Liverpool 4-0 Spurs: Jamie Redknapp and Jamie Carragher lead damning criticism of Tottenham Hotspur’s limp Carabao Cup semi-final display

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

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

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

“I cannot remember a team in my lifetime go down with less of a fight with what Spurs did today,” said former Spurs midfielder and Sky Sports’ Redknapp.

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

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

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

“There’s been some lows – Palace, Ipswich and Everton this season. But when you look at that today, the scoreline? Just horrendous.”

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

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

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

‘It’s Tottenham! They never shock you!’ – Carra on Spurs’ mental block

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Accrington Stanley gave more’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Postecoglou ‘looks lonely’ as Spurs senior players slammed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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