James Tarkowski struck in the 98th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw for Everton against Liverpool in a dramatic final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
Liverpool edge seven points clear at the top of the Premier League but were denied a vital win by Tarkowski’s blistering strike after Mohamed Salah put Arne Slot’s men in front.
Abdoulaye Doucoure, Curtis Jones and Slot were then sent off as tempers flared at the final whistle on a night Liverpool will come to regret if they do not go on to lift a record-equalling 20th English top flight title.
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: James Tarkowski of Everton celebrates after his equalising goal stands following a VAR review as Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool appears dejected during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Everton are set to move to a new 53,000 capacity stadium in Liverpool’s Bramley Moore Dock next season and gave their home since 1892 a night to remember against their local rivals.
Liverpool’s quest for a quadruple came unstuck with a shock FA Cup exit to second-tier strugglers Plymouth on Sunday.
Slot made 10 changes as he resorted to his strongest available side with Salah and Virgil van Dijk among those who had been afforded the weekend off.
Everton’s own FA Cup exit to Bournemouth on Saturday had punctured some of their momentum since David Moyes’ return for a second spell in charge.
The Toffees had won their previous three Premier League games to pull nine points clear of the relegation zone and got off to a flying start.
Liverpool were caught napping on 11 minutes by a quick free-kick by Jarrad Branthwaite to free Beto, who beat Alisson Becker for his third goal in two league games.
The visitors could have been swept away in the feverish atmosphere early on but the Reds immediate response was the making of champions.
Alexis Mac Allister started and finished the move as the diminutive Argentine midfielder ghosted into the penalty area to head in Salah’s teasing cross.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Referee Michael Oliver speaks to Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz and Alisson Becker of Liverpool at the end of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesLiverpool’s English midfielder #17 Curtis Jones is held back by stewards as he remonstrates with Everton players after the English Premier League football match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on February 12, 2025. The match ended in a draw at 2-2. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) /Source: AFPLIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: David Moyes, Manager of Everton, waves to the fans at the end of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Everton then suffered a huge blow as their creative hub Iliman Ndiaye limped off in tears after a long stoppage.
The first half never recovered its flow amid a flurry of fouls and yellow cards as the Premier League fixture with the most red cards in history threatened to boil over once more.
Everton started the better once more in the second period. Doucoure wasted a great chance to retake the lead when he headed wide when unmarked inside the area.
The home crowd briefly erupted once more when Branthwaite fired home only for the celebrations to be cut short by the offside flag.
Slot was growing visibly frustrated with his side’s lack of penetration going forward and turned to his bench for an impact with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jones and Darwin Nunez sent on to find a winner.
The changes worked as Salah delivered what looked like a potential title-clinching moment.
Jones and Nunez exchanged a one-two and when the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Branthwaite, it fell kindly for Salah to prod in his 27th goal of the season.
Only a brilliant save by JOrdan Pickford crucially denied Salah a second late on.
And Everton rallied when Liverpool failed to deal with a hopeful ball into the box and it fell to centre-back Tarkowski to fire into the top corner.
A lengthy VAR check followed for offside and Everton fans had to be cleared off the pitch before the game could restart.
When it did there was more fireworks as Doucoure and Jones were both shown a second yellow card for clashing after the Everton midfielder celebrated in front of the travelling Liverpool support.
Slot was also shown red for his protests towards referee Michael Oliver.
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Here is what is being said after a remarkable 2-0 win at Brentford, which featured a makeshift central defensive pairing of Archie Gray and Ben Davies, plus a starring role from fullback Djed Spence.
Writing for The Times, Gregor Robertson said that the pragmatic defensive display bore little resemblance to Postecoglou’s preferred MO of high-octane attacking football.
“Spurs made sure of the win when (Pape Matar) Sarr, a substitute, prodded in a second on the break with three of the 90 minutes left to play, but the buccaneering early days of Ange-ball felt like a distant memory in the intervening hour, during which Brentford largely laid siege to the Tottenham penalty area,” Robertson wrote.
“Spurs were still without nine players through injury, of course, and Postecoglou will have been proud of the way his patched up back four repelled Brentford’s early onslaught and barrage of crosses in the second half.”
Writing for The iPaper, Oliver Young-Myles surmised: “Well, that wasn’t very Angeball-y.
“A first Premier League win for Tottenham in almost 50 days brings some respite for Ange Postecoglou. And what was notable about the performance at Brentford was how different it was to the rinse-and-repeat style Spurs have played throughout the Australian’s reign.
“They were gritty; sat deep for virtually the whole second half; scored a scrappy goal from a corner; managed the game maturely and sensibly. An accusation against Postecoglou is that his team can only play one way. Here was evidence that they can mix it up. Here’s their Anfield blueprint for Thursday.
“Perhaps Postecoglou compromised, although he insisted that wasn’t the case.”
Postecoglou said the game style was an unavoidable result of circumstances, rather than a major philosophical change.
“They’re human beings, not robots,” he said of his players, who had come off a Europa League win three days earlier.
“People want to dismiss it. They want to talk about excuses but that’s the reality. I know the reality. These guys are giving everything.
“We knew we couldn’t go out there and dominate. Brentford had a week to prepare. We had 50-something hours. With the same group of players. With that context, the performance was outstanding.”
Writing for The Sun, Tom Barclay said: “This was not Ange Ball, but, frankly, who cares?
“Certainly not Tottenham fans, who were genuinely starting to worry about being sucked into a relegation battle and were singing “We are staying up” come the end. And probably not Ange Postecoglou either, whose need for this reviving win was becoming desperate.
