Football London

It's been an often-used criticism of the Premier League that they do not help their teams in Europe like other leagues across the continent do but they risk a number of problems if they do not look at rescheduling Tottenham's game against Aston Villa next month.

First off and to be clear, there's no presuming when it comes to Tottenham, especially during this otherwise dreadful season. It's certainly a big if over whether Spurs will get to the Europa League final because they face a Bodo/Glimt side in the semi-finals that, while facing up to five or six key players missing the first leg, has toppled plenty of big clubs this season in the competition with their football and their Aspmyra Stadion in particular proving to be a fortress.

However, the possibility of the north London side managing to seal their place in the final must be planned for in case it occurs and with Aston Villa losing their FA Cup semi-final to Crystal Palace so the Premier League game between Unai Emery's side and Spurs currently remains set for Sunday, May 18.

That would give Tottenham just three days to recover and prepare for a potential Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21.

In a statement released on Sunday, Spurs said: "We should like to inform supporters that we are in discussions with the Premier League regarding a change in date to our away Premier League match against Aston Villa, currently scheduled for Sunday, 18 May."

Spurs are understood to have suggested a number of alternative dates in order to allow for a larger block of days to mentally and physically prepare for a potential showpiece final.

Villa are said to have opposed a move, having played matches every three to four days in April due to their Champions League and FA Cup games and they are also chasing a top five spot in the Premier League so want to prepare fully for the Spurs game. May's matches for Villa are all spaced out currently with one every seven to eight days.

A cynic might suggest that Villa will be well aware that if the Spurs game goes ahead on May 18 then Ange Postecoglou is likely to name a complete shadow XI of fringe players and young players, in order to protect the team he wants to play in the final. While that would benefit the home side at Villa Park, it's not exactly going to go down well with the others in the top five chase. It's diluting the Premier League product.

Villa's objection also reportedly includes an issue that the match, which is Villa's final home game of the season, is set to include a number of pre-planned family activities which will not be possible if it was to be an evening fixture.

Teams in other European leagues often get fixtures moved by their authorities to help them give their best in continental competition, because ultimately it reflects well on the domestic league if they succeed. AZ Alkmaar had similar assistance from the Eredivisie last month before playing Tottenham in the round of 16.

Athletic Club look set to get similar aid from La Liga if they can get past Manchester United in the other semi-final next month. The Bilbao side currently have a game at Valencia slated for May 18 but it is listed as 'to be determined'. Reports in Spain suggest La Liga could move that fixture a day back to Saturday May 17 at the least, and their previous game against Getafe would be pushed back as well.

The Premier League are often criticised by managers for not helping their teams when in Europe, with fixtures before and after games often in close proximity, and if they do not step in this time then they will also allow a situation where the Premier League schedule favours Manchester United should Ruben Amorim's side and Spurs both manage to reach the final in Spain.

That's because United are currently set to travel to Chelsea on Friday, May 16 rather than having a weekend game. That would currently mean a two-day advantage over Tottenham should both teams make it to the final, meaning the Premier League would have allowed one of their teams to have an advantage over another in a major European final, which would open them up to plenty of criticism.

Tottenham can propose a change and Villa can offer up their objections, as both appear to have done, but ultimately it is down to the Premier League to decide. Common sense must prevail.

Ange Postecoglou's excitement about the future for Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray was brought crashing back to reality in the present during the heavy defeat at Liverpool.

Postecoglou selected a team for Sunday's match that showed his focus is mainly on this Thursday night's Europa League semi-final first leg against Bodo/Glimt. Within the starting XI, the Australian named two teenagers in the midfield trio in Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray- in what could be a long-term future pairing for the club - alongside vice-captain James Maddison.

Dominic Solanke's header from James Maddison's corner early in the game gave Liverpool a shock but Spurs had just four minutes to hold their lead before Luiz Diaz scored from close range following a VAR offside check. Liverpool surged ahead through Alexis Mac Allister's powerful strike and Cody Gakpo's clinical finish.

