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Despite the emergence of a one-in-a-million striker in Harry Kane and the underwhelming spells from English midfielders Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp, Tottenham Hotspur have been short of elite homegrown talent for some time now.

This issue has also had different repercussions, such as being forced to name a 24-man UEFA Europa League squad rather than 25, meaning the likes of Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon were not registered. This forced a pile-up of games on Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro, with the Italian now set for 8 weeks on the sidelines.

Whilst there hasn't been too much to celebrate on the pitch for the first team, especially in terms of silverware with the club still trophyless since 2008, the academy has been making waves and if there is one thing for fans to look forward to it's most definitely the future, which is looking rather bright.

Debuts galore

One key positive takeaway from the opening 28 months of the Ange Postecoglou reign is the Australian's willingness to put faith in the youth academy.

Under Antonio Conte, youth was his secondary thought, and he was often known to take players from Wayne Burnett's training sessions to use them, essentially, as mannequins in his own sessions.

Since Postecoglou joined in June 2023, four academy graduates have been granted debuts, and a whole host of others have made the bench, albeit partly down to the recent injury crisis.

Last season it was Jamie Donley - now performing excellently on loan at League One side Leyton Orient - whilst Mikey Moore reached new heights before a lengthy bout of illness. The winger became the club's youngest-ever player at 16 years, 9 months and 3 days when he took to the field against none other than eventual champions Manchester City.

So far in the 2024/25 season, Moore made two starts in the Europa League before he was handed his first Premier League start in the absence of captain Heung-Min Son at Crystal Palace in October.

Will Lankshear has also started twice in Europe, scoring on one occasion, before Alfie Dorrington made his debut in the 5-0 drubbing of Southampton just before Christmas. It's not only academy graduates given the nod by the former Celtic Manager, with 18-year-olds Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, two summer signings, both featuring regularly too.

Talisman Lankshear

Will Lankshear's goal on his second-ever start for the senior team will come as no surprise to those who followed his 2023/24 campaign for the Under 21's. The former Sheffield United youth academy man hit a mesmerising 25 goals in 26 appearances last season, including countless late winners.

He was handed his first start away to Ferencvaros in the Europa League, and although he didn't score, he produced a tidy performance, earning himself another chance to shine away to Turkish giants Galatasaray. Despite seeing red for a rash tackle in the second half, the 19-year-old scored away in Turkey and introduced himself to the Tottenham faithful after an impressive pre-season.

Since then, he has been named among the substitutes in each of Spurs' last nine Premier League matches and will be eagerly awaiting his next opportunity, which could come away to National League side Tamworth in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Second coming of Mikey Moore

Whilst Mikey Moore has been tipped to be a starlet, there is another youngster, in a similar role, who has been making a name for himself, and that's 16-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett.

The attacking midfielder, who can also play on either wing, has had a stellar season so far that has seen him score ten times and assist on a further seven occasions in just ten appearances in all competitions. Alongside these figures, he has also been called up to take a place on the bench for the first team on four occasions.

It is pretty impossible to pick one standout moment for Williams-Barnett, who has still not yet been offered a scholarship due to the fact he is an Under 16 player, in 2024. He has scored twice from the halfway line in the U18 Premier League, whilst he also registered three assists in the same game in the FA Youth Cup, as The Young Lilywhites won 3-2 against Middlesbrough at Hotspur Way.

The lore from Spurs' Enfield training base is that he could be the next big thing. He's exciting, a player who loves to drop in and pick up the ball and put opposition defences on the back foot and cause chaos in the final third. However, the club must ensure a smooth progression to the next steps, having already lost out on the likes of Marcus Edwards and Noni Madueke in recent years.

Utilising the loan system

Another issue that has loomed over the academy in recent years has been the lack of good loan spells for youth players.

In the past, Dane Scarlett has had numerous failed temporary moves away from N17, including a short spell at Ipswich Town which saw him feature for a measly 146 minutes over 19 fixtures, making zero starts in the Championship.

The Englishman, who was hotly tipped by former head coach Jose Mourinho to be a future star, has not yet lived up to the hype, however, he is now beginning to find his feet at Oxford United in the second tier of English football. In 2024, despite only scoring four goals, Scarlett has produced plenty of good performances and has made 19 appearances during the current campaign so far.

There are two players who have significantly caught the eye of onlooking Tottenham fans in the first half of the 2024/25 season, and they are both plying their trade under Richie Wellens at Brisbane Road.

