Only 1/8 duels won, 56% passing: Ange must instantly axe Spurs dud who lost the ball 21x and was worse than Udogie
Only 1/8 duels won, 56% passing: Ange must instantly axe Spurs dud who lost the ball 21x and was worse than Udogie
Despite a promising start with an opening goal from Dominic Solanke, Spurs were ultimately overwhelmed as Liverpool dominated large stretches of the game. Ange Postecoglou will no doubt be left frustrated and disappointed by the performance of his players, many of whom delivered below-par displays in what was a truly sobering evening for the North London side. Among those who struggled was young Italian full-back Destiny Udogie.
Destiny Udogie’s Difficult Night Against Liverpool
Tasked with the challenging responsibility of containing Mohamed Salah on the left flank, Udogie initially appeared to handle the assignment relatively well during the first half. Despite Salah’s involvement in Liverpool’s opening goal — with a clever pass that split the Spurs defence — the Egyptian superstar ended the first 45 minutes without a goal or an assist to his name, a small credit to Udogie’s efforts in the early going.
However, after the break, Salah significantly raised his level and began to exploit Tottenham’s defensive frailties. It was during this period that Udogie’s night began to unravel. Salah cut inside from the right, effortlessly evading Udogie’s challenge, and unleashed a clinical finish into the bottom corner to get his name on the scoresheet. The Italian full-back’s nightmare continued later in the half when intense pressure from Salah led to an unfortunate own goal — Liverpool’s fifth of the evening — capping off a second half to forget for the young defender.
Still, despite his mistakes, Udogie was arguably not the poorest full-back on the pitch for Spurs. That unwanted distinction belonged to Djed Spence, whose performance was even more concerning.
Why Ange Postecoglou Must Consider Dropping Djed Spence
Djed Spence endured one of his worst displays in a Tottenham shirt at Anfield, struggling both defensively and in possession throughout the match. His woes began early, with his role — or rather, his lack of effective involvement — in Liverpool’s first goal setting the tone for the rest of his afternoon. Instead of sticking with his man, Luis Diaz, Spence hesitated, attempting to push up and play offside. The defensive line was poorly coordinated, and Diaz took full advantage to find the back of the net.
The issues didn’t stop there. Twice in the second half, Spence was caught napping by attackers making runs off his shoulder. First, he allowed Cody Gakpo to slip in behind, though the Dutchman’s cross fortunately came to nothing. The second time, he was nowhere near Diogo Jota, who fired in the low ball that eventually led to Udogie’s own goal.
Spence’s struggles were not limited to his defensive work. On the ball, he was careless and indecisive, often giving possession away cheaply. In fact, he lost the ball a staggering 14 more times than Udogie over the course of the match — an alarming statistic that only served to invite further pressure from Liverpool. His lack of physicality in duels and poor decision-making compounded an already miserable afternoon.
In contrast, while Udogie also had glaring mistakes, he at least showed more composure and intent in possession, creating some positive moments going forward. The comparison between the two full-backs on the day was stark, with Spence coming out much worse when evaluating both attacking contributions and defensive duties.
Given these struggles, Postecoglou must seriously consider making changes for Tottenham’s upcoming fixtures, starting with their Europa League tie against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday. Pedro Porro, who impressed with an assist in the previous outing against Nottingham Forest, seems a logical and necessary replacement at right-back. Porro’s energy, technical ability, and attacking output could provide Spurs with more balance and stability on the flanks — something they desperately lacked at Anfield.
If Tottenham are to bounce back from this embarrassing defeat and end the season strongly, decisive action must be taken. Dropping Spence to the bench in favor of Porro could be the first step in tightening up a defence that looked far too vulnerable against the newly-crowned champions.