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Watch: Footage shows Emerson Royal’s embarrassing defending against Liverpool

Originally posted on the Boy Hotspur | By Mehdi Gokal | Last updated 5/6/24

Emerson Royal was widely criticised for his role in Tottenham’s defeat against Liverpool.

Spurs were dominated 4-2 at Anfield on Sunday afternoon by Liverpool. They made a push for a late comeback, scoring twice in 5 minutes, but the Reds ended up prevailing.

Ange Postecoglou’s side fell behind early in the first half, when Mohamed Salah headed home from Cody Gakpo’s cross at the back post.

The replay of the goal showed the embarrassing defending from Emerson Royal, who was deployed as left-back in the absence of Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies.

Rather than staying tight on Salah and marking him, Emerson was found acres away from him, seemingly ball-watching.

As a result, Salah was left unmarked as he creeped behind to score the free header.

Watch below:

Jamie Redknapp says Emerson Royal dosen’t do things a normal full-back should do:

"He struggles as a right back let alone as a left back.”

”His body shape is all wrong, he dosen’t check over his shoulder.”

[@SkySportsPL]#THFC | #COYS | #LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/r9ESRGW21C

— Last Word On Spurs (@LastWordOnSpurs) May 5, 2024

Fans criticised the Brazilian’s poor defending, noting that he neglected the basics of playing as a full-back.

Jamie Redknapp also pointed fingers at the left-back for his poor defending, stating that he can not even defend properly in his primary position at right-back let alone on the left.

This article first appeared on the Boy Hotspur and was syndicated with permission.

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