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It's the end of an era at Tottenham. After lifting the Europa League title with the squad last season, club captain Heung-min Son has confirmed that he'll be leaving the club. After joining from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer of 2015, Son has completed 10 seasons with Tottenham, all culminating in winning the Europa League. He amassed 127 goals and 71 assists in Premier League play while also forming one of the best attacking duos in league history alongside Harry Kane.

Watch what could be Son's last game in a Tottenham shirt on Sunday as Spurs face Newcastle at 7 a.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

But as Tottenham move into its next era under Thomas Frank, the South Korean won't be part of it, with his next destination likely being Los Angeles FC. A club that knows a thing or two about Tottenham legends after winning the MLS Cup with Gareth Bale, LAFC are weighing up a $20 million deal for the star, according to Tom Bogert. It'd be quite a coup to land Son alongside Denis Bouanga while chasing the Western Conference crown.

"I just want to share information that I have decided to leave this club this summer. Respectfully, the club is helping me with this decision. It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career," Son said in a press conference in Seoul. "The main reason is I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge. I came to North London as a kid. A boy came to London who couldn't speak English. I leave this club as a man. Thanks to all the Spurs fans who have given me so much love. I spoke with only a few guys, ones I've spent a long time with. They're disappointed but in a respectful way."

Those 10 seasons have been quite a time, so let's take a look back at some of Son's best moments in a Tottenham shirt:

Son has scored quite a few special goals in a Spurs shirt as he has always been someone who marks the biggest moments with flair, and his 100th Premier League goal was no different. Curling a shot from outside the box, Brighton had no chance at saving the shot. He became the first Asian player to reach that milestone in the league when he accomplished the feat in 2023 after only 260 Premier League appearances at the time.

It's a fitting place for this moment, as in 2020, it only took 30 minutes for Son to put four goals past Southampton at Saint Mary's Stadium. The partnership between Kane and Son shone on that day, with all four goals being assisted by Kane. Following the match, Son immediately heaped praise on Kane for his assists.

"I wouldn't have scored four goals without this guy. He's amazing. Four assists, he deserved the man of the match today," Son said.

Messages like this are part of why Son would go on to captain the team.

Going coast to coast may be a common occurrence in basketball, but not in soccer, but that didn't stop Son from doing it. Picking up the ball in the defensive box for Spurs, Son proceeded to show off his legs and dribble through the entire Burnley team before putting the ball into the back of the net. It's also a goal that shows that the definition of what an assist is can be blurry due to Jan Vertonghen getting one on the play. It was a goal that ended up earning Son a Puskas award for one of his most iconic goals in a Spurs shirt.

Bringing Kane back into the fold, his relationship with Son was something special during their time at the club. Holding the Premier League record for goal contributions to each other with 47, they were quite a duo leading the attack. They knew where each other were at all times and were strong enough passers to put the ball where it needed to be for a goal. Their lead is 11 goals better than the next best duo of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard with 36 goals, so this is a record that could stand for quite a while. Their journey together includes an incredible run to the Champions League final in 2019.

Lifting the Europa League trophy has to go down as Son's greatest accomplishment with the club. It may have been done during an odd season where Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League, but as we get further away from the season, the image that won't fade is Son as club captain raising a European trophy in his 10th season with the club. It's a perfect culmination of what he brought in a Tottenham shirt as he leaves the club in a better position than it was in when he joined it.

Tottenham will enter the new season with their trophy drought in the past after lifting the Europa League title, but instead of that trophy providing clarity, this is very much a club in transition. Thomas Frank will lead the squad this campaign after replacing Ange Postecoglou, and club captain Heung-Min Son could be on his way out of the club with the potential of a move to Los Angeles FC on the horizon.

Despite these changes, there's reason for optimism at the club even after finishing just above the relegation zone last season in 17th place. It was a chaotic campaign for Tottenham and they only picked up 14 points in 19 Premier League matches after January 1st, with a whopping -14 goal difference, and while focus may have been elsewhere in aiming to win the Europa League, that's an unacceptable performance for a team that was expected to compete for a place in the top four.

The highs of Postecoglou's system were high, such as defeating Manchester City 4-0 away from home, but the lows were also quite low, such as losing 4-2 to Wolves in April. His system wasn't a repeatable one, and if one of Mickey Van De Ven or Cristian Romero missed time due to injuries or suspensions, the entire defense fell into shambles. Looking at that, it makes sense why Tottenham would look to make a move, and Frank's arrival comes at the right time.

Unburdened by the need to immediately end a trophy drought, Frank can take time to implement his system, add new players, and create a flexible, dynamic Tottenham. Postecoglou brought dynamism, but his teams lacked a Plan B. In contrast, a Frank-led Brentford side employed multiple formations and player fits to give them a tactical edge, competing with the Premier League's best. Set plays were a focus, and they mainly operated out of a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 formation, both styles that suit the core players at Tottenham.