Leyton Orient snapped up both Josh Keeley and Jamie Donley on season-long loan deals in the summer, as they looked to bolster their squad for their second season in League One. Although both struggled to find their feet in the early stages of the campaign, they are now excelling and are one of the main reasons for The O's current eight-game unbeaten run.

The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper had made just one start up until the middle of October, but he has now played 90 minutes in every game since. He heroically scored an extra-time winner in the FA Cup second-round victory over Oldham Athletic, having saved a penalty to send Orient through in the previous round. he followed up that match-winning header with an assist the next week.

In what could be an almighty blow to Orient's charge up the table, shot-stopper Keeley could be set for a loan move higher up the pyramid in the January window. Meanwhile, Jamie Donley has been a standout performer in Wellens' side over the last few weeks.

The 20-year-old has started the last seven games after an extended run which saw him on the bench or left out entirely. In this time, he has hit three goals and two assists, earning back both the manager and fans' trust, whilst he has helped fire the East Londoners towards the play-offs.

Additionally, George Abbott has had a largely successful first half of the season with Notts County in League Two and could be another Spurs loanee to step up the leagues this month. The midfielder recovered from an injury to be a crucial part of the Under-21 side last season, before making the jump to regular senior football, having made his professional debut in May 2023.

In Belgium, Alfie Devine has stepped it up a level for KVC Westerlo, whilst Ashley Phillips has arguably been Stoke City's best defender and could potentially be recalled to help solve the horrendous defensive injury crisis. The duo spent the first half of the year on loan with Plymouth Argyle, where they also impressed.

Under-21's success

In the newly revamped Premier League 2 format, The Lilywhites' Development Team continued a great start to the season as they lost just twice in the second half of the league phase of the campaign, earning themselves the top spot ahead of the knockout phase.

In a ding-dong battle with Aston Villa, Will Lankshear scored a 100th-minute winner, before Nile John's 90th-minute strike was enough to surpass Chelsea to set up a final date with Sunderland. Having also seen off Liverpool in the previous round.

At the last hurdle, they surpassed The Black Cats' Under-21 side in front of a crowd of 4,182 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to lift the trophy, thanks to a brace from Lankshear and a late goal from captain George Abbott.

In the Premier League Cup, Spurs also reached the final at Craven Cottage, and despite losing 4-0 they had a memorable run to the final two.

Despite losing 3-0 at St Albans City against Peterborough United, a victory against The Posh in the return fixture and two wins against both Sunderland and Bristol City, where Lankshear scored an 89th-minute winner, secured safe passage through to the knockouts.

Fleetwood travelled to N17 for the round of 16 but an 11-minute Will Lankshear hat-trick and four assists from Jamie Donley blew The Cod Army away.

They travelled to the Midlands in the quarter-finals to take on Aston Villa. Two late goals from Jamie Donley and Will Lankshear saw persistence pay off before the late-late show at the Lamex Stadium was needed again to beat Nottingham Forest.

Trailing 3-0 at the break after a blitz inside 36 minutes, Wayne Burnett rallied his troops, who lived up to his half-time team talk. Two minutes shy of the hour mark, Dante Cassanova pulled one back, before a penalty from Lankshear seven minutes later restored faith.

However, with no way through, the Under 21's were on the brink of elimination before Damola Ajayi's 91st-minute equaliser, and the goalscorer was involved again as Tottenham completed their comeback with nine seconds of additional time remaining. Ajayi's cross was eventually slammed home by Yago Santiago to secure a stunning comeback.

Despite tasting the bitterness of defeat in the final, it was a memorable run for Burnett and his team.

Under-18's to be taken seriously

Last season, although they ended up finishing fourth, and despite sitting in the same position this season, they are just four points off the top of the table.

There has been an influx of quality added to the side in the summer, with the likes of Elijah Upson, Ronny Moncur and George Feeney - son of former Premier League defender Matthew Upson, grandson of John Moncur and former Northern Ireland player Warren Feeney, respectively.

The turn of the year always offers the chance for renewed vitality and hope. Even in the case of football seasons that run from September to May, January is often used as a marker not only to assess the current season but checking the status of longer-term progress.

That is very much the case for Tottenham Hotspur. Optimism surrounding the Europa League and Carabao Cup has been contrasted with middling league form, which has left them in 11th after nineteen games.

These topsy-turvy performances have led to further interrogation of the club's direction. With that in mind, here are some ‘resolutions’ that Spurs could make to ensure that 2025 and the years beyond are more fruitful than recent months.

