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Tottenham Hotspur are back to being the laughingstock of the league for a week, as their tepid performance against Chelsea was a reminder that, yes, this team more than deserved to finish 17th in the Premier League, even wores than a Manchester United side they barely scraped past in the Europa League Final.

Spurs supporters fed into Ange Postecoglou's narrative too hard, and now Thomas Frank has to be the scapegoat when he's trying to do the best he can with a team that is legitimately less talented offensively than the mid-table Brentford side he previously coached.

Honestly, there are quite a few players on Tottenham who deserve far more criticism than they are getting or are overpraised, but no player stands out more for being mediocre to subpar yet praised to the moon by a certain subsection of fans than left back Djed Spence.

Quite frankly, Spence's disrespectful snub of Frank and his blatant insubordination is alarming for a player who has been horrible this season. As much as people buy into his silly memes of locking down attacking players in his supposed penitentiery, Spence has been a fairly average defender statistically with 1.1 tackles, a meager 0.2 interceptions, and 0.6 dribbles completed per game.

Tottenham need to cut him loose

And offensively, Spence is borderline untenable and one of the worst fullbacks in the entire Premier League on the ball. He averages just 0.2 key passes per game, 0.7 dribbles per game, and 0.3 fouls drawn per game with more than two direct turnovers given up per match. Spence is atrocious offensively, creating almost literally nothing while failing to progress the ball meaningfully, and when he has to start over Destiny Udogie, the entire team crumbles.

The record of Tottenham on the pitch with and without Spence is stark, and yet there are Tottenham fans who praise him for being a great, scrappy defender. In reality, when he starts, he is one of the worst starters on the pitch, and he is regularly one of the least impressive players for Spurs, never meaningfully impacting the game.

Tottenham struggle to push forward and create so often, especially on that left flank, when Spence is in there, and that's no coincidence. Now, that doesn't mean Spurs are all that great without him, but Spence is an albatross to this team.

Preaching patience is important, but after Tottenham's jarring 1-0 loss to rivals Chelsea that, again, felt a lot more like a 5-0 defeat - and would have been without the continued heroics of Guglielmo Vicario in goal - Spurs supporters are quickly running out of patience.

Thomas Frank and the players are equally under a microscope for their roles in Tottenham's inability to play up to the standard of a team competing for the Champions League, and instead of stepping up to the big competitors as has traditionally been the case for Spurs, the Chelsea defeat is a warning shot that the tough schedule to come could be Frank's undoing.

His ballyhooed attacking midfield signing, Xavi Simons, has perhaps come under the most fire after another lackadaisical display in the middle of the pitch. Simons arrived to Tottenham with major hype after being close to a Bundesliga Player of the Season caliber player for RB Leipzig, but whereas Florian Wirtz has shined despite intense spotlight, Simons has managed to skate by with poor performances and very little mainstream criticism.

Well, that has certainly changed after Simons dropped an absolute dud of a performance in one of Tottenham's biggest matches of the season. Chelsea made mincemeat out of Spurs and Simons in particular, with the Dutchman looking far too slow both physically and mentally for the Premier League, which, unfortunately, has been the case for more than just this game.

Xavi Simons isn't meeting expectations

There are glimpses there, but glimpses are not worth the more than 50 million pounds it cost Spurs to sign him. Because instead, Spurs could have signed a significantly better, arguably generational, playmaking prospect in French left-footed Rayan Cherki, who joined Manchester City on a release clause worth nearly 20 million pounds less.

Simons was a great player in the Bundesliga, but Cherki was transcendent and squarely on Spurs radar. After struggling to get on the pitch due to injury, Cherki is flying high, and he just pulled out a brace of assists for the Citizens, which is something Simons has never come close to doing in the Tottenham kit.

Cherki is special, and Simons can be, but for the price and for the technical quality, Tottenham went with a lesser player. And Tottenham put themselves behind the eight ball with Cherki because of the whole Ange Postecoglou fiasco, failing to fire him soon enough before transitioning to Thomas Frank and opening up the possiblity of a Cherki move. Looking back, this may be the transfer Spurs regret if Simons doesn't step it up.