Alongside Chelsea and Brighton, Spurs also used some of the youngest lineups in the league, with both teams having an average age of just over 24 years old. Four players 22 or younger logged more than 1000 Premier League minutes, and with teenagers such as Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall set to take steps forward in the new campaign, there's a lot to like about the squad.

Depth in key areas and smart transfers

After joining on loan from Bayern Munich as a January addition to a team desperate for attackers, Mathys Tel has joined on a permanent deal to boost the attack. Direct on the dribble and unafraid to shoot from anywhere, the 20-year-old is the perfect type of player to improve under Frank, boosting the attack. Centerback Kota Takai has also joined alongside Luka Vusovic, officially joining from Hajduk Split. Mohammed Kudus joined from West Ham United to boost Frank's attack, and while Morgan Gibbs-White didn't join as well to put things over the top, the expected arrival of midfielder Joao Palhinha on loan can boost a major need.

Despite having Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur in the squad, Tottenham's defensive midfielders were more comfortable playing further up the pitch. Palhinha is a limited player, which is why it was odd that he was a Bayern Munich target in the first place, but his strength of sitting deep, cleaning up danger, and playing simple passes to his teammates will help make Tottenham's system easier to reproduce.

Even if an attacking midfielder doesn't join before the season starts, healthy seasons from Dominic Solanke and James Maddison will go a long way in improving the squad. Pape Sarr is another midfielder who can get involved in the attack, and with Trent Alexander-Arnold gone to Real Madrid, Pedro Porro will have a shot at being the top attacking right back in the Premier League this coming season. Essentially, if Frank can figure out the defensive shape of this squad, the attack won't be what's holding them back. He hasn't dealt with the grind of a Champions League season, but with the new league phase setup, Tottenham will have more opportunity to rotate the squad in Europe than they did in a traditional group stage.

What does Frank bring?

Comfortable rotating his sides to adapt to the opposition, there's no team that Frank will overlook managing at Tottenham. Being able to bring core members of his Brentford staff to the club will ensure that players are fully prepared, and with Spurs not being involved in the Club World Cup, they've had a standard preseason during which Frank can work with the squad uninterrupted to prepare for facing Paris Saint-Germian in the UEFA Super Cup on Aug. 13 to kick off the season.

Pressing is important since Frank sides like to keep a high backline, which is a similar aspect to Postecoglou's management. While that can cause them to concede on the counter, a counterpress led by Solanke will also create plenty of goals on its own due to how fast Spurs can make a team pay on the break. Combine that with a focus on set plays and defending them, and it provides Tottenham with a good base to work from, even if there isn't a major improvement from players in the new campaign.

With Frank teams enjoying attacking from wide areas, Kudus and Porro will be key, but another player to watch is Wilson Odebert. Injuries kept him from having a major impact, but his skill at dribbling and creating chances will be important in this new system to keep things ticking over. Frank will need everyone who is ready to contribute to get the ball into the box and press while not in possession.

Frank teams value fitness to outwork the opponent, and with such a young squad at Tottenham, it's something that can be instilled pretty quickly. Even at center back with two new players joining and Radu Dragusin returning from injury, there's more depth to cope with players outside of the starting Xi being available. That alone raises the floor of this team.

What can Tottenham accomplish?

Despite the optimism around the squad, making the top four would not only need everything to go perfectly, but it'd also need a slip-up from other teams. Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool seem to be in a tier of their own, but after those four, it's anyone's guess how things could shake out. Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa have taken steps back, while Brighton doesn't feel ready to compete at the highest level yet. This would make fifth place the goal for Tottenham this campaign while also making a strong run in the cups.

In the Champions League, Spurs are talented enough to get out of the League Phase, but when it comes to going further, that's when it will depend on the draw and how much they've improved under Frank. This is a team that could make a run but they'd need the right draw in order to do that. At least winning a knockout stage match or making the round of 16 is plenty to build from, though. This was also the expectation last season and while it didn't work out, that's why Frank was brought in. He needs to hit the ground running but the stage is set to do just that.

How to watch Tottenham vs. Newcastle United

It's the first North London derby ever played outside the United Kingdom and it comes at a critical juncture for both teams. It seems as though the gap between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur is as wide as it has been in a generation, and the reality is you have to go back nearly 50 years, to Spurs' temporary sojourn in the second tier in 1977-78 for the last time as many positions separated them from their rivals down the Seven Sisters Road.

Arsenal ended 2024-25 in the familiar position of second, while for Tottenham this proved to be a year they flirted with both triumph and disaster, landing on a curious form of the latter by winning the Europa League and finishing in 17th, just above the Premier League drop zone. The latter cost Ange Postecoglou his job with Thomas Frank quickly alighted on as the replacement.

