NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 498
Submitted by Norman Giller

Christmas came early for Liverpool at Tottenham Stadium yesterday when they were presented with three precious points by a Spurs side that played like a team of Santas dressed in disguise.

Yes, this is an exceptional Liverpool side even by their sky-high standards, but there can be no avoiding the fact that Tottenham made it much easier for the Merseysiders by suicidal marking. Did I say suicidal? Actually, it was nonexistent.

When you are facing players of the quality of Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz, you don't give them the freedom of the pitch.

I lost count of the times Liverpool had not one but two men clear and unchecked in the penalty area. Let's be honest, it could easily have been a much heavier defeat as our Spurs Odyssey correspondent Declan Mulcahy reports HERE.

This was a dress rehearsal for Tottenham's two-leg League Cup semi-final against Liverpool, and unless there is a tightening of the defence we can kiss goodbye to any thoughts of progressing to Wembley in that competition.

Sure, Spurs continue to struggle because of the injuries to central defenders Romero and Van der Ven, but that does not excuse the sort of loose play that would have been considered criminal in a Sunday pub team.

Ange Postecoglou stubbornly refuses to change his front-foot pressing game as calls for his sacking become increasingly loud online. We are wonderfully entertained by his team, but the fact is that the Greek Aussie must close the back door or face the axe.

I cannot close my blog without an honours mention for Dejan Kulusevski, who has emerged this season as one of the most gifted players in the Premier League. He continually gave Liverpool headaches and thoroughly deserved his fifth goal in five successive matches.

The Boxing Day match at Nottingham Forest followed by home League games against Wolves and Newcastle suddenly become Everest-high challenges for Ange before the huge banana-skin FA Cup visit to Tamworth. Cool Kulu can help us win them all!

The important thing is that you relax and enjoy your Christmas, and on behalf of my child bride Joyce and I please have the best of times ... and talking of Times, my Jumbo Sports crossword challenge is in Times Sport over Christmas for the 40th consecutive year. What a pity Spurs can't match that consistency!

COYS.

Week 18 of our eleventh season of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League, and the question is:

Who scored four goals for Spurs in a cracking 7-1 Christmas Day victory and against which team? Yes, a golden oldie for your festive fun.

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 18. Deadline: midnight this Friday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part.

The rules are the same as in the previous ten seasons. I ask a two-pronged question with three points at stake - two for identifying the player and one for the supplementary question. In the closing weeks of the competition I break the logjam of all-knowing Spurs-history experts with a real stinker of a tie-breaking poser that is based on opinion rather than fact.

This year's main prize will be a framed certificate announcing the winner as SOQL champion 2025, plus three signed books to be revealed at a later date. Last week's question: Who won 51 England caps, had two spells with Tottenham, played for Man United and with which London club did he start this League career?

Answer: Teddy Sheringham/Millwall

See you back here on Monday. Merry Christmas. COYS!

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