Last Word On Sports

Liverpool’s defensive vulnerability has once again been a topic of discussion within the media. Former Reds midfielder Didi Hamann insists the club must act decisively in the summer transfer window to restore themselves as a candidate to once again win the Premier League. Speaking earlier this week, the 2005 Champions League winner warned that Liverpool run the risk of being exposed if they fail to bring in defensive reinforcements, especially if important defenders leave or injuries persist.

He went on to say that his old club should raid Spurs and highlighted two names that they should attempt to bring to the club.

Didi Hamann Urges Liverpool to Raid Spurs This Summer

Liverpool Should Target Spurs Trio

Hamann emphasised the necessity of speed in modern-day defences and stated that Liverpool would require more reinforcements, particularly if departures happen:

“If Konaté was to go… they probably need at least one more player because I think it’s a big risk,” he explained.

He commended Tottenham’s centre half, Micky van de Ven, particularly pointing to his pace and development in recent years. One of the Premier League’s quickest defenders, the Dutchman would suit Liverpool’s high defensive line perfectly and could form a seamless partnership alongside his international team-mate Virgil van Dijk. Luka Vuskovic, an 18-year-old who is now getting experience outside of North London, also attracted recognition from Hamman:

“He leads the defence. They got a point against Munich last week. He scored, and he’s on Tottenham’s books”.

Despite his youth, the Croatian defender has won plaudits for his poise and leadership while on loan. The idea that Liverpool would need to consider multiple defenders highlights the deeper problem they currently have, lack of depth.

One Defensive Reinforcement Already Incoming

Summer Planning Could Define Liverpool Next Season

Because of injuries and turnover, Liverpool’s defence has had difficulty staying consistent this season. The former midfield player himself admitted that it can be risky to incorporate youthful talent into a team that lacks cohesion. The back line could get much-needed solidity with a decisive summer; however, hesitation could just cause old issues to reappear. It’s unclear if a settlement between the two teams will eventually be reached, but Liverpool’s current defensive ambiguity should serve as a cautionary sign for next season.

Featured Image Courtesy of SmartFrame/WENN.com

Tottenham Hotspur host Newcastle United on Tuesday at 7:30pm. A challenging season was compounded by a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday, leaving Spurs searching for their first league win since December. Newcastle also arrive under pressure after a 3-2 defeat to Brentford. Eddie Howe’s side are without a win in five matches. With both teams struggling for consistency, Tuesday’s clash carries significance for both managers. Here is our Tottenham predicted lineup ahead of Newcastle’s visit.

Tottenham Team News Ahead of Newcastle United Clash

How Tottenham Have Lined Up

Thomas Frank has settled on a back three in recent weeks, adding defensive security during a run of difficult fixtures. The system has prioritised structure over control. At times, flexibility has been demonstrated, with Joao Palhinha stepping into midfield against Manchester United. Conor Gallagher and Pape Sarr have been deployed in the middle recently, providing energy.

Xavi Simons has looked dangerous in the system, becoming Tottenham’s primary source of creativity. While Romero’s absence may tempt Frank to revert back to a 4-2-3-1, the manager is expected to retain the back three shape used in recent weeks.

Injury Updates and Suspension News

Following his sending off against Manchester United, Cristian Romero is suspended for Tuesday. The captain will miss the next four matches after picking up his second red of the season. Destiny Udogie will also miss out. In Monday’s press conference, Thomas Frank revealed: “Destiny has a hamstring injury, he is out for the next four to five weeks.”

Kevin Danso and Dejan Kulusevski remain unavailable. Frank said: “Kevin met the consultant, it’s going forward but still weeks before he’s available. Dejan has another appointment at the end of this week, then we’ll know more.” There is some positive news however. Spurs will be boosted by the return of Djed Spence. Frank confirmed: “We lose two players for tomorrow but we get Spence back.”

Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison, Mohamed Kudus and Richarlison are all ruled out.

Tottenham Predicted Lineup

GK – Vicario

CB – Palhinha

CB – Dragusin

CB – Van de Ven

RWB – Gray

LWB – Spence

CM – Gallagher

CM – Bissouma

RW – Odobert

LW – Simons

ST – Solanke

Featured Image Credit:

IMAGO / Sportsphoto

To kick off Saturday’s Premier League fixtures, Manchester United played host to Tottenham Hotspur in what turned out to be a physical affair. Cristian Romero’s straight red card after 29 minutes for a nasty tackle on Casemiro was the key talking point of the game. The question was, could United make it count? Against Everton under Ruben Amorim, United couldn’t capitalise on playing against 10 men. With a 2-0 win, with both goals coming after the sending off, it’s safe to say that they did capitalise on having the numerical advantage.

