In both literal and metaphorical terms, Igor Tudor has found new purpose. The Tottenham manager saw his previously tainted 100% loss record end with a draw, marking his first point and potentially signaling the start of a resurgence for a struggling club. Spurs’ record six consecutive defeats have finally been halted, as they managed to secure a draw against Liverpool. For Liverpool, their failure to defeat a team in turmoil may come at a steep price as they stumble when they should be making strides toward the Champions League.
One of Liverpool’s scorers expressed concern about their current trajectory, warning, “We need to wake up because if we continue like this, we should be content with the Conference League,” said Dominik Szoboszlai. He lamented that this pattern of conceding late goals has become all too frequent for the team. Liverpool has notably struggled against the bottom teams, having failed to secure a win against four of the bottom six at home this season. They were thwarted once more by a familiar adversary, as Richarlison found the net at Anfield for the fifth time in his career.
After leading for 72 minutes, Liverpool’s luck was challenged; this match showcased a spirited performance from Tottenham under Tudor, dispelling any notion of a quick robbery. “We can say it was deserved,” stated Tudor. “They showed great fight.” His side produced seven shots on target, demonstrating a tenacity and resourcefulness that belied their previous struggles. Tudor, often viewed as a manager brought in to prevent relegation, appeared more as someone successfully extinguishing a crisis rather than fueling one. “This is something really significant,” Tudor remarked.
Igor Tudor collected his first point in charge after four successive defeats (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Following the humiliating match against Atletico Madrid, the narrative shifted. Tudor made a point to approach his goalkeeper at the end of the match, acknowledging a mistake had been made on one of the goals, but there was an appreciative pat on the back. There was no hasty substitution, and while Guglielmo Vicario may have been expected to save Szoboszlai’s free kick, Tudor maintained his composure and later saw redemptive saves from both Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah that kept Tottenham competitive. Though Vicario’s earlier struggles highlighted Spurs’ ongoing issues at goalkeeper, he rebounded well during the match, with Tudor praising his performance: “Vicario was good today.”
Antonin Kinsky sat on the bench as one of the two backup keepers, and had Vicario faced injury, it would have been intriguing to see if Tudor would have turned to him. Instead, Tudor made a significant substitution. Despite the limited options due to injuries affecting 13 players, Tudor’s decisions—bringing on Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani—proved influential. The French forward overpowered Virgil van Dijk before setting up Richarlison for the equalizer.
The goal had been anticipated—both for Tottenham as a whole and particularly for Richarlison. He had come close multiple times earlier: twice with headers that were saved by Alisson and once with a shot that was also thwarted following an attempt to evade Van Dijk, claiming a foul had occurred. The Brazilian can find satisfaction in his ability to frustrate Liverpool; however, it’s worth noting that until his goal, only goal difference kept Tottenham out of the relegation zone. As Liverpool’s hopes of securing a top-four finish dwindled, the implications were significant at both ends of the table.
“This is certainly damaging,” Slot stated, acknowledging the growing discontent among fans, who booed at the conclusion. “It’s understandable for fans to feel frustrated,” he added. Liverpool’s lackluster performance raised questions regarding his managerial choices. He could have assumed that Spurs, in their current predicament, were easy prey, but opting to rest players like Hugo Ekitike and Ibrahima Konate in anticipation of a rematch with Galatasaray may have been misguided, especially given Salah’s poor showing in Istanbul on Tuesday.
Arne Slot recognized the frustration stemming from Liverpool’s latest failure to secure a win (REUTERS)
Ultimately, while Gakpo hit the post and Rio Ngumoha impressed during his first Premier League start, Liverpool fielded a front three lacking stardom, featuring a winger acting as a striker and a teenager along with full-back Jeremie Frimpong. Liverpool struggled for creativity, seldom threatened with urgency, and exhibited poor decision-making. To make matters worse, both teams that finished third and fourth in the Champions League group stages found it hard to retain possession.
However, they were fortunate to benefit from the consistently impressive Szoboszlai, who has now scored almost as many free kicks in a Premier League season as notable figures like David Beckham and Laurent Robert. While his latest goal lacked the flair of previous bullets against Arsenal and Manchester City, with Vicario managing to deflect it but still allowing it in, Liverpool remained unable to secure a second goal.
Once again, they conceded late, adding to the growing frustration. “It’s immensely disappointing when it happens at the last moment,” Slot remarked. Meanwhile, for Tottenham, frustration turned to celebration. With only five points gained from their last 12 matches, Tudor has finally made some progress in his role, having something tangible to show for his tenure in London. “I never once thought about my future,” Tudor asserted. “The future is merely a concept and does not exist.” A manager once perceived as having no future now appears likely to endure at least another week.