BBC

Tottenham go in search of a first league win of the season against a Coventry City side who have roared into form with back-to-back victories. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes going into Monday's fixture.

Can Tottenham banish home woes to record a first victory?

In the wake of their draw with Manchester United, Tottenham headed to Marbella for a few days of warm weather training and, more importantly, squad bonding. "The target is to build the team," head coach Roberto de Zerbi explained. "We are a great group of players, but we are not a team yet."

His side certainly looked like more of a cohesive unit at Old Trafford, but their slick approach play was squandered by yet more profligacy in front of goal as their winless start stretched to six league matches.

Only two top-flight sides have completed more passes in the final third than Spurs' 770 and just three teams have had more touches in the opposition box than their 182. Yet a shot conversion rate of 3.6% is the worst in the league and De Zerbi's side have underperformed their xG by 3.6 goals.

Three goals after six league matches is the second lowest tally in their history, beaten only by the two scored at the start of 2006-07.

They are still yet to lead in a league match this season or score a goal before the 86th minute.

One thing they still cannot count on is home comforts. They have managed a paltry five wins in their past 36 league matches at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, dating back to November 2024.

Moreover, they have fallen behind in a remarkable 52 of their 79 home league games since the start of 2022-23.

Sky-high Sky Blues looking to make it a hat-trick of wins

Coventry travel to north London on the crest of a wave having made it back-to-back wins in style with a 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle. Six points from six games is the same as Manchester United have mustered and is a long way from the zero points and zero goals they had taken from their opening four matches.

These crucial - and potentially season altering - victories over Nottingham Forest and Newcastle mean the Sky Blues have the chance to become only the fourth top-flight side to lose their opening four matches to a season then win three in a row after Derby County in 1899-00, Arsenal in 1923-24 and Aston Villa in 1997-98.

A victory would also mark the first time they have won three Premier League matches in succession since a run of five between January and February 1998 under Gordon Strachan.

Although their most famous win of all came against Tottenham in the 1987 FA Cup final, their past five meetings have all ended in defeat and they last won away at Spurs in 1997.

However, that victory was particularly memorable as their 2-1 win on the final day of the season helped secure their top-flight status in highly dramatic circumstances.

In 19th position at kick off, goals from Dion Dublin and Paul Williams helped them leapfrog both Sunderland and Middlesbrough to finish one place and one point above the drop zone.

One man who does knows how to avoid defeat against Tottenham is head coach Frank Lampard.

During his playing days he won more matches against Spurs than he did against any other opponent and lost just eight of 41 encounters. As a manager, he has been beaten in only two of six meetings with the Lilywhites.

Up Next. Response after red card 'builds mentality' at Spurs. Video, 00:01:30Response after red card 'builds mentality' at Spurs

My family got me through injury - Maddison. Video, 00:02:08My family got me through injury - Maddison

De Zerbi let us bond over a few beers - Maddison. Video, 00:01:57De Zerbi let us bond over a few beers - Maddison

Coaching or confidence - What should De Zerbi prioritise at Spurs? Video, 00:02:36Coaching or confidence - What should De Zerbi prioritise at Spurs?

'It feels like you're days away from death' - the Olympian living with ME. Video, 00:02:46'It feels like you're days away from death' - the Olympian living with ME

We are close to PSG - Maresca. Video, 00:00:55We are close to PSG - Maresca

The noise will always be around Man City - Maresca. Video, 00:01:01The noise will always be around Man City - Maresca

Majority of clubs on edge of 'financial disaster' - regulator. Video, 00:03:33Majority of clubs on edge of 'financial disaster' - regulator

Post

Crystal Palace 0-1 West Ham

Crystal Palace are fighting for an equaliser but it doesn't look like they'll be able to find one.

A cross comes in but sails over the bar.

GREAT SAVE!

Chelsea 4-1 Tottenham

How have Spurs not pulled one back there?

It's a delightful delivery to the back post by Lena Gunning-Williams but Kirsty Hanson rifles her volley straight at Hannah Hampton, who has to make a quick second save to stop Hanson from tapping in the rebound.

Post

Crystal Palace 0-1 West Ham

Should West Ham have had a penalty? The referee doesn't think so.

