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Ange Postecoglou suffered another damaging defeat on his quest to deliver Tottenham a trophy as Aston Villa dumped his side out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory.

Postecoglou said earlier this season "I always win things in my second year" but injury-hit Spurs now only have the Europa League left to lift after being beaten in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Thursday by Liverpool.

The Tottenham boss, who was without 11 first-team players due to injury, had a wry smile on his face when goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky let Jacob Ramsey's shot through his hands to give Villa the lead inside the opening 60 seconds.

But he was left stoney-faced after Morgan Rogers prodded in a second in the 64th minute to inflict a 21st defeat in Spurs' last 46 games despite Mathys Tel's well-taken injury-time consolation that produced a nervy last few moments.

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Villa's wastefulness kept Spurs in the tie at the break, hitting the target with just four efforts from 11, while their only available centre-back Ezri Konsa limped off.

Kinksy, after his early mistake, also helped make sure Villa took a narrow lead into half-time by denying Leon Bailey and Rogers, and Heung-Min Son should have equalised when he sent a close-range shot straight at the sprawling Emiliano Martinez.

The visitors improved when Postecoglou brought on Yves Bissouma for teenager Mikey Moore at half-time and pressed high onto the Villa midfield.

Villa, though, still had the biggest chance after the restart when Kinksy spread himself to deny Ramsey when one-on-one - and soon they had a second from Rogers' tap-in.

With the result seemingly not in doubt, Unai Emery brought on loan signings Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio for the final 25 minutes. The Villa supporters sang Rashford's name while Asensio combined well with Rogers, who flashed a shot wide.

Spurs defender Kevin Danso missed a sitter late on which proved even more costly when Tel guided a first-time effort into the net after Kinksy had once again denied Ramsey from piling even more misery on Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy, who watched from the stands as the away supporters routinely chanted for his resignation.

'Sympathy for Spurs is wearing thin'

Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:

Tottenham have injuries but so do Aston Villa. Is top-level management not about being able to fix problems that arise throughout the season? Adapt or die. Find a way.

Well, Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou don't adapt. The Spurs boss yet again pointed to his injury list in the aftermath of this defeat but the sympathy act is wearing a little thin now.

Villa ended the match without a fit or available centre-back to pick from after Ezri Konsa joined their long list of absentees yet Unai Emery found a way to get his team playing his football and still protected their potential vulnerabilities at the centre of their defence. That's how to fix problems.

Tottenham are 14th in Premier League - 16 points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and are now out of both domestic cup competitions. The final three months of this season are going to be a slog for watchers of this football team with nothing domestically to play for.

It truly is Europa League or bust for Tottenham's season now, with or without Postecoglou in the dugout.

Ange: We look forward to resetting

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou speaking to the BBC:

"Nothing really changes. We've got a couple of weeks now without midweek games.

"This group of players have done an unbelievable job for two and a half months. I can't praise them highly enough for the effort they've put in for a small group of players playing twice a week since the middle of November.

"There'll be an opportunity to recover now and get some players back over the next couple of weeks. We look forward to resetting and finishing the season strong.

"Europe is important to us and we're in a great spot there. We get some players back in the next couple of weeks as it gives us a rest and respite for a group that have been doing it for the past two months.

"We had 11 first-team players out today. Take that out of any team for one game and they'd struggle but we've been doing it for two-and-a-half months. We'll get some players back and that'll help."

Emery: FA Cup means a lot

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery:

"I'm very happy for our supporters because this competition means a lot to them, to Aston Villa.

"We were here two years ago and we didn't get to the fifth round like we did today. How we got it was fantastic because I think we played a very good match. We performed, collectively and individually, very good.

"The players we added in the last month have started helping us a lot and we're very motivated and excited to watch again how we can recover our capacity, our performances in the next weeks and months playing in different competitions - FA Cup, Champions League and Premier League.

"After the result, which is most important for us, it's how we played and how we got our performance, collectively and individually, that I am happy with. I'm very demanding about how we can get better for the next matches in Premier League, the next matches in Champions League and the next matches in FA Cup."

Villa new boys impress on debut

Sky Sports' Patrick Rowe:

Progressing into the fifth round is exciting enough but the cameo performances from new signings Marco Asensio and Rashford have left Aston Villa fans desperate to see more.