GK Guglielmo Vicario

Distribution was not great but had a good game in goal. Kept the score down and made some particularly good saves towards the end of each half. His positioning helped deal with some excellent Chelsea through balls as well. The loss today was not on Vicario. Â Rating: 7

RB Pedro Porro

Porro’s delivery has been a highlight this season, so it was strange to see that side of his game so poor today. Struggled to contribute going forward. Improved defensively in the second half but, like a lot of the team, couldn’t adapt to being given so little time on the ball.  Rating: 4

LB Djed Spence

Like Porro, Spence was limited going forward. Was better defensively though, doing well against Neto and putting in some strong challenges, particularly towards the end of the game. Was partly at fault for the situation that led to the goal, initially dribbling inside and trying to overplay, though Micky van de Ven and Xavi Simons had opportunities to clear afterwards. Â Rating: 5

CB Kevin Danso

Looked indecisiveness on the ball early on, caused by Chelsea’s press, and never really adapted since. Always committed, Danso struggled to impose himself on the game as he has been able to recently. Also lost a few physical challenges, which is unusual. Not his best game at all, and we needed more.  Rating: 3

CB Micky van de Ven

After his start to the season, this was not a game to remember. At fault for the goal, even if it was Simons’ weak pass that was the critical mistake, as he had two chances to clear and overplayed. Seemed to misjudge a lot of long balls. Improved when Christian Romero came on but this was a rare poor performance from Micky. Rating: 4

CM João Palhinha

Palhinha put in his usual number of strong challenges but was overrun in midfield by Caicedo in particular. Put in plenty of effort along with his tackles but struggled on the ball. Too often Palhinha looked like he wanted to get rid of the ball quickly which is another result of not dealing with the opposition press. As a result, passes seemed more hopeful than measured and gave the ball away. Â Rating: 4

CM Rodrigo Bentancur

Like Palinha but with less involvement in the defensive side of the game. Played the same hurried passes and looked uncomfortable in possession, which is usually a strength of his. Played a lot of the game further forward than we often see and did not seem to show the creativity needed in that role. Misjudged one ball that dropped to him in the Chelsea area from a throw that would have resulted in a good chance. Was also very fortunate not to be sent off in the first half. Rating: 3

CM Pape Matar Sarr

Our midfield was so overrun at times that it is difficult to distinguish Sarr’s performance from Bentancur’s or others as well. Plenty of running and effort but the game mostly seemed to pass him by. Once the Chelsea goal went in, Sarr found it even more difficult to get involved. Did not offer enough going forward and could not do enough defensively to stop Chelsea playing through. Has had much better games and will do again. Today was a struggle.  Rating: 3

RW Mohammed Kudus

Again, our only attacker who looked likely to create something, which is becoming a worrying trend. Even Kudus was off the pace today though. Had our only chance of the game and took it well enough but saw his shot saved. Faded in the second half and needs a lot more help going forward, especially in a game like this. Rating: 5

LW Xavi Simons (for Lucas Bergvall)

Simons was a substitute but came on very early for Bergvall as a concussion sub. Again, no lack of effort from Simons but not much went right today. Found it difficult to hold on to the ball and was too easily knocked off when in possession. The vision, ability, and awareness to create chances is there but Simons was again not able to impose himself on the game in which to do so. An example being an excellent stepover in the second half to beat his man, only to then be knocked off the ball (fairly) and lose possession straight after. Rating: 3

CF Randal Kolo Muani

Improved from last week’s performance at Everton, Muani still found it difficult. Was able to hold up the ball a bit more than we have seen before and had a good run in the first half which led to the Kudus chance. We didn’t see much more of Muani after that though, and our attack has looked very short recently from open play.  Rating: 3

Substitutes: Richarlison, Destiny Udogie, Christian Romero, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert

Encounters with Chelsea have rarely proven fruitful for Tottenham, but Thomas Frank will know that his team are facing a vulnerable iteration of the Blues on Saturday evening.

Enzo Maresca's positional approach was seized upon by Sunderland last weekend, as the impressive Black Cats claimed a dramatic late victory at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea subsequently returned to winning ways in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, holding off Wolves' second-half resurgence to win 4-3.

Spurs, on the contrary, exited the competition after a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle. Frank's men performed well in spells, but Antonín Kinsky's error for the Magpies' second stifled our hopes of coming from behind on Tyneside.

The hosts head into Saturday's game three points better off than their London rivals, who are down in ninth in a compact Premier League after nine games. However, the Blues have so often asserted their superiority complex to great effect in this fixture, and they've won nine of the previous 11 meetings.

Thus, a victory for Spurs here has the potential to truly ignite Thomas Frank's reign after a bright enough start.

Here's our preview of Saturday's London derby.

Tottenham vs Chelsea: Preview, Prediction & Lineups

What time does Tottenham vs Chelsea kick off?

Tottenham vs Chelsea kicks off on Saturday 1 November at 17:30 BST.

