The Empire of The Kop

Liverpool’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Anfield has sparked strong criticism from former striker John Aldridge, who did not hide his disappointment with the way the game ended.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

Arne Slot’s side looked set to claim a crucial victory in the race for Champions League qualification after Dominik Szoboszlai’s first-half free-kick put us ahead.

However, the match followed a familiar pattern that Liverpool supporters have seen too many times this season.

Richarlison struck in the 90th minute to earn Spurs a point and leave the Reds ruing another late concession.

The reaction among fans inside Anfield was one of frustration, and Aldridge shared the same sentiment when reacting on X shortly after the final whistle.

The Liverpool legend wrote: “We got exactly what was deserved! It became shambolic after 80 mins, words fail to a degree. It feels like we’ve lost 😩 Shambolic near the end.”

Late goals becoming Liverpool’s biggest issue

we got exactly what was deserved!!!It became shambolic after 80 mins ,words fail to a https://t.co/SNO824IWUX feels like we've lost😩Shambolic near the end.

— John Aldridge (@Realaldo474) March 15, 2026

Aldridge’s frustration reflects a growing problem for Liverpool this season.

Richarlison’s equaliser was the eighth Premier League goal we have conceded in the 90th minute or later during the campaign, highlighting a recurring inability to close matches out.

That trend has been particularly damaging at Anfield, where Liverpool have now dropped seven points from winning positions in the league.

When the Reds led through Szoboszlai’s goal, the expectation was that three points would follow.

Instead, the performance deteriorated late in the game, allowing Tottenham to build pressure before eventually finding the equaliser.

Criticism mounting around Liverpool performances

Aldridge is not the only former Red to question Liverpool’s display.

Jamie Carragher also voiced his frustration during the match while working on commentary, arguing that Liverpool were “sleepwalking” towards conceding and suggesting Spurs deserved their late reward.

Meanwhile Roy Keane delivered an even harsher assessment after the final whistle, accusing the Reds of being “bad champions” following the dramatic drop-off from last season’s title-winning campaign.

Those opinions underline the wider mood around the club right now.

Liverpool still sit fifth in the Premier League table and remain firmly in the race for Champions League qualification, but performances like the one against Tottenham are making that task far more difficult than it should be.

For Aldridge and many supporters watching on Sunday, the most frustrating part was how avoidable it all felt.

Paul Merson has suggested that Arne Slot could end up at another Premier League club if he were to be dismissed as Liverpool head coach.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

The Dutchman has come under increasing scrutiny this season as the Reds’ top-flight title defence has crumbled miserably, with the Merseysiders left to try and salvage Champions League qualification for 2026/27 and currently sitting sixth in the table.

Today the 47-year-old will be hoping to capitalise on Chelsea’s Saturday slip-up by winning at home to a Tottenham Hotspur side who sit just one point above the relegation zone, and whose own boss (Igor Tudor) is believed to be on borrowed time despite only taking the job last month.

Merson: Slot needs Champions League qualification to keep his job

Speaking on Sky Sports‘ Soccer Saturday, Merson claimed that winning the FA Cup wouldn’t spare Slot from the sack if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League.

The pundit said: “If he won the FA Cup but didn’t finish in Champions League positions it wouldn’t make any difference at all. I think Liverpool have got to get in the Champions League with the [financial] fair play rule. The more you get into the Champions League, the better quality player you can bring in.”

Merson then expressed a bold prediction as to where the Dutchman may end up if he leaves Anfield, saying: “He will have to get in the top four, I would have thought, otherwise he’d be [the next] Tottenham manager.”

Could Slot plausibly end up at Spurs if he’s sacked by Liverpool?

Ironically, Slot was understood to be a leading candidate for the Spurs job three years ago, only to turn them down in favour of remaining at Feyenoord for one more season before Liverpool came calling (The Athletic).

