0 shots, 0 tackles: Spurs player had his poorest outing all season for Frank
Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have frequently delivered some classic, high-scoring matches in Premier League seasons past. Last year, the Reds overwhelmed Spurs with a 5-1 victory on their way to claiming the top-flight title, while those partial to North London will fondly remember a 2017 clash, where a Harry Kane and Heung Min Son-inspired effort secured a 4-1 triumph over their Saturday night rivals.
This time around, Spurs experienced an evening to forget, marred by two red cards and two goals conceded to Guglielmo Vicario, which allowed Arne Slot’s minor revival to extend in a 2-1 loss. Thomas Frank must have been infuriated by the final whistle due to Xavi Simons’ actions, as the disappointing summer signing received an early red card in the first half, easing Liverpool’s path to a morale-boosting three points. Nonetheless, other lackluster players significantly contributed to the team’s downfall.
Indeed, while Simons’ reckless moment with Virgil Van Dijk clearly aided the visiting Reds, facing ten men isn’t always a walk in the park. Unfortunately, Spurs did surrender, letting Liverpool secure the victory, as Frank’s forwards continuously struggled to make their mark, aside from Richarlison striking late for a consolation goal.
Specifically, Mohamed Kudus was unable to make an impact during his forgettable 58-minute stint, mustering merely one effort at Alisson’s goal as the former West Ham United player struggled. Furthermore, despite only achieving 31 touches of the ball, the inconsistent No. 20 lost possession quite often, giving it away 11 times. Randal Kolo Muani also likely left Frank frustrated, failing to find the net with his four attempts. Additionally, the ex-Brentford manager would have been incensed by Cristian Romero’s late red card, having previously seen the South American defender caught out for Alexander Isak’s opener following a poor attempted forward pass.
TalkSPORT analyst Alex Crook even branded Romero an “absolute liability” at the conclusion, with the 27-year-old undoubtedly worried he could have been sidelined by his manager anyway if the red card had not occurred. However, there remains one underperformer yet to be discussed, who notably lowered his performance against Slot’s side, marking it as his poorest outing of the season under Frank.
None in Spurs white could leave the pitch with pride following the 2-1 defeat, except potentially Richarlison, who brought some vigor to the game late on. Lucas Bergvall would certainly have been displeased with his performance, as the midfielder – who was previously praised as a “class above the rest” earlier in the month against Newcastle United by a Spurs podcast host – became increasingly invisible as the game progressed, and his situation on the field was certainly not aided by Simons’ reckless expulsion.
Bergvall’s performance in statistics
| Stat | Bergvall |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 71 |
| Goals scored | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Touches | 25 |
| Shots | 0 |
| Accurate passes | 15/18 (83%) |
| Key passes | 1 |
| Possession lost | 7x |
| Successful dribbles | 0 |
| Tackles won | 0 |
| Total duels won | 1/4 |
Stats by Sofascore
Bergvall had managed to take two shots at the Newcastle goal, alongside completing all of his dribbles without error, showcasing his ability as a driving force that aided Spurs in securing a point at Tyneside. In stark contrast, against Slot’s revitalized side, the young Swede tended to withdraw when the match intensified, tallying zero tackles won, zero successful dribbles completed, and a mere 15 accurate passes. To add to his woes, he also neglected to produce a single shot on Alisson’s goal, culminating in his substitution in the 71st minute.
This marked a drastic decline for a player once compared to “Modric” by The Athletic’s JJ Bull for his composed demeanor on the ball, with it appearing unlikely that Bergvall would add to his promising three-goal tally in the Premier League this season. This poor display could lead to the 19-year-old being benched for some upcoming matches in a congested winter schedule, representing his worst outing of the season contrasted with past performances that earned him the commendations.
It will be fascinating to observe how the next Spurs lineup shapes up ahead of challenging matches against Crystal Palace and Brentford, with the already pressured Frank needing to make precise team selections to safeguard his position.
Published: 2025-12-20 21:15:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