“The Aussie’s position has been coming under more and more scrutiny after a bleak winter culminating in one win in 11 league games. He has been able to point to a crippling injury crisis as a mitigating factor and progress in the cups as a reason to believe.
“But make no mistake, the 59-year-old needed this victory and will have taken any means necessary to get it.”
Ange Postecoglou celebrates victory with Spurs captain Son Heung-Min.Source: Getty Images
Tottenham were boosted before the match with the signing of Kevin Danso from Ligue 1 club Lens, boosting their central defensive stocks.
Yet writing for The Telegraph, Matt Law noted the remarkable defensive effort that came from a thrown-together line-up.
“Kevin Danso’s arrival was announced on Sunday morning, but Postecoglou, while Tottenham waited for the defender’s international clearance, named a team with no recognised centre-backs,” Law wrote.
“It looked like a recipe for another Spurs disaster and yet Archie Gray, who is naturally a midfielder, and Ben Davies, who is normally a left-back, stood up to the task manfully – as did Djed Spence, a right-back filling in at left-back.
“Despite Tottenham’s two-goal winning margin, it was the brave defending of Spence and Co that got Spurs over the line, as Postecoglou waits for more reinforcements that could still include Chelsea’s Axel Disasi and players to return to fitness. Tottenham have agreed a deal to sign Disasi on loan, but the Frenchman had agreed terms with Aston Villa, who have been unwilling to meet Chelsea’s conditions. Talks were continuing into Sunday evening.”
Relief for Ange but more work ahead | 01:09
Writing for The Guardian, Nick Ames said that Postecoglou may be feeling more optimistic about his future after the result.
“Disciplined, unfussy, a little scrappy and garnished with a dollop of luck. Tottenham have rarely known afternoons such as this under Ange Postecoglou but they summoned a textbook away performance, rolling up their sleeves and putting a halt to the previous seven weeks’ freefall.
“Spurs had not won a league game since 15 December, and that was against the flimsy proposition of Russell Martin’s Southampton. This time they dealt with one of the division’s most exacting physical examinations and there was no doubting the importance to their manager, who leapt off his seat and punched the air when Pape Matar Sarr put matters beyond doubt late on.
“It will not remove the unease around Tottenham, which was demonstrated by regular chants from the away section demanding that Daniel Levy step down. But they had to start somewhere and, with the Austria defender Kevin Danso arriving from Lens and a move for Axel Disasi in their sights before the transfer deadline on Monday, Postecoglou might feel cautious optimism that the darkest hour has passed.”
Goal-scorer Pape Matar Sarr celebrates victory with Ange Postecoglou.Source: Getty Images
Spurs’ performance was something of a surprise, with Brentford above them on the ladder and a particularly dangerous goalscoring threat at home this season.
As is turned out, Postecoglou’s men burned one of his media sparring partners. Liverpool great Jamie Carragher predicted pre-game that they would be soundly beaten.
“I’ll be absolutely shocked if Tottenham win there today,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “When I look at that back four, they’ve been decimated.
“I thought (Micky) Van de Ven was going to be involved today. Obviously they’ve lost their goalkeeper, they’ve brought one in [Antonin Kinsky], but when you actually look at that Tottenham back four, if they concede less than three today, I will be surprised.
“I’m not criticising them – they’re young kids; Ben Davies is in there, he’s not a centre-back, he’s a left-back. Archie Gray’s done brilliantly for them, he’s an 18-year-old kid – to go away to Brentford, set pieces, long balls, what you’ve got to deal with as a centre back…”
The Mirror concluded that Spurs had put “Jamie Carragher’s pre-match prediction to shame”.
Title favourite Liverpool rode its ‘luck’ in a touch-and-go win at Bournemouth, while Nottingham Forest has continued its charge towards a Champions League berth in a stunning display.
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REDS RIDE ‘LUCK’ AMID CONTROVERSY
Arne Slot admitted Liverpool rode their luck to go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah inspired a controversial 2-0 win at Bournemouth on Sunday (AEDT).
Slot’s side took the lead in the first half when Salah netted with a penalty awarded after Cody Gakpo appeared to trip over his own feet rather than go down from Lewis Cook’s challenge.
Gakpo was barely onside as well, with Bournemouth left outraged after referee Darren England’s on-field decision was upheld by VAR.
Bournemouth’s David Brooks was denied an equaliser by an equally tight offside against Milos Kerkez in the build-up.
Salah added insult to injury for Bournemouth when he struck again late in the second half to extend Liverpool’s lead over second-placed Arsenal.
The Egypt forward has 21 goals from 23 league games this season, reaching the 20-mark for the fifth time in his English top-flight career.
Liverpool are unbeaten in 19 league games, winning 17 of their 23 top-flight matches in a remarkable run since Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in the close-season.
Pursuing an English record-equalling 20th title and their first in the competition since 2020, Liverpool can sit back and wait to see if old rivals Manchester City do them a favour against Arsenal on Monday morning.
“If you want to win here maybe you need a bit of luck because the margins are so small,” Slot said.
“Our penalty was just not offside, their goal on 1-1 was on the margin offside, they hit the post twice.
“We had our chances as well but it was a close call for us to win this game. We weren’t unlucky, let’s put it this way.” Bournemouth had already beaten Manchester City, Arsenal and high-flying Nottingham Forest at home this season.
Slot acknowledged the Cherries had given Liverpool one of their toughest tests this term, with Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier both hitting the woodwork.
Semenyo was also denied by a superb save from Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker as Bournemouth’s 11-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end.