The Dutchman’s finest moment as LFC head coach came against the north Londoners on the day of the 5-1 win at Anfield last April which confirmed the Reds as Premier League champions. Defeat in that fixture today would arguably mark the lowest point of the 47-year-old’s time on Merseyside.

Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

Merson is among numerous pundits to claim that Slot’s job at Liverpool could hinge on whether or not they qualify for the Champions League, and it’s not implausible that FSG could pull the trigger if they miss out on the riches which come from participating in Europe’s flagship club competition.

If that were to happen, would the current LFC boss resurface at Spurs a few months later? That may well depend on the outcome of the Londoners’ season, with relegation from the top flight a genuine possibility if they fail to arrest their ongoing decline.

With all due respect, it’s difficult to envisage the man who won the Premier League less than a year ago dropping down to the Championship so soon after that triumph, should that indeed be the fate to which Tudor’s current side are consigned.

For now, though, Slot has a job to do at Liverpool, and victory today is essential in order to capitalise on Chelsea’s slip-up against Newcastle and propel the Reds back into the Champions League qualification places (on the presumption that fifth will be good enough to earn that golden ticket).

Arne Slot has warned his Liverpool side to beware facing a ‘wounded animal’ in Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.

Both teams have endured a desperately disappointing season, with the Reds languishing in sixth place and facing a battle just to qualify for the Champions League.

For Spurs, our ‘crisis’ represents a distant dream, with the north Londoners sitting just one point above the relegation zone as of Saturday morning and having not won a Premier League match since the end of December.

Slot warns Liverpool to beware ‘wounded animal’ Spurs

Despite the precarious situation in which Igor Tudor’s side find themselves, Slot has used his programme notes for tomorrow’s game to warn Liverpool fans not to expect a cakewalk at Anfield.

The Reds’ head coach wrote (via Liverpool FC): ‘This means taking on a Tottenham team which has its own reasons for needing a strong finish to the campaign. For someone like me who always followed English football from a distance before coming to this country, it is strange seeing them in their current situation, and this is one of the reasons why I do not expect it to last.

‘At the same time, their circumstances mean they will arrive at Anfield not just as a wounded animal, but also as a team which knows it has to scrap for survival and which has a point to prove. This makes them a dangerous opponent regardless of recent results or league position, and we will treat them as such.’

Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

Liverpool can’t afford to take Spurs for granted

Paul Merson and Chris Sutton are among the numerous pundits expecting a comfortable home win for Liverpool on Sunday, and the teams’ respective league positions – as well as Spurs’ horrendous form – would make the Reds clear favourites to claim all three points.

For the under-fire Tudor, the task is made even harder by Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha joining a top-heavy injury list which also includes Micky van de Ven, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski among a dozen confirmed absences (Premier Injuries).

All logic would seemingly point towards victory for LFC, but Slot isn’t just merely toeing the diplomatic line with his comments on tomorrow’s opponents – he knows all too well that his side can’t take their visitors for granted.

Three of the current bottom six have taken points at Anfield already this season (Nottingham Forest helped themselves to all three in November), and the recent defeat to bottom club Wolves again highlighted Liverpool’s infuriating tendency to trip up in games they’d be expected to win emphatically.

Also, Spurs go to Anfield without the usual burden of expectation which is placed upon them in Premier League fixtures and may feel they have a point to prove with so many pundits effectively giving their team talk for them by writing them off so readily.

If the Reds play with the right attitude for 90+ minutes and are ruthless in both penalty boxes, they’ll likely have too much quality for their opponents to handle. However, Slot is right to warn against complacency, and his side have their own critics to answer on Sunday.

Less than a month after taking charge at Tottenham Hotspur, it’s seemingly unclear whether Igor Tudor will still be in the job by the time they face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday week.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

The Croatian has overseen three defeats to fellow London clubs since replacing Thomas Frank in mid-February, and a 1-3 reverse at home to Crystal Palace on Thursday has left Spurs just one point above the Premier League relegation zone.

It’s possible that they could be inside the bottom three by the time they kick off against the Reds on 15 March, although they have a Champions League round-of-16 clash away to Atletico Madrid in the meantime.