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Three Things We learnt

Just 10 minutes after the red card, Bryan Mbuemo passed the ball into the corner of the goal from a well-worked set-piece routine. The home side would go on to score a further two goals; however, both would be deemed offside. After the red card for Spurs, their attacking intent was non-existent, notching just a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

After a triple substitution from Thomas Frank on 80 minutes, it appeared that Spurs were going to go for it. Almost instantly following those subs, Diogo Dalot whipped in a cross to his countryman, Bruno Fernandes, to shin in past Guglielmo Vicario to make it 2-0.

The game finished 2-0 to the Red Devils, and their revival under Michael Carrick continues. Following the game at Old Trafford, we look at three things learnt

Manchester United still must address a key issue when replacing Casemiro in their midfield in the summer. The entire back four, as well as the two deeper midfielders, lack pace, and against Tottenham, it was evident early on.

Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw are not blessed with blistering pace, and more often than not, Spurs’ wide men were able to have success against the wide defenders. Harry Maguire and Casemiro have never been quick and have always struggled against pacey players, and again, this was exposed against Spurs in the first half an hour. Pape Sarr and Conor Gallagher caused issues running off Casemiro. Kobbie Mainoo is an amazing talent; however, like his midfield partner, he isn’t quick.

Following Romero’s red card, this became less of an issue as Tottenham fell back into a low block, reacting to going a man down.

When United play Lenny Yoro or Ayden Heaven at centre-half, they have more pace in the defence and therefore can play a higher line. With the current back four, they have to drop a few yards deeper in order to combat their lack of pace.

In the summer, a quick defensive midfielder and a more nimble, pacey centre-back could be on United’s wish list.

Read More: Casemiro’s Potential Replacements

After 37 games and a 36.11% win rate, Thomas Frank is under immense pressure. The Tottenham Hotspur boss is without a Premier League win since December and has only put two wins together on the bounce once during his tenure at Spurs.

Still considered a ‘big club’, Tottenham should be competing for the top six, not struggling around the bottom half of the table, considering the size of their support and stadium. Last season, they finished 17th, but had the silver lining of winning the Europa League. This season, despite doing well in the Champions League, their league form has been woeful. They’re five points off the top 10 as it stands and 11 points off the top five. They are also out of the League Cup and the FA Cup.

If those in charge at Spurs want to gain anything from this season, it may be time to pull the trigger sooner rather than later.

The fluid front four of Manchester United has been deadly since Carrick came in as interim boss. Playing two wide midfielders, with a deeper forward, has caused issues for the last four teams United. Whether it’s Patrick Dorgu or Matheus Cunha on the left, Mbuemo up front and Amad Diallo on the right, they don’t have a set, strict position.

Often, Bruno Fernandes is the highest United player during the press; however, in recent weeks, he’s done so with much more discipline than he did under Ruben Amorim. He often takes up positions where the traditional ‘forwards’ would usually be, making it hard for the opposition defenders to track his runs.

With each of the front three players more than capable of playing in each of the three attacking positions, they often interchange and make it extremely difficult to defend against. No one is rigid; every player is on the same page, and it’s paying dividends for Michael Carrick’s Reds.

Throughout today’s game, Cunha and Mbuemo would switch positions, and Amad would often see himself in a false nine position. When out-and-out striker Benjamin Sesko came on as a substitute for Cunha, Mbeumo switched to play on the left, with Sesko going up front. This shows that the fluid nature and versatility of United’s forwards work in a number of different systems.

Manchester United will look to make it five wins in a row when they travel to West Ham United on Tuesday night.

Featured image courtesy of Imago/ Andrew Yates Sportimage

Manchester United will be eager to continue their impressive form under Michael Carrick and secure a third consecutive win. This run of wins includes statement wins over Arsenal and Manchester City, before a dramatic 3-2 victory over Fulham. Tottenham Hotspur have endured a disappointing season so far, and the early-season optimism under Thomas Frank has firmly disappeared. Can Carrick continue his dream-like start in the Old Trafford hotseat? Or can Spurs build on their battling draw against Manchester City? Manchester United vs Tottenham is the 12:30 kick-off on February 7 at Old Trafford.