Committing to Ange Postecoglou

In June 2023, Ange Postecoglou ended his glittering stint at Celtic to take the reins at a Tottenham side without European football and any semblance of identity on and off the pitch.

A year-and-a-half later, it is fair to say things have not gone entirely smoothly, especially in the rocky opening months of this season where Spurs currently sit 12th in the Premier League and have lost nine of their nineteen outings so far.

Some fans and pundits have pointed to Postecoglou’s steadfast attitude and unwillingness to compromise on his full-throttle approach, and that not being more defensive in crucial moments is costing the Lilywhites.

Others, such as vice-captain Cristian Romero, have pointed to the board room.

"The last few years, it's always the same - first the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it's always the same people responsible," the World Cup winner said after the 4-3 home defeat to Chelsea.

Club chairman Daniel Levy has been keen to emphasise the ownership’s desire to have a team play the ‘Tottenham way’ – a sentiment which largely derives from the push and run side of Arthur Rowe and Bill Nicholson’s double winners that sees Spurs winning with style rather than “waiting for [the opposition] to die of boredom” as Danny Blanchflower put it.

“We made a conscious decision that we wanted a coach who would understand what we really wanted as a Club, which was to play attacking football,” Levy explained after Postecoglou was appointed.

“To enable everyone to enjoy coming to a match and be entertained.”

One certainty is that Postecoglou’s brand of football is not boring. It aligns closer with the club’s motto of 'To Dare Is to Do' than any version of Jose Mourinho’s or Antonio Conte’s sides ever would. However, if form continues to be as up and down as it has been, the tendency to think the grass will be greener under another head coach will always creep in.

At the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Postecoglou will be halfway through his initial four-year contract. The awarding of such a lengthy deal from Levy and Co. seemingly suggested the board’s acceptance that such a project would take a larger slice of time than the apparent quick fix of a Mourinho or Conte, but that backing will have to last.

Not least because of a fairly scant managerial market and the fact that staying true to Postecoglou would allow his high-intensity methods to further soak into the players. And with a slew of young players making up the squad, that kind of repetition may well reap rewards in due course.

Deep runs into the Europa League and FA Cup, as well as edging past Liverpool in the EFL Cup, would do the Australian’s vision a world of good for the fans still unsure of his ideas. Because one thing for certain is that this style of play is going nowhere.

"If people want me to change my approach, it’s not going to change," Postecoglou said after the loss to Arne Slot's men last month.

"We are doing it for a reason, we are doing it because we think it will help us to be successful."

A common reference point for trusting in managers has been across the capital at the Emirates Stadium, where Mikel Arteta has pushed Arsenal to the brink of the league title twice in a row after three seasons of finishing eighth and fifth.

Despite the difference in experience and play style, there are parallels in how the Spaniard spoke about his team before they began to challenge Manchester City.

“I think this project is going to go ‘bang’,” he said in 2021 after exiting the FA Cup in the fourth round and languishing in tenth place in the league during his first full season in charge. “This is where we are but sometimes it is difficult to see the moment now, but I'm sure [of] where we are going.”

The trouble for Postecoglou is the cut-throat reality of the results business, as many a manager in North London has found over the years. Often incredibly harshly, such as Mauricio Pochettino being sacked six months after reaching a UEFA Champions League final and Mourinho a week prior to the League Cup final.

For Levy and ENIC Group, sticking beside Postecoglou would be one way of showing they have changed and are willing to lend him more of a chance of success. It would at least feel like there is a semblance of plan in place, rather than simply seeing what sticks.

Target the Carabao Cup

With every passing year since 2008, a trophy has been firmly on the Tottenham agenda and the Carabao Cup is the soonest opportunity for them to remedy that.

Facing a formidable Liverpool side who have only lost one game so far this season is a tricky proposition, especially in the wake of the Reds' 6-3 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December.

Defeating Slot's side, however, would be a huge mental boost for a Spurs team who have been susceptible even in strong spells of form. Meeting either Arsenal or Newcastle United in the final is also far from straightforward, but is the exact obstacle Tottenham will need to overcome at some point if they are ever to quench their trophy drought.

In the long run, Tottenham finally claiming silverware would be major weight lifted off the shoulders of the team and fanbase at large, and act as a perfect motivator for further titles towards the tail end of the season and in the years to come.

Find a solid number six

There are many areas where Tottenham need reinforcements. Centre-back and full-back have proved problematic through injuries to Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Ben Davies and an overreliance on the likes of Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie, who both look off the pace this season.

