Tottenham's surrender is on Ange Postecoglou: Aston Villa FA Cup clash feels like make-or-break | OneFootball

With club’s season on the brink, judgment on the Spurs boss can’t be deferred if his players turn in more performances that lack conviction and belief

It was not so much the result as the manner of Tottenham's performance at Anfield that was alarming for Ange Postecoglou.

Under Postecoglou, Spurs have prided themselves on taking the game to opponents but they did not have a single shot on target against a Liverpool side who barely got out of third gear, had only eight touches in their opponents’ box and looked far more like the team whose season might depend on a result.

It’s over: Postecoglou joins the Spurs players after losing at Anfield

Nick Potts/PA Wire

Postecoglou afterwards accused his players of "looking to protect" their 1-0 lead from the first leg and Spurs certainly played like they were aiming to contain and counter-attack; Liverpool, though, ripped through them after Cody Gakpo's 34th-minute strike levelled the tie and quickly smothered any attempts to break.

A dejected Postecoglou afterwards used the result to push his case for Spurs to play on the front-foot at all times.

Footballers, though, tend to take their cues from their manager and Postecoglou's team selection suggested he, too, had preservation in mind.

A midfield three of Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr – all hopelessly overrun – was designed to shackle Liverpool rather than create, while starting Dejan Kulusevski, who looked exhausted, in the front three rather than at No8 and Archie Gray over Pedro Porro (who admittedly needed a rest) at right-back were further pointers that Postecoglou wanted his side to prioritise defending over inflicting more damage on their hosts.

Despite being without 10 players to injury, Postecoglou was able to name Porro, Lucas Bergvall, Mathys Tel and Mikey Moore on the bench but even his substitutions were conversative. Winger Moore, who is just 17 but a special talent, was not introduced until Spurs were already 4-0 down.

Liverpool always seemed certain to score at home in a second-leg knockout tie, so as well as defending robustly, Spurs needed to carry a threat of their own.

Another blow: Richarlison’s injury is the last thing Spurs needed

AP

There is obviously an extreme irony in calling for Postecoglou's side to be more positive, given the entirety of his 18-month tenure has been accompanied by endless sniping about the need for the 59-year-old to be more pragmatic and change his approach.

But Spurs' limp performance felt less about tactics and more about an utter lack of belief or conviction that they could get a result at Anfield, a failing that felt tied in with their set-up and must rest with Postecoglou first and foremost.

It is overblown to suggest the Australian has lost his players or lost his way, but the one big caveat to Spurs' dreadful league form this winter has been the players' obvious determination to keep fighting for the coach and playing their football.

Even on their last visit to Merseyside for the abject 3-2 defeat to Everton, Spurs showed real spirit in the second half to nearly claw their way back from 3-0 down.

Without this mentality and the cornerstones of Postecoglou's philosophy, there will be nothing to fall back on if results continue to be poor in the Premier League.

There is now significant pressure on Spurs to show more more character and endeavour at Villa Park this weekend for a game that feels close to make-and-break for their season and perhaps even Postecoglou's long-term future. The injury to Richarlison is the last thing that the club needs, while centre-back pair Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are also expected to miss the game.

Postecoglou has suggested that the free week between Sunday and Manchester United's visit in the Premier League, during which a host of his injured players are slated to return to full training, could be transformative but we cannot keep deferring judgment on Spurs' season.

If Spurs fail to progress in the FA Cup, their season will be utterly dependent on the Europa League and Postecoglou will naturally be under pressure – injuries or not.