If the former Brentford boss wants to quickly ingratiate himself to his new faithful then ending a six man winless streak against the great enemy would be an ideal way to begin, even if it's just in preseason. The North London derby tends to be one where home advantage pays off spectacularly -- Arsenal are 15 years unbeaten in Premier League derbies at the Emirates Stadium -- but right now Spurs are on a three game losing streak at their own ground. Perhaps Hong Kong's neutral soil (and a friendly match you can watch live on CBS Sports Golazo Network or Paramount+) will give them the encouragement that they can go on to match the Gunners in the greater tests to come. For now this game alone offers quite a helpful measure of the progress Tottenham have or have not made this summer, as their new boss acknowledged on Tuesday.

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"I think it's a great challenge besides being our biggest rivals and the first North London Derby outside the UK," said Frank. "It's also right now one of the best teams, I must say unfortunately, in the world. We also need to be honest. In that way it's going to be a big test, but it's more than a test as against Arsenal it's not only a friendly. Of course it's a game we will do everything we can to win."

Can Spurs really hope to swing a 36 point gap back in their favor? What is the limit of what can realistically be expected of Frank's new side and does it come anywhere close to a worst case scenario for Arsenal? Read on to find out.

Arsenal vs. Tottenham viewing information

Date: Thursday, July 31 | Time: 7:30 a.m. ET

Location: Kai Tak Sports Park -- Hong Kong

Live stream: CBS Sports Golazo Network or Paramount+

Odds: Arsenal -182; Draw +320; Tottenham +380

Arsenal's floor

There is a fair argument to be made that what we saw from Arsenal last season was not that much higher than a bottom 10 percent possible outcome for Arteta's side. Devastated by injuries, Mikel Arteta got only six league starts out of Gabriel Jesus, 20 from Bukayo Saka, 21 from Kai Havertz, 25 from Gabriel Martinelli and 26 from Martin Odegaard. That is arguably Arsenal's five most important forwards, each missing nearly a third of the season or more. In such circumstances the Gunners fairly swiftly fell too far behind Liverpool to mount a compelling title challenge, but even with a few wobbles they were never really at risk of slipping out of the top four.

Had Arteta had greater depth at his disposal perhaps the Gunners could have kept on Liverpool's heels and baited a few wobbles from the champions. Certainly new sporting director Andrea Berta has moved to address that, a sextet of new signings meaning that there are two experienced, international level players for almost every position. The only one where that might not be the case is Martin Odegaard's, where Ethan Nwaneri currently figures to be the back up. Having one of the brightest young prospects in the recent history of the Hale End academy is hardly to be sniffed at.

Arsenal know what their ceiling is: a Premier League title and/or Champions League. How far might they fall? Setting aside black swan events, as we will for Tottenham below, it is hard to make much of a case for the Gunners drifting outside the top four. A third place finish, that's pretty easy. Arsenal aren't as good as they might be, Manchester City and Liverpool are.

Maybe you could add Chelsea to that mix too. After all the Blues were only five points back come the end of last season and their expected goal difference of 21.16 was not too far off Arsenal's 26.55. Perhaps Newcastle keep Alexander Isak, don't get gazumped on every player they want to sign and start the season well. In those circumstances perhaps the Gunners could drop into the Champions League bubble but it surely can't get any worse that that, can it?

*No, that was not an invitation for you to all go Mick McCarthy on me*

Tottenham's ceiling

As for Spurs, their last season is a tricky one to assess. For roughly the first third of the campaign, Postecoglou's men won every game where they were the dominant side and got next to nothing from the close ones. Then came a raft of injuries through the Tottenham defense more brutal even than those Arsenal faced in their attack, weeks on end where it was a remarkable stroke of fortune if two of the regular back five could take the field. By the time that all eased Premier League hopes were over, but the Europa League glistened temptingly on the horizon, so Postecoglou rightly concluded that it was better to sacrifice a few domestic games when the other competition offered silverware and a route to the Champions League.

The aggregate story for the league does not look encouraging though. Seventeenth may have overexaggerated Spurs' failings but their expected goal difference was the 15th best in the division, the 65 they conceded a high watermark of defensive failings beaten only by Wolves and the three relegated teams.

Tottenham looked like a team that could score three but might just concede four and their transfer business this summer has done little to change that. Mathys Tel's loan has been made permanent while Mohamed Kudus has been the marquee signing so far, arriving from West Ham. What investment has gone in to strengthening the defense appears to be for the long term with signings such as Kota Takai. So far the deep-lying midfielder that this squad so desperately needed last season has not arrived.

It is fair to assume that a coach of Frank's qualities will strengthen Spurs defensively, his Brentford side having actually allowed fewer xG per game over the past four seasons than his new employers. Fitness alone should bring the defensive output back towards the rest of the big six. But can Tottenham really hope to catch their greatest rival?

The bookmakers would suggest not, ranking Spurs as around the eighth most likely team to qualify for the Champions League. That seems a fair estimation of where their squad is now. There are bright young things like Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall who could play a big role on a top four team in the future and then veterans like Heung-min Son (should rumors of a move to Los Angeles not pan out) and Richarlison with plenty of miles in their legs. Between them, there are maybe only a couple of key players rounding out into their prime at 24. The best of them, Micky van de Ven, struggles for availability.

