Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur appear set for major changes this summer, with Daniel Levy reportedly eyeing up new managers to potentially replace Ange Postecoglou, and an overhaul could also occur in the Lilywhites squad.

Tottenham face Bodo/Glimt in season-defining Europa League tie

Despite their woes domestically, Spurs still have a chance to make history by winning a first major trophy since 2008.

Norwegian minnows and 2025's fairy-tale underdogs, Bodo/Glimt, await them in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie on Thursday, and a highly-anticipated victory would go a long way in sealing Spurs' first European final since 2019.

Tottenham could face Athletic Bilbao, spearheaded by in-demand Spain sensation Nico Williams, or Premier League rivals Man United in the final, provided they get past Bodo/Glimt.

The Scandinavians cannot be underestimated, and they knocked Serie A giants Lazio out in the last round, but Spurs have more than enough quality on paper to get the job done.

However, even if the Lilywhites do go on to win the Europa League and make history by doing so, Postecoglou could still part ways with Tottenham this summer - leading to a host of different managers being linked with the job.

According to The Telegraph, Spurs are also facing a difficult summer transfer window, with the prospect of a 'sell to buy' strategy looming amid rumoured outside interest in the likes of Cristian Romero and Pedro Porro.

Tottenham could have to cash-in on Romero, who is believed to be eyeing a move away from N17 as Atlético Madrid put in extensive work on signing him for Diego Simeone ahead of next season (Marca).

There could also be changes nearer boardroom level, with ex-managing director Fabio Paratici still in the picture for a return to the club.

Fabio Paratici inclined to re-join Tottenham after failed AC Milan talks

The Italian was repeatedly linked with a reunion at Spurs, as his worldwide FIFA ban from footballing activity is due to expire on June 30th.

Reports earlier this month claimed Levy personally held talks with Paratici about re-joining Tottenham, and he was spotted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during their 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Paratici's negotiations over a move to AC Milan also collapsed in early April, but according to an update via Milan News, the 52-year-old held a recent meeting with the Rossoneri to discuss his appointment once again.

The prospect of becoming Milan's sporting director was on the table again for him during these discussions, but it is currently believed Paratici is more inclined to work at Tottenham and continue his adventure away from Italy.

After being forced to resign from his Spurs post in 2023, Paratici remains a popular figure among supporters, having led the club's pursuit of key signings like Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Romero, Porro, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr.

Known for his tireless work ethic behind-closed-doors, it will be intriguing to see if Levy is still tempted by the prospect of welcoming him back.

Tottenham Hotspur have seemingly been offered the chance to sign a noteworthy Chelsea player this summer, and he could prove a very useful addition for Ange Postecoglou or his potential replacement next season.

Tottenham transfer plans amid Ange Postecoglou uncertainty

Spurs are on course for their worst ever Premier League season, resulting in uncertainty surrounding Postecoglou's long-term future, and reports suggest the former Celtic boss could be shown his P45 regardless of their campaign in Europe (The Telegraph).

A succession of managerial candidates have been tipped to potentially succeed Postecoglou, but as technical director Johan Lange and Daniel Levy assess Spurs' options in that regard, they must also begin preparations for the summer transfer window.

Tottenham are reportedly in the market for a forward, and have even been linked with a surprise move for West Ham star Jarrod Bowen this week.

Levy is apparently willing to bid around £51 million to sign Bowen for Spurs, even if this may not be anywhere near enough, but the England international isn't their only rival player to be mentioned as a possible incoming in the last few days.

Christopher Nkunku holds talks to join Tottenham via agents

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to The Boot Room, £195,000-per-week Chelsea winger Christopher Nkunku is actively looking to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

The Frenchman, who's actually scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, verbally agreed terms over a move to Bayern Munich in January (Florian Plettenberg), and looks set to be one of the many men sold or loaned out by Enzo Maresca's side when the window reopens.

Bailey writes that, while a move to Europe is more likely, Nkunku's camp have reached out for talks with Tottenham recently, as the ex-RB Leipzig sensation's representatives attempt to offer him to a host of clubs.

