Igor Tudor has been relieved from his duties at relegation-threatened Tottenham, just 44 days into his tenure.
It was a managerial spell to forget, with Spurs even further into trouble in the Premier League than when Thomas Frank was dismissed nearly two months ago.
It should come as no surprise. They have looked hopeless under his management, crashing out of the Champions League against Atletico Madrid and picking up just one point in five league games.
How many points do you think Liverpool will finish with this season?
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And you’ll never guess who the point came against. Well, you probably will.
Liverpool giving Igor Tudor his only point is a bad look for Arne Slot
There has been plenty of evidence this season to make Liverpool fans uneasy ahead of pretty much any fixture.
But against a Spurs side on a run of six straight losses, you really would have anticipated a routine evening at Anfield two weeks ago.
It was not that. A late equaliser from Richarlison rescued a point for the visitors, and it was a fair result. Another performance from the Reds that really felt like a punch in the stomach.
rICHARLISON SCORES FOR tOTTENHAM AGAINST lIVERPOOL
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It would be back to business as usual for Tudor and Spurs the following weekend, losing 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest — the team now a place above them in 16th. The gap to relegation is now just one point, so the decision to give the Croatian his marching orders didn’t come a moment too early.
From a Liverpool perspective, it once again highlights what has been the team’s major downfall this season.
It hasn’t been the big teams that have embarrassed Slot’s men. Champions League form shows that they show up against quality sides. Even losses to top sides in the league haven’t been bad performances.
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Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes watching on during the Reds' Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (Credit: Getty Images/Robin Jones).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Robin Jones
It’s the teams who we should be better than that seem to extract the worst performances. You see this in draws at home to Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland, and in losses to Wolves, Forest and Crystal Palace twice.
It’s something that cannot be happening if Liverpool are to contend for the title next season. Slot looks set to remain at Liverpool, but surely not if he can’t correct the worrying trend of not beating who you should.
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