Spurs considering managerial change after dismal start for Tudor

According to The Telegraph, the hierarchy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are ‘considering their options’ for a second managerial change in the space of a month after the disastrous start to Tudor’s reign in the dugout.

The defeat to Palace is said to have been ‘alarming’ for Spurs chiefs, although it’s expected that the Croatian will remain in charge for at the first leg of their Champions League tie against Atletico, which takes place on Tuesday night.

A week after they visit Anfield, the north Londoners host relegation rivals Nottingham Forest, and the report claims that the hierarchy ‘may feel that they cannot wait until after’ that game to instigate another change of manager.

Could Tudor be sacked before Spurs visit Liverpool next weekend?

Liverpool fans may be keeping one eye on Spurs’ European fixture on Tuesday and whether N17 bosses could act between that game and the Premier League visit to Merseyside five days later.

The Telegraph’s report would suggest that Tudor isn’t in danger of being fired imminently, but if his side are subjected to a heavy defeat in Madrid which effectively knocks them out of the Champions League, it doesn’t seem wholly unthinkable that the hierarchy might act before the match at Anfield.

In that scenario, Spurs would come to L4 in the hope of enjoying the kind of ‘new manager bounce’ that they haven’t had under the Croatian, and Reds supporters might be hoping that the Tottenham top brass hold fire on the 47-year-old’s future until after that game.

When Liverpool came up against a Forest team under new management in Vitor Pereira’s first Premier League game at the City Ground a fortnight ago, they escaped with a 1-0 victory – ‘escaped’ being the operative word as Arne Slot’s side were hugely fortunate to take three points that day.

Could there be a third managerial change for Spurs since their most recent visit to Anfield last April (the day that the Reds were confirmed as champions)? It seems more likely than unlikely that Tudor will get to Sunday week with his job intact, although that can’t be taken for granted in this increasingly volatile ‘instant gratification’ era of football.

Former Liverpool assistant coach John Heitinga has left his role at Tottenham Hotspur after only 33 days in the job.

The Dutchman came to Anfield in July 2024 as part of Arne Slot’s backroom staff ahead of the latter’s first season as the Reds’ head coach, contributing towards our Premier League triumph last year before leaving to take charge of Ajax.

He lasted just five months with the Amsterdam club prior to being appointed to Thomas Frank’s coaching ticket in mid-January, but the Dane was promptly sacked by Spurs last week with the Europa League holders languishing in 16th place domestically.

Heitinga quits as Spurs assistant coach

On Monday, The Athletic reported that Heitinga has left his role at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium just over a month after coming to north London.

It was the 42-year-old’s decision to leave Spurs, choosing not to remain part of the new coaching structure under interim head coach Igor Tudor, with the Croatian instead bringing some of his former Juventus backroom staff with him to the English capital.

While Slot’s one-time assistant has departed the Premier League strugglers, another ex-Liverpool employee in Fabian Otte is expected to stay on as goalkeeping coach in Tottenham, despite the arrival of Tomislav Rogic in a similar role.

Heitinga has had a rather nomadic coaching career already

The nomadic nature of Heitinga’s coaching career continues, with the Dutchman having now left four different clubs in less than two years, either forcibly or of his own volition.

He departed West Ham along with David Moyes in May 2024 before leaving Liverpool for the Ajax head coach role a year later. Then came his swift dismissal in Amsterdam and his considerably shorter-lived association with Spurs.

The 42-year-old was involved with the north Londoners for a mere seven games, of which they won and drew two each and lost three, securing a direct passage to the last 16 in the Champions League but floundering domestically.

Heitinga at Spurs Competition Result (Spurs first) West Ham (H) Premier League 1-2 Borussia Dortmund (H) Champions League 2-0 Burnley (A) Premier League 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (A) Champions League 2-0 Manchester City (H) Premier League 2-2 Manchester United (A) Premier League 0-2 Newcastle (H) Premier League 1-2

What’s next for Heitinga? Will he jump into a new job as quickly as he left his most recent one? Could he plausibly return to Anfield if – as Jamie Carragher has suggested – FSG keep faith in Slot for the foreseeable future.

