Thanks to John Ellis for his take on yesterday's game:-
Liverpool 4-0 Tottenham Hotspur (4-1 on aggregate)
Picture courtesy of John Ellis
Liverpool are currently one of the best teams in World football. To play Liverpool under the floodlights at Anfield in a cup semi-final in front of the their loud and passionate supporters would be a mammoth task for any team in Europe.
Even a full strength Tottenham team if they had the opportunity to rotate and rest players over the last three months would have struggled to protect a one goal margin against this mighty fine Liverpool side.
To turn up with all of the first choice back five out, plus the back up centre half, as well as the leading goal scorers in Solanke, Johnson and Maddison plus back up players in Werner and Odobert (i.e. eleven players in total) meant the odds were grossly stacked against the team.
In the face of such adversity, strong management and tactics off the pitch amd leadership from the more experienced players on the pitch were of paramount importance. Sadly, all were lacking and Spurs were unceremoniously dumped out of the cup without a whimper.
Scathingly as has often been the case in the last 15 months or so, Spurs just didn't turn up which is the biggest possible indictment in a cup semi-final.
Over 6,000 fans took time off from work, paid out for match tickets, travel costs and in many cases hotel costs in hope rather than expectation to see their side put in an abject, disjointed and toothless display.
The experienced players such as Son, Bentancur and Bissouma put in (quite frankly) appalling performances. Son's first half performance was quite possibly the worst he has played in a Spurs shirt. As a captain and leader, he was non-existent; a passenger; a non-entity.
Bentancur gave the ball away time and time again in an abysmal display.
Spurs somehow managed to get through the opening half hour without conceding but were struggling to maintain any sort of controlled possession. Richarlison worked hard but lacked support.
It felt a matter of when rather than if Liverpool would level the tie.
The crucial opening goal came from Bissouma yet again losing possession in his own half. This happens far too often and seems to be a fault in his game which is beyond being eradicated.
In the opening half hour, Spurs didn't seem to know whether to stick or twist.
It seemed as if they were set up to defend but played a high line which was breached several times before the first goal.
By the time the first goal had been scored, the midfield three had long since hoisted the white flag in surrender. It was frankly pitiful to watch. Instead of delivering decisive positive tactical intervention, the manager stood on the touchline waving his arms up and down in that helpless gesture of futility.
Spurs somehow made it through to half time with the tie level albeit with the loss of Richarlison to injury...yet again.
After such a poor first half, it was to be hoped words would be said, the tactics tweaked, the tempo upped in recognition the team were just 45 minutes away from a Wembley cup final.
However, the poor first half though proved to be as good as it got. The second half was a total mess.
With the Kop behind him, Kinsky showed the youthful inexperience of a 21-year-old in such a crucial position. He charged off his line to bring down a Liverpool player for a penalty to give the home side the lead over two legs which seemed to further unnerve him into making some wayward passes out from the back, bringing further pressure onto the defence.
The manager finally sprung into life but in so doing made some bewildering changes. He moved his right back Spence who was playing left back and doing a reasonable job in marking Salah across the pitch to the right side of midfield with Porro behind him. As it isn't a position he has played in for the club previously, Liverpool away in a cup semi final didn't feel the right place for such an experiment.
The 18-year-old midfielder Archie Gray started at right back before being moved across to left back. Later in the half, Postecoglou took off the reliable Davies to put Gray as centre back to play in his third position of the evening. Spence moved back to the left back position.
It was like a game of musical chairs.
Unsurprisingly, there wasn't any team structure or cohesion in Spurs play. Porro left oceans of space behind him, Bentancur continued to give the ball away and Liverpool took full advantage by scoring a third goal to all but book their place in the final at Wembley.
Son had an effort which crashed against the woodwork. It proved to be the closest Spurs would get to a shot on target in the whole match. The fourth goal gave a more realistic scoreline which showed the gulf between the two clubs.
Other than a couple of wayward passes, Danso had a good solid debut and Tel also had a promising second half debut.
The fans may not have expected to come away with a positive result tonight but they had every right to expect Tottenham to fight tooth and nail, to scrap for everything in the semi final of the cup. Instead, they saw a shambolic performance which was devoid of tactics, style and energy.
As good as Liverpool are and they are very good, the Spurs starting eleven should have offered a sterner.
Illustrious greats from Spurs' rich great history of cup tradition would have turned in their graves at the lack of collective spirit and the laying down of arms in such pitiful fashion.
The ownership has the most to answer for but this does not absolve the manager whose tactics and tinkering are exacerbating a very difficult situation.
Aston Villa have sat with their proverbial feet up this week in preparation for playing Spurs in the FA Cup 4th round on Sunday. Having added four first team players to an already strong squad, the Villa hierarchy are demonstrating ambitions to join the elite.
The Villa ownership, management, playing staff and fanbase are aligned which is in stark contrast to the decline of Tottenham Hotspur.
#Coys
. Spurs Odyssey match report
