'Mind-boggling': Gary Neville says 'world class' player was one of Tottenham's 'worst' performers vs Liverpool

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Tottenham Hotspur were given a taste of how their semi-final against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup could unfold as they were on the receiving end of a 6-3 defeat.

Jamie Carragher claimed Arne Slot tricked Ange Postecoglou by backing his attacking style of play in Friday’s press conference so that his Spurs side could be set up to be carved open by his Reds juggernaut.

Slot praised Liverpool’s performance against Tottenham, as his side completely and utterly outclassed the hosts in all facets of the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham’s latest defeat means they have now lost more games (eight) in the Premier League than they have won (eight) this season.

PositionTeamPlayedMPWonWDrawnDLostLForGFAgainstGADiffGDPointsPts
11TottenhamTottenham1772839251423

Heading into their clash against the league leaders, it seemed like one of the Lilywhites’ only reasons to hope for a win or even a draw would be if Heung-min Son had a game to remember.

However, Gary Neville felt the Spurs captain was one of his side’s most underwhelming performers on the day.

Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

Gary Neville slates Heung-min Son after Tottenham lose to Liverpool

Neville felt a grave error that Son kept making was not pressing Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had all the freedom in the world to run riot against Tottenham.

The Manchester United legend said on The Gary Neville Podcast: “They had some experienced players up top, I think Son was one of the worst actually and I love him to bits, world-class player.”

“But some of his actual decisions to actually leave Trent Alexander-Arnold, go and press Joe Gomez or go somewhere else and then leave that space for Trent Alexander-Arnold to go into was just nonsensical, it was just mind-boggling really.”

Son lauded Liverpool for being ruthless going forward, the “quality” players at their disposal as well as their “top discipline” as reasons for why they are at the top of the league.

Earlier this month, former Tottenham star Jamie O’Hara stated Son was not “world-class” anymore, urging Ange Postecoglou to drop him.

Heung-min Son stats for Tottenham in 6-3 loss to Liverpool

The South Korean international has a record to be proud of against the Merseyside-based club, scoring seven and assisting one goal in 17 league appearances against them.

But on Sunday, the 32-year-old had little to no impact on proceedings, with both Alexander-Arnold and Gomez ensuring that he was a frustrated figure.

SON STATS VS LIVERPOOL
CHANCES CREATED0
XG + XA0.12
SUCCESSFUL DRIBBLES1/2
ACCURATE CROSSES0/2
OFFSIDES3
TOUCHES36
via FotMob

Perhaps the most alarming statistic about Son’s outing was that his combined expected goals and expected assists from the game was a mere 0.12.

Completing one dribble out of his two attempts also showcased that the seasoned campaigner was tamed by Liverpool.

Perhaps Son’s decision not to press Alexander-Arnold, which Gary Neville criticised was a mere managerial instruction, however.

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