Upgraded rotational options on the wings and a ball-playing backup goalkeeper may also be on the shopping list, but perhaps Spurs’ most glaring issue comes in the heart of midfield.

Under Postecoglou, the position has often been filled by Rodrigo Bentancur or Yves Bissouma, although they have struggled to nail down the role as their own.

Bentancur can be better utilised further up in midfield while Bissouma has struggled to assert himself as a leader on the pitch, lapsing into lacklustre showings all too often to earn the spot going forth.

Elsewhere in the squad, Archie Gray has been touted as the future holder of this role. It seemed that - given he was a new signing and a very young player - Postecoglou was reluctant to throw him into the position so early into his Tottenham career.

However, the composure and physicality he has shown as a placeholder central defender has been hugely impressive and warrants more of a chance further up.

Another option is to invest, although there are constraints. A high-quality number six is possibly the most coveted position in the world currently. The scarcity of such players combined with Rodri’s Ballon d’Or-worthy form means any defensive midfielder capable of keeping the tempo ticking along nicely will have their price inflated.

Not ideal news for Tottenham, with the ENIC Group historically favouring bargains over big spending. The likes of Exequiel Palacios or Éderson may be choice selections but are likely to cost upwards of £70 million. There is also stiff competition for such players from other clubs who boast more financial power and can offer Champions League football.

Whether internally or externally sourced, it is a position Tottenham will need to rectify if they are to challenge regularly for the silverware they crave.

Decide on how to replace Heung-min Son

There is going to be a time when Tottenham will have to wave goodbye to Heung-min Son. In a near decade’s worth of service, the South Korean has become one of the Lilywhites’ best loved players, taking up the captaincy last year and moving fifth in the club’s all-time top scorers list.

Off the pitch, his near-legendary status in his home nation has also brought in swathes of supporters from overseas and his infectious energy makes him a staple of behind-the-scenes content and branding.

Now, however, that fateful time has come. With his contract up at the end of the season, the decision will have to be made sooner rather than later. It is similar to Mohamed Salah’s situation at Liverpool, though, unlike the Egyptian, Son has not spoken about his deal publicly.

The London Evening Standard reported in September that Tottenham were about to trigger an optional additional year, but since then there have been rumblings of uncertainty due to the radio silence from both parties.

If Son is to call time on his time in Tottenham, the hope from a supporters’ point-of-view is that Spurs will have learnt some lessons from the last time they face another daunting task of replacing a modern great.

Harry Kane left North London for Bayern Munich a day before the beginning of last season, leaving Postecoglou with Richarlison and an out-of-position Son as his number nines.

Tottenham are already similarly bare in the left-wing slot Son occupies, with Mikey Moore the only player with a definite future there given the unlikelihood of Timo Werner making his loan permanent.

As with the number six, a left-winger of Son’s quality would be difficult to pick up for cheap, though there is a greater chance of buying developing talent in this position instead.

Realistically, this should be an area Spurs should be seeking to fill regardless of whether Son stays or not as his powers have already begun to wane. Five goals and six assists from sixteen matches is not the kind of output that made him the star he is.

The 32-year-old’s overall influence on proceedings has also dwindled during this campaign and has not been able to take control of games as he has in yesteryear.

Should the captain commit his future to the club, we would have to see a Son who has to rely more on positioning and movement off-the-ball in order to maximise his expert finishing abilities, rather than the bursts of pace and slick dribbling he has utilised so well down the years.

This would perhaps mean adapting to become a supplementary striker since Postecoglou likes his wingers to stretch the play. Whether Son would be happy fulfilling such a role is questionable as many top clubs across Europe would still jump at the opportunity to sign him.

He has been viewed as near irreplaceable for so long, but Spurs will simply have to contend with the fact that Son is not the long-term solution anymore.

From Son's perspective, it is the same quandary Kane found himself in: stick with Tottenham and pray for a trophy to further cement a place in the club's history, or leave for pastures new in order to compete for the biggest prizes in European football? Only time will tell.

Blooding in more academy stars

The previous two seasons have been thoroughly successful for the Tottenham academy. Collecting trophies at Under-17, Under-18, and Under-21 level has led to huge excitement over the next generation of homegrown players emerging from Hotspur Way.

The likes of Moore and Will Lankshear in particular have been getting regular first team action this season, with Alfie Dorrington, Callum Olusesi, and Malachi Hardy being named on the bench occasionally.

Meanwhile, Jamie Donley, Dane Scarlett, and George Abbott are undergoing lower league loan spells to varying degrees of success.

