Tottenham player ratings vs Liverpool – Gray struggles, Solanke impact, Udogie and two more poor
Tottenham player ratings vs Liverpool – Gray struggles, Solanke impact, Udogie and two more poor
Tottenham Hotspur endured their 19th Premier League defeat of what has been a miserable campaign, falling to a heavy 5-1 loss at Anfield as Liverpool sealed the 2024/25 title in emphatic fashion. Ange Postecoglou, still reeling from Monday night’s 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest, opted to heavily rotate his squad with Thursday’s crucial European clash against Bodo/Glimt on the horizon.
The Australian manager made eight changes to his starting XI, bringing in the likes of Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Kevin Danso, and James Maddison. Notably, key centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were named among the substitutes, as Postecoglou looked to balance competitiveness with squad management.
Despite Liverpool entering the match surrounded by hype about clinching the championship, it was Spurs who delivered the first blow. After a bright start, James Maddison swung in a pinpoint corner that Dominic Solanke powerfully headed into the net to hand the visitors a shock lead.
However, Tottenham’s early advantage was short-lived. Liverpool responded swiftly, with Luis Diaz tapping home from close range — a goal confirmed after a brief VAR check. The Merseyside giants continued to assert their authority, taking the lead on 24 minutes when Alexis Mac Allister unleashed a stunning strike from outside the box into the top corner of Guglielmo Vicario’s goal.
Before half-time, the hosts tightened their grip on the match. Cody Gakpo added Liverpool’s third with a composed low finish into the bottom corner. The onslaught continued after the break: Mohamed Salah found the net just before the hour mark, driving a shot low into the corner, before Destiny Udogie inadvertently steered the ball into his own goal to make it five for the rampant Reds.
Tottenham Player Ratings at Anfield:
Guglielmo Vicario — 4
Helpless for most of Liverpool’s clinical first-half goals. Produced decent saves from Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai after the break but looked unconvincing with the ball at his feet, adding pressure to Tottenham’s struggling defense.
Djed Spence — 5
Shifted over to right-back, Spence was constantly on the back foot with Liverpool’s relentless attacks. Made a few forward runs but struggled to create anything meaningful in the final third.
Kevin Danso — 5
Caught ball-watching for Diaz’s equaliser, failing to track his man. Was busy defensively, with Liverpool piling on the pressure, and tried his luck with a speculative shot in the second half that missed the target.
Ben Davies — 5
Deputised for Van de Ven and made a crucial block to deny Trent Alexander-Arnold before half-time. Also made a timely clearance early in the second period but was part of a backline that was overwhelmed throughout.
Destiny Udogie — 3
Had an afternoon to forget. Struggled immensely against Salah and Alexander-Arnold, allowing Salah to cut inside too easily for Liverpool’s fourth goal. His misery was compounded when he accidentally turned the ball into his own net.
Archie Gray — 3
Given a rare start but found the pace and physicality of Liverpool’s midfield overwhelming. Lost track of Szoboszlai in the build-up to Diaz’s goal and was brushed aside by Gravenberch before Mac Allister’s strike. Substituted at half-time after a difficult 45 minutes.
Lucas Bergvall — 5
Energetic but ultimately struggled to influence proceedings. A poor headed clearance from a corner led directly to Liverpool’s third. Nevertheless, he kept battling to try to spark something in midfield.
James Maddison — 6
Wore the captain’s armband and started brightly, setting up Solanke’s opener with a superb corner. Tried to orchestrate attacks and showed glimpses of creativity before being substituted at the interval to keep him fresh for Europe.
Brennan Johnson — 4
Guilty of gifting possession to Gakpo before Liverpool’s third goal. Provided one dangerous cross late in the first half but, overall, lacked the cutting edge and composure needed in the final third.
Dominic Solanke — 7
Marked his return to the starting XI with a well-taken header that gave Spurs a temporary lead. Battled hard against Liverpool’s defense but received little service after his goal.
Mathys Tel — 5
Showed some promise down the left flank with a few lively runs but made a costly mistake by playing a poor pass that led to Liverpool’s second goal. Mixed afternoon overall.
Substitutes:
Pape Matar Sarr (for Gray, 46′) — 5
Thrust into a tough situation, tried to add energy to the midfield but struggled to stem Liverpool’s dominance.
Dejan Kulusevski (for Maddison, 46′) — 4
Gave away possession cheaply on the edge of Liverpool’s box, allowing the hosts to counter and score their fourth goal.
Wilson Odobert (for Tel, 67′) — 4
Barely involved after coming on, offered no real threat in attack.
Richarlison (for Solanke, 67′) — 4
Had little impact during his time on the pitch, with Spurs barely able to build attacks by the time he entered.