Ange Postecoglou has claimed that even Mohamed Salah would struggle in his Tottenham team, despite the Liverpool striker’s red form in front of goal.
Salah has scored 21 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions this season and will now look to maintain that form in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham. live on Sky Sports.
Meanwhile, Postecoglou’s side have fallen to 12th in the Premier League table after a four-game winless run which included a 6-3 defeat at Liverpool in December.
Salah scored twice and provided two assists during that encounter and despite his scintillating form during the 2024/25 season so far, Postecoglou has said the Egyptian forward would still struggle to thrive in his team.
“Mo is a world-class player but if you put him in our team at the moment I’m not sure he would have the same impact because of the situation we are in as a group,” said the Tottenham manager.
“He’s playing in a fantastic team who are flying at the moment. I would venture to say that if you put Sonny (Heung-Min Son) in the Liverpool team, I think his goalscoring return would be good.
“It is difficult for our players at the moment, they are trying extremely hard to be the best they can be.”
Wednesday January 8 at 19:00
Departure at 20:00
There is no rush to determine Son’s long-term future after the one-year option is activated
Tottenham go into the clash in north London buoyed by the knowledge that Son Heung-min will stay at the club until at least the summer of 2026 after activating an option to extend his contract.
The South Korean forward is an influential player for Spurs, scoring 169 goals in 431 appearances, but Postecoglou insists there is no rush to discuss his long-term future.
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Tottenham have exercised the option to extend Heung-Min Son’s contract to keep him at the club for an additional 12 months until June 2026.
“It’s not something that should be forced one way or another,” he said.
“When you have a player like Sonny who has that attitude at a club – and I know how much he values the club and how much he loves the club – I think it will all be mutual.
“I don’t think the club will be in a position to try to force anything or Sonny will try to force anything.
“There is enough respect and credit between both sides that these kinds of discussions will happen naturally and I think they will come to a conclusion that everyone is happy with.”
Ange: Carabao Cup success can help our future
Postecoglou has traditionally seen league form as the best barometer of his side’s progress, but with 10 players out injured and Pope Sarr and James Maddison suffering suspensions against Arne Slot’s On the other hand, he believes that something special can be created in adversity.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou hopes Carabao Cup glory can set his side up for the future.
“We are having a difficult season. Our league form is really poor and we need to improve,” he said.
“But we’re in a semi-final of a competition and with the group of players we’ve got at the moment, if we can get something where they are in their careers, that sets you up really well for what we’re trying to do. to build here I think so.
“It’s not the be-all and end-all, as I’ve said many times. But if we get to a final and win a trophy, we’ll look back on this period where we’re a small group of players. It’s got to go above and beyond for get there.
“That will be as worthy of achievement as actually winning it.”
Watch Tottenham vs Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final live on Sky Sports at 8pm on Wednesday.
