Tottenham Hotspur may have cruised to a convincing 5-1 victory over Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup, but Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has warned Spurs supporters not to read too much into the result.
Tottenham desperately needed a response after their recent Premier League disappointment, and they delivered with an emphatic win. Mikey Moore, Dominic Solanke, Kevin Danso and new signing Sávio were among those who made the difference as Spurs comfortably progressed.
However, while the result delighted Tottenham fans, Merson believes the scoreline may have flattered Roberto De Zerbi’s team. In his view, Spurs benefited from the circumstances of the match and should not consider the performance evidence that their problems have suddenly disappeared.
A major factor was Charlton’s heavily rotated lineup. The League One side made several changes, giving Tottenham considerably more time and space in possession than they would normally receive against a Premier League opponent. Merson’s argument is simple: beating a weakened Charlton side 5-1 does not mean Tottenham are suddenly back to their best.
The early goal also played a major role. Once Spurs took the lead, Charlton were forced to open up, their structure began to disappear, and Tottenham were able to build momentum. From Merson’s perspective, everything fell into place for De Zerbi’s men.
There were still plenty of positives for Tottenham. Moore looked dangerous in attack, Solanke showed his quality in front of goal, while the defence appeared considerably more composed than it had in their previous league outing. But Merson believes those positives need to be judged against the quality of opposition.
He wants to see Tottenham produce the same attacking freedom and confidence when facing a side capable of pressing them aggressively. For him, a stronger opponent such as Liverpool would provide a far more accurate indication of Spurs’ true level.
Sávio’s debut also generated plenty of excitement. The Brazilian winger came off the bench and capped his first appearance with a goal, immediately giving supporters something to look forward to. Yet Merson remains unconvinced, insisting the youngster must prove himself when defenders are giving him far less space and time.
The pundit also questioned how much should be made of Tottenham’s immediate reaction to their Premier League setback. Responding against a rotated lower-league side is one thing; producing the same reaction against one of England’s strongest teams is an entirely different challenge.
That is why Tottenham’s upcoming fixtures could be so important. With Liverpool awaiting them in the Carabao Cup, Spurs will have an opportunity to put Merson’s doubts to the test.
A strong performance against Liverpool would provide a powerful response to the suggestion that the Charlton victory was simply down to favourable circumstances. But if Tottenham struggle once again against stronger opposition, Merson’s concerns could look increasingly justified.
For now, Spurs supporters can enjoy the 5-1 victory and Sávio’s impressive introduction. But according to Merson, the real verdict on De Zerbi’s Tottenham is still waiting to be delivered — and Charlton was never going to provide it.
