Pride of place in the television schedule for Sunday has been given to Tottenham Hotspur against Liverpool. The astute viewer will know not to miss the opening minutes, when the away team are notoriously vulnerable. But the close student of Spurs will wonder if the hosts have the instinct to exploit Liverpool’s jittery starts.
On Tuesday, Tottenham joined Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League, the full quartet of English clubs progressing from the group stage but did so without correcting an impression they are under strict instructions to spend most of the first hour of matches in a cautious wait-and-see posture, saving their proactive football for later.
Their victory at Olympique Marseille would be seized in stoppage time thanks to a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg goal after Clement Lenglet had cancelled out Marseille’s half-time lead.
“We need to try and play all the 90 minutes at the same level,” admitted Cristian Stellini, the assistant coach who was the night’s acting manager, with Antonio Conte serving a touchline ban.
Over at Anfield, Conte and Stellini’s compatriot, the Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti made a telling observation about the late-game stamina of another English club.
Liverpool had inflicted a first defeat of the season on Spalletti’s dazzlers thanks to Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez’s 85th and 98th-minute strikes, making some amends for the 4-1 defeat at Napoli on match day one.
Although the victory was not enough to knock Napoli off top place, it is a feather in Liverpool’s cap. “If you look at the last 10 minutes, it was almost as if my players felt we had reached the objective [Liverpool needed to win by a four-goal margin to leapfrog Napoli in the table],” reckoned Spalletti. “Our level dropped a bit. Maybe that’s an aspect of this team’s character. Liverpool always play flat-out – that’s part of their character.”
It was meant as praise for Jurgen Klopp, his counterpart, and for a Liverpool who chased four trophies right up to the finish line in their remarkable, 63-match 2021/22 campaign. But they now sit ninth in the Premier League partly because they have been so sluggish in reaching the upper gears.
Liverpool 2 Napoli 0: player ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian had few real alarms even when Napoli applied pressure. His best stop was from a deflection off Alexander-Arnold. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6. The 24-year-old was restrained in his forward motion. He was watchful in defence and was replaced by Ramsay with three minutes to go. Getty -
Ibrahima Konate - 7. The Frenchman’s distribution was questionable but his strength is impressive. He was solid in the air and in the tackle. Getty -
Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman’s header led to the second goal. He was calm in the face of Napoli’s threat. PA -
Kostas Tsimikas - 7. The Greek got up and down the line effectively. His corners led to the goals. PA -
James Milner - 6. The 36-year-old worked hard until he came out worse in a clash of heads. As a result he made way for Elliott in the 48th minute. AP -
Fabinho - 6. The Brazilian could have received two yellow cards but he set the tempo in the midfield. He was still not quite on his best form. EPA -
Thiago Alacantara - 6. The 31-year-old made Merat save in the first half but his passing needed to be more direct. Bajcetic came on for him with three minutes to go. PA -
Mohamed Salah - 7. The Egyptian was quickest to the ball to open the scoring. It was a reward in a game where supply was short for the striker. EPA -
Roberto Firmino - 6. The Brazilian made a good flick or two and linked the play without threatening too much. He was withdrawn for Carvalho with three minutes to go. AP -
Curtis Jones - 6. The 21-year-old caused plenty of problems with his direct running and his eye for a pass. He tired and was replaced by Nunez with 17 minutes left. AP -
SUBS: Harvey Elliott - 6. The 19-year-old came on for Milner in the 48th minute. He added some youthful energy and worked diligently in attack and defence. EPA -
Darwin Nunez - 8 . The Uruguayan joined the game with 17 minutes to go, replacing Jones. His header led to the first goal and he scored the winner. A tremendous cameo. AP -
Stefan Bajcetic - N/A. The 18-year-old replaced Thiago for the last three minutes. He was energetic in his short cameo. Reuters -
Calvin Ramsay - N/A. The 19-year-old made his debut when he replaced Alexander-Arnold for the last three minutes. There were no alarms for the youngster. PA -
Fabio Carvalho - N/A. The Portuguese was given a three-minute runout when Firmino left the game. He fired over the bar. PA -
NAPOLI RATINGS: Alex Meret - 6. The Italian had a relatively quiet night until the last five minutes. He did his best to stop the Liverpool goals but needed more help from defenders. AP -
Giovanni Di Lorenzo - 5. The 29-year-old was not composed. His positional play was poor and his distribution lacked precision. AP -
Leo Ostigard - 6. The Norwegian was denied a goal by a very marginal offside decision. He was strong defensively. PA -
Kim Min-jae - 5. The South Korean made a series of blocks and tackles. He looked secure until Liverpool’s late barrage. Getty -