Mohamed Salah's low effort and a Destiny Udogie own goal in the second half completed the demolition as Liverpool won the title in their own back yard.

For Tottenham it was a case of men against boys with the two midfielders both showing their inexperience at times against Arne Slot's side.

Our Spurs correspondent Rob Guest was at the match and handed Gray a three in his player ratings with the review: "Handed a rare chance in midfield and found it very tough at times against one of the Premier League's best midfield trios. Szoboszlai ran off him to tee up Diaz's opener and then he was outmuscled by Gravenberch for Mac Allister's goal midway through the first half, although it's fair to say it wasn't a great pass from Mathys Tel. Replaced at the break.£

Bergvall got a five with the report: "Active in midfield but produced a poor header from a corner that resulted in Gakpo making it three for the hosts. Kept going despite the scoreline as he tried to get the team moving forward."

Tottenham fans have been calling for Gray to finally get a chance in midfield, having spent much of the season filling in at centre-back during the absence of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, while also turning out as a full-back on both flanks at times.

While he impressed for Leeds in the midfield last season in huge games like the FA Cup tie against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, on this day it was a tough ask against the new champions and Postecoglou admitted that when speaking about his rejigged side for the encounter.

"We knew the challenge today was going to be a big one," said the Australian. "We had a really young midfield with Lucas and Archie and you're asking a massive task of them. Change three of the back four, all of these kind of things logically tell you it's going to be a tough day, but when you're facing the best team, and on such a massive occasion, it was always going to be a huge ask for us and it proved too much."

The young duo are not ready yet to pair up and the problem for Postecoglou is that Tottenham's recruitment strategy is one of signings teenagers for the future, and it's something he has publicly endorsed.

While there's no doubting the potential of teenage signings like Bergvall and Gray, or Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert, or players like Luka Vuskovic and Yang Min-hyeok, Spurs cannot be expected to compete at the same level as a team like Liverpool right now if that is going to be their main policy.

Gray was Tottenham's second most expensive transfer of last summer but at £40m is very much still a work in progress at only 19-years-old. That Postecoglou knew it would be a tough day with two teenagers in the midfield, with another on the left wing, shows that £108.5 million of talent at Spurs means a very different thing than at other clubs who buy players for the now, rather than as a project.

The need to call upon inexperienced youngsters, who will naturally take time to settle into the level required of them and learn what it requires, means a longer path to success than many of Spurs' rivals.

When Postecoglou said recently that the club got it wrong with their squad earlier this season, leading to the injury crisis, you have to wonder whether he meant the type of transfers - although he continues to back the teenage squad overhaul - or whether he should have made more use of certain players remains to be seen.

For now, Postecoglou will have to make allowances for a young midfield that looked overawed and overmatched at Anfield and it could be a future manager who enjoys the benefit of Spurs' current transfer policy.

It was always going to be a case of how long Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham could keep Liverpool at bay following Dominic Solanke's surprise opener at Anfield. The striker's header against his former club was not in the script on a day when the Reds only needed a point to wrap up the Premier League title.

Putting in the work to win a corner off Ibrahima Konate in the 12th minute, the Spurs ace lost Luis Diaz as James Maddison swung in a pinpoint delivery and he found the corner of Alisson's goal in style. Tottenham would only hold the lead for a total of four minutes as Diaz restored parity from close range after a VAR check.

Dominik Szoboszlai took in Mohamed Salah's pass after running off Archie Gray far too easily, with Kevin Danso not spotting Diaz's run off his shoulder as the Colombian tapped home into an empty net. There would be some more poor Spurs play for Liverpool's second of the afternoon that was scored by Alexis Mac Allister.

Ryan Gravenberch outmuscled Gray in the box after a poor pass from Mathys Tel and the ball fell kindly into the path of the ex-Brighton & Hove Albion man. Mac Allister duly did the rest with a rasping drive from the edge of the box that gave Guglielmo Vicario no chance.