“I haven’t seen it back but one of my players is on a clear one-v-one with the goalkeeper and he’s fallen down,” Slot said of the Gakpo penalty incident.
“So either he makes a dive or they touch him. If they touch him that for me is a penalty.
“I can come up with three, four, five examples where we didn’t have the luck or the decision we deserved this season.
“That’s always the difficult thing in football, people will always say there’s that luck for Liverpool or for the one that is the one that is number one at the moment.” Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off injured in the second half and Slot said he would be surprised if the defender is fit for Friday’s League Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham.
Quadruple-chasing Liverpool will try to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit when Ange Postecoglou’s struggling side visit Anfield.
Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring Liverpool’s first goal during their Premier League win over AFC Bournemouth. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
FOREST PUTS SEVEN PAST GULLS
Chris Wood netted a hat-trick as Nottingham Forest thrashed Brighton 7-0 to reignite their charge towards next season’s Champions League at the City Ground on Sunday.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams and Jota Silva were also on target after Lewis Dunk’s own goal opened the scoring in an astonishing performance from Nuno Espirito Santo’s men as they bounced back from a 5-0 defeat at Bournemouth last weekend.
Victory takes Forest level on points with second-placed Arsenal and opens up a seven-point cushion on sixth-placed Chelsea.
Fifth place in the Premier League this season is almost certain to be enough for Champions League qualification due to a strong start by English clubs in European competitions.
Two-time European Cup winners in 1979 and 1980 during the club’s heyday under Brian Clough, Forest last played in Europe back in 1996.
But a run of 10 wins from their last 12 games has put them well on course to end that two-decade wait for continental competition.
Forest became just the second side in Premier League history to respond to losing a game by five or more goals by winning by that margin.
“That is exactly what we wanted after last week, and exactly what the fans wanted,” said Gibbs-White.
“Last week was no way near our standards and we have been working on things to put it right all week in training and the lads were incredible today.
“We completely nullified everything they did and caught them a couple of times on the counter. We were clinical in the final third.” Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler set out with a bold selection that included five forwards in his starting 11.
However, that backfired massively as the Seagulls were wide open and punished by Forest’s frightening pace and precision going forward.
Ange Postecoglou admitted he does not know if he will avoid the sack after Tottenham hit a new “low” with a dismal 2-1 defeat against struggling Leicester on Sunday.
Postecoglou’s side crashed to a sixth defeat from their last seven Premier League matches to increase the pressure on the under-fire Australian.
Richarlison’s 33rd-minute header gave Tottenham hope of a first top-flight win since December 15.
But Jamie Vardy levelled for Leicester less than 60 seconds after half-time before Bilal El Khannouss fired the winner four minutes later.
Furious Tottenham fans called for chairman Daniel Levy to quit throughout the match, while boos greeted full-time whistle after Postecoglou was jeered for substituting Richarlison.
Tottenham are languishing in 15th place, just eight points above the relegation zone.
Postecoglou claimed his injury-hit squad — deprived of 10 players at present — are still behind him, but the former Celtic boss conceded he could not guarantee he would still be around when the walking wounded eventually return.
“Who knows. I reckon there is probably a fair chunk that will say ‘no’,” he said.
“When you are the manager of a football club, you can be very vulnerable and isolated. I don’t feel that.
“I feel like this group of players, not for me, are giving everything for the club. I have a group of staff that is really committed. I focus on that.”
A 3-2 win at Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday kept Tottenham on track for the last 16, while they hold a 1-0 lead in the League Cup semi-final against Liverpool ahead of the second leg at Anfield in February.
– ‘Very committed’ –
Postecoglou’s hopes of fulfilling his boast that he always wins a trophy in his second season lie with those competitions and the FA Cup.
But, after a run of one win in 11 league games, climbing away from the relegation zone is essential if Postecoglou is to survive the storm raging around his club.
“I really believe in this group of players. Even today, what I asked of them, some of the performances were outstanding considering what they’ve been through,” he said.
“To me that’s all positive, but ultimately, the fact that we’ve lost another game of football, the focus is on that.
“I have felt all along that the players are still very committed to what we’re doing. That’s important to me because I firmly believe in it.
“This is probably as low as we’ve been so far this year but I still think that in these last three months we can do something really special and I think these players believe that.
“Right now it’s very hard to visualise that when you think of the current circumstances we’re in.”
First-choice defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven returned to training this week, while Tottenham continue to chase additions in the transfer window.
“You just have to look at our absences today and they’ll all be back,” Postecoglou added.
“Even missing Madders (James Maddison) today, he was so good the other night.
“All these little things that are not allowing us to get any momentum, I’m sure will change and when they change, I’m really confident we can make an impact.”
– Son slams ‘sloppy’ Spurs –
Son Heung-min slammed Tottenham’s lack of focus after Sunday’s “painful” 2-1 defeat against lowly Leicester increased the pressure on under-fire boss Ange Postecoglou.
Whether Postecoglou can survive much longer in a dismal second season in charge remains to be seen, but the Australian’s cause wasn’t helped by a scathing assessment of their performance from South Korea forward Son.
“It is very painful. Especially when you’re winning at half-time and conceding two goals in a short period of time. It let us down and is a very frustrating afternoon,” the Tottenham captain said.
“We can’t just say tiredness because we just came out of the second half. Maybe it was a little bit sloppy.
“It is just a lack of concentration and a bit of sloppiness and in the Premier League table any team can punish us.
“It was not good enough and sometimes we made the wrong decision in the final moment. It is very disappointing to not get three points and to concede goals like this.”