Given his previous association with (and extensive knowledge of) the current coaching setup at Liverpool, it’s not unthinkable that he could be offered the opportunity to return to Merseyside, should he wish to do so.

The Reds aren’t actively looking to add to Slot’s backroom staff at present, but the volatile nature of the 42-year-old’s coaching career would suggest that the possibility of retracing his steps to L4 isn’t completely out of the queston.

Liverpool reportedly fielded an enquiry from Tottenham Hotspur regarding Andy Robertson in the final 24 hours of the January transfer window.

Spurs had been actively working on a deal to sign the Scottish left-back last month, but they were ultimately informed by Anfield chiefs that the 31-year-old that they weren’t in a position to sanction an exit for the long-serving defender.

Arne Slot made it publicly clear that he was keen to hold onto the Reds’ number 26, who played the full 90 minutes in the Champions League victory over Qarabag last week but was an unsused substitute against Newcastle on Saturday night.

Spurs made a last-ditch call to Liverpool for Robertson

Michael Bridge has been providing deadline-day updates from outside Spurs’ training ground in north London, and he briefly spoke about a last-ditch attempt from Thomas Frank’s side to sound out Liverpool about Robertson.

Speaking live on Sky Sports News (via GIVEMESPORT), the reporter said: “Our information was that a check call has gone in just to see if Liverpool’s position has changed as to the availability of Andy Robertson, but that’s a no.”

Liverpool would’ve been foolish to let Robertson leave mid-season

Having been the Reds’ firm first-choice at left-back for eight years, the Scot has had to be content with playing second fiddle to Milos Kerkez for much of this season, and it’d be understandable if he felt a desire to take on a new challenge.

That might well come later this year, seeing as his contract at Anfield expires in June, but thankfully the 31-year-old is set to see out the remainder of this campaign at Liverpool.

Considering the injuries to several other LFC defenders, and Robertson’s ability to play at centre-back if required, the Merseyside club weren’t in a position to sanction a January exit for our number 26, whose leadership qualities make him a crucial figure in Slot’s squad.

The fee that the Reds would’ve received for him wouldn’t have been worth losing him mid-season, and even if he is to depart as a free agent in the summer, his availability between now and then could be vital in a campaign which has seen our defensive options continually affected by injury issues.

In truth, Spurs would probably have been expecting another rebuttal from Anfield before making their latest enquiry for Robertson. Why would Liverpool alter their stance in the final hours of the transfer window, having already erected the ‘not for sale’ signs a few days previously?

Andy Robertson now looks set to remain at Liverpool for the time being, with the Anfield hierarchy pulling the plug on a proposed transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

Last week, The Athletic‘s David Ornstein reported that Spurs had been actively working on a deal to sign the Scottish left-back, and as recently as Sunday morning, Fabrizio Romano claimed that negotiations between the two clubs were ‘still ongoing’.

In the aftermath of the Reds’ 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday – in which the 31-year-old came on as a substitute at half-time – both Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk made it clear that they’re yearning for the long-serving defender to stay put, and it now seems that they’ll get their wish.

Liverpool pull plug on Robertson move to Spurs

Just before 9pm on Sunday night, Paul Joyce reported for The Times that Liverpool have informed Spurs that they’re not in a position to sanction an exit for Robertson as things stand.

The north London club had been prepared to pay £5m for the Scotland captain, whose contract at Anfield expires in the summer, with Thomas Frank down to just one natural senior left-back in Destiny Udogie.

While the Reds have considered Spurs’ offer, they ultimately decided against proceeding with the move due to a sparsity of alternatives. Our number 26 hadn’t been agitating for a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and ‘will continue to have a role to play for the remainder of the season’ under Slot.