Cody Gakpo was then to get in on the act prior to half-time after Spurs failed to clear a Mac Allister corner properly. Gakpo made light work of Brennan Johnson as both competed for the ball in the box and Solanke should have done better when sticking a leg out to stop the Dutchman prior to letting fly.

Salah was to have his say on the big occasion just past the hour mark as Liverpool countered at speed after substitute Dejan Kulusevski had lost possession on the edge of the Reds' area. The Swede was in a very good position but he continued to dally on the ball and in the end he was robbed of possession.

Djed Spence had put himself into a good area on the overlap down Spurs' right but he was ignored by his teammate. The full-back made his feelings perfectly clear at the time as Kulusevski elected against feeding him and then he did likewise after the hosts had sprinted all the way upfield and Salah found the bottom corner of Vicario's goal.

Spence was just over the halfway line at the time of Salah's goal and he put both his arms out in front of him and gestured angrily to his teammate that he should have passed him the ball. The 24-year-old was not impressed one bit and it was a decision that proved costly.

Spence was in no mood for the party celebrations that happened a bit later in the second half as a number of balloons made their way on to the pitch. A silver balloon in the shape of the Premier League trophy crossed his path and he duly burst it by stamping on it.

Liverpool fans didn't take too kindly to his actions and he was roundly booed by home supporters and the same actually happened to Wilson Odobert who repeated the trick on the other side of the pitch. It was the Reds who had the last laugh, though, as a Destiny Udogie own goal completed the scoring and saw Arne Slot's men crowned Premier League champions in convincing style.

Spurs' defending on the day was extremely poor and Liverpool could have actually scored more than the five they managed considering the amount of space they were afforded at times in key areas of the pitch. It remains to be seen if Spurs would have fared any better had Postecoglou opted to start first-choice duo Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven rather than resting them.

Making a total of eight changes to his Tottenham XI with Thursday's Europa League tie against Bodo/Glimt in mind, it proved to be another dreadful day for all connected with the club. Postecoglou was asked in his post-match press conference just how much of a concern is it that his team can produce a stunning performance like they did at Eintracht Frankfurt but then aren't able to compete in the same way when he changes his team in the league.

"It's not easy, it's not easy on the players because if you sort of look at Liverpool's line up you can almost pick it on a weekly basis," said the Australian. "I had made a lot of changes but I just felt it was necessary.

"A lot of our players have missed a lot of this season with injuries and it wasn't just about bringing them back but managing their minutes because obviously we want them ready. Guys like Micky and Romero today could have played but they've missed so much of the season that we've just got to be really careful about when we use them. Guys like Pedro [Porro] and [Rodrigo] Bentancur have played a lot this year.

"It has been a juggling act for sure and that hasn't helped the team, hasn't helped the players and when you're facing the best you pay that price."

Tottenham paid the price at Anfield on Sunday afternoon and they have to ensure that is not the case on Thursday when they host Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League. Postecoglou will again make changes to his Spurs XI and that will likely see Romero, Van de Ven and others come straight back into the team.

If they are to get their hands on the Europa League trophy come Wednesday, May 21, they will have to defend so much better than they did at Anfield.

Has anybody counted if Tottenham are actually playing games with 11 players or not? They leave that much space across the pitch that it would be genuinely believable if you were told that they were a man down each week.

Such is the way that Ange Postecoglou sets his team to bomb forward at the first sign of possession, leaving huge gaps to attract opposition bodies before trying to carve through them, Tottenham manage to chuck players up front but remain totally exposed without offering much threat. Despite spreading around the field, there is never anybody close to the ball.

When the talent differential is so close in the Premier League and individual skill alone cannot carry a team through games, giving away this much room is a recipe for disaster. Tottenham simultaneously appear entirely disconnected and separate to themselves. In a sense it is the club as a whole.

Postecoglou is fighting (and also creating) fires in the public, calling out systematic failures and attacking the very fabric of English football (for right or wrong) whilst supporters hit out at the board and, specifically, Daniel Levy. The figures taking to the grass are barely extensions of this confusion.

