Tottenham's difficult start to the season has intensified scrutiny on manager Roberto De Zerbi, whose position may come under serious pressure following a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

The loss adds to a troubling run of results that has left Tottenham near the foot of the Premier League table, with a lack of goals proving a persistent concern for the club's coaching staff and supporters alike.

Long-term project versus short-term results

De Zerbi was brought in with a mandate to oversee a significant rebuilding effort at the club, and Tottenham's decision to hand him a long-term contract signals that the board intended to give him time to implement his footballing philosophy.

However, football management is rarely shielded from the pressure of results for long. Should Tottenham continue to toil in front of goal and remain anchored near the bottom of the Premier League, the calls for action will grow louder — and the patience of club officials could wear thin.

The coming weeks represent a critical window for De Zerbi to steady the ship. A run of positive results could ease the mounting pressure, but further slip-ups risk turning a difficult start into a full-blown crisis.