Now perhaps they get 38 games from him and Cristian Romero. Perhaps Son holds back the ageing tide and maybe Frank's coaching acumen makes up for the defensive limitations of his midfield options. A top ten percentile season, in other words. What might be the ceiling then? Realistically it might be the cusp of Champions League contention, one that would be easier if a few more of the big six fell off.

So, could Spurs' ceiling take them higher than Arsenal's floor? Probably not in a season that is vaguely normal; it would require a very, very good Tottenham campaign to come at the same time as lightning kept striking the Emirates Stadium. However this is North London, a part of the world that can deliver multiple 5-2 derby comebacks in the same year. Strange things can happen.

After successful first leg outings, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will each hope to clinch a spot in the final of the UEFA Europa League when they return to play on Thursday against Athletic Bilbao and Bodo/Glimt, respectively.

The English sides boast a two-plus goal lead after dominant first legs, with United traveling to Bilbao and coming out with a 3-0 win and Spurs collecting a 3-1 win at home against Bodo/Glimt. It means both are the heavy favorites to advance to the final, but the situation could also force big performances out of Athletic Bilbao and Bodo/Glimt, who may need to be at their best to keep their Europa League hopes alive.

For the teams that eventually advance, a meeting at Bilbao's San Mames Stadium on May 21 awaits, as does a spot in next season's edition of the UEFA Champions League for the champion.

Here's what you need to know before tuning into the second leg of the Europa League semifinals.

First leg scores

Athletic Bilbao 0, Manchester United 3

Tottenham Hotspur 3, Bodo/Glimt 1

How to watch Manchester United vs. Athletic Bilbao, odds

Date: Thursday, May 8 | Time: 3 p.m. ET

Location: Old Trafford -- Stretford, England

Live stream: Paramount+

Odds: Manchester United -115; Draw +260; Athletic Bilbao +280

What Manchester United are saying

A three-goal advantage going into the second leg is usually a signal that the team with the advantage has already won most of the battle, but Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is not resting on his laurels – and it might not just be out of respect for the opposition.

Amorim may only be about six months into the job but he has already had a front row seat to the chaos that United can create, so much so that he is not exactly sure which version of the Red Devils will turn up on Thursday.

"It is hard to say," he said in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. "Sometimes during the game, we are one team, something happens and we lose our mind a little bit. If you look at our team we cannot say today what is going to happen. Control the narrative – we cannot do that. I feel we need to score to go to the next round. We will have to suffer a bit to go to the final."

Amorim also does not feel that United have the upper hand considering Athletic will be without three key players – this season's top scorer Oihan Sancet and the Williams brothers, Nico and Inaki.

"It doesn't matter," he said. "For us it is the top team of Athletic. I understand it is hard to play without key players but for us it doesn't matter. We need to go to the game and try to win it."

How to watch Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham Hotspur, odds

Date: Thursday, May 7 | Time: 3 p.m. ET

Location: Aspmyra Stadion -- Bodo, Norway

TV: CBS Sports Network | Live stream: Paramount+

Odds: PSG +109; Draw +263; Arsenal +234

What Tottenham Hotspur are saying

Spurs' margin of victory might be slightly slimmer than United's, the type that might create a tighter match if one flick of the ball goes Glimt's way at the right time, but a two-goal advantage in the second leg means the visitors are within touching distance of the final. It brings back the question that has chased Tottenham for years now: Will they, at long last, snap the trophy drought that is now in its 18th year, and will it finally change the narrative around the team?

"I don't know if it will change it, but certainly some of it becomes redundant for sure, because a big part of the narrative around the club is that we haven't won for a very long time," manager Ange Postecoglou said in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. "Some of it will still exist beyond that. From my perspective, [it is about] how do you create a winning culture? It all starts with winning. The more experiences you have of winning, if you can land a trophy along the way, it certainly gives belief within the whole club that it is capable of doing. We've still got a big game tomorrow to even get through to get to a final before we can start talking about that."

The journey ahead, be it establishing a winning culture, lifting the Europa League or just successfully advancing after Thursday's second leg, Spurs will not be at full strength. Son Heung-min did not travel with a foot issue, while James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall have been ruled out for the rest of the season. It leaves Postecoglou with some challenges in his team selection but as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario pointed out, they have been here before.

"We always have to deal with it to be fair," he said. "We will not have Sonny and Madders tomorrow, but it is on us. The entire squad will be crucial."

As for the other potential reward on the line – a spot in the Champions League – Postecoglou also has a response for anyone – or Arsene Wenger, specifically – who thinks that berth should not go to the Europa League winner.

