Liverpool lost 1-0 to Tottenham in the first leg of the League Cup semifinal, and their performance can only be summed up as putrid. Here’s who’s to blame.
Mohamed Salah
The buck stops with Mohamed Salah as the superstar of Liverpool and the best player in the world this season. If anyone is entitled to have a day off, then it is Salah, who has come up with the goods in crunch time for the Reds so many times this season.
But Wednesday night’s loss to Tottenham simply wasn’t one of those times, as the Egyptian icon came up empty in the goals and assists column, barely creating chances for his teammates in what was a frustrating and isolated night against Spurs.
Djed Spence, of all people, pocketed in the former Premier League Player of the Season winger, who carried very little goal threat and even seemed unsure of himself at times with the ball in the box.
Alisson Becker
Alisson Becker didn’t directly cost Liverpool a goal, but he easily could have if it weren’t for the quick thinking and brave blocking of Virgil van Dijk, the best center back in world football today.
In his own right, Alisson is the best goalkeeper in England, but the Brazilian international was incredibly shaky with the ball at his feet against Tottenham, making multiple errors while looking unlikely to make the decisive save necessary.
Diogo Jota
I bounced between Alexis Mac Allister and Diogo Jota for the final spot, but I ultimately settled on Jota. Because when an attacking juggernaut on the level of Liverpool can’t score a single goal against an iffy defensive like Tottenham, the focus has to be on the starting striker.
Yes, Salah was very poor – and uncharacteristically so – but Liverpool can’t expect him to drop a 9 out of 10 rating in literally every single game he plays. The others need to step up, including in these cup games.
Diogo Jota had a big opportunity to impress, and while he worked hard to get into battles, he really needs to remember that his job is to, you know, score goals and not simply be a pest.
Anyone off the street can nip at heels or bark at the ref, but a club with the pedigree of Liverpool expect their starting striker in a big game to be able to score and create chances. Jota did none of that, hence why Liverpool were left second-best in the end.