When is kick off? Saturday 1 November, 2025

What time is kick off? 17:30 BST

Where is it played? Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Referee:Â Jarred Gillett

Tottenham vs Chelsea head-to-head record (last five games)

How to watch Tottenham vs Chelsea on TV & live stream

Tottenham team news

Frank has confirmed that Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert are all available for selection on Saturday after brief absences. Romero and Udogie have missed the previous four games due to their injury setbacks, while a side strain kept Odobert out out action over the past week.

Chelsea's issues against man-oriented back threes means we could see Romero join a defence that also contains Kevin Danso. Pedro Porro and Djed Spence may operate as wing-backs, with Udogie ready to make an impact off the bench.

Despite welcoming three back, the injury list remains lengthy. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Archie Gray, Yves Bissouma, Radu Drăgușin, Kota Takai and Ben Davies are all out. Dominic Solanke won't be back until after the international break.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs Chelsea:Â Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Bentancur, Palhinha, Spence; Simons; Kudus, Kolo Muani.

Chelsea team news

Liam Delap's quick-fire double yellow on Wednesday night means he's suspended for Saturday's game, but the Englishman was unlikely to start anyway, having just recovered from a knee injury. João Pedro should lead the visitors' line despite his dip in form.

Cole Palmer is still out, and Chelsea also have Benoît Badiashile, Dário Essugo and Levi Colwill on the sidelines.

Brazilian pair Andrey Santos and Estêváo may have played their way into Saturday's XI after impressing at Molineux. Wesley Fofana could return to Chelsea's defence.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Tottenham: Sánchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Estêváo, Fernández, Neto; Pedro.

Tottenham vs Chelsea score prediction

My head is telling me that Chelsea show up, as they almost always do in this fixture, and walk away with three points. However, my heart is giving me hope.

Frank has a good record against the Blues (W3, D3, L2), and his adaptability matches up well against Maresca's rigid approach, which can be easy to game plan for. Spurs will go man-to-man in a bid to stifle Chelsea, and we saw Sunderland get the better of the Blues through the astute positioning of their full-backs.

There's plenty of quality within the visitors' ranks, but I think Frank could outmanoeuvre his opposite number and inspire the hosts to a rare triumph against our London rivals. It could be a special night under the lights in N17.

The 2-0 loss to Newcastle United didn't exactly teach Tottenham Hotspur supporters any earth-shattering lessons that they didn't already know or at least highly suspect, but a defeat like that, even when the team isn't particularly abhorrent, can often serve the important purpose of reenforcing key lessons that must stick with the organization for the rest of the season.

In the case of certain players who dropped absolute duds in this League Cup elimination matchup, their fates should be sealed soon - and not in a positive way. There's been enough criticism of Richarlison to go around, and while the striker was a major liability in the loss to Newcastle, he wasn't even Tottenham's worst player.

That cruel distinction is earned by Brennan Johnson, who was practically invisible in that starting lineup across 64 minutes on the right wing. Look, manager Thomas Frank actually did the right thing here by resting Mohammed Kudus before the massive Premier League fixture this weekend against top rivals Chelsea, but it's just so hard to justify resting Kudus in any game when the backup player is Johnson.

He's almost an automatic loss in the XI, because time after time again, he's royally stunk. Johnson was the hero in Bilbao with his goal to drag Spurs to the finish line over Manchester United in the Europa League Final, and Spurs supporters will forever be grateful for that historic bit of poaching.

Dejan Kulusevski is the perfect cover guy

But goodness gracious is he dreadful at just about everything else. Maybe Johnson could be competent if he were to take his defenders on more often, but it's a sight so rarely seen that you just wonder if it's because Johnson is not all there as an athlete or technically. He just doesn't play like a winger.

Johnson's issues and the lack of real right wing cover in terms of out-and-out progression and creativity may be rendered obsolete relatively soon, pending the return of Dejan Kulusevski. Though Kulu earned some critics with a few uneven performances in the 2024/25 season, he is a much, much better winger than Johnson, especially in terms of his progressive and defensive output.

Kulusevski is a guy who tracks back, makes things happen on the ball, eats up blades of grass, and sets his teammates up in good positions. He may not have the superstar quality of a starting right winger for a team like Tottenham that wants to push for Premier League titles, but that's why Spurs signed Kudus. In a backup role, Kulu is absolutely perfect behind Kudus, and he's certainly a superior option to Johnson every day of the week. Johnson's days are numbered, no question.

Dominic Solanke has not started a single game for Tottenham Hotspur in the 2025/26 Premier League season, and you'd be forgiven for forgetting that he's even appeared in three games this season across league play and the UEFA Super Cup, given he was a substitute in all of them.

A pesky ankle injury that has been slow to heal has held Solanke out of more than 10 games now, and it's the latest ailment the Spurs striker has suffered since joining the club for more than 60 million pounds in the summer 2024 transfer window.