At Anfield, as has been the case all season, Guglielmo Vicario threw his arms up, James Maddison ghosted around, Dominic Solanke tried to wrestle defenders on his own, and teenagers were left to try and glue it all together. Take injuries out of this for a second, Tottenham just look horrendously set up.

Who is this system benefiting? The backline is left with acres to cover, often one-on-one (at best, it's often an attacking overload) whilst the midfield sprints back - sometimes - after being sliced open. Liverpool, with more control and patience than under Jurgen Klopp, now have the perfect balance to exploit this.

They play through you and around you. They will, can, and do bulldoze when necessary. That wasn't needed here because Tottenham surrendered. Much like in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg earlier this season, Spurs simply folded.

Sure, they run hard (at times) and will at least try to attack relentlessly. Sometimes this causes carnage enough to get a goal. Maybe it shocks you but after 18 months of Postecoglou, this is not enough to remedy the issues it has created elsewhere. Not for long enough to win games.

When the principles of play and the system - the methods - are everything, there is nothing to build around or go off if confidence goes and quality leaves. Nobody expected Tottenham to do anything here and in a brutal way, scoring first and then capitulating was more on brand than merely rolling over.

The gutsy elements of the performance from Frankfurt would be needed tenfold at Anfield when the order of the day was title celebrations. In this charged atmosphere, there was a narrative to overwrite and then the rest.

Tottenham were never likely to actually make a difference. The day was not about them and bigger things are on the horizon. There is still a way to salvage this horrible season but only just. The Europa League will not excuse what has happened to any extent.

Postecoglou's personal stock has plummeted. There are Leeds United supporters saying he would be a downgrade on Daniel Farke (and a lot of them are not enamoured with him despite securing promotion this season), after links to taking over at Elland Road this summer.

When his team puts out a display like this it isn't hard to see why. The midfield, not only left to deal with Liverpool's own much more energetic, experienced, and dynamic trio, were hung out to try.

Archie Gray came in having played as a defender (either at right-back or in the middle) for most of the season. He is good in the tackle and composed on the ball but placing him at the base was a mistake.

Lucas Bergvall is the most comfortable when progressing from deep. He can take the ball with his back to goal and turn forward, passing through the lines or slinking between opponents himself if needed. The decision to have these two in different roles did not help Tottenham as they went up against Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch.

They cost £35million, £60million, and £35million again respectively. They played like a £130million midfield as well; they have done all season.

This is squad building and elite coaching at its most obvious. James Maddison, meanwhile, spent more time trying to help Destiny Udogie on the left side than linking with Mathys Tel.

In fact, Tel himself was back doing the dirty work but without much success. He and Maddison both played a part in Mac Allister's goal to complete a quick first-half turnaround. Maddison dribbled and turned around in his own third, by the touchline, Tel couldn't get it under control properly and fluffed his own clearance. Gray was out-muscled and then Bergvall was too slow to close down the shot.

It was a collection of errors and losses that summed up Tottenham on the day and in the season. Postecoglou was not too harsh afterwards. There are more important battles ahead.

"Look, we knew the challenge today was going to be a big one," he said. "We had a really young midfield with Lucas and Archie and you're asking a massive task of them. Change three of the back four, all of these kind of things logically tell you it's going to be a tough day, but when you're facing the best team, and on such a massive occasion, it was always going to be a huge ask for us and it proved too much."

Rodrigo Bentancur was left out of the squad ahead of the home semi-final first leg against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday. That is what the season has come down to. Pape Matar Sarr came on at the break, as did Dejan Kulusevski. Maddison and Gray were the ones hooked.

The nice way to describe this would be resting and protecting them for Thursday. Maybe that is what it was anyway. The reality is that in Gray and Bergvall, Tottenham have two exceptional young players who are being asked to step up in an environment which does not support them.