Leila Wandeler goes down in the box and appeals but Lisa Benn doesn't see anything in it.

Team news - Clinton starts, no Walti

Man City v Brighton (14:30 BST)

Emma Sanders

BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Joie Stadium

There's lots of injuries in the Manchester City squad but it's a boost to see defender Rebecca Knaak back in the squad and on the bench.

Andree Jeglertz has made three changes to the side who beat Arsenal in their last match before the international break.

Midfielder Sam Coffey picked up an injury in that match so misses out. In comes Grace Clinton and Laura Blindkilde Brown.

Kerstin Casparij starts in place of Carlotta Wamser in defence while Beth Mead is not in the squad as I'm told she's being rested.

Manchester City XI: Yamashita, Rose, Greenwood, Clinton, Shaw, Hemp, Casparij, Blindkilde Brown, Fujino, Charles, Hasegawa.

Subs: Cumings, Fowler, Wienroither, Beney, Knaak, Prior, Wamser, Lewis, Davies.

There is just one change to the Brighton side from their victory over Charlton Athletic.

Midfielder Lia Walti is not in the squad so in comes Dutchwoman Marit Auee for her first WSL start of the season.

Brighton XI: Nnadozie, Vanegas, George, Symonds, Cankovic, Seike, Kirby, Hayes, Tvedten, Garcia, Auee.

Subs: Loeck, Mpome, Joramo, Rayner, Olislagers, Peskett, Murphy, Warren, Gay.

Post

Chelsea 4-1 Tottenham

Courtney Sweetman-Kirk

Former Liverpool forward on Sky Sports

James will be disappointed to come off, she's the type of player that wants to play all of the time but I can completely understand what Sonia Bompastor is doing - you've got to protect your best players, get minutes into everyone else as well.

Post

Chelsea 4-1 Tottenham

Three goals in nine minutes, that's not bad going is it?!

Spurs need to get a hold of this game now or they run the risk of another heavy thrashing. They fell 6-1 to London City Lionesses in their final game before the international break.

Can James Maddison be the missing piece of the puzzle for Tottenham?

Former Coventry City academy coach Richard Stevens believes the midfielder has the ability "to connect everything together" for Roberto de Zerbi's side, who remain winless in the Premier League after six matches.

Maddison, who is coming back from injury, came off the bench at Manchester United on Saturday for a fifth time this season and made an impact as Spurs fought back to leave Old Trafford with a point.

"His driver is, 'am I playing 90 minutes and can I go and score some goals and ignite the fans?'," said Stevens. "Even in a 10-minute spell, when he comes on he takes the ball and he makes things happen.

"He makes things tick and he gets the team playing forwards. He gets the team moving up the pitch.

"And, good grief, Tottenham have had a tough time. They're an unbelievable football club and you know the players they have, maybe he's the bit that's going to connect everything together.

"I hope he's going to return and he's going to connect everything together for Tottenham because I think he has that ability to do that."

Maddison will face his boyhood club Coventry City on Monday for just the third time since being sold on transfer deadline day in 2016 aged 19.

"Everybody's really proud and Coventry will be proud as well," added Stevens. "They'll be looking forward to playing against him, I'm sure."

For years the Premier League has had a defined 'Big Six', comprised of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

They were not just the sides who often dominated the top positions in the table, but also had the biggest fanbase, most financial clout and were usually the league's most successful sides.

But that has not been in the case in more recent seasons.

In the last couple of years Tottenham and Manchester United have found themselves fighting at the wrong end of the table, while teams like Aston Villa, Brentford and Brighton have been battling at the top.

Meanwhile, Manchester City - the top-flight's dominant side over the past decade - are facing a period of uncertainty after the club was recently found guilty of breaching financial rules over nine years.

The 'Big Six' remains in financial terms, with City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea all inside the top 10 of highest revenue generating clubs in world football. , external

But is the era of the traditional 'Big Six' on the field at an end?

One of the most memorable stories of the Premier League era was Leicester City upsetting the odds to win the title in the 2015-16 season.

It captured the imagination of football fans everywhere, because it seemed so difficult for anyone outside the 'Big Six' to get even close to being champions.

But it seemed as though it was destined to be a one-off as, for the following three seasons, the 'Big Six' locked down the top positions once more.