Liverpool weren’t in a position to let Robertson leave mid-season

Having had Crystal Palace intervene at the 11th hour to block Marc Guehi’s move to Merseyside five months ago, Liverpool have now acted decisively to ensure that they don’t lose Robertson on the cusp of the transfer deadline when defensive options are already threadbare.

It was the only course of action that FSG could realistically contemplate, especially with Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley sidelined by long-term injuries and Joe Gomez being forced off at Bournemouth on Saturday.

We completely understand that, after so many seasons of being a fixed starter for the Reds, it must be frustrating for the 31-year-old to be playing second fiddle to Kerkez, having had just four Premier League starts so far in the current campaign.

However, after a year of substantial flux at Liverpool, Robertson provides a crucial presence in the dressing room with his longevity and leadership, helping to drive standards behind the scenes just as Jordan Henderson and James Milner did in the past in L4.

While we can breathe a sigh of relief for now that the Scot won’t be leaving before next Monday’s deadline, the possibility of a summer farewell remains very much plausible unless he pens a contract extension in the coming months.

FSG may be merely delaying the inevitable, but at least at a time of crisis for the Reds, the hierarchy have taken affirmative action and vetoed a mid-season exit for a player who’s long since secured legendary status at Anfield.

Tottenham Hotspur had reportedly been eyeing a move for a Liverpool first-team regular before pivoting to an alternative target.

While the Reds have yet to enter the January transfer market, Spurs seem poised to complete their first signing of 2026 after agreeing a £34m deal for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher (Sky Sports).

Aston Villa had reportedly been in formal talks to sign the England international in recent days, but the ex-Chelsea and Crystal Palace midfielder now appears set for a return to London after Thomas Frank’s side hijacked the deal (Ben Jacobs).

Spurs had been eyeing a move for Curtis Jones

Renowned Spurs insider Paul O’Keefe was asked by one of the club’s supporters on X if the Europa League holders are ‘looking to add a progressive midfielder’ in January, in addition to Gallagher.

The reply was: ‘Not really progressive but they had Curtis Jones on their list. Presumably they scrub that now – 1 year left on his deal.’

Understandable that Spurs would’ve wanted Jones

We can see why Spurs would’ve been seeking to bring in the Liverpool midfielder, but even had they opted to pursue him instead of Gallagher, the likelihood of the transfer happening would’ve been remote.

Hailed as ‘fantastic‘ by Phil Thompson, Jones has grown into a regular starter under Arne Slot, having been in the line-up for six Premier League games in a row prior to last week’s draw at Arsenal, along with starting four of our six Champions League fixtures so far this season (Transfermarkt).

His versatility makes him a vital asset for the Reds – he can play in any midfield role and has even been deployed at right-back on occasion – and O’Keefe was mistaken in suggesting that the 24-year-old isn’t a ‘progressive’ player (something he subsequently acknowledged).

As per FBref, the Liverpool man ranks among the top 6% of midfielders in Europe over the past year for progressive passes per 90 minutes (8.27) and the top 11% for progressive carries per game (2.52), while he’s also in the top 18% for successful take-ons with 0.94 per match.

One pertinent point that the Spurs insider did raise, though, was Jones’ contract situation. With only 18 months remaining on his current deal and the Scouser coming into his prime footballing years, we expect Richard Hughes to commence negotiations over a renewal in the summer, if not sooner.

The Reds’ number 17 is a player who LFC need to keep hold of, and if any other prospective suitors were to go one step further than the north Londoners and make an approach for him, the Anfield hierarchy’s answer must be a firm no.

The fallout from a dramatic Premier League win in north London has taken an unsettling turn for us as a key figure now faces time on the sidelines.

Liverpool have confirmed that Alexander Isak has successfully undergone surgery on the injury he sustained while scoring against Tottenham Hotspur, via liverpoolfc.com.

The Swedish international was forced off immediately after opening the scoring, a moment that initially looked like a turning point for us before quickly becoming a source of concern.

