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Fansided

Tottenham Falls Flat versus Liverpool

By Aaron Coe

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at Wembley Stadium on January 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at Wembley Stadium on January 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /
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NEWPORT, WALES – JANUARY 27: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur looks dejected after The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Newport County and Tottenham Hotspur at Rodney Parade on January 27, 2018 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
NEWPORT, WALES – JANUARY 27: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur looks dejected after The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Newport County and Tottenham Hotspur at Rodney Parade on January 27, 2018 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /

The Positives?

Even in loss, we must look for a silver lining and move on with a trip to the San Siro looming in the new week. Erik Lamela was a positive contributor, adding Spurs only goal. He really should have had two, but like Lucas pulled his shot wide when it came in the 84th minute.

Danny Rose followed up a solid performance with the England National Team with a good showing today. Had he support from either a back three or a true front four and wide presence he might have had an even better day. It is always good to see Danny playing hard and well, which does bode well for the squad moving forward.

Other thoughts on Spurs performance

Another area where Tottenham failed to make any real changes in the offseason was with the back-up keeper. Neither goal Liverpool scored were highlight real material. In fact, the first never hit the net, the watch in the sky told Michael Oliver it was a goal. The second goal bounced off the post and then off the hands of Vorm before Firmino came back across the endline to score.  Lloris may have saved them both.

Yes, it was a penalty by Saido Mane on Son, he kicked his foot, that is a penalty. I didn’t need a reply to tell me that. Players were not slipping on the turf at any point in the contest. Now Son, freshest legs on the pitch just slips. Really where is VAR or Michael Oliver at that point? Oh, there goes City again, 3 minutes into the second half, goal number 3. Don’t need a VAR or an official when you score in open play.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium on September 15, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium on September 15, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

Too bad the Premier League hasn’t yet adopted a more complete system like VAR, which likely would have awarded Kane another 95th minute penalty attempt. Did I just write that? Guess we like VAR when it would presumably go our way.

The ‘home’ stadium situation is tiresome to fans, I can only imagine what it is like for the team. Something must be done and set in stone. How about we set a date already and know when the stadium will open, with enough time for all preparations and repairs to be complete. Repairs on a yet to be opened stadium? Anything after January 1, 2019 sounds good to me. All I know is that when I’m a billionaire Mace won’t be building my complexes.

The next three Premier League matches for Spurs are ALL must win games. Six points back eight games in is much more acceptable than six points back five games in. Spurs face three very beatable teams towards the bottom of the table in Cardiff City, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Huddersfield Town. Throw in Barcelona, Juventus, and Watford in other competitions and again six points back, at worst, at the next break doesn’t seem too bad.

Gabriel Jesus just missed a 4th for City. Is Sessegnon really going to keep Fulham up or should he have been on the wing for Spurs today helping out Danny Rose? Well I guess that is a column for January, when Spurs start making signings for 2019-20.