‘I just cannot get my head round it’ – Jamie Redknapp baffled by embarrassing Tottenham stat in Liverpool humiliation
TOTTENHAM racked up a string of new lows in a shocking Carabao Cup exit labelled “horrendous” and a “disgrace”.
Spurs failed to record a single shot on target as Liverpool’s 4-0 Anfield win booked a 4-1 victory on aggregate and a final place against Newcastle at Wembley on March 16.
Pundits delivered their most blistering verdicts yet on Ange Postecoglou‘s two-year reign.
And ex-Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp went back much further with his trip down horror-history lane.
The former England ace told Sky Sports: “I cannot remember a team in my lifetime go down with less of a fight than what they did today.”
Redknapp was especially stunned that Spurs couldn’t muster one effort on goal – the first time they’ve not done so under Postecoglou.
He said: “I can’t get my head round them not having one shot on target in a semi-final.
“Not having one shot on target in the semi-final second leg when you’re trying to change the course of your history.
“(There’s) the one half-chance when Son (Heung-min) manufactures a step-over and hits the bar but even then you just felt the game had gone for them.
“There’s been some lows – Palace, Everton and Ipswich this season – but that today, when you look at that scoreline, it’s just horrendous… so abject.”
Blaming the experienced players, Redknapp also claimed: “Whenever Tottenham go into a big game they never believe that they are going to win.”
Fellow Sky man Jamie Carragher was equally withering as pressure mounts on Postecoglou.
The ex-Liverpool defender said: “It was never in doubt before the game – it was Tottenham. When will Tottenham ever win a big game?
“When I look at those three Tottenham midfield players, I thought they were a disgrace, no matter who the manager is.”
Spurs’ match stats were pretty much their worst of the season.
They had just eight touches in the Liverpool penalty areas, whereas Arne Slot’s Prem leaders had 55 in the Tottenham area.
And their meagre total of five goal attempts – all off target – was dwarfed by Liverpool’s attacking threat.
The Reds created 26 attempts, including 10 on target.
Postecoglou told ITV: “Tough night. Credit to Liverpool they were way too good for us tonight.
“We never really got to grips with the game with or without the ball.
“We just allowed them to get control pretty early and it made it difficult for us to get in the game.”
Both Redknapp and Carragher accepted Tottenham still have a huge list of crocks, with 10 players out.
However, Redknapp stressed: “They’ve had a lot of injuries but there’s still enough players there to cause Liverpool problems.”
Ex-Spurs centre-back Michael Dawson labelled his old side’s display as “really, really damaging.”
Dawson added: “I thought there would be more of a fight from those players. They didn’t show any character.”
Cody Gakpo‘s 34th-minute opener put Liverpool in front on the night and level in the tie.
And Mo Salah‘s top-corner penalty early in the second period summed up their swagger as the Reds took control.
Dominik Szoboszlai‘s slot-in and Virgil van Dijk‘s header then made the scoreline almost as embarrassing for Spurs as their display.
Afterwards Van Dijk highlighted the contrast between the two teams – albeit by only talking about his own side.
The Dutch defender said: “It’s about staying calm, work our socks off, try to show our quality, defend with everything we have as a team and focus on ourselves. That’s the main thing.
“Don’t worry about others. That’s the only key to success this season. Let’s go for it and we’ll see.”
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