It empowers them, but also makes them look monumentally silly at points. That is not the way to help them develop. They show personality and character but are also vulnerable to the system and their own teammates. It is damning that so much has been laid at their feet this season.

The lack of depth in midfield and defence means that a squad constructed by Daniel Levy and Johan Lange has turned to kids to try and mop up. They have done their best but these sorts of matches are wounding. They are harmful and too much, as this season has been, can be detrimental.

Tottenham have to hope this is not the case and that two extremely blessed footballers come out the other side stronger. Postecoglou has let them down. Tottenham have too. Levy is at the head of it. Lange is culpable as well. The whole thing is a mess and Liverpool hardly had to sweat in making a laughing stock out of it all.

Arsenal face a defining nine days after missing out on the Premier League title for the third consecutive season with Liverpool crowned champions after beating north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

The Gunners have sat second for the majority of the 2024/25 campaign with inconsistent results allowing Arne Slot's side to win the league with four games still to play. The Champions League has subsequently become the focus for Mikel Arteta and his players with a semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon.

New sporting director Andrea Berta will have also undoubtedly started working on deals for the summer transfer window. Viktor Gyokeres appears a main priority for Arsenal with a new Sporting CP message sent.

Matheus Cunha is another attacker of interest but there are numerous other potential suitors with an update on Manchester United's pursuit of the Wolves star revealed. With that in mind, football.london has rounded up the latest Arsenal transfer news and rumours.

Gyokeres message

Just hours after Arsenal watched Liverpool win the Premier League title, Sporting CP beat Boavista 5-0 in Portuguese league action on Sunday evening and unsurprisingly Gyokeres was on target.

Heading into the weekend, the Swede was on a staggering 48 goals for the season and he has now surpassed a half century by scoring four times. Arsenal undoubtedly need a goal-scorer and it is quite clear, regardless of where he is doing it, Gyokeres is exactly that.

football.london says: It is starting to become quite clear that Gyokeres and Arsenal are a perfect fit for several reasons.

Firstly, the low asking price makes it a very tempting deal to pursue especially as it looks increasingly likely that Alexander Isak will remain at Newcastle. Secondly, his scoring rate is simply ludicrous and there will likely be a desire for him to also prove he can do it in the Premier League.

Sporting are expected to sell and with other interested suitors focused on other matters, Arsenal could have a free run at signing him.

Cunha update

Manchester United look set to win the race for Cunha ahead of Newcastle United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal.

After signing a new contract at Wolves back in January, the Brazil international now has a release clause valued at £62.5million with Relevo claiming a verbal agreement has already been reached between him and United

football.london says: Cunha appears set for a move to Old Trafford and Arsenal are probably better off not hijacking that deal.

Firstly, it is difficult to see where he would fit into Mikel Arteta's tactical set up, whereas he would be perfect under Ruben Amorim. His poor discipline has also been on show this season with Arsenal likely wanting to avoid that alongside Arteta sanctioning moves for players that only want to join Arsenal.

Bodo/Glimt have a new injury scare ahead of the Europa League semi-final first leg at Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night.

While Spurs had a far from ideal preparation for the huge European tie with their 5-1 defeat at Liverpool, Ange Postecoglou's side's next opponents' 3-0 home win against KFUM in the Eliteserien, the Norwegian top flight, came at a cost. Their 26-year-old centre-back Odin Bjørtuft was forced off in the 54th minute and left the pitch holding his groin.

The defender has been a near ever-present for Bodo/Glimt this season and has been a key component of the team's successful Europa League run.

His team-mate Ulrik Saltnes spoke to reporters after the game about the defender and said: "He was disappointed and told me that he his groin was painful, but you can feel pain without that necessarily meaning it is something [bad]."

Bjørtuft's manager Kjetil Knutsen added: "I do not know anything. I never enjoy a player laying down, but the medical staff are looking into it."

Bodo/Glimt already have three players missing from the first leg through suspension. Captain Patrick Berg cannot feature next Thursday as he is suspended due to an accumulation of Europa League yellow cards with that also the reason that his midfield partner Hakon Evjen will miss out. Andreas Helmersen, who scored a important goal against Lazio, is also banned after he was sent off in the last round.