"Well that's a debate that's been raging for years, mate," he said. "At least the last eight days! I've never heard that before. I have said it before, mate: Spurs does crazy things to people. It does, it does. … You put that club (Tottenham) into any sentence or issue, and invariably they all come out and try and diminish us as much as they can. Why wasn't it an issue before but it's an issue now? What's the difference? I don't understand what the difference is. Last year, fifth (in the Premier League) didn't get you into the Champions League, and now it does. What does that mean?"

It's a battle of underperforming teams as Tottenham host Manchester City on Wednesday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but both sides do have something to play for. City's top-five hopes and a place in the Champions League next season are hanging on by a thread as they're level with Newcastle United in the table. Tottenham may be just about out of the running for a European spot but still going strong in the Europa League, it's important to maintain form during what has been a trying season for Ange Postecoglou's men.

Here are our storylines, how you can watch the match and more:

How to watch and odds

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26 | Time: 2:30 p.m. ET

Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium -- London

Live stream: Peacock

Odds: Tottenham +220; Draw +300; Manchester City +100

Storylines

Tottenham: For much of the season, Postecoglou has stressed that he just needs his team to be healthy and they'll have a shot at winning games and so far that has been the case. Tottenham have defeated Manchester United and Ipswich Town while scoring five goals and conceding one since getting the trio of Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, and Guglielmo Vicario back, but this will be a test on a different level. Tottenham have had City's number over the years but winning a match like this would show that Spurs are well and truly moving in the right direction with the Europa League round of 16 around the corner.

Tottenham predicted XI: Guglielmo Vicario, Djed Spence, Ben Davies, Kevin Danso, Pedro Porro, Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, Heung-min Son, Mathys Tel

Manchester City: Now on a slide with getting knocked out of the Champions League and losing to Liverpool to fall further behind in league play, it's fair to question what City need to motivate the squad at this stage of the season. Things can get worse for them if they miss out on UCL next season but a bit of a break could also be good as this City side moves into rebuild territory.

Manchester City predicted XI: Ederson, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez, Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Savinho, Omar Marmoush

Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City will face off in an English Premier League showdown on Wednesday. Spurs, who won the reverse fixture 4-0, are 13th in the EPL table and looking to stay hot after winning each of their last three league matches. Meanwhile, Manchester City are fighting to finish inside the top four and desperate to turn their fortunes around after dropping two of their last three league games.

Kickoff from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London is at 2:30 p.m. ET. Man City are listed as the +100 favorites (risk $100 to win $100) in the latest Tottenham vs. Man City odds, with Spurs as the +230 underdogs. A draw is priced at +300 and the over/under for total goals scored is 3.5. Before locking in any Tottenham vs. Man City picks, you need to see what proven SportsLine soccer expert Martin Green has to say.

After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Last year, Green was profitable in multiple areas on his soccer picks, including Euro qualifying (+6.30 units). The EFL Cup (+4.47), the FA Cup (+3.07) and the Champions League (+3.05) among others. Anyone who follows him at sportsbooks or on betting apps could be way up.

Here are Green's Premier League picks and predictions for Tottenham vs. Man City on Wednesday:

Under 3.5 goals (+100)

The Under has hit in each of Spurs' last three home games, including a 1-0 win against Manchester United on Jan. 26. Green also notes that Under 3.5 goals has hit in each of Spurs' last nine home matches against Man City across all competitions, and three of the last four meetings between these teams have also included a clean sheet. Man City failed to score against Liverpool in their last outing and could be without star striker Erling Haaland (knee), who has scored 19 goals in league play.

The Pick: Under 3.5 goals (+100)

Bonus picks: Get two additional best bets, both of which offer plus-money payouts, for Liverpool vs. Newcastle (3:15 p.m. ET) from SportsLine soccer expert Jon Eimer.

James Maddison over 0.5 shots on target (+100)

The 28-year-old attacking midfielder has already gotten the better of Man City this season. In the reverse fixture at Etihad Stadium, he scored twice in the opening 20 minutes en route to a 4-0 away win. Maddison missed time due to injury this season but has returned in fine form and scored the game-winning goal against Manchester United on Feb. 16.

The Pick: James Maddison over 0.5 shots on target (+100)

Bonus picks: Get two additional best bets, both of which offer plus-money payouts, for Liverpool vs. Newcastle (3:15 p.m. ET) from SportsLine soccer expert Jon Eimer.

Want more soccer picks for Wednesday, Feb. 26?

You've seen Martin Green's best bets for Tottenham vs. Man City. Now, get two additional best bets, both of which offer plus-money payouts, for Liverpool vs. Newcastle (3:15 p.m. ET) from SportsLine soccer expert Jon Eimer.

In a lot of ways, it would be easy to write off Tottenham Hotspur. Between their seemingly never-ending injury crisis and an impressive ability to drop points from winning positions, their 14th-place standing in the Premier League means they embody the underdog more than they usually would against Liverpool on Thursday. Yet, they find themselves in the unlikely position of carrying an advantage heading into the second leg of the EFL Cup semifinals (you can watch the action live on Paramount+) – and just 90 minutes away from their first cup final in four years.