The club statement confirmed that the striker suffered an ankle injury involving a fractured fibula, with rehabilitation now set to continue at the AXA Training Centre and no return date yet established.

Isak injury update leaves Liverpool facing uncertain timeline

While the club have understandably avoided placing a timeframe on Isak’s recovery, external injury analysis has offered a more sobering projection.

According to Physio Scout on X, the 26-year-old is likely facing a lay-off measured in months rather than weeks.

“Alexander Isak now confirmed to have surgery on his ankle/lower leg,” the analyst wrote. “Included a fractured fibula.”

The report added: “Timeline is uncertain, but reports are stating he’ll be out for a ‘few months’, more likely in the 2–3 month range.”

It was also noted that fractured fibulas typically require between six and ten weeks post-surgery, with any syndesmosis damage potentially extending recovery towards 12 weeks.

That uncertainty will be a concern for Arne Slot, particularly after seeing how well the former Newcastle striker linked up with Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike for the opening goal at Spurs.

It was a rare glimpse of attacking fluidity that we have not consistently been able to build upon this season.

Liverpool injury blow revives wider Isak concerns

There will also be questions over the moments immediately after the challenge, with Isak initially walking from the pitch despite an injury that later required surgery.

Tim Sherwood described the setback as “a huge blow” for both us and the player, referencing his own experience of a similar leg break.

Clinton Morrison also highlighted how sharp Isak had looked, saying it was “pleasing to see Alexander Isak get a goal” before describing the injury as “very frustrating” given his stop-start campaign.

Liverpool will now hope history can offer some comfort, with Djibril Cisse famously returning from a broken leg during the 2004/05 season to play a decisive role in the Champions League final.

For now, though, the priority is clear.

We will have to navigate the coming weeks without a forward who was just beginning to rediscover his rhythm, while hoping this setback does not define his season.

Dermot Gallagher has given his verdict on one of the major talking points from Liverpool’s latest victory.

The Reds’ 2-1 win away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday could politely be described as tempestuous, with two red cards, some needless behaviour from Richarlison after his goal, and a challenge by Micky van de Ven on Alexander Isak which has left the Swede with a suspected broken leg.

All in all, not much in the way of festive goodwill in north London, and plenty to keep John Brooks and the officials on VAR occupied throughout the evening.

The first dismissal came in the 33rd minute when, having inititally been shown a yellow card, Xavi Simons was sent off for raking his studs down Virgil van Dijk’s calf.

Gallagher: Xavi Simons red card was justified

Gallagher felt that, while the Spurs forward didn’t go into the challenge with any malicious intent, the eventual decision was justified, telling Sky Sports‘ Ref Watch on Monday morning: “I want to make clear that I don’t think Simons has any intention to do this, but he has done it.

“Once you see the replay, you can’t unsee it. When VAR sees that, in modern football, it is always going to be a red card. He’s unlucky, but he is always going to see red. You can’t make challenges like that anymore.”

Jay Bothroyd (who was alongside him) aired a similar view, saying: “By the letter of the law it is a red because he has caught him high on his calf, but there’s no doubt he didn’t mean it. The players didn’t swarm around him; there were no big reactions or arguments.”

Red card for Simons was warranted

While Simons subsequently apologised for his challenge on Van Dijk, it was still a crude and reckless one, and he could have no complaints over Brooks’ decision to upgrade the initial yellow card to a red.

That sort of tackle on the back of a player’s calf is liable to cause serious injury, but thankfully that wasn’t the case here, and we would hope that the Spurs forward will learn from it and refrain from such rashness in the future.

Unfortunately, Isak was rather less fortunate after being brought to ground by Van de Ven, an incident which has left the Liverpool striker facing numerous months on the sidelines and reduced Arne Slot’s available playing pick even further amid several other injuries.

Football is a contact sport and we don’t want to see physicality being taken out of the game, but we also don’t want to see players being ruled out for many months with a serious injury.