Indeed, the gap between them and the rest was bigger than ever, with the smallest deficit between seventh and sixth place during those three seasons being eight points.

Between 2010-11 and 2018-19, the so-called 'Big Six' finished in those leading positions five times. They also finished in the top seven twice and top eight once.

But things changed after that.

In only one of the six seasons since have they all finished in the top six, with Aston Villa, Newcastle and Brighton in those places at some point.

Tottenham, in particular, have struggled and ended one place above the relegation zone in each of the past two campaigns and are currently second bottom on three points after failing to win any of their first six games.

This season, albeit early days, Manchester United are in 13th spot and Liverpool ninth. Since 2021-22, Chelsea and United have finished out of the top six twice, while Spurs have missed out three times - twice finishing 17th.

Five of the top six places have gone to clubs not in the traditional six in the past three years - the same as the previous eight years combined.

One reason for the end of their dominance as a collective is because other clubs have closed the financial gap.

Newcastle are an example following a £305m takeover led by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund in 2021.

They went from finishing 11th in 2021-22 to fourth in the following campaign and then fifth two seasons later.

Meanwhile, others, like Brighton, have leaned into data and smart recruitment to help them close the gap.

The Seagulls have an impressive record of buying promising talent for low prices before selling them on for significant fees.

In 2021 they signed 19-year-old Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo from Independiente del Valle for £4m and sold him two years later to Chelsea in a deal a worth £115m - a British record at the time. They also signed Marc Cucurella for £15m and sold him to Chelsea for £62m and brought in Alexis Mac Allister for £7m before selling him to Liverpool for a deal worth £55m.

"Our recruitment strategy and philosophy has been something that we've built on over a long period of time now," sporting director Mike Cave told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"The data element of it gets a lot of attention because going back a few years it was quite novel in comparison to some other clubs.

"Really it's just a component of a bigger process that goes on. It's an important component, it helps us to identify talent from around the world in quite an efficient way which allows us to move quickly in what is a really competitive transfer market."

The 'Big Six' hasn't always been a thing in the Premier League, so an evolution of what it is and who they are was always likely to happen.

Indeed, when the league was first formed back in 1992 there was a 'Big Five' of Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham - clubs who were seen at the time as the ones with the biggest fanbase and financial power.

That evolved into a 'Big Two' during the late 1990s and early 2000s as Manchester United and Arsenal dominated, before expanding to a 'Big Four' as Chelsea and Liverpool regularly finished in the top four.

The 2010-11 season was the first time in English league history where the top six was made up of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.

It was then repeated in 2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 as the 'Big Six' became known for what it is now.

Arguably the most open the top division has ever been was in the 1960s, when Burnley, Tottenham, Ipswich, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Leeds all won league titles.

While it still feels that a Premier League winner is likely to come from one of the 'Big Six' sides, we are moving away from the concept of the top six being exclusively those sides - with it now being four years since they all finished in those positions.

Currently, Brighton, Brentford and Everton all find themselves in the top six and, while there is still a lot of football to be played this season, the top end of the division seems as open as it has ever been - and that can only be a good thing, right?

How much German has Mikey Moore learned? Video, 00:01:26How much German has Mikey Moore learned?

Up Next. Response after red card 'builds mentality' at Spurs. Video, 00:01:30Response after red card 'builds mentality' at Spurs

'Everything Spurs do ends up feeling like disappointment' Video, 00:02:18'Everything Spurs do ends up feeling like disappointment'

'Spurs should have signed Liam Delap' Video, 00:01:02'Spurs should have signed Liam Delap'

How are Tudor's tactics hurting Spurs? Video, 00:02:09How are Tudor's tactics hurting Spurs?