"I am told that a move to Europe is the most likely option – but his people are touching base with clubs in England," said Bailey.

“Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham have all been spoken to in the past few months. Chelsea want to recoup as much of their plus £50m outlay, but that looks difficult at this juncture.

“I am told the player is very happy in London, and so would a move to a Arsenal or Tottenham appeal? I believe it would but as it stands those options are not advanced – but Arsenal and Spurs both have an historic interest in the player. Both want a wide forward, so you could see the fit.

“There is interest back in Germany – Bayern Munich like him, a new deal for Leroy Sane doesn’t rule out them making a move but it is not pressing. Former club RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen also admire him."

The versatile 27-year-old has displayed real quality on occasion since his switch to London, and was a revelation in the Bundesliga. However, this could prove to be a costly operation, especially for a price around £50 million, not to mention his lofty salary.

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy are making transfer plans ahead of the looming summer window, with a report now suggesting Spurs have their eyes on a West Ham United star.

Tottenham's rumoured transfer plans amid Postecoglou uncertainty

The Telegraph's Matt Law has already reported that the Lilywhites are facing a potentially difficult 'sell to buy' style window, so the club are carefully planning their targets amid the very uncertain future of manager Ange Postecoglou.

While Postecoglou faces the looming threat of being sacked by Spurs, regardless of their Europa League campaign (The Telegraph), the Lilywhites are running out of time to prepare for the special limited-edition first summer window of 2025, which will open from June 1st to June 10th.

This gives clubs like Man City and Chelsea an opportunity to sign players before the Club World Cup, but it could also hand Spurs an early opportunity to strengthen the squad, even if it famously isn't Levy's style to get deals done early.

Tottenham reportedly want to strengthen their squad across the board, and are one of the many Premier League sides eyeing a move for Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen, who is set to be in high demand thanks to his £50 million release clause (Sky Sports).

Spurs are also targeting Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson, who would apparently be open to joining them (GiveMeSport), but Postecoglou's side are also keen to bolster their attacking options.

Richarlison could well depart Spurs this summer, and the same can be said of Bryan Gil and Manor Solomon, who don't appear to have long-term futures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after spending 2024/2025 out on loan elsewhere.

A permanent deal for Mathys Tel could still be on the cards, with there being confidence both Bayern and the north Londoners can come to an amicable agreement, but the Frenchman may not be their only forward signing.

Tottenham could now bid £51 million for West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen

According to a report from CaughtOffside, West Ham star Jarrod Bowen is of interest to Tottenham.

The England international has bagged nine goals and seven assists in the league this season, standing out for the Irons amid a disappointing campaign, and this has attracted admiring glances from across London.

It is now believed Tottenham could even bid £51 million to sign Bowen from West Ham, but according to other reports, this may not be anywhere near enough. Graham Potter's side consider Bowen "untouchable", as per Daily Express reporter Ryan Taylor, and West Ham valued their star man at around £100 million just last summer.

Cast your minds back to late October 2023, when Tottenham Hotspur were flying high.

Ange Postecoglou had just coached his tenth Premier League victory on the bounce, and there was talk about what he'd be able to build in North London centred around his incredibly exciting, gung-ho brand of football.

Unfortunately, that never happened, as following their 4-1 defeat to Chelsea, which saw them lose James Maddison and Micky Van de Ven to injury, while Cristian Romero got himself sent off, the team spiralled and only just about qualified for the Europa League in May.

This season has been even worse, and should they not find success in Europe, the Lilywhites could finish 17th and with nothing to show for Postecoglou's second season in charge, which, as he went to great lengths to point out earlier this season, is when he tends to win something.

Unsurprisingly, reports are now suggesting the Australian will be moved on in the summer, and while others have pointed to Thomas Frank as a possible replacement, there is another name who has been brought up: a manager with league-winning experience.

Why Spurs would want Frank

So, before getting to the manager in question, it's worth looking at why Spurs might want to hire Frank.

From a tactical perspective, the Danish coach prefers to use a 4-3-3 formation, which has been the Lilywhites' go-to under Postecoglou, and like the Australian, the Brentford boss likes his teams to play a high-octane game.