"This is probably the best squad we've ever had," Ramsey said.

"You see the bench with (Donyell) Malen starting and Rashford coming on. The squad depth is unbelievable.

"The starting players have to raise their game as the players coming on are a big threat."

Despite only spending a few training sessions with their new squad after signing in the final days of the January transfer window, Rashford and Asensio linked-up seamlessly with their team-mates and were unlucky to walk away without assists to their name.

Emery now has an abundance of world-class talent at his disposal but the same problem he experienced with Jhon Duran prior to his move to Al Nassr now presents itself again: how can he use them all together?

However, in terms of problems in football, it is the best one to have.

What's coming up?

Our betting expert Jones Knows provides his insight as he analyses the weekend's FA Cup fourth-round action.

Plymouth vs Liverpool, Sunday 3pm - PLAY SUPER 6!

Those who think Liverpool are the best team in England should consider backing them to win the FA Cup outright when you assess how the market is shaping up. Arne Slot's men are 4/1 second favourites with Sky Bet, with Manchester City priced up as the market leaders - that makes little sense.

This should not prove too much of a problem for the Reds based on Plymouth's current form of winning one of their last 16 Championship matches. An away win with under 3.5 goals thrown into the mix at 6/5 with Sky Bet looks the play.

SCORE PREDICTION: 0-2

Aston Villa vs Tottenham, Sunday 5.35pm - PLAY SUPER 6!

Aston Villa are an easy team to score against, especially without Pau Torres. He is a huge miss and I'm always wary of trusting them without him.

The data points to the Spanish defender being a massive player for them.

SUPER 6: There is an overwhelming amount of Super 6 players backing the narrow 2-1 victory for Villa with 340,000 going for that scoreline

Since the start of last season, in 51 games with him, Villa's win percentage is at 58 per cent and they have conceded 1.3 goals per game. Without him, across a sample size of 22 games, their win percentage drops to 35 per cent and they are conceding 2.1 goals per game. In total, their percentage drops 23 per cent without him and they concede 0.8 more goals.

Of course, football is a low scoring sport so that goals conceded number is a red flag when it comes to backing Villa in this spot. This is a more important match for Spurs and they are the bet to qualify at 7/4 with Sky Bet.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2

Our betting expert Jones Knows provides his insight as he analyses the weekend's FA Cup fourth-round action.

Plymouth vs Liverpool, Sunday 3pm - PLAY SUPER 6!

Those who think Liverpool are the best team in England should consider backing them to win the FA Cup outright when you assess how the market is shaping up. Arne Slot's men are 4/1 second favourites with Sky Bet, with Manchester City priced up as the market leaders - that makes little sense.

This should not prove too much of a problem for the Reds based on Plymouth's current form of winning one of their last 16 Championship matches. An away win with under 3.5 goals thrown into the mix at 6/5 with Sky Bet looks the play.

SCORE PREDICTION: 0-2

Aston Villa vs Tottenham, Sunday 5.35pm - PLAY SUPER 6!

Aston Villa are an easy team to score against, especially without Pau Torres. He is a huge miss and I'm always wary of trusting them without him.

The data points to the Spanish defender being a massive player for them.

SUPER 6: There is an overwhelming amount of Super 6 players backing the narrow 2-1 victory for Villa with 340,000 going for that scoreline

Since the start of last season, in 51 games with him, Villa's win percentage is at 58 per cent and they have conceded 1.3 goals per game. Without him, across a sample size of 22 games, their win percentage drops to 35 per cent and they are conceding 2.1 goals per game. In total, their percentage drops 23 per cent without him and they concede 0.8 more goals.

Of course, football is a low scoring sport so that goals conceded number is a red flag when it comes to backing Villa in this spot. This is a more important match for Spurs and they are the bet to qualify at 7/4 with Sky Bet.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2

Tottenham’s players look like they are now hiding behind Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy after their "shocking" midweek display against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, says Paul Merson.

Spurs, who travel to Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Sunday, took a one-goal lead to Anfield on Thursday night but were thrashed 4-0 as they missed out on the chance to take on Newcastle in next month's Carabao Cup final.

