the final third.

He also made a very good block in the first half against Jacob Ramsey.

Destiny Udogie – 7

Udogie made two interceptions and three tackles in a solid performance. The Italian left-back also made himself a nuisance for Villa in an attacking sense, making three passes into the final third.

Rodrigo Bentancur – 7

Arguably Spurs’ best player in the first half, looked very sharp. However, in the second half he seemed to be chasing the game a bit.

The Uruguayan was also lucky to not pick up a yellow card as he committed three fouls before being replaced by Yves Bissouma in the 56th minute.

Pape Matar Sarr – 8

Very impressive performance from the young midfielder who seemed to get better as the game went on.

He was vital for Spurs’ third goal as he picked up a loose ball and slipped Richarlison through to set up Solanke.

Dejan Kulusevski – 8

Struggled in the first half but was on form in the second and played a lovely reverse ball to set up Solanke’s first.

Brennan Johnson – 8

Gave his all and ran his socks off all game, chasing plenty of loose balls. He was rewarded for his effort early in the second half as he netted his seventh of the season, finishing off Son’s cross.

Dominic Solanke – 9

Worked tirelessly as usual, didn’t have too many chances in the first half. He got more service in the second half which resulted in him bagging two goals, chipping the first one over Martinez and tapping home a second from Richarlison’s pass.

Also won the free-kick that Maddison scored.

Heung-Min Son – 7

Spurs’ captain returned to the starting line-up today and lit up the start of the second half with a great low cross that Johnson finished off.

Was taken off after just 56 minutes though as a precaution, much to his disappointment.

Substitutes

Richarlison – 7

Made a brief appearance and grabbed an assist for Solanke but injured what seemed to be his hamstring in the process and was subbed off subsequently.

Yves Bissouma – 7

Came on and livened up the Spurs midfield, a great change from Postecoglou to replace Bentancur with the Mali international.

Ben Davies – 8

Defended very well when he came on for Romero and made a very important block which set Spurs’ away for their second.

James Maddison – 8

Didn’t let the fact he started on the bench get to him as he curled a beautiful free-kick round the Villa wall to make it 4-1 to Spurs.

Archie Gray – 7

Came on for Udogie late in the game and didn’t put a foot wrong. Such a promising young prospect.

Tottenham edged past Manchester City, with two first half goals from Timo Werner and Pape Matar Sarr.

This win was much needed for Spurs, after yet another disappointing away performance against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

It was not just the result that provided promise for supporters, but multiple elements of the performance that showed the Lilywhites' season is far from over.

Kulusevski's quality shines through

Dejan Kulusevski is having an outstanding campaign thus far, picking up another two assists last night.

Creating chances was only one part of what Kulusevski brought to the table against City, with tireless running off the ball, deep understanding of how Ange Postecoglou wants him to play and immense composure on the ball.

This was proved by the Swede not being dispossessed once during the match, of which he played the duration.

Kulusevski has more often than not provided the answer for Tottenham, being the creative spark that continues to light up the pitch.

With impressive upper body strength, ball-carrying ability and willingness to do the under-appreciated running in hard-fought contests, the 24-year-old is without a doubt Tottenham's player of the season so far.

Werner is capable of delivering in the final third

Timo Werner has been the centre of attention, for the wrong reasons, surrounding many supporters' quibbles about their lack of ruthlessness in the final third.

A tidy finish, past compatriot Stefan Ortega, is the confidence boost the German has been looking for.

This is not to say he is the perfect winger and takes every chance he gets with ease, even Son Heung-min squanders opportunities from time to time.

The chances that fell to the 28-year-old early in the second half is more accustomed to what fans' expectations are of the former Chelsea man.

However, Timo Werner is very useful to Ange Postecoglou, with his pace capable of taking him to a crossing position, a core element of what the Australian manager looks for in his wide players.

To find a winger with electric pace, Champions League winning experience and ability to beat a man is rare. Therefore, Werner could be key for Spurs as they go deeper into cup competitions.

Richarlison's experience proves useful

With 20 minutes left to play, the north London side were holding a one goal lead when Postecoglou chose to bring on Brazilian forward Richarlison.

This may not seem like a conventional substitution when looking to see out a win, but two key factors made it exactly what Spurs needed.

Firstly, the 27-year-old has vast experience in holding up play and letting his side regain their shape, providing them with the best chance of defending their advantage.

The ball would fall to Richarlison on the left wing and he would wait for the perfect moment to beat a man in order to win a foul.

As well as this, the striker contributes to goals, which is how Ange Postecoglou wants his team to see out results, instead of opting for defensive rigidity.

The Brazilian created a chance for himself late on, but failed to capitalise on Josko Gvardiol's misplaced throw, with Richarlison firing it straight at the keeper.

This combination of game management and attacking threat could be just what Spurs have been missing this season, with Richarlison's return from injury being just what the Lilywhites need.

Winning mentality exists within Tottenham's ranks

With a disappointing defeat to Crystal Palace, among others, this season has been full of bumps in the road for Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham.

It has often been like a box of chocolates, to quote Forest Gump, you never know what you're going to get.

This victory against an albeit weakened Man City proved that Spurs do possess a determined winning mentality.

The issue for Postecoglou is making sure that is on show every week, keeping players' motivation high.

Despite similar issues coming to the fore, such as frailty from set pieces, the collective defensive effort demonstrated this positive mindset that exists within the ranks at N17.

From Dominic Solanke's endless running to Yves Bissouma's goal line clearance, the north London side deserved to progress in the Carabao Cup.

With the contrasting matches over the last week, the players within the squad will be developing mental qualities that are required for success.

Giving Postecoglou and his squad time for this development is what Spurs' most likely route to silverware in the near future will be.