Winger Ole Blomberg also picked up an injury this month that meant he missed Sunday's match and he will also be a doubt for Thursday night's match.

Tottenham's only injury doubt ahead of the game will Son Heung-min and whether the captain has improved enough to be able to play some part.

Tottenham Hotspur's request to bring forward their Premier League fixture against Aston Villa has been rejected by the Midlands clubs in a written response.

Spurs want to change their trip to Villa Park for Thursday, May 15, to allow more preparation time for a possible Europa League final, should they progress past Bodo/Glimt, which will take place on Wednesday, May 21.

Currently, Ange Postecoglou's men will travel to Villa three days earlier on Sunday, May 18. According to football.london's sister title, The Birmingham Mail,Villa strongly opposed Spurs' request, pointing towards their own congested schedule this season.

Villa are competing for a spot in the Champions League and moving the game with Spurs would give them less recovery time for the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday, May 10. Unai Emery's men played eight games in 24 days last month including a tough Champions League quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

Spurs aren't guaranteed a place in the Europa League final just yet. They face Bodo/Glimt in two legs, starting this Thursday, for a place in the final in Bilbao. After seeing off Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-final, Spurs are looking to end a lengthy wait for a trophy.

They will face one of Athletic Bilbao or Manchester United in the final, with Ruben Amorim's men playing Chelsea on the Friday before the final. That would give them two more days to prepare for a potential all-English European final.

Spurs suffered a 5-1 defeat to Liverpool in their final game before the Europa League semi-final first-leg. However, Postecoglou confirmed to the media that there were no fresh injury concerns from the trip to Anfield.

Asked if all the players involved came through the clash without any issues, he said: "Yeah everyone is good. The ones who played all got through it ok. So in terms of Thursday, everyone should be fine."

This was a game that laid bare the gulf between the two teams on the pitch at Anfield.

Tottenham are a team in a seemingly constant state of rebuild while Liverpool are a team built to win trophies. One spent a summer transfer window collecting youngsters from around the continent, the other had already assembled a team capable of winning the title this season and so they did.

Ange Postecoglou's team selection showed that he expectedly and understandably has one eye on Thursday night's Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt. He named two teenagers in the midfield in Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray alongside James Maddison.

It was quite literally men against boys. The foundations of the team in Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur along with the near ever-present Pedro Porro were all removed and Spurs always looked fearful whenever Liverpool ran at them.

Even Dominic Solanke's header from James Maddison's corner early in the game felt more like postponing the inevitable rather than really threatening to spoil the party.

Spurs were only allowed four minutes to enjoy their lead before Luiz Diaz restored parity from close range following an offside check.

Liverpool forged ahead through Alexis Mac Allister's powerful strike, before Cody Gakpo added a clinical finish. Mohamed Salah low effort and a Destiny Udogie own goal completed the bulldozing in the second half.

"I had made a lot of changes but I just felt it was necessary. A lot of our players have missed a lot of this season with injuries and it wasn't just about bringing them back but managing their minutes because obviously we want them ready," Postecoglou said after the final whistle.

"Guys like Micky and Romero today could have played but they've missed so much of the season that we've just got to be really careful about when we use them. Guys like Pedro and Bentancur have played a lot this year. It has been a juggling act for sure and that hasn't helped the team, hasn't helped the players and when you're facing the best you pay that price.

Liverpool had torn Spurs apart in two of their three encounters this season and they made it a hat-trick with a 5-1 scoreline that could have been higher but still means they have scored 15 against Postecoglou's side this season.

Only Liverpool, Fulham and recently Wolves have beaten Spurs by more than a single goal this season, but the manner of the Reds' demolition jobs across this campaign have brought a stark reminder of the chasm between the two sides.

