EPL Review: Postecoglou’s very ‘Spursy’ Spurs, Saka incredible again

Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 7 of the 2024-25 season.

Ange adds to unwanted reputation 🤦

The term “Spursiness” seems tired and overplayed – maybe even a little lazy. But then Tottenham Hotspur do something like Sunday’s capitulation at Brighton & Hove Albion, something that we’ve seen from them time and time again, that reinforces the cruel, calamitous reputation that stalks the club.

It’s the tendency to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It’s the habit of serving their supporters the most mouth-watering dessert before dousing it with rich beef gravy in front of their very eyes. “It’s the history of Tottenham,” to borrow Giorgio Chiellini’s infamous summation when Juventus dumped them from the Champions League courtesy of two quick-fire goals in March 2018.

The first half couldn’t have gone much better for Tottenham. Their defensive line was extremely high, leaving Brighton players in offside positions when they were barely over the halfway line and limiting space for the hosts to work in. And in that tight area, Spurs players swarmed Brighton. Destiny Udogie squeezed Georginio Rutter off the ball before Brennan Johnson’s opener.

Johnson, Dominic Solanke, and Dejan Kulusevski were all dangerous, and James Maddison – the scorer of the second goal – appeared to be in the mood to orchestrate a one-sided victory for Spurs.

It didn’t work out that way. Brighton were slightly stricter with their shape and attacked a little quicker, but there weren’t big changes to how the Seagulls operated. They simply wanted it more. There were two failures to cut out the cross that Yankuba Minteh buried. Spurs’ defense lacked aggression when Rutter bumped his way through to equalize. And Destiny Udogie, who had an awful second half, was weak when Rutter battled for room to cross while Cristian Romero’s sleepwalking granted Danny Welbeck the simple task of heading past Guglielmo Vicario.

In 18 second-half minutes, Brighton flipped a 2-0 deficit to a 3-2 advantage and never looked like losing it thereafter.

“What we said at halftime was, ‘It’s not about tactics, it’s about fighting,'” Rutter told Sky Sports post-match, according to BBC Sport.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham are arguably the “Spursiest” side we’ve seen for some time. His overambitious tactics and determination to add to a lead rather than protect it sets up scenarios where his team can collapse spectacularly, with players out of position or making guffaw-inducing errors on the ball. However, this defeat was both “Spursy” and unforgivably complacent, and that reflects terribly on the manager.

“Maybe we just thought we’d roll out there and play well again, and that’s not how it works, and we paid for it,” Postecoglou told the BBC’s Match of the Day about the second-half display.

“We’ve conceded before, but it is how you react, and our reaction wasn’t what it should be. It’s a bad day for us, and when it’s a bad day the responsibility falls at my feet.”

Quick free-kicks 📝

Sanchez deserves plaudits in breathtaking game

Chelsea’s squad-building under co-owner Todd Boehly feels distasteful – an ostentatious yet frenzied shopping spree made worse by how quickly players are discarded. And Robert Sanchez could’ve easily fallen victim to Chelsea’s ruthlessness, joining Raheem Sterling and others on the scrapheap after a shaky first season. Instead, he’s a key part of Chelsea this term. Sanchez has started all seven league matches, and the team’s much-needed continuity is underlined by the back-four comprising Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella in five of those games. Sanchez justified Enzo Maresca’s decision to make him a vital part of the Blues’ foundation in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest; Chelsea should’ve won, but exceptional stops near the end to deny Nico Williams and Jota Silva saved a point for his side. It appears that Maresca is making sense of the muddle at Stamford Bridge.

Bowen makes his point

Jarrod Bowen led West Ham United to a thumping 4-1 win over Ipswich Town to relieve pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui. Bowen was dropped from the latest England squad after one assist over his previous four top-flight appearances wasn’t enough to encourage Lee Carsley to select him, but he responded by having a hand in three of West Ham’s goals on Saturday. He’s a thrilling player to watch, darting straight at opponents, daring them to challenge or continue to step off, before attempting ambitious passes and booming vicious shots on goal. Or, in the case of his strike against Ipswich, producing a satisfyingly precise, curling shot that skips into the bottom corner. “I never need any extra motivation to perform, and the England news was just one of those things, but you either let these things eat you up or you go and show what you’re about,” Bowen said.

