The unfaltering demands of Ange Postecoglou in his managerial methods, and how he continues and will always continue to refuse to budge away from them, is going to remain a point of contention for Tottenham. What is not up for debate, though, is his team's commitment to carrying out his instructions.

The outcome when players aren't willing to take the risks that Postecoglou deems entirely necessary and as a staple for his grand plan is clear by this point. Deviate away and you will either be dropped or sold, perhaps both over time.

His belief in the process behind ironing out the fundamentals of the high-pressing, unrelenting energy, attack-minded and front-foot football is the foundation of Tottenham when at their scintillating best. That wasn't always the case in Wednesday night's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool, but it was much better than the 6-3 loss just a matter of weeks earlier.

There is a reason that many Spurs fans entered the game with trepidation. Liverpool were off the back off a disappointing and possible fuel-inducing 2-2 draw to arch-rivals Manchester United. Postecoglou had exploded following the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United one day earlier.

Expecting a Liverpool response is only natural, and Tottenham have often crumpled under any sort of expectation and pressure like this. Throw in the latter stages of this competition - Spurs' most-likely route to a trophy that Postecoglou has expressed always comes in his second season - and there was a recipe for disaster.

What followed was a brave and tenacious performance. Tottenham had chances to take the lead before Lucas Bergvall's late winner, while their rag-tag defence stood up resolutely against a full-strength Arne Slot selection. The reaction in the stadium to the goal, and Postecoglou's touchline emotions coming out candidly as tension built throughout, showed just how big this was.

Whether or not it can truly be a catalyst for something bigger is yet to be seen. That sort of thing has been said too often already this season for it to really ring true just yet. But in a one-off game, as part of a wider two-legged semi, Postecoglou got the total buy-in he needed.

Anything other from Tottenham, and the form book might just have played out with Liverpool taking an unassailable lead. As it happened, he can point towards the 90 minutes in north London and use it as proof of where things go right when the moving pieces and slide together.

It is vindication, as well, for his claims that even in a rocky patch - three losses in four heading into the game with no wins in the same run - Tottenham's players have continued to be brave in and out of possession. After a defeat or a frustrating draw it can often sound misguided, cultish, and arrogant. Praising the squad for doing as he wishes without fear of conceding is, for many, still a strange ploy.

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But this has been - and always will be - Postecoglou. That is not going to change, even if the conversation around him rages on. And there it was, with Pedro Porro standing tall and staring down Luis Diaz, that it all came together.

A small moment at the end of a tough match-up. Tottenham in the lead and holding out for a valuable one goal advantage to take to Anfield next month, Porro was thrust into a daunting situation. It is one that his manager's tactical plans will leave many times in a game.

Spurs, effectively, are a series of one-on-one battles across the pitch at any given moment. The ability of Postecoglou's parts to align and shift together, carrying out specific instructions, then determines, along with individual quality, if the pawns are in the right place.

On this occasion, faced with the onrushing Diaz, Porro positioned himself well, shuffling along the right side of Tottenham's defence to show his opponent down the line. Diaz, desperate to draw something from the match, shoved himself inside Porro, trying to squeeze a gap between the defender and the goal.

As he moved, carrying the ball towards the by-line, there is contact from Porro on to his body. That is enough to see most attackers go down, especially those eager to get something out of a game escaping them.

Diaz falls, tumbling to the floor. He turns immediately to appeal for a penalty. The stare from Porro, who looks down upon the red shirt in mocking disbelief at what he had just seen, is every bit the determination and commitment that Postecoglou needs.

These are not the actions of a soft-touch footballer or a weak team. They have both been descriptions thrown at Tottenham for much of their recent history, and at times has been accurate. Here, though, it was different.

Porro has that sort of hot streak in him anyway, but after winning an individual duel at a key moment, he showed all the confidence that Postecoglou needs across the field. The image of him burning his eyes into Diaz, which continued once the Columbian stood up and started to throw his hands in the air, was a telling one.

This was a real battle between two strong players. Porro, completing his manager's wish, got the better of his man when it mattered and let them know. Porro didn't seem to blink for minutes as he moved towards Diaz, laughing beneath his stony face that such a play of desperation had been made.

In the end, as Porro came close to physically nudging Diaz, seeking to spark a confrontation and to confirm his dominance, he was separated and moved away by a teammate. Not that it cut out the glare, which remained fixed on Diaz and the back of his head.

On and off the ball, Porro got the better of the Liverpool man. If that isn't Postecoglou then nothing is. It won't, and doesn't rewrite what has happened this season and what may yet still come, but it does justify the claims that the players haven't given in. That, right now, must mean something, especially for a coach under pressure.

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