Premier League: Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur Team News and Confirmed Lineups

Manchester United Team News

In the pre-match press conference, Carrick discussed the latest on the injuries to Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt:

“Mason sooner [than De Ligt]. He’s not too far away. We’re hopeful it won’t be too long. Matta is working his way back, taking good steps and improving and being really positive. Hopefully won’t be too long.”

Carrick was also asked about the absence of Patrick Dorgu, and how long he would be missing for:

“Not exactly. We’re working through it. It’ll definitely be a number of weeks. It will be a considerable period of time.

“He’s not going to be back in the next two or three weeks. To be more exact is a little bit difficult, at this moment.

“It could possibly be [10 weeks], we’re working through it. Certainly, we’re looking forward to getting him back as quickly as we can and getting on the pitch long before the end of the season.”

Tottenham Hotspur Team News

In the Spurs pre-match presser, Thomas Frank was asked how the squad were:

“Everyone, mostly, is okay. Micky trained today and is available for selection for Saturday, so that’s good. Djed is getting closer, it will be touch and go and there’s a good chance he’ll be ready,” said Frank.

He was also asked if he expects Cristian Romero to be back, and said: “Yes, I do.”

Manchester United Confirmed Lineup

Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Fernandes, Cunha, Amad, Casemiro, Mbeumo, Shaw, Mainoo.

Subs: Bayindir, Heaven, Malacia, Mazraoui, Yoro, T. Fletcher, Ugarte, Sesko, Zirkzee.

Tottenham Hotspur Confirmed Lineup

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Palhinha, Xavi, Udogie, Gray, Romero, Solanke, Gallagher, Odobert, Sarr, Van de Ven.

Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Bissouma, Tel, Souza, Kolo Muani, Olusesi, Byfield, Williams-Barnett.

Featured Image Credit:

IMAGO / Every Second Media

After the appointment of Thomas Frank, optimism was high for the 2025/26 season, but it’s been a huge disappointment for Tottenham Hotspur. The club are currently languishing in 14th in the Premier League, 9 points ahead of West Ham in the relegation zone. It’s clear improvements are needed if the club are to challenge in cup competitions. After the conclusion of transfer deadline day on February 2, Fabrizio Romano revealed on the Here We Go Podcast that Tottenham Hotspur turned down the opportunity to sign former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran on loan.

Tottenham Hotspur Need Further Improvement Despite Recent Manchester City Draw

Tottenham Turn Down Opportunity to Sign Duran

Tottenham’s season has seen very few high points, and currently, they have zero wins in their last five league games, but they did show some heart last time out. They were 2-0 down at halftime, before a Dominic Solanke brace rescued a point for Thomas Frank’s team.

Will Spurs be able to kick on after the battling point against Manchester City, or was it just a small stop towards more misery for the North London club?

Despite the Europa League win last season, it was a disastrous season for Spurs and all associated with the club. This season hasn’t been much better, but the club have at least qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League.

Read More: Michael Carrick’s Interest in Bringing Back Unique Talent

Speaking on the Here We Go Podcast, Romano revealed that Tottenham Hotspur turned down the chance to sign Colombian striker Jhon Duran on loan.

Thomas Frank’s team have been ripped apart by injuries, but Frank ultimately decided against signing the former Aston Villa hitman. Duran showed in his time at Villa that he knows where the goal is, scoring 20 in 78 games, and was seemingly keen on moving to North London.

The 22-year-old is currently at Fenerbahce, on loan from Al-Nassr. He has five goals in 21 games in all competitions for the Turkish club.

Romano revealed: “Tottenham were offered the possibility to sign Jhon Duran on loan from Fenerbahce, who is on loan from Al-Nassr.” Despite the offer, the club decided to persevere with Randal Kolo Muani, deciding not to end his loan deal.

Romano Reveals Details On Duran Offer

Delving deeper into the offer, Romano said:

“He was offered to Tottenham as a last-minute chance for Spurs. The club decided against it.

“It was a possibility that was offered because some people in the industry thought that Tottenham were going to break the loan for Randal Kolo Muani to go to Juventus from Paris Saint-Germain.

Read More: Who could anchor Manchester United’s midfield after Casemiro’s exit?

“So that was a possibility, but Tottenham decided to continue with Kolo Muani. He started the last two games, so they decided to trust the player and turn down the opportunity to sign Duran, who was keen on this possibility.”

With Spurs’ injury problems, were they right to say no? Or was this an error from the club?