The prospect of Tottenham dropping into the second tier is unthinkable for fans who last saw their club play at that level in 1977-78.
Asked if Tottenham could be dragged into a relegation battle, Son said: “It is definitely not good enough. We’ve had way too many losses, but there are still a lot of games remaining and we’ll have a lot of players back.”
Tottenham are dangerously close to being sucked into the relegation battle and trips to Brentford and Aston Villa in their next two league games — either side of a League Cup semi-final second leg clash with Liverpool — could decide the Australian’s fate.
“It is a disappointing result, but at the same time I can’t ask anymore from this group of players. Some of them aren’t 100 percent but they are trying their hardest,” Postecoglou said.
“Things just aren’t falling for us. It is not an atmosphere where it is easy at the moment. We’ve got to get through this as united as possible.”
Tottenham hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg against Liverpool and a Wembley appearance could buy Postecoglou time to get his team back on track.
With 14 players absent for Thursday’s Europa League win at Hoffenheim, Tottenham’s injury crisis has led to criticism of Postecoglou’s tactics and the level of intensity in training.
The former Celtic boss accepts the blame for the rash of injuries, but his claims that Tottenham remain on the right path under his leadership look more questionable with each woeful result that edges him closer to the axe.
While Postecoglou fights to save his job, Leicester manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy can breathe a little easier over his own future.
Van Nistelrooy, who replaced Steve Cooper in December, had presided over seven successive league defeats before their much-needed success against Tottenham.
Leicester are now one place and one point above the relegation zone and Van Nistelrooy said: “It’s a massive win. The players are buying into it. I can only be very proud of this team.” On a filthy, rain-lashed afternoon, a protest banner against Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was unveiled by fans before kick-off with the slogan “24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy – time for change”.
– Penalty controversy –
Brentford benefitted from penalty controversy to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park.
Thomas Frank’s team earned a 66th minute penalty when Marc Guehi made a hash of clearing and the panicked Maxence Lacroix fouled Nathan Collins.
Bryan Mbeumo’s spot-kick hit the post, but Palace’s reprieve was short-lived as VAR ruled Guehi had encroached before the shot.
The Brentford forward gratefully accepted his second chance by sending Palace keeper Dean Henderson the wrong way for his 14th goal this season.
Kevin Schade netted in the 80th minute for Brentford and Palace winger Romain Esse came off the bench to score with his first touch on his debut five minutes later.
Later on Sunday, troubled Manchester United travel to Fulham, while Aston Villa drew 1-1 at home to West Ham.
As Tottenham slumped to lowly 15th place on the Premier League table with their 12th loss of the season, one person felt the wrath of Spurs’ fans and it was not Ange Postecoglou.
There is no denying that the Australian is under the pump, but the travelling fans who took the train north to Liverpool to watch their side concede three goals in the opening half to Everton, who had only scored 15 goals in 20 league games prior, knew the mess was not entirely Postecoglou’s fault.
The former Socceroos boss admitted to making tactical blunders post-match as Tottenham started the game with a change of formation, a 3-4-3, that was unstuck by positioning issues and defensive errors.
For the second half, Postecoglou changed the shape of the team to 4-2-3-1 with Richarlison coming off the bench to play alone in front of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevki and Son Heung-min, while the defence was bolstered with Djed Spence and Pedro Porro playing as full backs either side of Archie Gray and Ben Davies.
But Postecoglou was merely moving deck chairs on the Titanic, as the saying goes.
Postecoglou: ‘Spurs need reinforcements’ | 01:11
With first choice goal keeper Guglielmo Vicario, and three of Postecoglou’s preferred back four in Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie, sidelined with injury, things were always going to be difficult.
Proven goal scorers Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson as well as midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are also in the casualty ward.
Postecoglou did not even have the likes of much-maligned forward Timo Werner and defender Destiny Udogie, who signed for €20 million back in 2022, to call upon.
So, where were the reinforcements?
That question is why Tottenham chair Daniel Levy copped the wrath of Spurs fans, not Postecoglou.
The away end at Goodison park sung ‘we want Levy out’ and the Sky Sports cameras panned to the English businessman after every Everton goal and nervy moment for Spurs.
Levy has been the boss at Tottenham since 2001, making him the longest serving chair in the Premier League.
During his time in charge, the 62-year-old, who made his fortune in property development and investment banking, has become renowned for sacking managers and a reluctance to spend big in transfer windows.
Levy has sacked 13 managers during his 24-year stint, including the likes of Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Harry Redknapp, Glenn Hoddle and Nuno Espirito Santo, who is now in charge of this season’s fairytale team, Nottingham Forest.
But Levy has changed his tune on managers in recent times, publicly declaring the need for stability during Postecoglou’s tenure, but he has been quiet recently despite reports he was recently spotted meeting with former Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri.
The change fans are most desperate for however is to bring in some new signings this January transfer window.
Tottenham have been linked to Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho, Barcelona winger Ansu Fati, who had a loan spell at Brighton last season, 17-year-old Irish prodigy Mason Melia and PSG centre back Milan Škriniar.
Postecoglou admitted they were interested in Juventus-bound, on loan, PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani.
But with the clock ticking, the only signings Spurs have to show so far is 21-year-old Czech goal keeper Antonin Kinsky and 18-year-old South Korean forward Yang Min-hyeok, who actually put pen to paper in July but waited until January to join the club after the K-League season.
They are crying out for defensive support, but are yet to see them.
According to Deloitte, Tottenham generated €631.5 million in revenue last year which was the eighth most of any football club in the world, and fourth most in the Premier League behind Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool.