Mathias Olivera - 6. The Uruguayan kept a tight rein on Salah for most of the game. His distribution was impressive. Action Images -
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa - 7. The Cameroonian made his mark in the midfield. He tackled hard and used the ball well. EPA -
Stanislav Lobotka – 6 . The Slovakian worked effectively but did not create enough. He could have been more adventurous and made way for Zielinski with seven minutes to go. Getty -
Tanguy Ndombele - 4. The Frenchman struggled to find his footing in midfield. He was replaced by Raspadori with three minutes to go. PA -
Matteo Politano - 4. The Italian did not get on the ball enough. When he did get possession, he did not use it effectively. He made way for Lozano in the 70th minute. PA -
Victor Osimhen - 5. The Nigerian did not get the service he needed and failed to use his pace. He was withdrawn for Simeone with three minutes to go. AP -
Khvicha Kvaratskheli - 6. The Georgian was his team’s biggest threat. He lacked support and was replaced by Elmas with three minutes to go. EPA -
SUBS: Hirving Lozano - 5. The Mexican came on for Politano with 20 minutes to go. He did not have much impact on the game. EPA -
Piotr Zielinski - N/A. The Pole joined the action with seven minutes to go for Lobotka. He struggled to get to the rhythm of the game. EPA -
Elif Elmas - N/A. The Macedonian was given the last three minutes at Kvaratskheli’s expense. He might wish he has stayed on the bench as Napoli shipped a second goal. Getty Images -
Giacomo Raspadori - N/A. The 22-year-old had a three-minute cameo when he came on for Ndombele. He was as anonymous as the man he replaced. Reuters -
Giovanni Simeone - N/A. The Argentine replaced Osimhen with three minutes to go. He saw little of the ball. PA
In more than half their matches in 2022/23, Liverpool have conceded the first goal. Against Napoli in Italy, Brighton, Arsenal and Leeds United, they fell behind within the first five minutes.
When a weakness like that becomes so signposted, opponents devote themselves to plotting an early ambush. Will Tottenham? The negative view of Spurs as they mark the first anniversary of Conte as manager is that they are like a diffident teenager who needs to be coaxed down to the breakfast table in the hope he might start expressing himself by lunchtime.
Tuesday in Marseille presented a familiar opening 45 minutes, especially in European contests: a Tottenham concerned chiefly with maintaining their defensive shape, conceding possession, a back five with three retreated midfield players deep in their own half.
Granted, the mathematics of Group D meant an impeccable defensive performance at Marseille would be enough, with Spurs needing a point to progress. When Marseille scored from a set-piece, the plan misfired.
Tottenham allowed their hosts, a team occupying fifth place in France’s Ligue 1, enough sights of goal that the Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was named man of the match.
And for the third time in six days, Lloris, the Spurs captain found himself in a half-time team-talk where a rousing readjustment was required. They have had to recover from losing first halves against Sporting Lisbon, when they came back to draw; against Bournemouth, when they won from 2-0 down; and against Marseille.
Marseille 1 Spurs 2: player ratings
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MARSEILLE RATINGS: Pau Lopez 6: Bar a couple of punches away, the Spanish goalkeeper was not called into action until first-half injury-time when he tipped Kane's shot over. Important hand on low Bentacur cross with Kane lurking at start of second half. No chance with either Spurs goal. AP -
Chancel Mbemba 8: Powerful defender caught Son with shoulder in first half that saw South Korean forced off injured. Played almost like an attacking midfielder in the first half and headed Marseille into the lead. Impeccable sliding tackle to take the ball off Kane late in the game. EPA -
Eric Bailly N/A: Defender on loan from Manchester United saw his old injury woes resurface and lasted less than 10 minutes before limping off. AP -
Leonardo Balerdi 7: Not tested in opening half but was impressive at the back as Spurs offered some threat in the second period. Picked up a silly booking for barging over Emerson. PA -
Valentin Rongier 7: The Marseille captain will have been pleasantly surprised at how easily his side were able to control midfield in the first half but was easily outmuscled by Lenglet for Spurs' leveller. AP -
Jordan Veretout 8: Summer signing from Roma was denied the opening goal of game – and first for Marseille - when Lloris saved his well-hit shot. His cross was headed home by Mbemba. AP -
Jonathan Clauss 7: Right wingback skinned Hojbjerg with ease in the opening minutes but wasted a good opportunity with a poor cross straight to Lloris. Chested down ball and volleyed wide on 21 minutes. EPA -
Matteo Guendouzi 7: One of four Marseille players with links to Spurs’ rivals Arsenal and helped team control centre of park in first half. Sloppy pass led to Spurs’ winner. Getty -
Nuno Tavares 6: Wingback on loan from Arsenal caused Sessegnon all sorts of problems in the first half but impact waned as the match went on. Did turn Emerson inside out late on but blazed his shot well over. Reuters -