It was hardly the pick-me-up Tottenham needed before their European semi-final. Only the north London side could have a dreadful Premier League season that looks set to end with a bottom five or six finish and the worst amount of defeats in the club's Premier League era, yet the campaign still retains the possibility to deliver something special - a first European trophy in 41 years.

Even that long-awaited piece of silverware - if it comes - will not paper over the cracks at a club that is always selling the supporters the hope that something impressive and sustained is on the horizon, but it never seems to arrive

A Europa League triumph would bring silverware and Champions League football and there are some genuinely thrilling young players in the squad for the years ahead, but do the supporters genuinely believe that their club will do anything with that?

Postecoglou said in midweek that he hated that Tottenham were portrayed as a club constantly in a spiral, but the truth is that it's more like an endless loop.

Liverpool celebrated their title win wildly inside Anfield as the visiting players could only look on. They will be hoping they can enjoy something similar this season, but if it does happen then it needs to be more than a temporary departure from the wheel of Tottenham Hotspur.

Even at 1-0 up there was barely a celebration from Tottenham. Not just because it would be slightly shameless to be happy when sitting so far down the Premier League table - especially after Manchester United picked up a point in the battle to not finish 17th - but because most people knew this was just a blip for Liverpool. It didn't take long for things to revert to expectation.

Liverpool were never going to be denied their crowning moment at home. Not after all the build-up and the hurt. There was such a sense of inevitability around this game that Dominic Solanke's early header really may as well have not happened.

Luis Diaz quickly equalised. Alexis Mac Allister put the hosts ahead. Two players Liverpool have signed in the past two years scored for a manager Tottenham had chased themselves. Recruitment and planning coming to the fore with brilliant coaching. It was in stark contrast to what Ange Postecoglou's side put on display.

Cody Gakpo made it 3-1 before the break with the second half played out in a sense of waiting for more to be scored. Could Mohamed Salah get his customary goal? Yes, of course. He would be missing out if he didn't score against Tottenham.

Destiny Udogie put through his own net soon after. Salah was there to score if not. He had just taken a selfie in front of the Kop. It was total mockery and cannot be disguised.

Amid it all were some moments that might have been missed on initial viewing. If you want to go through the pain of it, football.london has you covered.

Spence gets angry

Tottenham may well have taken an early lead but the dysfunction in the team was clear pretty much from the off. Liverpool found it far too easy to cut through the midfield and were in no mood to give up the acres of space afforded to them in transition.

With Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz they have willing runners who are quick enough to take advantage. It showed when the score was still 0-0.

Liverpool found an ocean of room on the left side as they raced into the Tottenham half. Salah streaked into it and saw Diaz there waiting ahead of him.

Kevin Danso was no match for the pace of either of them and the gap between Guglielmo Vicario in goal and the players sprinting towards him was giant. Salah sought to bend the pass into the corridor but Diaz got his wires crossed and had come short.

Tottenham got away with offering so much ground to the pair and Djed Spence, left for dead with a ball over the top initially, was only just coming into view when Tottenham recovered possession. He wasn't happy with the organisation.

Throwing his head back, Spence shouted at his teammates for the vacant midfield, the lack of pressure on the ball, and to the world in general. He was bemused at how easily Liverpool had created a nice opportunity and it wouldn't be the last time either.

Solanke's awkward moment

We mentioned Tottenham's response to stunning Anfield. Scored by a former Liverpool player, there were many reasons for the subdued reaction.

Maybe the Spurs players couldn't actually believe they were winning. Maybe they didn't really care. Either way, it was nice for Solanke to get a moment at Liverpool to show how he has come on.

After joining from Chelsea in 2017, Solanke only scored one Premier League goal for Liverpool. His stock dropped from being an academy prodigy and there was doubt over if he would ever reach the heights.

He took time to get to the £60million player Tottenham signed over the summer but when fit he has shown why there was such a price tag. Here, his well-directed header was evidence of his finishing skills and some.

Perhaps the muted celebration was out of respect or maybe it really was because Solanke knew just how embarrassing things have been and remain for Tottenham. The rest of the game would show that and his awkwardness with the rest of the team could not have been more clear.