The first truth Tottenham fans must acknowledge is that Solanke hasn't been worth the money to this point. Even his most pious of followers must admit that Solanke has not offered a return on that whopping investment, though his status as a transfer bust is perhaps mitigated by the fact that Richarlison has been worse for about the same amount of money and, more importantly, that Spurs probably would not have won the Europa League without Big Dom up top.

There is a second, more convenient truth, for Tottenham to walk away from the first one. Because even if we acknowledge that Solanke has not been a 65 million pound striker for Spurs and probably will never be that caliber of player, he is still very much one of the two best options that Tottenham have.

Dominic Solanke is better than Richarlison

Tottenham fans have been so eagerly anticipating Solanke's return to health, because Richarlison has been so woeful over the past several weeks. That's put a lot of pressure on Randal Kolo Muani, who is still adjusting from his own physical ailment and making an adjustment in a more general sense to the Premier League.

Spurs aren't sold on anyone at the striker position, and the harsh reality is that even as Solanke has not looked like a world-class striker, Tottenham 100 percent need him. Even if Solanke ends up merely being an average striker, which is the worst realistic case when you consider the theoretical talent that made Spurs spend so much to sign him from Bournemouth in 2024, that would still be a massive upgrade on whatever Richarlison has been doing.

Tottenham don't quite know when Big Dom will be back from this ankle injury, but it should be soon enough. Solanke isn't the end all be all and isn't an elite Premier League striker. But he's what Tottenham need. Those are two truths to live by.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters aren't exactly thrilled with Xavi Simons's output at the club since joining as one of the Premier League's most hyped transfers of the summer window, but even the most cynical of Spurs fans has to admit that Simons has been able to show glimpses of quality that give hope that he will come good for them.

Simons was a Bundesliga Player of the Year candidate type of player for RB Leipzig, and though he was overshadowed time after time, including as a transfer, by Florian Wirtz, Simons was an all-around maestro in midfield for sure.

Although Simons is showing the fight and the quality of touches, Tottenham fans have noticed that his threat has been curtailed, even in the No. 10 position. It's apparent that Simons isn't getting the ball enough near the goal and in those dangerous pockets that a 10 usually occupies, as the service from the more defensive Joao Palhinha and the highly underwhelming Rodrigo Bentancur just hasn't been adequate.

The key, then, is Thomas Frank getting it together and making the bold move he should have made weeks ago that Spurs fans have been practically begging for. Give Bentancur the axe and play Archie Gray more. No, no, not as a left back or a defender like Ange Postecoglou was doing but as a midfielder.

Tottenham need progression behind Xavi Simons

See, if Tottenham are going to make Simons their 10, then they need midfielders who can serve him up the ball. Palhinha is never going to be that guy, but his defending makes up for his lack of progressive passing. Bentancur, however, was supposed to be the deep-lying playmaker, but just as he did at Juventus, he is failing to meet the standards of play there at the highest level.

Gray, however, looks like a real gem, and every single time Frank has turned to him in midfield this season, he has looked like, by far, Tottenham's best progressive passer, and if you line up Simons's best games as a creator, they have come with Gray serving him woven and brave passes right behind him in the lineup.

Therefore, a sole individual, Gray, may be the key to helping unlock Simons, because he has a synergistic and compatible playing style with the Dutch international. Gray can be the one to break the lines with his dribbling and passing, enabling Simons to receive more passes in positions where he can actually affect the game for Spurs.

There's not much time left to commiserate over Tottenham Hotspur's shutout loss to Newcastle United, marking their elimination from the League Cup, on Wednesday night, but there is still plenty of time to chastise a starting player who should have already played himself out of the starting lineup weeks ago.

Perhaps with an eye to the London derby this weekend against fellow Champions League side Chelsea, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank elected to punt Randal Kolo Muani to the bench, instead gifting the start to Richarlison, who actually began the 2025/26 season under Frank as the starting striker.

That purple patch in the first few games of the campaign was very, very brief indeed, and Richarlison was predictably terrible against Newcastle. Well, to be quite blunt, he was even worse than expected, as he squandered several chances and genuinely didn't look like a striker. Though that last fact is about par for the course for Richy, since he's not really a natural 9, that fact became so apparent to Spurs supporters after this game that Richarlison's struggles have become the main talking point.

Richarlison at the striker position is a liability. In general, the striker position is a liability for Tottenham, because Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke - the only two valid options up top - haven't been healthy enough to get a significant run of games. Solanke, in fact, is still injured.