Amine Harit 7: Glorious pass to set-up an early chance for Sanchez, Cracked a fearsome shot from distance just over in the second half. EPA -
Alexis Sanchez 7: Former Arsenal striker almost opened the scoring in the first couple of minutes but glanced his header just wide, then saw powerful shot saved by Lloris. Another shot looked goal-bound until Peresic blocked in second half. AFP -
SUBS: Samuel Gigot (On for Bailley 9’) 5: Beat Lloris and Dier to a corner but couldn’t direct header on target. Annoyed home fans with sloppy pass in second half and was subbed himself soon after. Reuters -
Sead Kolasinac (On for Gigot 74’) 4: The fourth and final former Arsenal player to enter the fray. Awful miss when he headed wide in final minutes. AP -
Issa Kabore (On for Clauss 74’) 6: No chance to make impact. AP Cengiz Under (On for Veretout 74’) 6: Brilliant cross to set-up fellow sub Klasinac who should have put team 2-1 up. -
Luis Suarez (On for Rongier 83’) N/A. AFP -
TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris 8: France goalkeeper showed strong wrists to block Sanchez strike and then produced superb stop to deny Veretout. No chance with Mbemba's goal. AP -
Eric Dier 7: Lucky to escape with crazy back pass looped over his own head in the 15th minute that Spurs managed to scramble clear. Improved as the match went on. EPA -
Clement Lenglet 7: On the left of back three, French defender lost Sanchez early on but Chilean headed wide. Towering header to put Spurs level with their first attempt on target. Reuters -
Ben Davies 7: Like all his teammates, guilty of gifting possession to Marseille too many times in the opening 45 minutes. And, like all his teammates, much better after the break. AP -
Ryan Sessegnon 4: Started at right wingback and struggled badly as OM controlled possession and were finding joy down his flank. Allowed ball to go out for a corner that resulted in Mbemba scoring. Swapped sides with Perisic but faired little better and no shock when he was hooked at half-time. EPA -
Ivan Perisic 7: Croatian’s crossing can be a threat but little chance to show that in an awful first-half showing. It was his perfect free-kick into the box that set-up Lenglet’s goal, Peresic's seventh assist this season. Getty -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 7: Chasing shadows as Spurs failed to get a foothold in the game until the second half. Cracked crossbar with 10 minutes left then finished brilliantly to seal Spurs’ win. Booked late on which means he misses next Champions League match. Getty -
Rodrigo Bentancur 7: Anonymous first half, brilliant second. Was closest man to Mbemba when defender had free header to put home side in front. Excellent ball across box almost picked out Kane straight after the break when he became Spurs' main attacking threat. AP -
Lucas Moura 6: Non-existent as an attacking threat in first half – like team as whole. Came to life after the break as Spurs finally decided to turn up and make game of it. Teed-up chance for Hojbjerg that Dane fired against the bar. PA -
Son Heung-min 5: Took a heavy blow to the face off Mbemba’s shoulder and was helped off pitch before being replaced by Bissouma. Had barely figured with Marseille completely dominating opening early on. Reuters -
Harry Kane 6: Never had a sniff until first-half injury time when Lopez tipped his shot over bar. Couldn’t find his feet to turn in a chance when Lopez spilled a cross after break, then finished well but caught offside. Getty -
SUBS: Yves Bissouma (On for Son 29’) 6: Still not producing performances that earned his big-money move from Brighton but played his part in second-half revival. EPA -
Emerson Royal (On for Sessegnon 46’) 7: Mixed bag from Brazilian after coming on. Saw his cross into the box almost result in Kane scoring but embarrassed himself by going down holding his face after being barged by Balerdi. Reuters -
Oliver Skipp (On for Bentancur 84’) N/A. AP Bryan Gil (On for Moura 90+3’) N/A.
Conte would like to see fewer first-half errors, but will not apologise for a formula of containment and counter-attack. It has served him well through a stellar career as a club manager, at least in domestic leagues.
“Sometimes it is normal to give the possibility to the opponent to play,” explained Stellini, his deputy, “and to use the energy you have in the second half. It can be a strategy.”
With the fixture schedule so condensed, some pragmatic time-management within games is inevitable. Energy needs to be preserved. Both Klopp and Conte have had to balance stamina levels with diminished options of smooth squad rotation.
Tottenham’s indifferent October, after they had dropped only four points in an unbeaten seven-match start to the Premier League campaign, coincided with the absence through injury of Dejan Kulusevski and, later, Richarlison. Son Heung-min, taken off in the first half in Marseille with a head injury, underwent surgery Wednesday to stabilise a fracture around his left eye and is unlikely to feature.
Liverpool likewise have seen their attacking options reduced, with Diogo Jota joining Luis Diaz in treatment. When that pair return to action in December, there is no certainty Liverpool, the side capable of winning against high-flying Napoli and Manchester City and yet losing to Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, will be in the top half of the Premier League.