Talent coming out of their clubs’ academies is something nearly all football fans like to see. There’s an extra feeling of pride and connection to those who have risen through the ranks of the club, which, in turn, can sometimes lead to being scrutinised even more - as Harry Winks or Oliver Skipp could attest to.

And in the age of Financial Fair Play, the potential profit to be made on academy products has become invaluable to wealthier outfits.

Postecoglou’s system requires a lot of energy, repetition, and willingness to learn - all of which are a perfect fit for young players looking to break into the first eleven. Especially in the cases of Dorrington, Moore and Lankshear, whose positions already offer chances to make good of.

Tottenham being able to call upon multiple academy players at once is relatively new, but something that should be taken more advantage of this year.

Tottenham vs Wolverhampton LIVE Score Updates, Stream Info and How to Watch Premier League Match  VAVEL.com

A cold and foggy night at the City Ground saw Tottenham edged out by Nottingham Forest 1-0.

Spurs started the match by looking lively, but they couldn’t sustain their tempo, which eventually led to Morgan Gibbs-White finding Anthony Elanga to give the Reds a goal and lead them into half-time 1-0 up.

The second half wasn't much better for Spurs as nothing seemed to work for the Lilywhites and Forest were closing them down at every opportunity.

A late red card from Djed Spence sealed Tottenham's fate and they lost the match narrowly 1-0.

Here are the Tottenham player ratings.

Tottenham Player Ratings

Fraser Forster - 6/10

Forster has been in the spotlight recently for his subpar performances but he was strong in net during the match.

A much better passing game from him and a few good saves kept Forest from running away with the game.

Djed Spence - 3/10

Ange Postecoglou started Djed Spence yet again but the right-back had a game to forget.

A silly mistake in the 94th minute saw him see red after a second bookable offence, one that will cost Spurs, especially with the side's defensive struggles currently,

Radu Dragusin - 4/10

The summer signing seems to have struggled in the Spurs defence this season, and he struggled again today.

A yellow card and some nervy moments, it was another struggle game for Radu Dragusin,

Dragusin also picked up an unfortunate injury near to the end of the match, one that will not help Spurs' issues in defence.

Archie Gray - 5/10

Archie Gray was played out of position yet again with Spurs' lack of central defenders, but the 18-year-old had a decent game.

Solid playing it out of the back, and he did what he needed to do when called upon to defend.

Destiny Udogie - 4/10

Destiny Udogie returned to the starting 11 but just couldn't get up to the speed of the game.

He looked physically off of it during the game and was partially to blame for Forest's opener.

Rodrigo Bentancur - 5/10

Rodrigo Bentancur was straight back into the starting line-up after returning from his seven-game suspension but was not at his best in the game.

Playing in the number 6 role saw the Uruguayan often swamped by Forest’s midfield, Spurs look like they needed a proper number 6.

Pape Matar Sarr - 5/10

Pape Matar Sarr had his moments in the match but seemed to be overrun in midfield quite a few times.

Sarr was also caught out for Forest’s first-half goal. Not the best of days for the Senegalese man.

Dejan Kulusevski - 6/10

Arguably Spurs' best player in the match and the one who looked the most like they wanted to win.

Dejan Kulusevski stood out again in midfield. Nothing paid off unfortunately, but he still put on a show in the centre of the pitch.

Brennan Johnson - 6/10

The former Forest man returned to the City Ground with a solid performance.

Brennan Johnson played with flare on the right wing, but nothing seemed to pay off for him.

Heung-Min Son - 4/10

A poor game by the captain's standards, nothing seemed to work for Heung-Min Son during the game.

His final ball let down a fair few attacks, a day to forget for the South Korean.

Dominic Solanke - 6/10

Dominic Solanke had a hard time picking up the ball but did his job well when he had the ball at his feet.

Not much could be done during the game with a lack of service, but a hard worker nonetheless.

Substitutes

James Maddison - 6/10

Some argue that James Maddison should've started the game, and he showed why people were arguing that point.

A lively cameo from him, running all over the park to win the ball back and having a few efforts blocked, a good substitution.

Lucas Bergvall - 5/10

Coming on alongside Maddison, Bergvall also played well in midfield.

He wasn't called upon much but was there when needed.

Pedro Porro - 5/10

Only a 10-minute cameo from Pedro Porro with not much to do.

Looked sharp when he had the ball however.

Timo Werner - 5/10

A solid cameo for Timo Werner coming on alongside Porro.

