Deja vu – the sense of unerring familiarity when witnessing an event you feel that you’ve already lived through – is supposed to be a glitch in the Matrix.
Whatever is wrong with Tottenham’s backline in the opening exchanges of a match is far worse than a mere glitch. Just seven days after shipping five in the first 21 minutes against Newcastle, Tottenham limply rolled over to let in three goals after 15 minutes against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
3′ ⚽️ Curtis Jones
5′ ⚽️ Luis Díaz
15′ ⚽️ Mohamed SalahA lightning quick start at Anfield sees Liverpool lead 3-0 inside 15 minutes ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/0qZif2mE46
— 90min (@90min_Football) April 30, 2023
Spurs also conceded the opening goal against Manchester United after just seven minutes, going into the interval trailing 2-0 before an unlikely turnaround in the second half. As some Spurs began filing out of Anfield with a quarter-hour on the clock, optimism was evidently low among the travelling support.
15 minutes in. 3-0 down. Some Tottenham fans seem to have seen enough ❌ pic.twitter.com/HK9SxNZk6R
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 30, 2023
Tottenham fans are thinking “not again” 😳💭 pic.twitter.com/gZaONo1HCU
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 30, 2023
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy reacted to the mauling at St James’ Park by sacking interim manager Cristian Stellini, Antonio Conte’s former assistant, and promoting Ryan Mason – Stellini’s assistant – back to a caretaker role he held in 2021.
Levy also sanctioned refunds for all the fans that travelled to Newcastle for the 6-1 thrashing dished out last week. While the possibility of the chairman eyeing up Matt Wells, Mason’s assistant, wasn’t mulled over, the watching public took great pleasure in predicting another raid of Tottenham’s coffers.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy had a £500,000 pay rise last season – more than enough for this week’s refunds ?
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) April 30, 2023
Spurs issuing more refunds than Asos after New Year’s Eve
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) April 30, 2023
Spurs will be setting up a direct debit to their fans at this rate
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) April 30, 2023
Even the Tottenham fans that made the long trip north noted the potential for remuneration.
Spurs fans chanting “We Want Our Money Back.” Well suppose a precedent has been set.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) April 30, 2023
In fairness, Tottenham’s travelling support has been put through the wringer across the club’s last two away matches.
Mental that some Spurs fans will have travelled all the way to Newcastle and Liverpool inside the same week, watched a total of 35 minutes of football, and seen their team concede 8 goals.
— Football Ramble (@FootballRamble) April 30, 2023
After enduring so much travel for so little success across the opening exchanges of successive trips on the road, Tottenham fans turned to gallows humour.
“It’s only 2-0. How shit must you be? It’s only 2-0,” sing the Spurs fans.
10 mins gone. They’ve bettered the start at SJP.
— Charlie Eccleshare (@CDEccleshare) April 30, 2023
Admittedly, the wry grin on the faces of those in the Anfield away end may have been wiped off when Mohamed Salah converted a penalty for a rash lunge on Cody Gakpo after 15 minutes.
Tottenham after 15 minutes at Anfield have made 25 passes, 14% possession and conceded 3 goals.
— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) April 30, 2023
Just as he did against Newcastle, Harry Kane pulled one back for Spurs, this time lashing the ball between Alisson’s legs before the interval as Liverpool – or at least Virgil van Dijk – threatened to snap.
PERISIC DROPPED VIRGIL VAN DIJK 😳 pic.twitter.com/m9Wr24Y9m2
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 30, 2023
However, the Reds preserved their advantage going into half-time, ensuring Tottenham’s increasingly common tendency to implode stole the focus.