Amidst the chaos of their season, Spurs handed Liverpool only their second loss of the season a month ago with a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg, giving them the surprise upper hand at Anfield. The one-goal margin is no safety net, though a spot in the semifinals alone presents the opportunity for Tottenham to find the silver lining in their otherwise drab season. As poor as their league position is, Spurs have done exceedingly well in their cup competitions – not only are they within touching distance of the EFL Cup final, but they finished in fourth place in the UEFA Europa League's league phase and are through to the next round of the FA Cup.

Tottenham's rough season has surprisingly transformed them into a team that can – and should – prioritize cup competitions, a decision that would not only make this season's disappointing results feel like an afterthought. If Spurs prioritize silverware and actually get across the finish line, the trophy drought that has followed this team like a shadow could finally end, making Thursday's game an almost make-or-break game for their season.

How to watch and odds

Date: Thursday, Feb. 6 | Time: 3 p.m. ET

Location: Anfield -- Liverpool, England

Live stream: Paramount+

Odds: Liverpool -425; Draw +600; Tottenham Hotspur +900

Can a trophy make Spurs' season a success?

The EFL Cup is not exactly the most prestigious trophy Tottenham can win this season – that's still the Europa League, which may be Europe's secondary club competition but is still a difficult tournament in its own right. For a team like Spurs, whose trophy drought is well-documented, any trophy means something and this particular one would mean a lot, not only because it would end the 17-year wait for a title.

Tottenham are perfectly midtable at this point in the season, stuck in the banal part of the standings where qualification for European competition is probably out of the question and relegation is unlikely. The perfect way to liven up an underwhelming season is by winning a trophy, especially one that would book the champion a spot in the UEFA Conference League playoff round.

It could also provide some newfound confidence to the group, since the final on March 16 comes with two months of play still left on the calendar. Lifting the EFL Cup would likely provide a much-appreciated morale boost, which may only help Spurs' Premier League standing so much but could be useful if they make deep runs in the Europa League and the FA Cup. In fact, winning the EFL Cup could be a dress rehearsal for bigger things to come, and that's especially true as their injured players begin to work their way back to fitness.

For manager Ange Postecoglou specifically, a trip to Wembley Stadium next month and a winner's medal comes with an added perk – he would be right about his statement in September that he "always wins things in his second year."

Tottenham's challenges against Liverpool

The perks of a trip to Wembley are obvious for Tottenham, but all of it comes with the obvious caveat – they still have another 90 minutes ahead of them against a tough Liverpool team at home, and a one-goal lead leaves no room for error. One might suggest, for the umpteenth time this season, Postecoglou take a pragmatic approach with a spot in a cup final on the line, but that forces the question: What exactly constitutes a pragmatic approach in these circumstances?

Defensive resilience is not a bad idea, but overemphasis on the back line may not pay off in the long run. Mohamed Salah's form alone means the Reds are hard to bet against every day of the week, and true to form for Tottenham this season, they will once again be without some important players in the back line. First-choice center back Cristian Romero is still nursing a hamstring injury and Postecoglou has opted not to risk Romero's partner, Micky van de Ven, as he makes his way back from his own hamstring issue. Radu Dragusin, meanwhile, tore his ACL last week so Tottenham will likely give new signing Kevin Danso his debut and will pair him alongside veteran Ben Davies.

In fact, a balance that ensures Spurs' attack can create chances might be the best way forward – and actually suits Postecoglou well. It is actually a strategy the manager has successfully utilized a few times this season, despite accusations that he is tactically inflexible. Tottenham's 4-0 routing of Manchester City in November is a perfect example, too. They ceded possession to City and took just nine shots but put seven on target and generated 2.51 expected goals, finding a way to mix in goalscoring opportunities even without overtly prioritizing their attack. That is essentially the lesson of Newcastle United's 4-0 aggregate win over Arsenal in the other EFL Cup semi-final – the Magpies may have carried a 2-0 first-leg victory into Wednesday's game, but they chose not to rest on their laurels and managed to score two more goals on one of Europe's best offenses.

Spurs may or may not be favored to come out on top on Thursday but in the midst of a season of imperfections, they are surprisingly well-positioned to notch a major accomplishment. The task for Postecoglou and company, then, is not to squander it and add a new layer of sourness to an unpleasant season.

This Premier League season has been hard to predict for several reasons, not least of which includes Nottingham Forest's surge to the top and Manchester City's skid down the table. Few things are as surprising as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur's inability to escape the bottom half of the table, with the two sides seemingly competing to see who had the worse weekend – and the worse season.

Much like it was on Sunday, it can be difficult to distinguish which team was poorer than the other. United collected yet another loss at home, this time a 3-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in which their only shot on target was a penalty. Spurs, meanwhile, somehow kept things tighter in a 3-2 loss at Everton but the stain of being 3-0 down at halftime looms large over the result. United end the weekend in 13th place and Spurs sit in 15th, much closer to the relegation contenders than the top-four race.