Squad rotation is a Champions League-winning blueprint. Video, 00:01:20Squad rotation is a Champions League-winning blueprint

Watch new skateboarding speed world record of 151.83 km/h. Video, 00:01:08Watch new skateboarding speed world record of 151.83 km/h

We are close to PSG - Maresca. Video, 00:00:55We are close to PSG - Maresca

The noise will always be around Man City - Maresca. Video, 00:01:01The noise will always be around Man City - Maresca

Majority of clubs on edge of 'financial disaster' - regulator. Video, 00:03:33Majority of clubs on edge of 'financial disaster' - regulator

Liverpool the better team but red card changed everything - Iraola. Video, 00:01:07Liverpool the better team but red card changed everything - Iraola

Maresca says he 'completely trusts' Man City. Video, 00:02:25Maresca says he 'completely trusts' Man City

Holloway calls for Man City expulsion to non-league. Video, 00:02:14Holloway calls for Man City expulsion to non-league

Less than four years after representing Brazil at the 2022 World Cup, Richarlison's downward spiral was laid bare as he scored in front of a couple of hundred supporters for Tottenham's under-21s against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy.

The Brazilian, who cost Spurs £60m from Everton and was rubbing shoulders with Neymar Jr and Vinicius Jr on international duty not so long ago, looked almost embarrassed to celebrate his thumping half-volley against the League Two outfit.

He also notched a penalty in a shootout that Spurs' reserves lost 7-6 after a 2-2 draw.

The 29-year-old was making only his second appearance of the season, and his first since the end of August against Brentford, having been left out of Tottenham's Premier League squad.

Roberto de Zerbi insisted the decision to omit him from the club's 25-man squad in September was not his, following the forward's failed move back to Merseyside at the end of the summer transfer window.

But Spurs are the top-flight's lowest scorers this season with just three goals, so the decision to leave last season's 12-goal leading scorer out of their league plans looks increasingly difficult to justify.

For a couple of hours on transfer deadline day, it seemed only a matter of time before Richarlison left Tottenham.

He was closing in on an idyllic return to Everton, more than four years after swapping Merseyside for North London.

But, after expressing his desire to depart, a proposed move to Hill Dickinson Stadium fell through, leaving both the player and the club with few alternatives at such a late stage in the window.

A proposed move to Brazilian side Vasco da Gama also fell through after Richarlison failed to agree personal terms.

He was also ruled out of Spurs' Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool last month, with only players registered in their club's respective league squads eligible to feature in the competition.

The ex-Watford forward may now have to get used to the surroundings of English football's lower leagues, with the EFL Trophy's group stage offering him a rare opportunity to gain competitive minutes before January.

The noise will always be around Man City - Maresca. Video, 00:01:01The noise will always be around Man City - Maresca

Majority of clubs on edge of 'financial disaster' - regulator. Video, 00:03:33Majority of clubs on edge of 'financial disaster' - regulator

Liverpool the better team but red card changed everything - Iraola. Video, 00:01:07Liverpool the better team but red card changed everything - Iraola

'Every day we will get better and better' - James on life as a Sixer. Video, 00:00:42'Every day we will get better and better' - James on life as a Sixer

Less than four years after representing Brazil at the 2022 World Cup, Richarlison's downward spiral at Tottenham was laid bare as he scored in front of a couple of hundred supporters for the under-21s against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy.

The Brazilian, who cost Spurs £60m from Everton and was rubbing shoulders with Neymar Jr and Vinicius Jr on international duty not so long ago, looked almost embarrassed to celebrate his thumping half-volley against the League Two outfit.

He also notched a penalty in a shootout that Spurs' reserves lost 7-6 after a 2-2 draw.

Richarlison, 29, was making only his second appearance of the season, and his first since the end of August against Brentford, having been left out of Tottenham's Premier League squad.

Manager Roberto de Zerbi insisted the decision to omit him from the club's 25-man squad in September was not his, following the forward's failed move back to Merseyside at the end of the transfer window.

With just three goals, Spurs are the top-flight's lowest scorers this season and second bottom in the table. So the decision to leave last season's 12-goal leading scorer out of their league plans looks increasingly difficult to justify.

For a couple of hours on transfer deadline day, it seemed only a matter of time before Richarlison left Tottenham.

He was closing in on an idyllic return to Everton, more than four years after swapping Merseyside for North London.

But after expressing his desire to depart, a proposed move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium fell through, leaving both the player and club with few alternatives at such a late stage of the summer transfer window.

"He decided everything alone," De Zerbi said in September. "He spoke with me at the beginning of the pre-season and told me his idea and desire was to leave.

"At the end we go to bring another striker [in] and, like I said at the beginning of the pre-season, I want to keep the players, just the players that want to stay and be proud and with the right passion to stay here.