He wants his sides to progress the ball up the pitch as quickly as possible, and while there is less of an emphasis on playing such a high line, they remain a free-scoring side, with the eighth most in the Premier League this season at 56.

Aside from the pure tactics, he's also shown an ability to completely shape a team as he led the West Londoners up from the Championship and made them a solidly mid-table side despite a relatively modest transfer spend.

Moreover, he's also managed to improve the team even though Ivan Toney left in the summer, with Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa stepping in to fill the gap.

However, with all that said, there might be an even better option out there, someone who's never managed in England before.

The Manager Spurs could hire in place of Frank

While there are plenty of talented managers out there that Spurs could look to hire this summer, the coach in question is none other than Xavi.

According to football.london, the Spanish icon has been linked with the Lilywhites' hot seat recently, and while it seems like a somewhat unlikely appointment, it shouldn't be.

Starting with the tactics, one of his main priorities at Barcelona was packing out the midfield, which he did by starting a traditional winger on the right but another midfielder on the left, who would come into the middle of the park, while the left-back provided width in the attack.

This approach could allow Dejan Kulusevski to start alongside James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and a defensive midfielder while also allowing Destiny Udogie to do what he does best, which is bombing forward.

To facilitate this interesting approach, the former midfielder, whom Joan Laporta dubbed "the best manager in the world," tends to prefer a 4-3-3 formation, which, as mentioned before, is already how the North Londoners line up.

On top of his tactical approach, the 45-year-old led the Catalans to a La Liga title and left the club with a record of 91 wins, 23 draws, 29 losses and an average of 2.07 points per game.

Ultimately, not only would Xavi institute a style that gets the best out of Spurs' incredible midfield talent, but he's also got the winning experience and would undoubtedly command the respect of his dressing room.

Tottenham Hotspur are actively doing their due-diligence on a potential replacement for Ange Postecoglou, according to various reports, following a lacklustre domestic campaign where Spurs are on course for their worst ever Premier League season.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been linked with the potential hires of numerous head coaches, with credible media sources like The Telegraph's Matt Law reporting that Postecoglou could leave regardless of success in Europe.

Even if Postecoglou delivers Tottenham's first piece of major silverware since 2008 by winning the Europa League, his exit is seen as a real possiblity, and there are no shortage of replacements under rumoured consideration in N17.

Domestically, Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Scott Parker (Burnley) have all found their way on to Tottenham's managerial shortlist, while there are also more illustrious names thought of further abroad.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who now has an agreement in principle with Brazil (Fabrizio Romano), Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso and even ex-Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp have all been internally discussed as options to succeed Postecoglou, according to GiveMeSport.

Reports in Germany last week also claimed that Tottenham have contacted Borussia Dortmund's Niko Kovac, and we can expect many more manager links until Postecoglou's dismissal is rebuffed or confirmed.

The link to Parker is an intriguing one, as the former Spurs midfielder knows the club well, and has just guided Burnley back to the English top flight at the first time of asking.

Pundits like Jamie O'Hara believe Parker wouldn't be a bad appointment for Tottenham, despite the 44-year-old's inexperience at such an elite side with high expectations.

Scott Parker would be "very" keen to manage Tottenham

Speaking to Tottenham News, former Lilywhites scout and ex-Levy employee, Bryan King, expressed his belief that Parker would be "very interested" in replacing Postecoglou at Spurs - provided they pay a "small" compensation fee of £10 million.

“Parker has worked at clubs where the budgets haven’t been large,” King said.

“He is a young up-and-coming manager, so why not look to him? It can’t be any worse than what we have had. He is an ex-Tottenham player. Therefore, I’d imagine he would be very interested in the job if it were offered to him.

“Tottenham will have to pay a compensation fee, probably around £10million. However, in today’s football market, that is a small price to pay.”

The ex-England man's managerial career has been subject to highs and lows, with a failed stint at Belgian Jupiler Pro League side Club Brugge coming in-between Championship promotions at Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley.

Parker was sacked by Bournemouth just four games into the 2022/2023 season after a 9-0 loss to Liverpool, and it remains to be seen if he enjoys greater top flight success at Burnley, given the massive gulf between England's first and second tiers right now.

