Postecoglou gets Spurs verdict as fourth defeat in a row sees top 4 hopes fade

When Tottenham beat Liverpool 2-1 in that contentious game in late September they moved above the Reds in the table, and then a month later there was a stage when they pulled five points clear at the top after a win at Crystal Palace.

Fast forward to early May though and Spurs are down in fifth following Sunday's 4-2 defeat at Anfield. They are 23 points off the top, seven away from fourth and requiring something of a miracle to secure Champions League football in what has often looked to be a hugely promising first season for Ange Postecoglou.

The Liverpool loss was also a fourth successive defeat for Spurs in which they have conceded 13 goals. So what's gone wrong? And can Big Ange put it right? That's what we've asked our Mirror Football team.

We need to keep a bit of context on Tottenham. On the eve of the season, they sold Harry Kane and in doing so lost one of their best ever players, a goal machine and a club legend.

Few, myself included, gave them much hope of a top four finish this season. Yet Ange Postecoglou came in and raised expectation levels again to almost tease Tottenham fans to such an extent that missing out on the Champions League will be a disappointment.

So, Big Ange deserves credit. But what is unforgivable is Tottenham’s end-of-season collapse. Performances have been dire, defending atrocious and it raises question marks about the manager.

This is the quote which I just can't get over. Postecoglou actually said this. “This is not the first time I’ve been questioned about set-pieces in my coaching career, but I’m just not interested in it. Never have been.” He said it last Wednesday - and Tottenham conceded a set piece on Thursday.

That, to me, is unforgivable. He was talking about set pieces and set