But one of their star players, Romero, expressed his frustrations last month that Spurs are not spending like those clubs.
“Manchester City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn’t do well, strengthens again, and now they’re seeing results. Those are the things to imitate,” he said.
“You have to realise that something is going wrong, hopefully, they [the board] realise it.
“The last few years, it’s always the same – first the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it’s always the same people responsible.
“Hopefully they realise who the true responsible ones are and we move forward because it’s a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year.”
Postecoglou said after the Everton loss that he expected the closing days of the transfer window to be action-packed for Tottenham.
“There will be urgency but it doesn’t need me to say it, everybody can see that,” he told Sky Sports.
“I have no issues with how the club are going about it, they are working hard and trying to find solutions. These players need help that is for sure and hopefully over the next 10 days or so we’ll find a solution. It is really tricky, we’re not the only ones in the market. The club are trying hard.”
But fans are expecting more reluctance from Levy to spend money, and miss out on players that go on to shine at other clubs.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is one such example in recent times.
The Swede has scored 15 goals this campaign to sit third in the golden boot race, three behind leader Mohamed Salah, and former Tottenham scout Bryan King told Tottenham News that the club could have had Isak.
“It is the same with Isak – Tottenham could have signed Isak when he was at AIK Fotboll,”
King said.
“I spoke to scouts at Spurs who had put dossiers together on Isak. Again, the recruitment staff at Tottenham at the time obviously ignored the possibility that Isak could be a successful player in the Premier League.
“Borussia Dortmund then came in and paid good money for him – around £6 million. I was at Aston Villa and sat with people at Tottenham who were watching him, as I was. You might have thought he was a bit lightweight, but he was a good size, very quick and as far as I knew, Tottenham were far more interested than Aston Villa were.”
To avoid Deja vu, Spurs fans will be hoping Levy adapts his strategy to support their spiralling Premier League campaign in the short-term.
The League Cup, in which they lead Liverpool 1-0 after the first leg of the semi-final, the Europa League and the FA Cup remain Postecoglou’s great white hopes, but without reinforcements Tottenham will go down in flames in those competitions as the current crop of players are stretched beyond their limits.
Therefore, there is a lot to play out in the coming days in north London.
Manchester City roared back into form with a 6-0 thrashing of Ipswich, while Nottingham Forest’s unlikely title challenge goes on after a 3-2 victory over Southampton took Nuno Espirito Santo’s men level with second-placed Arsenal.
– ‘We are worst team in history of Man Utd’: Amorim –
Ruben Amorim made the astonishing admission that his Manchester United flops are the worst team in the club’s history after Sunday’s dismal 3-1 defeat against Brighton.
United crumbled to a sixth loss in 11 Premier League games since Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.
“We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United,” Amorim said after his side’s wretched display at Old Trafford.
“I know you want headlines but I am saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change that. Here you go: your headlines.”
Man UTD legend passes away aged 84 | 00:39
Amorim’s side are languishing in 13th place and although they are 10 points above the relegation zone, they are far from certain to avoid being dragged into the survival struggle on the evidence of Sunday’s display.
Yankuba Minteh set the tone for United’s moribund performance with an early opener for Brighton.
Bruno Fernandes equalised with a penalty before half-time, but second-half goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter left United in turmoil.
United have suffered six home league defeats this season, their most from their opening 12 matches of a season since 1893-94.
They have also lost 10 of their 22 league games this season, the earliest into a top-flight campaign that they have hit double figures for defeats since 1989-90.
“Imagine what this is for a fan of Manchester United. Imagine what this is for me. We are getting a new coach who is losing more than the last coach. I have full knowledge of that,” Amorim said.
While United have not been dragged completely into the fight for survival just yet, Amorim must find a way to get results to avoid the pressure on him becoming intolerable.
The 39-year-old arrived at United in November, hailed as one of Europe’s brightest young coaches.
But his preferred 3-4-3 formation is not suited to the players in United’s squad.
Yet, while he admitted he is only thinking of avoiding relegation now, the Portuguese coach refuses to change his philosophy.
“I am not going to change, no matter what. I know we can succeed but we need to survive this moment. I am not naive. We need to survive now,” Amorim said.
United’s latest calamity came on the day the club paid a sombre tribute to Denis Law after their legendary striker passed away aged 84 on Friday.
Postecoglou: ‘Spurs need reinforcements’ | 01:11
– ‘Everybody is underperforming’ –
Law is immortalised in a statue of United’s ‘Holy Trinity’ alongside Bobby Charlton and George Best outside Old Trafford.
Fans laid scarves and flowers at the statue in tribute to the third highest scorer in United’s history and took part in a minute’s applause for Law prior to kick-off.
What transpired after that would have shocked Law to his core as Amorim’s team once again failed to live up to the storied history of the 20-time English champions.
“In nine games in the Premier League, we won two,” Amorim said. “Everybody here is underperforming, no matter what the circumstances.
“We are underperforming and have to accept that. It’s unacceptable to lose so many games, for any Premier League club, imagine Manchester United.
“So it’s a really hard moment but we have to continue, we have to continue, there is no other way.”
United have lost six of their last seven league games against Brighton in an indication of how far they have fallen since last winning the title in 2013.
Amorim’s side host Rangers in their next game on Thursday in the Europa League, with the manager desperate for a positive result to change the mood.
“I knew it was going to be hard to put a completely new idea in the moment, but when you lose games and don’t win three games in a row it becomes really hard,” Amorim said.