Featured Image Credit:

IMAGO / Depositphotos

Tottenham Hotspur endured a disappointing 2024/25 season, despite winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou. A change was made, with Thomas Frank replacing the Aussie manager, giving Spurs fans optimism ahead of the 2025/26 season. It has ultimately been a season to forget for Frank, with the club languishing in 14th position. Reports suggest Frank’s position is under threat, but it appears a new player will be joining the club, with Souza posting a farewell message to Santos, suggesting the transfer is nearing its completion.

Tottenham Hotspur Endure Disappointing Season

Spurs Close to Signing Souza from Santos

This season has been nothing short of a disaster for Spurs, with only one win in their last five league games. A disastrous last-gasp defeat at home to West Ham has left the North London club in crisis, with speculation regarding Thomas Frank’s future only increasing.

Read More: Wolves Planning For The Future Despite Relegation Fears

It has been reported that Tottenham chief executive Vinai Venkatesham arrived at the training ground early on January 18, as speculation has intensified regarding Frank’s future.

Whether Frank remains in charge for the upcoming Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund on January 20 remains to be seen.

Souza Posts Farewell Message

Fabrizio Romano and others have heavily reported that Souza to Spurs is a done deal. It is understood that the player has completed his medical, but Brazilian media have reported that Santos did not hold 100% rights to the player, meaning the deal has taken longer to complete.

Any potential issues appear to have been solved, with the player posting a farewell message via his personal Instagram account:

“After 10 years of defending this shield, the time has come for a new challenge.

Read More: Experienced Striker Named as the One Nottingham Forest ‘Are Most Keen On’

“The last year was intense, of growth and overcoming, but even in the difficult moments, I felt the affection and support of the Santista cheerleading. This will never be forgotten.

“I walk out with my head held high, grateful for all that I have experienced and for the certainty that this story was built with truth.

“Thanks for everything, Santos is a pride that not everyone can have!”

Souza will bring plenty to a struggling Spurs team. Despite his young age, he is physically robust and very offensive-minded. His speed and dribbling ability could make him a huge outlet for the team. He is a work in progress defensively, but attacking-wise, he will bring a lot to Spurs and excite the Tottenham Hotspur faithful.

Featured Image Credit:

IMAGO / Sebastian Frej

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered a difficult 2025/26 so far, with manager Thomas Frank under pressure following the club’s terrible run of form. Most recently, the North London club lost 2-1 to Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup. It appears the they are ready to make a move in the January transfer window, with David Ornstein reporting that Spurs are closing in on a deal to sign Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid.

Tottenham Hotspur Endure Difficult Start to 2025/26 Season

Spurs Target Conor Gallagher

Spurs currently sit 14th in the Premier League, losing more games than they have won. There have been very few positives for Thomas Frank’s team in the first half of this season. The Tottenham supporters are reportedly planning a protest ahead of their home game against West Ham, with the Supporters’ group Change For Tottenham frustrated at the way the North London club is run.

Read More: ‘If it’s Right for the Football Club’: Rob Edwards Concedes Potential for Jørgen Strand Larsen Transfer

Players look disinterested, while the manager appears short of ideas. Despite this discontent, it appears the board have sanctioned a move for Conor Gallagher, with the club said to be nearing a deal to sign England international and Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher. Spurs made a proposal of £34.6 million, which they expect to be accepted by the Spanish club, with Gallagher keen on the move.

What Conor Gallagher Would Bring to Spurs

Gallagher excelled at Chelsea, with his immense work rate making him a firm fan favourite. He’s known for his combative nature and ability to win the ball back for his team, helping them transition from defence to attack.

Read More: Wolves Tie Down Youngster Alan Shearer Praised As ‘Absolutely Outstanding’

The England international has only started four times in the league for Diego Simeone’s team. Should the deal be completed, Spurs will get a player with an exceptional will to win, who has performed at the highest level.

Is Gallagher what Spurs need?

Featured Image Credit:

IMAGO / Sport Image

AFC Bournemouth face Tottenham Hotspur in midweek action, after a satisfactory performance in which they narrowly lost to league leaders Arsenal at the weekend. This match takes place at 19:30 GMT on December 7 from the Vitality Stadium. Here is our AFC Bournemouth predicted lineup vs Tottenham Hotspur.

AFC Bournemouth Predicted Lineup Vs Tottenham Hotspur

How Bournemouth Have Lined-up Recently

Bournemouth have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation this season.

In goal is Serbian shotstopper Djordje Petrovic. Currently, Alex Jimenez and Adrien Truffert form an attacking pair of full-backs. Marcos Senesi has been joined by James Hill at centre-half recently, though Bafode Diakite provides an alternative option.