Silva’s sensational Fulham refresh

It’s easy to forget that Fulham lost their most important player in the summer. But the tactical response to Joao Palhinha’s departure to Bayern Munich – a higher defensive line and the whole midfield working to stifle the opposition – has worked tremendously. Simply put, eighth-placed Fulham are currently one of the best-coached teams in the Premier League. At first, it seemed Marco Silva’s approach at Manchester City was straightforward: Punt a quick ball to Adama Traore. There’s nothing wrong with that – Traore should’ve scored at least two goals, and he was the match-winner when Wolverhampton Wanderers adopted a similar policy at the Etihad Stadium in October 2019 – but Silva’s team has more strings to its bow than that. The Cottagers were positive in possession, with one move highlighting the resurgence of Raul Jimenez – one of many individual success stories under Silva – when the Mexican executed a beautiful assist for Andreas Pereira. The 3-2 defeat felt harsh on Fulham.

Liverpool must cover for Alisson again

Liverpool’s goalkeeping situation after Alisson’s latest injury could be a major inconvenience for Arne Slot. The Reds have navigated enforced spells on the sidelines for Alisson in the past, but with talented backup Caoimhin Kelleher also injured, it’s up to Vitezslav Jaros – who’d never played higher than the fourth tier in England before Saturday’s 1-0 win at Crystal Palace – to fill the void with matches against Chelsea, RB Leipzig, Arsenal, and Brighton & Hove Albion on the horizon. For the most part, Liverpool deputized well for Alisson during Jurgen Klopp’s reign, often relying on Kelleher and Adrian, and the way Jaros came off the bench in the closing stages at Selhurst Park to thwart Eberechi Eze’s shot and claim the ball before Jean-Philippe Mateta will increase hopes that this trend can continue.

Star performer 🌟

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Don’t let Bukayo Saka’s boyish looks fool you: He’s one of Arsenal’s battle-hardened leaders. He’s almost single-handedly ensured Martin Odegaard’s absence hasn’t been damaging so far, becoming the only Premier League player over the past decade to create seven or more chances and attempt seven or more shots in two separate matches, according to Statman Dave.

And he’s done it in back-to-back outings: during last weekend’s 4-2 dismissal of Leicester City and Saturday’s 3-1 comeback win over Southampton.

Saka had his work cut out against the Saints. With midfielder Thomas Partey covering at right-back behind him, there were few overlapping decoy runs to buy him space against the two or three Southampton players who were regularly accosting him. It wasn’t to matter, though, as he was his usual persistent self and carried Arsenal through when they fell 1-0 behind. He intercepted a pass before sliding a ball through for Kai Havertz to score, and he cut inside before delivering a perfect deep cross for Gabriel Martinelli’s tap-in. He then crowned yet another excellent display when he preyed on a defender’s heavy touch with a clinical first-time finish.

Odegaard’s importance to Mikel Arteta’s side is huge, but Saka and William Saliba may be the only Arsenal players who are truly irreplaceable.

Best XI 😎

(Courtesy: FotMob)

Highlight of the weekend 🎥

Jimenez is playing with more physicality than at any point since he fractured his skull in November 2020, but his resplendent backheel to set up Pereira was both supple and subtle.

Stat of the weekend 🔢

Manchester United could give Erik ten Hag all the time he wants, and his “process” would still be hobbling – possibly forward but most likely backward – when the earth ceases to rotate. Season No. 3, £600 million spent, and Manchester United are nowhere near where they should be, registering their lowest points tally after seven matches since the 1989-90 First Division season.

Social media moment 📱

This kid may be a Crystal Palace fan, but that fan-baiting is straight from the Jamie Vardy celebration playbook.

Where we stand 👀

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