On the bench and Postecoglou gave a little fist bump. He had been determined before the game not to just let Tottenham play a part in Liverpool's stroll towards the title. As it happened, they were hardly an obstacle at all and his high five with a member of the backroom staff was as good as it got.

Tottenham's midfield problem

Liverpool's well-crafted and well-coached midfield has experience in the Champions League and some in World Cup finals. It was signed for around £130million. It has been utilised spectacularly by Slot this season.

Tottenham, on the other hand, sent out two teenagers to try and deal with a ferocious atmosphere and high press. Archie Gray, who has had to spend most of his first year at the club playing at right-back or centre-back, was thrown into the middle of the pitch. Lucas Bergvall, a better carrier and progresses maker, went to his right.

James Maddison was in there but has been out of top form for over 12 months now. He looks a shadow of his former self and provided very little defensive help or link to the Spurs attack. They didn't seem like they knew each other, let alone had any cohesion.

It was telling that Mac Allister would put Liverpool ahead with a left-footed thunderbolt. Tottenham did not get close to him after failing to clear their lines twice.

Maddison dribbled himself into trouble by the touchline before turning and hacking the ball out. Mathys Tel picked it up and was put under pressure. His slash away went wide of Gray, who was outmuscled by Ryan Gravenberch on the edge of the box.

Mac Allister collected things from there and smashed one home. It was a goal with all of Tottenham's midfield outdone by two of Liverpool's trio as Bergvall could not prevent the shot with an attempted block.

At half-time Postecoglou made two changes, as has been a staple of late in attempts to keep the squad fit and fresh for the Europa League. Gray and Maddison were taken off in a telling turn of events. Rodrigo Bentancur had been kept out of the squad entirely with a rest day given and Pape Matar Sarr came on.

Dominik Szoboszlai surged through into a four-on-four in the 60th minute to help Salah make it 4-1. Another Liverpool midfielder having much better day than the Tottenham counterparts.

The manner in which this group have been built has been under the microscope all season, as has Daniel Levy's role in it all. Here, the team he has helped fund was truly out of its either through individual talent or setup, maybe, probably, both.

Viacrio's latest headloss

Tottenham's goalkeeper is emotive. Postecoglou has said as much himself. He wears his heart on his sleeve and then some. At Anfield he really was not ready to let the game slide.

After each goal he jumped to his feet to berate and to moan. He shouted, waved his arms like a mixture of a Mr Men cartoon and a robotic octopus. He was furious with the defending (or absence of) in front of him.

The most obvious came when Gakpo managed to worm away from three Tottenham bodies inside the box to score following a near-post corner. The Liverpool attacker held the ball under his foot after Solanke had failed to deal with the initial crosses. Brennan Johnson couldn't get rid either.

Maddison was slow to close down and then the shot is in the net. Vicario is up and off on one. Tottenham players start to hold another inquest as to what has gone on but it's no use with the game already looking to be out of reach and the damage in a broken team beyond repair.

Ange Postecoglou is speaking to the media following Tottenham's 5-1 Premier League defeat against Liverpool on Sunday. It was a result that saw the Reds clinch the Premier League title for only the second time.

Heading into the game on Merseyside, Postecoglou made a total of eight changes to his side as the likes of Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke came in. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were two players to drop down to the bench.

It was Spurs who took the lead at Anfield as Solanke silenced the home crowd with a superb header from Maddison's corner early on. However, the visitors would only be ahead for a total of four minutes as Luiz Diaz restored parity from close range.

Liverpool then took the lead through Alexis Mac Allister's powerful drive, before Cody Gakpo gave them a two-goal cushion with a well-taken strike. The Reds added further goals through Mohamed Salah and a Destiny Udogie own goal in the second half.

Our Spurs correspondent Rob Guest is among those putting the questions to Postecoglou after the game. Scroll down for the latest updates from the press conference at Anfield.