Though their downward turns are unusual, even considering the inconsistent performances of recent years, their dismal seasons are not exactly the result of new decisions – or decision-makers – steering well-run clubs in the entirely wrong direction. The specific circumstances for United and Spurs' poor run of form may be different, but the teams share one very notable commonality – the issues plaguing both of them are years in the making and will take time to adequately fix.

Squad building crises

If one was to diagnose the specific on-field issues plaguing United and Spurs this season, the list of issues would be fairly different. The Red Devils have a paltry 27 goals scored in 22 league games, for example, while Tottenham boast a plus-10 goal differential but the 35 goals they have conceded are a true cause for concern. No matter how you slice it, though, it is hard not to argue that both teams' issues would be solved by signing new players. That forces the question – why haven't they?

The idiosyncrasies of their leadership groups may differ, but the higher-ups and both United and Spurs have been happy to launch a fresh rebuild and then pull the plug somewhat quickly. It has left both teams with imbalanced rosters that are a mix of quality talent, promising young players and a host of players who feel like the wrong fit. The top-tier players can only do so much to cover up the holes in the team, while mixing in that many youngsters – and doing so too quickly – can mean a steep learning curve that's unideal for everyone involved.

The teams' transfer strategies are varied, though perhaps equally problematic. United have spent big on several high-profile players, defender Matthijs de Ligt among the latest after joining in the summer. They also attempted to find diamonds in the rough that have yet to turn good – forward Rasmus Hojlund still has not left his mark on the team yet, while Antony feels like a total bust at this point. Spurs, meanwhile, built a new-look starting lineup in time for Ange Postecoglou's first season in charge, but signed forward Dominic Solanke and five teenagers over the summer, which has not allowed them to vastly improve despite an encouraging start under the new manager.

This season, Tottenham have the added disadvantage of an unparalleled injury crisis, which left them without 10 first-team players for Sunday's loss to Everton. The list of unavailable players also reveals a brutal truth about Spurs' squad – they may have a well-respected preferred lineup, but the quality drops significantly when you pull the first-choice starters out. That might make for a decent foundation, but for a team that is expected to compete in four competitions a season, they truly do not have enough cover as things stand.

There's only so much a team can do to overcome those woes in the short term, setting up for yet another big summer transfer window for both teams. It is unlikely that either side will improve vastly in the winter – Tottenham did land 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky while Guglielmo Vicario is out injured, but that's it in terms of business so far for both teams. Spurs also might improve when their injured players return, but it should not distract from the work that needs to be done leveling up across the board.

New managers, same problems

Both Postecoglou and his counterpart at United, Ruben Amorim, have faced increasing scrutiny as their teams continue to collect losses, doing away with the optimism their hires once inspired. Amorim's newness has allowed him to escape the pressure Postecoglou faces externally in his second season at Tottenham, though both managers seem hard done by decisions that are out of their control.

Managers are the most visible and vocal representatives of any team by virtue of being the only people at a club required to regularly answer to members of the media, though that is not necessarily by their design. The circumstances create an unusual make-or-break type of accountability, accidentally positioning them as the sole decision-makers at any club. Squad building is frequently out of the manager's hands in modern club structures but even if Amorim and Postecoglou have a say, their teams' roster issues predate them. This January marks the first time Amorim will have any input at United. Spurs' midfield, meanwhile, has been in disarray since Mousa Dembele left the club in 2019 while Mauricio Pochettino was still in charge, to name just one example of the squad-building troubles the club has had for several years.

That is not to say that Amorim and Postecoglou are infallible. United's sliding form under the new manager raises questions about his ability to keep competitive spirits high, even if the squad is a poor tactical fit for his style of play. As for Postecoglou, his tactical shift to a back three against Everton left his shaky defense unusually susceptible to the Toffees' attack. That was a surprise even while considering that Ben Davies, a defender with plenty of reps at center back, returned to the lineup after a spell on the sidelines and played instead of the 18-year-old Archie Gray.

There is undoubtedly room for improvement for both managers, but it is equally easy to argue that they are hamstrung by things out of their control. Though it's far too early for Amorim to land in the hot seat, it might also be unfair to put Postecoglou there – this would be a very different season without the injuries, and there's both a strong foundation in place in terms of tactical style and roster, even if several upgrades need to be made. Spurs may be able to dig themselves out of this mess faster than United if they are serious about transfers in the summer, and it is worth asking if they have a good plan in place in case they decide to quit on Postecoglou.

Both United and Spurs have been guilty of associating their entire vision with the managers in charge – and there are a lot who have come and left in recent years at Old Trafford and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. There is nothing wrong with letting the manager play an important role, but both clubs' consistent choice to start from scratch every time they make one of their many managerial changes makes it harder for the next one to build something concrete. It is a sign that both clubs lack clear vision, which is something that could change at any time. The leaders just need to be serious about doing it, which has not been the case at either club for several years now.