Tottenham Hotspur and a player have now agreed to part ways this summer after behind-scenes talks, with the man himself making an admission about his future in N17.

Ange Postecoglou likely to leave Tottenham as Spurs plan for summer

Ange Postecoglou suffered his nineteenth top-flight defeat of the season against Liverpool on Sunday, which equalled the Lilywhites' record for most league losses in a single Premier League campaign.

Dominic Solanke surprisingly opened the scoring for Spurs at Anfield, but their joy was short-lived, as goals from Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Mohammed Salah and Destiny Udogie (OG) cemented Liverpool's status as champions of England on another afternoon to forget for the north Londoners.

Reports in the build up to that match indicated that Postecoglou could leave Tottenham regardless of their Europa League campaign, with Spurs facing Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their semi-final on Thursday.

A plethora of top coaches have been tipped as candidates to succeed Postecoglou, including Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Scott Parker (Burnley).

GiveMeSport have also reported that Tottenham have discussed hiring Jürgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso, with some key decision-makers determined to showcase ambition in their pursuit of a new manager.

Alongside Postecoglou, a few players may be joining the former Celtic boss in departing the club this summer. Cristian Romero is a top target for Atlético Madrid, and a report from The Telegraph's Matt Law this week claims Tottenham are in for a 'sell to buy' window, so the Argentine's exit is entirely possible.

Richarlison has also been linked with a summer exit from Spurs recently, amid rumoured interest from David Moyes' Everton, while those within Tottenham are growing more open to selling Pedro Porro to fund their transfer plans (Graeme Bailey). There is also the matter of players currently out on loan elsewhere, like Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil.

Bryan Gil confirms decision to leave Tottenham this summer

The latter was on a temporary deal at Girona, where he managed four goals and three assists in 32 total appearances for the club.

However, the 24-year-old's season is now over due to a ligament tear which required surgery, and that has also given him time to discuss his long-term future with the press.

Speaking to Estadio Deportivo, Gil confirmed his decision to leave Tottenham, and it is a totally mutual call, as both parties seek to part ways with no hard feelings.

"That's something my agent will tell me where things are going, but they [Spurs] told me, and I told them, that the best thing is for us not to continue being linked to Tottenham," said Gil.

"They bet on me when I was young, and they've treated me fairly well, but if I have to go back there, I'll focus on giving my best as always. I'm calm because no one can have a bad word to say about me not being professional. Without playing, I've always trained well, I've done what I had to do, so whatever has to happen, will happen. We'll see where we are next year."

Tottenham Hotspur are now keen on signing a £100k-a-week striker who's scored 57 Premier League goals, having identified him as their ideal target, according to a report.

Spurs set to pursue new striker this summer

Dominic Solanke returned to the scoresheet on Sunday afternoon, with the Englishman ending his seven-game drought in the Premier League, but Liverpool ultimately came out on top in a dominant performance at Anfield, securing the title with a 5-1 victory.

While Solanke may have found the back of the net against Liverpool, he hasn't exactly been prolific in the Premier League this season, netting eight goals, and it is now looking increasingly likely that Spurs will attempt to bring in a new striker this summer.

Ange Postecoglou's side are in a good position to win the race for Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond, while they are also looking to sign Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel on a permanent basis, and they will have the opportunity to do so for a fee of £43m.

According to a report from Spain, however, Tottenham are also keen to sign a striker who has a plethora of Premier League experience, having identified Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the ideal option to bolster their frontline.

Spurs are closely monitoring Calvert-Lewin's situation at Goodison Park, with the striker's contract set to expire at the end of the season, which means he will be available on a free transfer.

The Englishman's availability without a transfer fee is attractive to Spurs, who are looking to bolster their attacking options without spending a significant sum of money, and his refusal to sign a new deal up to this point suggests he is likely to be available this summer.

"Outstanding" Calvert-Lewin could be solid rotation option

The Everton marksman has proven himself in the Premier League over a number of years, scoring 57 goals in the competition during his time with the Toffees, while also receiving high praise from The Athletic's Patrick Boyland, who lauded him as "outstanding".

