Forget Simons and Romero: ‘Special’ Tottenham player let Thomas Frank down vs Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur suffered another bruising evening on Saturday as they played host to Liverpool in north London, with the visitors leaving with a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Facing Arne Slot’s reigning champions, Spurs were hoping to respond after last weekend’s humbling 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, but instead endured a chaotic and frustrating night that further intensified the pressure on Thomas Frank and his squad.
With momentum already against them, Spurs’ task became significantly harder during a disastrous first half. A series of rash decisions and lapses in discipline saw Tottenham reduced to just nine men before the interval, following red cards for Xavi Simons and captain Cristian Romero. The double dismissal completely shifted the balance of the contest, leaving the home side fighting a losing battle against one of the league’s most ruthless outfits.
From that point on, it was an uphill struggle. Despite some spirited moments and the backing of an expectant crowd, Spurs were unable to overturn the deficit, missing a golden opportunity to climb into the top half of the Premier League table. As the final whistle sounded, frustration spilled over around the stadium, with sections of the fanbase making their dissatisfaction clear.
Mohammed Kudus Struggles on Difficult Night
While Simons became the focal point of supporters’ anger following his dismissal, it was also a disappointing outing for Mohammed Kudus, who failed to make the desired impact in attack. Handed a starting role, the former West Ham United winger struggled to influence proceedings during his 58 minutes on the pitch.
Kudus was unable to create a single clear chance for his teammates and managed just one effort on goal, which drifted off target. As Tottenham chased the game with limited numbers, his inability to spark counter-attacks or relieve pressure proved costly.
When he was substituted for the out-of-favour Brennan Johnson, the reaction from the stands was far from warm. Observing the moment on social media, Football London journalist Alasdair Gold wrote on X:
“Johnson replaces Kudus which gets a cheer from the Spurs fans. The Ghanaian has struggled to get going on the break in this second half after a bright first period.”
Kudus Reflects Spurs’ Ongoing Attacking Issues
Although Kudus has not been Tottenham’s poorest performer this season, he has arguably been one of the most frustrating. After arriving from West Ham, the winger showed flashes of genuine quality in his early appearances, hinting at the dynamic threat Spurs hoped they were signing. However, his form has since dipped, with consistency proving elusive.
This was a concern previously highlighted by Hammers supporters, who often pointed to inconsistency as the biggest weakness in Kudus’ game. His current return of three goals and six assists shows that he has contributed, but for a side with ambitions of climbing the table, it is simply not enough.
The same criticism extends beyond Kudus to Tottenham’s wider attacking unit. Following the summer departure of Heung-min Son and a serious injury to James Maddison, Frank needed his forward players to shoulder greater responsibility. So far, that has not happened with any regularity.
Injuries have played their part, with Dominic Solanke sidelined, while Richarlison — despite scoring against Liverpool — along with Mathys Tel, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert have all struggled to cement a consistent place in the starting XI.
Sitting 13th in the Premier League, Tottenham’s problems in front of goal are becoming increasingly evident. If Frank is to turn Spurs’ fortunes around, he needs far more output and reliability from his attackers. Should that fail to materialise from within the current squad, the club may soon be forced to explore alternatives in the transfer market.