EPL

Alexander-Arnold pinpoints Tottenham fixture to revive Liverpool season

By Sports Desk October 30, 2022

Trent Alexander-Arnold says Liverpool must "get some points" at Tottenham to get their "aims and aspirations" back on track.

Jurgen Klopp's side are ninth in the Premier League and could fall 15 points behind Arsenal, who play Nottingham Forest on Sunday as the Gunners aim to return to the top-flight summit.

Liverpool have suffered consecutive domestic defeats against strugglers Forest and Leeds United, the latter of which on Saturday ended a 29-match home unbeaten run for the Reds in the Premier League.

Klopp's team may take some consolation after reaching the Champions League knockout stages, though Alexander-Arnold urged his side to improve in the league at Tottenham next Sunday.

"I'd say we all believe in ourselves, we believe in the way we play, the squad and what we can achieve," the right-back told the club's website.

"But I think when you do get setbacks, it can potentially make you second-guess yourself and question things.

"Clearly as a team something's not going right, it's not going as well as we want it to go. That's something for everyone to think about, for everyone to address and make sure we put it right, especially next week against Spurs, top-four rivals.

"We kind of need to go there and get some points if we've got any chance of reaching our aims and aspirations for the season."

While Liverpool's title hopes are virtually over, with Manchester City and Arsenal embroiled in a two-horse race thus far, the Reds are also eight points away from the Champions League qualification places.

The England international acknowledged Liverpool have been far from their best this season, pinpointing the Reds' failures in front of goal, a notable problem in the 2-1 defeat to Leeds last time out.

"I think we are not in the greatest run of form – I think a lot of players would say that about themselves and as a team in general," he added.

"But we're still creating opportunities to score and win games. We just haven't been able to take them, especially [in the] last two Premier League games.

"I think it's important for us to regroup, assess what's going wrong. I think right now, it's kind of, 'pick up as many points as you can now going into this break [for the World Cup].

"And potentially this break will come at a decent time for us to reset and be able to get our heads straight to go into the second half of the season."

Related items

  • 'It's been a long time,' says McKenna after Ipswich stun Tottenham for first league win 'It's been a long time,' says McKenna after Ipswich stun Tottenham for first league win

    Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna said it was a 'special' moment for the club after they earned their first Premier League win of the season by beating Tottenham 2-1. 

    Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap scored for Ipswich before half-time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

    Though Tottenham reduced the deficit through Rodrigo Bentancur in the 69th minute, the Tractor Boys held on for a famous win. 

    It was also Ipswich's first win in the Premier League since a 1-0 victory over Middlesborough in April 2002, ending a run of 12 away games without a win (D3 L9).

    "I am so proud. It's been a long time for the club, 22 years since the supporters saw a win in the Premier League. The journey to get to here has been a big one," McKenna told BBC Sport after the game. 

    "It feels a bit special today. We believe we’ve been improving. We had picked up five out of 10 results but were waiting for the first win to validate the work and improvements. It’s a massive moment, one to cherish."

    The result was extra special for an Ipswich side, who were denied a win by Leicester City last week through a 94th-minute equaliser from Jordan Ayew, who made it 1-1 at Portman Road.

    But Szmodics and Delap – the latter with his sixth Premier League goal of the season – struck in the first half to give Ipswich a two-goal cushion. 

  • 'It's just down to me,' says Postecoglou after Tottenham beaten by Ipswich Town 'It's just down to me,' says Postecoglou after Tottenham beaten by Ipswich Town

    Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou took full responsibility after his side suffered a 2-1 defeat to previously winless Ipswich Town in the Premier League. 

    Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap gave Ipswich a 2-0 lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs fell short, despite Rodrigo Bentancur returning a goal in the second half.  

    It was Tottenham's third defeat in their last five matches across all competitions and leaves Postecoglou's side in 10th place in the Premier League with 16 points from 11 matches. 

    "It's hugely disappointing. We started slow and passively. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb. In the second half, we had chances but didn’t do enough to win the game," the Australian coach told BBC Sport after the game. 

    His side had also suffered a 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray in the Europa League on Thursday. 

    The hosts generated an xG of 1.82 on Sunday with five shots on target from 17 attempts, but were unable to take anything from the game.

    "It's just down to me, I’m not getting consistent performances from the players. It’s something I need to address. I’m the person in charge, so that’s usually the way it goes. I take responsibility," said Postecoglou. 

    "We can’t give ourselves those kind of mountains to climb." 

    When asked about Ipswich's time-wasting tactics, Postecoglou said it is something his players will have to deal with. 

    "It seems to be the way the Premier League is going. Clubs are taking strategic time-outs. We just have to cop it. It’s up to the officials, not me," he said. 

  • Tottenham 1-2 Ipswich Town: Spurs stunned as McKenna's men clinch first win Tottenham 1-2 Ipswich Town: Spurs stunned as McKenna's men clinch first win

    Ipswich Town claimed a shock 2-1 victory at Tottenham to end their wait for a first Premier League win of the season.

    Sam Szmodics opened the scoring for the visitors with an acrobatic finish just past the half-hour mark before Liam Delap doubled Ipswich's advantage prior to the interval.

    Spurs – who saw a Dominic Solanke goal overturned by VAR for handball early in the second half – were handed a lifeline when Rodrigo Bentancur headed in from a corner to cut the deficit in the 69th minute.

    Solanke had a great chance to restore parity in stoppage time, but Arijanet Muric made a fantastic stop as Ipswich held on for a memorable triumph.

    The victory takes Kieran McKenna's side up to 17th, two points behind Everton.

    Meanwhile, Spurs are 10th with 16 points from their 11 matches. 

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.