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Meanwhile, Tottenham's Premier League points tally leaves them closer to the relegation zone than a place in Europe next season, and Merson says Postecoglou's side are "horrible" to watch right now.

"Everybody is hiding behind the manager and Levy now, that's what I feel," he said.

"There were some experienced players out there [against Liverpool]. There were a lot of caps out there and for me it wasn't good enough. It was like 'if we get beat it'll be down to Ange and it will be down to Levy'.

"I thought it was shocking.

"There are ways of losing. Everybody loses football matches, whoever you may be you [can] lose a football match, but there are ways, this is a semi-final, dig in.

"I think Ange is caught in between [the Devil and] the Deep Blue Sea now.

"They neither attack nor defend. At least before it was gung-ho, it was like we'll have a load of shots and we might get well beat.

"But now it's like they are not really defending but they're not attacking neither It's a horrible watch. It's a horrible watch at the moment."

Ange: Talk over future 'doesn't enter my head'

Postecoglou says will shut out talk about his future and focus on trying to salvage Tottenham's season when they travel to Villa in the FA Cup.

Postecoglou knows speculation over his job will intensify if an FA Cup exits follows the heavy Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool.

Asked if he would still be in charge if they lost at Villa, Postecoglou replied: "That doesn't enter my head.

"I get that's obviously a massive topic of discussion because when things aren't going well you look at the person who's largely responsible for that and that's me.

"You've got to get on with it. It doesn't change the decisions I make, how I feel, how I work today or how determined I am to continue on this path.

"Right now the focus is on getting this group of players recovered for Sunday. It's a big game and hopefully a positive result and then over the next couple of weeks we'll get some significant players back, which I think will help.

"We're an easy mark at the moment. There's inconsistency in our play, everyone is saying I'm making excuses about injuries and it's kind of easy, with the club not having won a trophy in a long time, for people to pile on.

"It does feel like there's very much an eagerness to take the club down for one reason or another when the opportunity exists.

"At the moment we're giving them the opportunity but that can't chart our way forward. That can't be our motivation to change people's opinions."

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Carabao Cup holders Liverpool overturned a one-goal deficit to book their place in the competition's showpiece final at Wembley with a thrilling 4-1 aggregate win over toothless Tottenham.

Goals from Cody Gakpo - his tenth in 10 home appearances - Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk cancelled out Lucas Bergvall's strike from the first leg, condemning Spurs to their joint heaviest defeat of Ange Postecoglou's charge.

Liverpool made their visitors pay for sloppiness in the first period when Yves Bissouma's simple giveaway presented the chance for Salah to feed Gakpo, but the remainder was a procession, as the Egyptian scored from the penalty spot after Antonin Kinsky's error, Szoboszlai stroked home a third and Van Dijk nodded Alexis Mac Allister's corner beyond the sorry goalkeeper.

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A patched-up Spurs looked like they did not know how to handle the occasion, with their one-goal advantage forcing a passiveness that rarely works at Anfield. Jamie Redknapp branded the display "horrendous" and "shocking".

Arne Slot's relentless Reds will meet Newcastle - who beat Arsenal 4-0 over their respective two legs - at Wembley on March 16 for the chance to lift a record-extending 11th League Cup trophy.

Postecoglou's promise of second-season silverware, meanwhile, feels more distant than ever, with his side unable to even muster a shot on target during a lifeless 90 minutes. Tottenham's 17-year wait for a trophy goes on.

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Redknapp hits out at Spurs' fight

Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp:

"I cannot remember a team in my lifetime going down with less of a fight with what Spurs did today. Not having one shot on target in the semi-final of a second leg when you're trying to change the course of your history?

"I feel sorry for those players. I've never seen anything like it. You have young players, you're meant to protect them.

"Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, they're young men and trying their best. But I'm looking at the experienced players today to lead and try and set the tempo. They didn't do that one bit.

"There's been some lows - Palace, Ipswich and Everton this season. But when you look at that today, the scoreline, just horrendous."

Analysis: Tottenham chaotic and confused

Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Tottenham barely participated in that semi-final. The body language of players read something close to 'put me out of my misery' by the end.