“So that’s why I’m telling we are going to suffer because I will continue to do the same.
“I am just here to help my players, but we need to understand we are breaking all the bad records.”
Haaland signs monster deal with City | 01:21
– Foden stars as Man City hit Ipswich for six –
Phil Foden struck twice as Manchester City climbed to fourth in the Premier League with a 6-0 rout of struggling Ipswich on Sunday.
Foden netted either side of Mateo Kovacic’s eye-catching goal as City blew Ipswich away with three first-half goals at Portman Road.
Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and James McAtee netted after the interval as City enjoyed their biggest league win this season.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won three of their last four league games as they begin the long climb back to respectability after a dismal start to the season.
Sterner tests lie in wait for City, including a vital Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday and looming Premier League clashes with Chelsea and Arsenal.
But this was the kind of confident display City used to make look routine during their march to four successive English titles.
Winning is almost certain to prove beyond them as they trail leaders Liverpool by 12 points.
Guardiola will settle for restoring City’s pride this term as he rebuilds a team that suddenly grew old and inconsistent before his eyes.
Haaland, who has scored 112 goals in just 127 appearances for City, this week committed himself to the club until 2034 when he signed a new nine-and-a-half year deal.
But Kyle Walker was again absent from the City side amid reports that AC Milan are ready to bid for the unsettled England right-back.
In City’s first visit to Portman Road for 23 years, the champions emphasised how powerful they can still be at peak form.
– Ruthless City –
Haaland scored a hat-trick when City beat Ipswich 4-1 in August and he threatened to net in the opening moments in Suffolk.
Kovacic’s pass split the Ipswich defence and sent Haaland clean through on goal, but the Norway striker’s shot was pushed away by Christian Walton.
Kovacic fired wastefully over after a flowing move carved open the Ipswich rearguard again.
Omari Hutchinson almost put Ipswich ahead against the run of play with a stinging strike from just inside the area that hit Haaland and flashed just over.
But City’s pressure was rewarded in the 27th minute when Doku and Kevin De Bruyne combined to set up Foden for a clinical close-range finish.
Foden turned provider as ruthless City doubled their lead three minutes later. Kovacic strode onto Foden’s pass on the edge of the area and smashed a superb low strike past the flat-footed Walton for his first goal since October.
Guardiola’s men were rampant and they struck again three minutes before half-time.
Set free by Doku, De Bruyne raced into the area and cut the ball back for Foden, whose shot from five yards evaded Walton’s weak attempted save.
The England forward’s fifth goal in his last four games maintained his recent improvement.
City have scored 25 first-half goals in 22 games, more than any other team in the Premier League this season.
Ipswich were powerless to stem the tide. Doku danced through their defence to score City’s fourth with a low shot that hit Dara O’Shea on its way past Walton in the 49th minute.
City showed no mercy and Haaland joined the party in the 57th minute. Jack Clarke conceded possession and Doku teed up Haaland to drill past Walton for his 22nd goal in all competitions this season.
McAtee came off the bench to bag City’s sixth in the 69th minute, the 22-year-old looping a header over Walton from Kovacic’s cross.
Forest were equally rampant in the first 45 minutes to cut the gap on leaders Liverpool to six points and consolidate their lead in the race for a place in the Champions League next season.
Elliot Anderson, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Wood netted before the break. Southampton salvaged some pride in the second period through Jan Bednarek and Paul Onuachu but they remain on course for an immediate return to the Championship, 10 points adrift of safety.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said it is his responsibility to turn around a miserable Premier League season after a 3-2 defeat to Everton on Sunday (Monday AEDT), which helped the Toffees pull clear of the relegation zone.
Previously goal-shy Everton tore through Spurs’ under-strength backline to net three times before the break through Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye and an Archie Gray own goal.
A first win in seven league games takes David Moyes’ men four points clear of the bottom three.
Tottenham’s 12th Premier League defeat of the season leaves them just four points above Everton in 15th and ramps up the pressure on manager Postecoglou.
However, it was chairman Daniel Levy, not the Australian, who felt the fury of the travelling support as they chanted for change at the top of the club.
“This is not about me, but what is about me is I have a responsibility to the players I do have. For me to focus on anything else is abstaining from the responsibility I do have,” said Postecoglou, who was without 10 first-team regulars due to injury.
Everton did bite the bullet to sack Sean Dyche earlier this month and it was like the Goodison days of old for Moyes as he enjoyed a first win of his second spell in charge.
“Really pleased we could give everyone something to shout about,” said Moyes. “We played ever so well in the first half, scored three and could have scored more.”
Ange Postecoglou (R) consoles Archie Gray after defeat at Goodison Park.Source: AFP
Moyes’ homecoming fell flat in a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in midweek, after which the former Manchester United boss said he was aware of the task he faces to preserve Premier League status due to a lack of firepower.
Calvert-Lewin had not scored since September but did not look like a striker short on confidence as he turned Gray and Lucas Bergvall before firing in the opening goal on 13 minutes.
To compound the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and three of Postecoglou’s preferred back four in Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie, Tottenham were also without club record signing Dominic Solanke.
Captain Son Heung-min stepped in to start as a makeshift centre-forward and should have levelled when he shot too close to Jordan Pickford from Dejan Kulusevski’s cross.
But Tottenham looked likely to concede every time Everton sprang out on the counter-attack.
Calvert-Lewin should have had a second but for a heavy touch that allowed Antonin Kinsky to block before the Czech goalkeeper turned Orel Mangala’s effort onto the post.
