Yahoo Sports UK

Tottenham: Thomas Frank reveals Dominic Solanke injury latest ahead of Liverpool showdown

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Tottenham: Thomas Frank reveals Dominic Solanke injury latest ahead of Liverpool showdown - Yahoo Sports UK
Description

Thomas Frank has revealed the Tottenham injury latest ahead of facing Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend.

Spurs are expected to be without as many as eight senior players for the visit of Liverpool through a combination of injury, fitness and international duty.

James Maddison, Destiny Udogie, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski are long-term absentees, while Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin are back in training but still someway short of full match sharpness.

Yves Bissouma, currently suspended by the club, and Pape Matar Sarr are unvailable for selection having been selected by Mali and Senegal respectively for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

As a result, Frank is likely to choose from the same pool of players that featured in last weekend’s disappointing 3-0 loss away to Nottingham Forest.

Speaking in the pre-match press conference on Friday, the Spurs head coach said: “Everyone is doing fine. Last game, I think it's the same players available.

“No one new is available.”

With regards to Solanke, the Spurs striker has been out of action since the end of August and belatedly underwent surgery on the issue in October.

Last week he week posted an image of himself in a Spurs shirt on Instagram, captioned with hourglasses, suggesting a return could come sooner rather than later.

Having move quickly moved to quell any speculation that a return is imminent, Frank has since offered a fresh update.

"I'm looking forward to naming him in the squad. He is progressing forward."

Three things we learned from Tottenham win as Frank shown midfield solution

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Three things we learned from Tottenham win as Frank shown midfield solution - Yahoo Sports UK
Description

Tottenham secured just their second home league win of the season as they beat Brentford 2-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Richarlison gave Spurs the lead in the 25th minute as he tapped home from Simons’ low cross.

Simons, starting his first game in a month, then doubled Tottenham’s advantage before half-time with a superb solo goal.

Mohammed Kudus was denied a goal after the break, but Tottenham held on to relieve the pressure on Thomas Frank.

Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau picks out three key talking points from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…

Simons shines on rare start

It’s been a slow start to life at Tottenham for Xavi Simons but, starting his first game in a month, the Dutchman showed his quality as Frank’s men earned a much needed win.

All the talk pre-match had been about whether he could nail down a starting berth on the left of Tottenham’s attack, with Frank admitting there was competition for minutes.

However, it was on the right where Simons shone, racing onto Pedro Porro’s clipped pass before crossing for Richarlison to tap home.

An impassioned gesture to the Tottenham supporters, who only a week earlier had been showering their players with boos, showed where Simons’ head was at.

He was in the mood and continued to drive Tottenham forward, doubling their lead with a superb solo goal right before half-time.

The 22-year-old started the move with a well-timed interception before driving from inside his own half and finishing coolly past Caoimhin Kelleher.

Simons was everywhere, whether it was driving through the middle or drifting into the right channel, and he gave Tottenham the spark in possession they have so sorely lacked this season.

Atmosphere turns as Tottenham secure second home league win of the season.

What a difference a week makes in the world of football.

Tottenham’s players were roundly booed during their 2-1 defeat to Fulham last Saturday, but they left the pitch at half-time against Brentford to applause after a dominant opening 45 minutes.

Brentford looked to have the measure of Tottenham early on as the Bees dealt comfortably with a number of crosses into the area.

However, goals from Richarlison and Simons gave Tottenham a commanding half-time lead, and the home crowd responded with a rousing show of support as the players walked into the tunnel at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

How Thomas Frank needed that after his war of words with the Tottenham supporters this week.

His side secured just their second home league win of the season and looked good for the three points as they limited Brentford to just one shot on target.

This was a statement performance as much as it was a greatly needed three points, and Tottenham’s supporters showed their appreciation in what could prove to be a turning point in their relationship with Frank after a difficult past couple of months.

Mature Gray performance provides the answer in midfield for Frank

Frank was remarkably honest in his pre-match press conference when stating that he did not know his best team.

There are a number of positions where the Dane still does not know who he trusts, but in midfield, he may just have found the answer.

Archie Gray, starting just his third league game, has been in and out of the side under Frank.

Used in a variety of positions this season, his versatility has been something of a curse for the teenager, but he impressed at the heart of Tottenham’s midfield as they dominated Brentford.

Brentford had looked to make their presence felt physically in the opening stages, but Gray, who dovetailed nicely with Rodrigo Bentancur, grew into the game as Tottenham battled their way to a vital three points.

This was a mature display from the 19-year-old, and he will hope it is the start of more minutes in his preferred position.

On an afternoon of overwhelming positives for Tottenham, their tireless work out of possession represented a major improvement from their previously languid performances at home.

Gray was at the centre of Tottenham’s industrious display, and he may just have solved Frank’s selection dilemma in the centre of the park.