"Then for everything and other problems, it is not my business and not my job. It is the responsibility of the club.

"I can't say nothing because I didn't decide anything. The message of Richarlison from the beginning of the season has been very clear. I accepted that and for me [there is] nothing [to say]."

Later that month, a proposed move to Brazilian side Vasco da Gama also fell through after Richarlison failed to agree personal terms.

He was also ruled out of Spurs' Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool last month, with only players registered in their club's respective league squad eligible to feature in the competition.

The ex-Watford forward may now have to get used to the surroundings of English football's lower leagues, with the EFL Trophy's group stage offering him a rare opportunity to gain competitive minutes before January.

Just six games into the new Premier League season, Tottenham may already be regretting their decision not to register Richarlison.

Since arriving from Everton, he has scored 27 top-flight goals in 103 appearances.

He was also Tottenham's leading scorer in the competition last season, netting 11 times in 32 appearances as they narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship.

Dominic Solanke's late equaliser against Manchester United on Saturday was the first Premier League goal from a Tottenham forward since Richarlison netted against Chelsea back in May.

Former England striker Alan Shearer questioned Solanke's quality on Match of the Day, describing him as "nowhere near good enough" - the 29-year-old has scored just 13 league goals since joining two years ago from Bournemouth in a £55m deal.

De Zerbi, though, was pleased with Solanke's performance and contribution after his first goal of the season rescued a point at Old Trafford despite Spurs being reduced to 10 men.

But despite the Italian's positive view and faith in his frontman, Tottenham's problems in the final third are difficult to ignore, having spent £300m on new recruits over the summer.

When they failed to score in their first four Premier League games this term, supporters inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were holding banners begging the 2025 Europa League winners to find the net.

Richarlison might not provide the answer to all of his side's problems, but his inclusion in the Premier League squad would surely have been more beneficial than allowing him to trudge around the pitches of England's lower-tier clubs and show his finishing prowess in front of sparse crowds.

Out-of-favour Tottenham striker Richarlison scored for the club's under-21s in their EFL Trophy defeat at Cheltenham Town.

The 29-year-old Brazil international had moves to Everton and Vasco da Gama collapse through this summer and has not been included in Spurs' 25-man Premier League squad.

His sole senior appearance for the club this season came in the 3-0 defeat at Brentford on the Premier League 's opening weekend in August.

After George Miller had given the League Two side the lead, Richarlison equalised with a tidy first-time finish from a right-wing cross.

Miracle Adewole then put the young Spurs side ahead in the group-stage tie, only for Miller to score deep into stoppage time to send the tie to penalties.

Richarlison scored his spot-kick but the home side won the shootout 7-6.

Elsewhere, Notts County thumped the under-21s of city rivals Nottingham Forest 5-1 to secure their place in the second round.

Goals from Luka Smyth, Jacob Bedeau, Lee Ndlovu, Connor Grant and Callum Roberts put the League One side 5-0 up before Buba Sanneh got a consolation for the visitors in time added on.

Oldham are also through after they came back from behind to beat Leeds' under-21s 4-2 at Boundary Park.

Noah Chilvers scored from the spot put the League Two team in front before Callum Mills, 18, scored his fourth goal in two games in the competition to make it 1-1 at the break.

Carrick Njinko put the young Whites in front but goals from Kane Drummond, Josh Hawkes and Kai Payne saw the home side take the win.

Gillingham raced into a 4-0 lead against Brighton's under-21s before holding out for a 4-3 victory.

The Gills looked to be cruising to a thumping win thanks to goals from Tom Eaves, Bradley Dack, Ethan Coleman and Louie Dayal.

However, Shane Nti grabbed a double for the visitors and Tyler Silsby added a third in the final minute.

Fulham's under-21s also fell a goal short from a great comeback against League Two opposition as they lost 3-2 at Walsall.

A Tai Sodje double and a James Furlong goal had the Saddlers 3-0 up at half-time but Jonah Kusi-Asare and Dan Casey got the away side back in it after the interval.

Chelsea's under-21s did manage a win as they beat League One Reading 2-0 with a first-half double from Chizaram Ezenwata.

The Blues have five points from three games and will progress unless the Royals beat Bristol Rovers by four goals in the remaining game in that group.