Newcastle taught Tottenham a lesson

Tottenham have to see that Richarlison cannot start up top any more. That Newcastle debacle has to be the last time, unless if literally everyone including Mathys Tel is injured all at the same time (apologies in advance for this potential jinx). Otherwise, Frank needs to bar Richarlison from his mind as even a semblance of an option at the striker position.

Spurs are straight up disjointed, lacking in threat, and totally destructured as an attack with him up top. It's just not working, and if anyone could sit there, including Frank, and pretend otherwise, then that sort of fallacious thinking was completely destroyed by Fabian Schar and Malick Thiaw, who showed the Brazilian international absolute levels in this League Cup encounter.

As Frank and the team regroup from this humbling against one Champions League side in the English top flight, they must take that as a serious learning point heading into an even tougher opponent against Chelsea. Richarlison cannot start. Period. The choice is now a battle between RKM and Big Dom.

It's easy to forget, but Thomas Frank has been playing this entire 2025/26 season shorthanded as he begins his journey with Tottenham Hotspur. James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, and Dejan Kulusevski are three key players from last season's Europa League winning team, yet none of them have been healthy enough to play this campaign due to lingering injuries from last season.

Maddison's importance to the team is blatantly obvious as one of the best playmakers in English football over the last decade, while Solanke is the most discussed of the three because of Spurs lingering problem at striker, which was further highlighted in the recent 2-0 loss to Newcastle by Richarlison's incompetence on the night.

But Kulusevski cannot be forgotten as a key player for Tottenham, and when he finally arrives from a tricky knee injury, which could be as soon as a month, Spurs are going to be much, much better off for it.

Kulu is now an experienced veteran attacking player, and, last season under Ange Postecoglou, he showed off some serious versatility. One of the best right wingers in Serie A from a young age at Parma, the Swedish international moved to Juventus and then played even better at Tottenham. Then last season, he moved to midfield and was quite good as a 10 and respectable as an 8.

Dejan Kulusevski is an asset

With his progression, creativity, and work rate, Kulusevski can be a real asset to Spurs and what they are missing. Tottenham signed two potentially transformative young players this summer in right winger Mohammed Kudus and No. 10 Xavi Simons, but they have no help at those positions behind them.

If Kudus needs rest, they have to go with Brennan Johnson, who cannot create, defend, take players on, or progress the ball like a winger should. Kulusevski, of course, very much can do those things, and he can do them at a high level.

Meanwhile, Simons isn't hitting it off yet, and Kulusevski can bring a different element or even light a fire under the Dutchman. When he returns, he can give Tottenham more flexibility and consistency in the attacking midfield until Simons fully integrates into English football, which appears to be an issue for him.

Kulusevski may be a forgotten man because of how long he has been on the shelf and how many new faces there are at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but when he gets back from that knee injury, there are two key roles for him to knock out.

Tottenham Hotspur were completely shut out again, falling 2-0 in the League Cup, as Nick Woltemade and Newcastle eliminated Thomas Frank's men early from the competition, taking one trophy off the table for Spurs already.

Following a 3-0 win over Everton, Totenham were hoping to have a strong showing against the Magpies on Wednesday night, but, instead, Spurs supporters watched as the same issues plagued the Champions League side.

Telling were the absences of superstar center backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. The latter has been out for a few games with an injury since being pulled at the last second from the previous weekend's Premier League fixture against Aston Villa, which ended up being a 2-1 loss for Spurs.

Romero isn't ready yet, and with Chelsea looming on the horizon this coming Premier League weekend, the Argentinian international was held out of the XI again. Meanwhile, Spurs also decided to give Micky van de Ven some rest for the League Cup encounter, even though he was vital to the last victory over Everton with a brace from the center back position.

Tottenham were worse than expected

Without one of the best center back partnerships in world football available, Spurs predictably struggled, but the extent to which they struggled without Romero and Van de Ven may have surprised even their biggest supporters.

Though the scoreline didn't fully reflect how the game went, Tottenham did visibly suffer without the central defenders in the lineup. They were noticeably worse defensively without the same quality, organization, and athleticism to make up for mistakes. And on the ball, they just didn't have that oomph, and it's obvious that even though Romero and Van de Ven are center backs, Spurs are miles better offensively and carry more of a goal threat with them.

Tottenham are essentially a lock to lose if Romero and Van de Ven are both out. That's not anything Kevin Danso can be blamed for, because he's a fabulous third center back, and both he and Van de Ven delivered weekend monsterclasses in that 3-0 win over Everton.

The thing is, if both Romero and Van de Ven are out of the lineup, Tottenham just don't have the stability and star power. They can't miss these two guys who control the game, paper over mistakes, and carry the ball wonderfully. Spurs were beaten from the moment they stepped onto the pitch without VDV and Romero.