As such, the 28-year-old could be a decent rotation option for Spurs, and his availability on a free transfer is an added bonus, but there are doubts over whether the 11-time England international is capable of taking Ange's attack to the next level.

Injuries have been a real problem for the £100k-a-week striker throughout his career, and they have continued to hold him back this season, missing the last 12 games due to a hamstring issue.

The last time Calvert-Lewin was on the scoresheet was against Tottenham back in January, bagging a goal and an assist in his side's 3-2 victory, but constant injury problems mean the Sheffield-born forward can't be relied upon as a consistent source of goals.

There is no denying it: this season has been a disaster for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou can end it spectacularly by winning the Europa League, but when it comes to the Premier League, things could not have gone much worse.

In fact, had it not been for some genuinely terrible form from the newly promoted sides, there might have been a real discussion around possible relegation at points, as so far, the North Londoners have lost a staggering 19 games in the league.

It's been so poor that it seems as if Postecoglou will be on the way out regardless of what happens in Europe next, which has, in turn, seen a plethora of names linked with the job, including old boss Mauricio Pochettino and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola.

However, another name has also been linked with the job, someone who could make the board forget about the rest.

Why Spurs would want Poch or Iraola

So, before getting to the manager in question, it's worth looking at why the North Londoners might want to hire Pochettino or Iraola.

When it comes to the former, there are several reasons at play, but they all come back to one thing: familiarity.

Since leaving the club, it would be fair to say that the Argentine has not enhanced his reputation.

First came an unspectacular stint at Paris Saint-Germain, then a dire season with Chelsea and, as things stand, a disappointing spell in charge of the USMNT.

However, during his time in N17, he helped build a squad almost from the ground up, turned them into serious Premier League and Champions League contenders, and, just as importantly, formed a genuine connection with the fans.

Daniel Levy and Co would want to bring him back because they know that Pochettino can deliver at the club because he has done it before.

Iraola, on the other hand, does not have that familiarity with the club or fans, but he has the wind in his sails and is arguably one of the most exciting up-and-coming managers in the league.

For example, he took charge of a Cherries side that looked destined for relegation last year and has turned them into European hopefuls this season, all while losing their talismanic striker to the Lilywhites in the summer.

Moreover, he helped to transform Rayo Vallecano in Spain before coming to England, so he has proven himself in more than one dugout.

With all that said, another manager hasn't been talked about as much, but could be just the man Tottenham needs.

The Manager to make Spurs forget Poch & Iraola

According to reports from Germany earlier this month, as relayed by GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham have inquired about Borussia Dortmund's Niko Kovač.

The Croatian coach may not be all that familiar to fans of English football, but for fans of the Bundesliga, he's a well-known and well-respected quantity.

For example, over the last seven years, he has managed Eintracht Frankfurt, VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich and most currently Dortmund - while spending a year and a half with AS Monaco.

Described as "one of the best coaches in Europe" by football writer Sebastien C, the 53-year-old is generally regarded as a coach who likes his teams to play vertically, getting the ball forward quickly when possible, but also something of a pragmatist who likes his sides to be defensively sound.

This could see him win over the Tottenham faithful early on, as he wouldn't be as gung-ho as Postecoglou, but he wouldn't want to shut up shop as much as Antonio Conte, for example.

Moreover, he's shown a willingness to switch up his formation to suit his players in the past and is currently employing a 4-2-3-1 at Signal Iduna Park.

This is a set-up that could work wonders in North London as well, with extra cover in front of the club's frequently shaky backline.

Finally, he'd join the club as a proven winner, having picked up the German Cup with Frankfurt and then winning the Cup and League double with Bayern a year later, in 2019.

Ultimately, Kovac might not be the first name that comes to fans' minds when thinking of Spurs' next manager, but thanks to his moderate pragmatism and historical successes in the dugout, he should be.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has now dropped some early team news ahead of Bodo/Glimt, and he has hinted that a key player may not be available.

Europa League or bust for Ange

It was always going to be a daunting task travelling to Anfield to take on a Liverpool side that needed just one point to clinch the Premier League title, but it was yet another dismal performance from Tottenham on Sunday afternoon, suffering a crushing 5-1 defeat.