Read More: ‘Working on a Deal’: Arsenal ‘Hold Talks’ for Highly Rated Striker

Alex Scott and Marcus Tavernier played in the deeper midfield roles against Arsenal, with Justin Kluivert the number ten. However, the Dutchman is now out injured.

David Brooks and Antoine Semenyo play on the wings, often interchanging the left and right sides throughout the match. Evanilson is Bournemouth’s number nine, though he is under threat from the young Eli Junior Kroupi, who has the highest minutes per goal in the league this season.

Bournemouth Injuries to Consider

Andoni Iraola has a number of injuries to deal with at the moment.

Tyler Adams and Ben Gannon-Doak have all been out for the long term and are not expected to return in the near future.

Read More: New Chelsea Manager Announced

Iraola broke the “very bad news” of Kluivert requiring surgery on Thursday, though revealed no timescale for his return. Veljko Milosavljevic has returned to training but is not quite ready yet, whilst Ryan Christie continues recovery.

AFC Bournemouth Predicted Lineup Vs Tottenham Hotspur

GK: Djordje Petrovic

LB: Adrien Truffert

CB: Marcos Senesi

CB: James Hill

RB: Alex Jimenez

CM: Alex Scott

CM: Lewis Cook

AM: Marcus Tavernier

LW: David Brooks

ST: Evanilson

RW: Antoine Semenyo

A dominant performance from Spurs in the first half today led to them going in at halftime a goal up against Sunderland, thanks to a close-range effort from Ben Davies. However, after a poor first-half showing, the Black Cats improved and scored a deserved equaliser thanks to Brian Brobbey, who smashed the ball into the net from inside the area.

Therefore, a final score of 1-1 was a fair result. We take a look at what Thomas Frank and Regis Le Bris have said following the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What Was Said Following the Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland Game

Thomas Frank Pleased With First Half

Speaking after the game, Spurs boss Thomas Frank was pleased with his team, especially in the first half, but admitted that they lacked cutting-edge quality. He said: “Pleased with the first half. I think we showed a lot of good intentions, a lot of good play. We came in some very good offensive situations where we lacked the cutting-edge quality.

“I think the big headline is we didn’t score the 2-0 goal. We didn’t kill the game off. Two-nil, then we are out of sight.”We gave nothing away throughout the game.

“I think first half was very good, I think we were totally dominant. Second half, not as dominant, but we still get into some very good situations, have some good counter-attack situations where we need to get more out of it. You can’t rely on in the Premier League just to win 1-0.”

Regis Le Bris on What Was Said at Halftime

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris explained what he said at halftime after what was a disappointing first 45 minutes.

He said: “We had a lack of energy and just one needle down, it was possible to switch on, which probably we were a bit lucky because in a Premier League game, when you don’t play at your best, you should be punished. And it wasn’t the case, so we were still alive.

“And we said, just switch on, do simple things well, because I think tactically we were OK. It was just a question of being more composed with the ball, the ability to win the first contact, because they went direct, as expected, against our man-for-man press. And we didn’t win the first contact, the second ball, so the balance of the game was like that. And we had the character and the quality to switch on, and I think it’s positive.”

Read More: Spiky Ruben Amorim Refuses to Clarify Man Utd Transfer Frustration

Featured image courtesy of IMAGO / Action Plus

Here are the confirmed lineups plus the latest injury news for the Premier League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland. Both managers give their thoughts too.

The Black Cats come into this game after an impressive performance against Manchester City in a 0-0 draw, which preserved their unbeaten home record. Spurs also drew their last game, a 0-0 at Brentford, but are inconsistent at home, having suffered five defeats so far this season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Read More: Top Three Sunderland Moments From 2025

Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland: Team News and Confirmed Lineups

Tottenham Team and Injury News

Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Destiny Udogie are out through injury

Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Xavi Simons is suspended as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension following his red card against Liverpool.

Lucas Bergvall is a doubt, having missed the Brentford game, but could feature.

Sunderland Team and Injury News

Dan Ballard was a doubt, having missed the last two games with an ankle injury, but appears to have made the squad.

Long-term absentee Aji Alese is still out but has returned to training.

Brian Brobbey is a slight doubt, having come off in the game against Manchester City. He is expected to be part of the squad.

Habbib Diarra, Bertrand Traore, Chemdine Talbi, Reinildo, Noah Sadiki, and Arthur Masuaku are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Tottenham Confirmed Lineup

Will appear here at 1:45 pm

Sunderland Confirmed Lineup

Will appear here at 1:45 pm