Liverpool were impressive, very slick, but Tottenham had nothing to offer, not even belief. They completed just 88 passes in the first period, their fewest in a half of football under Postecoglou and the second 45 minutes only got worse. The scoreline actually flattered them - 0.18 worth of generated xG just as pitiful.

What will disappoint the manager most is the contrast from a first leg of such promise. There was precious little to be proud of from any individual. Where Postecoglou himself will have to concede, though, is over a clear lack of game plan. What were Spurs set up to do? They offered nothing that resembled coherence at either end of the pitch.

Jamie Redknapp said he was 'baffled' by Postecoglou's tactics. The players appeared equally confused, making it impossible to gain a foothold, and played directly into Liverpool's obliging hands.

Carragher: Spurs never shock in big games

Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:

"It was never in doubt before the game. It's Tottenham! When do Tottenham ever win a big game? When do Tottenham ever go and surprise, win against the odds?

"The odds were massively in favour for Liverpool - they're at Anfield, they're the best team in the country, possibly the best team in Europe right now.

"But it's not just this Spurs team. They never shock you, never do something out of the ordinary.

Postecoglou deems outside opinion 'irrelevant'

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou:

"It's fair to say we didn't get to the level we needed tonight. For us to give ourselves an opportunity we had to be a lot more aggressive with and without the ball - we weren't. We allowed them to control and dictate. They were too good for us."

Responding to Redknapp's claim that Spurs went down without a fight, Postecoglou said: "I know people get excited about things like that, people on TV give opinions, that's what they are there to do.

"My job is to manage this football club. Whatever people think or don't think is irrelevant, it doesn't really matter. I don't put any emphasis on it, or who we are. Everyone is allowed to have an opinion and express it. My view is I don't need to respond to that or be affected by it. I don't care, it doesn't worry me."

Slot: The most special evening

Liverpool boss Arne Slot:

"I think we had some big nights here already but yeah to reach a final should also be special, and that is what it is. So yeah in that perspective it has been the most special evening.

"In Holland we only have one cup competition and that final is played at the end of the season so it is new experience but a nice one to have.

"[Wembley] is a special stadium for English people but also for Dutch people because we know the history of the stadium and a final as well."

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Tottenham's limp performance in their Carabao Cup semi-final collapse at Liverpool was ripped apart by Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp - with the display branded as "horrendous" and "shocking".

Spurs went to Anfield with a 1-0 first-leg lead but succumbed to a 4-0 defeat in the return fixture - with goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk sealing the aggregate win for the Premier League leaders.

Spurs' response to that was zero shots on target - as they missed the chance to take on Newcastle in the March 16 final at Wembley.

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"I cannot remember a team in my lifetime go down with less of a fight with what Spurs did today," said former Spurs midfielder Redknapp.

"Not having one shot on target in the semi-final of a second leg when you're trying to change the course of your history?

"I feel sorry for those players. I think Djed Spence played 14 different positions tonight. I've never seen anything like it. You have young players, you're meant to protect them.

"Archie Gray and [Lucas] Bergvall, they're young men and trying their best. But I'm looking at the experienced players today to lead and try and set the tempo. They didn't do that one bit.

"There's been some lows - Palace, Ipswich and Everton this season. But when you look at that today, the scoreline? Just horrendous."

Asked to respond to those Redknapp comments in his press conference, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou replied: "Why you asking me? Ask Jamie, he's made the comment.

"I know people get excited about things like that, people on TV give opinions, that's what they are there to do. My job is to manage this football club. Whatever people think or don't think is irrelevant, it doesn't really matter.

"I don't put any emphasis on it, or who we are. Everyone is allowed to have an opinion and express it. My view is I don't need to respond to that or be affected by it. I don't care, it doesn't worry me, it doesn't bother me."

'It's Tottenham! They never shock you!' - Carra on Spurs' mental block

Meanwhile, Sky Sports' pundit Carragher said he never had belief in Spurs finishing the job off after their first-leg victory.

"It was never in doubt before the game," Carragher said about Liverpool's victory. "It's Tottenham! When do Tottenham ever win a big game? When do Tottenham ever go and surprise, win against the odds?

"The odds were massively in favour against Liverpool, they're at Anfield, they're the best team in the country, possibly the best team in Europe right now.