David Moyes applauds Toffees fans after Everton beat Tottenham.Source: AFP
Everton had scored just 15 goals in 20 league games prior to kick-off, going goalless in nine of their last 11.
What little inspiration there has been from the Toffees this season has come from Ndiaye.
The Senegal international produced a moment of magic to double the lead as he skipped past the statuesque Radu Dragusin before slotting high past Kinsky.
Gray’s own goal compounded a terrible first 45 minutes for the visitors as their frailty from set-pieces was again exposed when the 18-year-old could only turn Calvert-Lewin’s flick into his own net.
Kulusevski’s classy chip over three scrambling Everton defenders pulled a goal back before Richarlison turned home at the back post in stoppage time.
Postecoglou’s men remain alive in three cup competitions, but Levy has a decision to make on whether the quest for a first trophy since 2008 would be better served by a change of manager.
“We’re still in all four competitions. Our league position is not great to say the least but eventually our players will come back. Significant talent will come back,” added Postecoglou.
“I’ve got great motivation to get through this so when we do get our players back we can get something significant out of our season.”
A Premier League juggernaut has extended its lead atop the table, while its main title challenger has been held at home in a shock result.
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Elsewhere, Newcastle’s winning streak has been snapped in comprehensive fashion in another surprise outcome.
REDS STEADY SHIP TO REIGNITE TITLE CHARGE
Darwin Nunez struck twice in the final minutes as Liverpool got their Premier League title charge back on track with a dramatic 2-0 win against Brentford on Saturday.
Arne Slot’s side were in danger of enduring a third successive league draw after wasting a host of chances at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Of all the candidates to end Liverpool’s wobble, Uruguay striker Nunez would have been low down the list given his struggles over the last two seasons.
But he rode to Liverpool’s rescue with a stoppage-time brace that lifted the Reds’ seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal.
The Gunners can close the gap back to four points with a win against Aston Villa in Saturday’s late game.
But Liverpool will hold a game in hand on Arsenal and have the destiny of the title still firmly in their grasp thanks to the much-maligned Nunez.
Slot had admitted he couldn’t find a way to get the best out of the former Benfica star earlier this week.
The 25-year-old had scored just four goals in 26 games in all competitions prior to his unexpected double in west London.
Slot will gratefully take Nunez’s contribution as Liverpool’s first win in three league games kept them on course for a first title since 2020.
Since the turn of the year, Liverpool had only won one game in four in all competitions, beating minnows Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round.
They had drawn their previous two league games against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, while also losing 1-0 at Tottenham in the League Cup semi-final first leg, making this victory essential to steady their nerves.
Brentford kicked off with the joint-best home record in the Premier League, an impressive statistic they underlined by scoring twice in the closing stages to draw 2-2 with Manchester City on Tuesday.
Postecoglou: ‘Spurs need reinforcements’ | 01:11
GUNNERS COUGH UP 2-0 LEAD IN COSTLY DRAW
Liverpool now holds a six-point Premier League lead over Arsenal, who blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Gabriel Martinelli gave the Gunners a deserved first-half lead when Emi Martinez failed to prevent his effort crossing the line.
It was a similar story for Arsenal’s second as Martinez got a touch to Kai Havertz’s shot but could not keep it out.
Just when Mikel Arteta’s men seemed to be cruising, Villa hit back through Youri Tielemans’ header.
The Belgian midfielder then hit the post with the chance to level for Villa seconds later.
The visitors did equalise 22 minutes from time when Ollie Watkins cushioned in Matty Cash’s cross off the underside of the crossbar.
Arsenal thought they had a late winner, but Mikel Merino’s effort deflected in off Havertz’s hand and the goal was ruled out by a VAR review.
Haaland signs monster deal with City | 01:21
CHERRIES STUNNER TO SNAP MAGPIES’ STREAK
Justin Kluivert’s stunning hat-trick snapped Newcastle’s winning streak in style as Bournemouth stormed into the Premier League’s top six with a rampant 4-1 win at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
The Magpies were looking to set a club record with a 10th consecutive victory in all competitions but were thoroughly outplayed by the Cherries, who are themselves now on an 11-game unbeaten streak.
Kluivert, son of former Newcastle striker Patrick Kluivert, was the star of the show before Milos Kerkez fired in a fourth in stoppage time.
Defeat leaves Newcastle still in fourth but now just one point clear of Bournemouth in the race for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Bournemouth have never qualified for European competition before and Kluivert said that is the goal for an ambitious squad.
“Why not dream big and let’s see where we can end up,” said the Dutch international.
“Our run is also beautiful and that’s what we showed here today; that we are here to make an impression.” Alexander Isak’s hopes of matching the Premier League record scoring streak of 11 matches also came to an end on a humbling afternoon for the Magpies.
The Swedish striker had struck in eight consecutive games but was barely given a sniff of a chance by a brilliant Bournemouth display.
Andoni Iraola’s men flew out of the traps and never let up to move above defending champions Manchester City in the table.
The visitors should have led inside four minutes when Dango Ouattara’s shot was saved by Martin Dubravka and Antoine Semenyo blasted the rebound over.
Bournemouth had to wait just two minutes more to take the lead when Semenyo’s cut-back was swept into the far corner by Kluivert.
Newcastle were shellshocked in the early stages but looked to have restored some order when Bruno Guimaraes headed in Lewis Hall’s corner.
Yet the home side headed in at half-time behind once more after another classy finish from Kluivert to turn in Ouattara’s pass.
Bournemouth should have been well out of sight before they did finally get the third goal in stoppage time.