Courtesy of a third defeat on the spin, Spurs are 16th in the table with just four games left to play, but it appears as though Postecoglou's job could be safe for the time being, given that his side are in a strong position to win the Europa League.

The Lilywhites picked up a rare clean sheet against Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg of the quarter-final, advancing to the final four after a 1-0 victory in Germany, and on paper they have a kind route to the final in Bilbao.

Postecoglou's side are set to face Bodo/Glimt in the semi-final, with the Eliteserien champions becoming the first Norwegian side ever to reach the semi-finals of a European competition after defeating Lazio over two legs in dramatic fashion.

The Norwegian side defeated the Italians on penalties at the Stadio Olimpico, progressing to the semi-finals despite losing 3-1 on the night, so they will be confident they are capable of causing Tottenham problems.

As such, Postecoglou will be hoping to have Son Heung-min available for the crucial match, but the manager has now hinted the forward may not be available for the first leg, saying: "It'll be touch and go for Thursday. He'll try hard. If [he's not ready] for the first game we think he'll be ready for the second game."

"Incredible" Son would be big miss for Spurs

Tottenham may have seriously underperformed in the Premier League this season, but Son has continued to catch the eye with some of his performances, picking up seven goals and ten assists in 28 appearances.

The £190k-per-week forward has impressed throughout the Postecoglou era, with his manager previously lauding him as "incredible", and he could be a big miss if he is unavailable for the crucial encounter against Bodo/Glimt.

That said, Spurs should have more than enough to progress past the Norwegians regardless, given the disparity between the Premier League and the Eliteserien.

There have been suggestions that Postecoglou is set to face the sack regardless of whether Tottenham win the Europa League, but if they come up short in the semi-final, it would surely be the end of the road for the Australian.

Tottenham Hotspur were hammered 5-1 by Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday in a match that confirmed their opponents as the champions of the Premier League.

It was a one-sided contest for much of the evening, despite Dominic Solanke's opening goal in the first half, as the Reds ran riot on Merseyside against a helpless Spurs defence.

Ange Postecoglou will surely be disappointed with the performances from his players on the pitch, as several stars underperformed, including Destiny Udogie.

Destiny Udogie's struggles against Liverpool

The Italy international was tasked with keeping Mohamed Salah quiet at left-back and, actually, did a decent job of it in the opening 45 minutes.

Although Salah played a part in the first goal with a pass in behind the Spurs defence, the Egypt international ended the first half with zero goals or assists.

Unfortunately, however, the Liverpool number 11 stepped his game up in the second half to create one 'big chance' and score a goal, as he cut inside of Udogie from the right flank before rifling an effort into the bottom corner.

Salah also put the Spurs left-back under pressure and forced the defender to convert into his own net for the fifth goal, in what was a dreadful second-half for the Italian dud.

Udogie, however, was not the worst-performing full-back of the afternoon for Tottenham, as Djed Spence was even worse than the former Udinese star.

Why Postecoglou must drop Spence

The English right-back did not enjoy his best day in a Spurs shirt, with a dismal showing, and it started with his involvement, or lack thereof, in the first Liverpool goal.

Spence hesitated and tried to push up to play offside, but it was not an organised line, instead of following his man - Luis Diaz - into the box, and it was his match-up who scored the goal.

He found himself unaware of his man making a run off his back twice in the second half, once to allow Cody Gakpo in behind, but his cross evaded everyone, and the second time to allow Diogo Jota to fire in the cross that forced Udogie's own goal.

Alongside those disappointing moments defensively, Spence's use of the ball was also wasteful in comparison to Udogie's throughout the 90 minutes.

As you can see in the table above, the Italian defender had the better performance out of the two defenders, with his play in and out of possession, even if you include his own goal, which Spence was partially responsible for.

The former Nottingham Forest full-back was weak in his physical battles, made poor decisions defensively, and gave the ball away far too often, losing possession a whopping 14 more times than Udogie. This provided Liverpool with even more opportunities to attack because he could not keep hold of the ball well enough.