"But it's not just this Spurs team. They never shock you, never do something out of the ordinary.

"I'm trying to remember the last big game they won: it was probably that semi-final against Ajax in the Champions League [in 2019].

"I was in the stadium that night and I don't want to take it away from Tottenham, but they were very lucky! They were battered for most of the game, it was a freak and they got two goals in the last minute.

"Whenever they go into a big game as a club, nobody ever believes they're going to win. That's not me as a Liverpool fan, those Tottenham fans there tonight - not one of them believed they were going to win and to go Wembley! They just won't."

'Accrington Stanley gave more'

Former Liverpool defender Carragher added that he felt League Two side Accrington Stanley gave a better account of themselves when they visited Anfield for their FA Cup third-round game with Liverpool.

The numbers even back that up. John Doolan's fourth-tier side did manage one shot on target in their 4-0 defeat on January 11, while they conceded fewer shots and had more touches in the Liverpool penalty area than Spurs' attempt on Thursday.

"I'm not just saying this to try and make a headline but I think of an FA Cup tie Liverpool played at home a few weeks ago. Accrington Stanley gave more than Tottenham and caused Liverpool more of a problem in that game. That's not right.

"You're playing against the best team in Europe, no one expects you to go through but it's the manner of the defeat. Those three midfield players are big, strong, powerful lads who can run, but if I'm playing in a semi-final, I'm hitting Curtis Jones early on.

"We saw it from Newcastle [against Arsenal]. Newcastle were ready and were going to make it as tough as possible. Tottenham didn't make that tough for Liverpool. It was one of the easiest games they've had this season.

"Even when promoted teams come to Anfield, they don't play with that fear. They came with a one-goal lead as well. It just goes back to that stereotype we all have with Tottenham.

"I loved the [Mauricio] Pochettino team, it had steel about it, probably the best Tottenham team since the early '80s, and that team still couldn't get over the line. There's definitely a mental block with the club. It goes back a long time."

Postecoglou 'looks lonely' as Spurs senior players slammed

Former Spurs defender Michael Dawson believes under-fire Spurs boss Postecoglou "looks lonely" on the touchline - as this latest setback increases the spotlight on his position.

But there was also criticism towards Spurs' senior players - notably captain Heung-Min Son - who went closest to finding the net by hitting the bar in the second half. But the north Londoners were 3-0 down by that point.

"He looks lonely there on his own," said Dawson about Postecoglou. "He's going through a challenging time. The players have to give more than they're giving at this moment in time. The senior players.

"Son is someone we've talked about for years and years in this Premier League and how good he's been. But when the going gets tough, and we've all been through it, you have to look to your senior players and help them young players.

"But believe me, that was a low, low night for Spurs.

"It was always going to be backs against the wall but they didn't show any character in possession, out of possession and they didn't show any desire to keep the ball out of the back of the net.

"To come here and get beat 4-0 without any fight and without a shot on target, it's a damaging performance."

Asked if he feels lonely on the touchline, Postecoglou told Sky Sports: "It's not an emotion I feel. I'm disappointed we weren't able to give a better account of ourselves and get to a final.

"The players are very disappointed. We had a great opportunity and unfortunately we didn't grab it.

"Liverpool fully deserved the victory tonight. They were the better team. We just weren't able to get a grip in any part of the game defensively or with the ball. They were too good for us.

"We allowed them to get into the game, we weren't as aggressive as we needed to be. Again, we didn't start the game off on the right foot, it allowed them to get comfortable. Once they got comfortable, it was difficult for us to get some control back."

Redknapp also took aim at Postecoglou's tactics, even with a long list of injuries mounting up for Spurs. Their tally of absentees went to 11 with Richarlison limping off at Anfield in the first half.

"Yes, they have had injuries but there are still enough players there to cause Liverpool some problems," he said.

"There's been defeats to Ipswich, Leicester, Crystal Palace and Everton. Everyone seems to find a way of beating this Tottenham side.

"The manager baffles me with his tactics. I think he's completely lost in what he's trying to do.

"You have to adapt and you have to change. If you haven't got the personnel you want then you have to make sure your tactics are spot on."

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