Ouattara had a goal disallowed by a VAR review as the ball had gone out of play before the Burkina Faso international prodded home.
David Brooks’s inventive backheel was then denied by a combination of Dubravka and the post.
Bournemouth were robbed of a famous victory in midweek when Reece James’ stoppage time free-kick rescued a point for Chelsea in a 2-2 draw.
This time, though, they were not to be denied of three thoroughly deserved points.
Kluivert took aim from outside the box to complete his second hat-trick of the season.
However, all three efforts this time came from open play after his trio of penalties downed Wolves in November.
The impressive Kerkez, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool and Manchester United, then drilled in the fourth to rub salt into Newcastle wounds.
Virgil van Dijk has played down suggestions that Premier League leaders Liverpool are having a wobble after they drew 1-1 against Nottingham Forest to stay six points clear at the summit.
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Diogo Jota came off the bench to earn a point at the City Ground on Tuesday, cancelling out Chris Wood’s early opener, but the Reds were unable to find a winner despite creating numerous chances.
Arne Slot’s men, chasing a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title, still have a comfortable cushion at the top of the table despite winning just three of their past seven league games.
They also lost 1-0 to Tottenham in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final last week.
Forest are their nearest challengers in the league ahead of third-placed Arsenal’s match against Tottenham on Wednesday.
Liverpool captain Van Dijk said recent results were due to the strength of the opposition, rather than their own failures.
Asked about his side’s disappointing run, which included a 2-2 home draw with lowly Manchester United, he said: “So we are in a crisis now?
“It only confirms the Premier League is a very tough league where you play against opponents who are very good.
EPL Wrap: Reds silenced by Tricky Trees | 02:51
“Every game is tough. We have to find a way to win and I think if we play like we did in the second half and keep fighting, keep trying, keep finding opportunities then I am very confident we will score goals as well like we have been doing all season.”
Liverpool have lost just twice in all competitions during Slot’s first season in charge at Anfield and are still in the hunt for all four trophies.
“We have been outstanding the whole season with everything we have been doing,” said Netherlands international Van Dijk.
“In games sometimes things don’t always go your way. That’s life, that’s part of being a football player.
“We can’t be perfect all the time but all the hard work we have put in so far should give us the confidence to go out there and show who we are.”
Under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said he was angry his injury-ravaged side did not get their rewards for a battling performance as Alexander Isak’s strike earned in-form Newcastle a 2-1 win on Saturday.
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Both sides struck inside the first six minutes as Anthony Gordon’s controversial equaliser cancelled out Dominic Solanke’s opener for Spurs.
Isak then scored for the seventh consecutive Premier League game to claim a sixth straight win in all competitions for Newcastle.
The Magpies remain in fifth but move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Spurs’ ambition of a top-four finish already looks over after a run of one win in eight league games since a stunning 4-0 victory at Premier League champions Manchester City.
Tottenham sit 11th in the table, but a spirited performance from Postecoglou’s stretched squad deserved more as Newcastle were left clinging on in the closing stages.
Postecoglou said he was furious his team didn’t “get the rewards they deserved today”, describing himself as “angriest I think I have ever been in my career”.
Spurs to target January transfer window | 01:10
“I loved everything. The players were given an enormous task and didn’t make any excuses. We deserved to win the game today,” he added.
Spurs were without first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario along with defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies through injury plus the suspended Rodrigo Bentancur.
The loss of stand-in ‘keeper Fraser Forster to illness meant Postecoglou was forced to throw in Brandon Austin for his Spurs debut.
Slow starts, particularly at home, have been a major part of Spurs’ struggles under Postecoglou but they got off to a flyer.
In front of the watching new England manager Thomas Tuchel, Solanke did his case for international recognition no harm with a fine downward header from Pedro Porro’s cross on four minutes.
The lead lasted barely over two minutes, albeit the equaliser arrived in controversial circumstances.
Joelinton blocked Lucas Bergvall’s pass with his arm to gift Bruno Guimaraes possession and the Brazilian fed in Gordon to fire home.
Ange Postecoglou said he was angry his injury-ravaged side did not get their rewards.Source: Getty Images
However, a VAR review deemed Joelinton’s handball was not deliberate and the goal stood.
Isak needs no help to find the net on current form but got it from an under-manned Spurs defence seven minutes before half-time.
“I think it’s clear,” Postecoglou said after the game about the handball.
“Whether people agree with me or not whether it wasn’t handball or it was accidental, I’m just not interested in any of that discussion. What I’m saying is, on any given day with a fair and even playing field and logical thought processes, we would have won that game.”
Radu Dragusin deflected Jacob Murphy’s low cross onto the foot of the Swedish striker, who took his tally for the season to 14 goals in all competitions.
Spurs were dealt a further blow as Dragusin, who had been a doubt due to illness, was forced off at the break, leaving Postecoglou without a single natural centre-back to choose from.
Midfielder Archie Gray and full-back Djed Spence deputised manfully as Tottenham did all the pressing in the second half.
Brennan Johnson blasted off the post after Pape Sarr’s effort had been parried by Martin Dubravka.
Despite Spurs’ lack of bodies at the back, they did have the luxury of introducing Son Heung-min and James Maddison off the bench in the hunt for an equaliser.
Maddison flashed a curling shot inches wide from a short corner before Johnson and Sergio Reguilon both drilled low efforts across the face of goal.
But Newcastle held out to cap a brilliant festive period for Eddie Howe’s men that has propelled them into the running for a return to the Champions League.
“Second half we had to defend really well. I’m really pleased to get over the line and win the game,” said Howe.