Tottenham Hotspur need a win at home to Newcastle United on Saturday to take some pressure off of manager Ange Postecoglou as 2025 gets underway in London. Spurs drew with Wolverhampton Wanderers in their final English Premier League game of 2024 while the Magpies saw off Manchester United.

Since thrashing Southampton in mid-December, the Londoners have picked up just one point from nine across games against Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Wolves with the pressure building on Postecoglou. The EFL Cup semifinals against the Reds could be key to his future but first he needs to end a run of five games without a win at home here.

Eddie Howe's men are now looking like top four material after an excellent festive run of form which has included wins over Forest, Leicester City, Aston Villa and Ipswich Town before United. After just three clean sheets from their first 15 Premier League games of the season, Newcastle have kept four shutouts from their last four wins. Also one of Tottenham's bogey sides, the Magpies have beaten Spurs in four of their last five EPL games.

Here's our storylines, how you can watch the match and more:

How to watch and odds

Date: Saturday, January 4 | Time: 7:30 a.m. ET

Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - London, England

Watch: USA Network | Stream: Fubo (try for free)

Odds: Spurs +180; Draw +290; Newcastle +125

Season so far

Tottenham were within two points of UEFA Champions League qualification last year but are currently an outside bet to even finish with a UEFA Conference League place given that they are currently in the bottom half of the table. Mathematically, Spurs are closer to the drop zone than the top four while Newcastle are in fifth and just three points off of Chelsea in the final UCL spot.

Team news

Tottenham: Destiny Udogie is out and could make way for Djed Spence who is back from suspension, but Rodrigo Bentancur is now banned and could hand over to Pape Sarr. Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Mikey Moore, Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Wilson Odobert and Ben Davies are also out.

Possible Tottenham XI: Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Spence; Kulusevski, Sarr, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son.

Newcastle: Fabian Schar is suspended while Jamaal Lascelles, Nick Pope, Emil Krafth and Sven Botman are all out injured. Kieran Trippier is likely to drop out for Tino Livramento with a knock while Callum Wilson is still some way short of a return.

Possible Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Livramento, Kelly, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.

Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur's pursuit of success this season is not going according to plan in the English Premier League with Ange Postecoglou's men infuriatingly inconsistent and currently down in 10th with seven wins from 16 for a points total of 23 despite a 5-0 away day mauling of Southampton on Sunday. Things are slightly brighter elsewhere with an EFL Cup quarterfinal coming up against Manchester United this Thursday as well as Spurs also being on course for a UEFA Europa League knockout phase berth -- possibly even a direct round-of-16 slot via a top-eight finish depending on their two final results. With the FA Cup third round also coming up in early 2025, another potential route towards silverware could start there provided that the Londoners do not fall foul of potential giant killers Tamworth of the National League.

So, what does Tottenham's trophy cabinet actually look like?

Domestic titles

First Division (now EPL): 1950-51 and 1960-61 -- Spurs are two-time topflight winners with those two titles coming 10 years apart which is obviously a long time ago but also intriguing because the 1951 success came one season after one of the club's two Second Division titles.

Second division (now EFL Championship): 1919-20 and 1949-50 -- The Lilywhites first reached English soccer's top table back in 1920 which was over 100 years ago now but their second return to the highest level came in 1950 which was then followed immediately by a maiden first division win.

FA Cup: 1900-01, 1920-21, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1966-67, 1980-81, 1981-82 and 1990-91 -- Tottenham have won English soccer's main domestic cup competition eight times with the first triumph coming in 1901 and the most recent back in 1991. The 1921 win was in the season after promotion to the first division while 1961 was a league and cup double year and 1962 represented a successful domestic cup defense. The 1967 effort was a third FA Cup win in the same decade while 1981 and 1982 were also consecutive wins with a pattern emerging through 1921, 1961, 1981 and 1991 that Spurs tend to win title in the first season of a new decade.

League Cup (now EFL Cup): 1970-71, 1972-73, 1998-99 and 2007-08 -- There is also further domestic cup pedigree with four League Cup wins to their names which started in 1971 -- continuing the aforementioned pattern of success. Tottenham missed out on defending that title in 1972 but did win it back in 1973 while 1999 brought a splash of silverware towards the end of the century but 2008 does represent their most recent triumph which partly explains why modern soccer fans do not consider Spurs to be a successful club.

FA Community Shield: 1921, 1951, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1981 and 1991 -- For the record, the Lilywhites also boast seven separate FA Community Shield titles starting with 1921 up until a 1991 success and five of those seven have come after the first season of a new decade.

European

UEFA Cup (now UEL): 1971-72 and 1983-84 -- Tottenham are two-time UEFA Cup (now UEFA Europa League) winners having triumphed in 1972 as well as 1984 so this season could actually see them make it three UEL titles just over 40 years after the most recent continental success.