A few balls into the box that were testing the Forest defence, but nothing that ended in a big chance.

Yves Bissouma - 5/10

Coming on for the injured Dragusin, Yves Bissouma was thrown into the centre-back position.

Hard to comment on his game, only a few minutes into the match, but Spurs' defensive problems are now at an all-time high.

Spurs lose out 6-3 to Liverpool at home, with Spurs' goals coming from James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham lost their final game before Christmas to Arne Slot's Liverpool, a game in which the Lilywhites were on the back foot for the whole 90.

Tottenham made no changes from their 4-3 win over Man United in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup, but Destiny Udogie did return to the bench following a slight injury.

Ange Postecoglou spoke pre-match on the criticism of his style of play and the concept of his football, saying how, "I don't need validity, and it won't change"

Postecoglou stuck by that, going all out against the Redmen, but Arne Slot's counterattacking football came out on top.

Spurs will head into their boxing day clash against Nottingham Forest eight points off of them and 11th in the table.

Story of the Match

Ange Postecoglou stuck with what worked in their previous match, with Djed Spence still starting ahead of the returning Destiny Udogie at left-back.

A scary start for Spurs saw Mohammed Salah come close, hitting the side netting after a wayward pass from Fraser Forster fell directly to him.

Liverpool looked quick from the off, and Spurs were looking nervy with their passes out from the back.

Salah came close again in the 10th minute, but a big save from Forster kept the game goalless.

Liverpool were getting the chances, but Spurs were holding off well, forcing the away side to take their shots quickly.

Another chance for Salah saw the Egyptian hit the bar this time, his fifth attempt in just the first 20 minutes.

Liverpool got their opener just minutes later, a pinpoint cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold found Luiz Diaz, who headed it past Forster.

It was poor marking from the Spurs defence, and they found themselves a goal down.

At the 30-minute mark, Spurs were pushing with their regular attacking football, but nothing was working for the Lilywhites.

The evening got worse for Tottenham though, a ball into the box was met by Dominik Szoboszlai who headed it into the air for it to be contested.

Alexis Mac Allister came running in however to head the ball home and put the Redmen 2-0 up.

However, just minutes later, Spurs grabbed a lifeline through James Maddison.

Dejan Kulusevski won the ball off of Mac Allister high up the pitch and played it to Maddison who curled it in past Alisson.

The game was still up for grabs for Spurs who cut the deficit to only one goal just minutes before the end of the first 45.

Not too long after Spurs' lifeline, the woes came back for the home side as Liverpool grabbed a third.

Radu Dragusin missed a header which allowed Salah through on goal, the Egyptian then played the ball to Szoboszlai who put it through Forster's legs.

The half-time whistle then blew, and Spurs were down by two with the scoreline reading 3-1 to Liverpool.

Tottenham started the second half looking lively but still making the same mistakes with passes as they were in the first half.

Liverpool, on the other hand, were showing no signs of slowing down and quickly grabbed a fourth.

A shot from Cody Gakpo was blocked by Archie Gray, Szoboszlai's follow-up effort was also blocked by Gray, but the second follow-up from Salah was put into the back of the net.

Spurs were looking down and out being 4-1 down, but were still sticking to their style of play.

The goals didn't stop there, and on the hour mark, Liverpool grabbed a fifth.

A quick counter saw Szoboszlai run through and play it into Salah, the Egyptian placed it in easily to make the scoring 5-1.

It marked the first time Spurs had conceded five at home in their new stadium.

A second goal came the way for Spurs with 20 minutes to go, and it was from the man on form, Kulusevski.

A lofted ball from Dominic Solanke saw Kulusevski volley it home and cut Spurs' deficit to only three goals.

Spurs continued their attacking efforts, and 10 minutes later, they grabbed a third.

A ball into the box saw substitute Brennan Johnson head it down for Solanke who on the turn hit it past Alisson in net.

Spurs made it 5-3, but Liverpool were quick, and just a minute later, made the score 6-3.

Luis Diaz grabbed his second following a cute ball from Salah.

With five minutes to go, the action was showing no signs of slowing down, both sides were still attacking in numbers.

Added time finally saw the game slow down, and the whistle eventually blew.

A game of frantic action was finally over, and Liverpool came out on top, winning 6-3.

Player of the Match - Archie Gray

Despite the result, the 18-year-old played his heart out in the centre of defence.

Gray was played yet again out of position but did well when called upon, a fair few goals were conceded, but Gray stood out amongst the team.

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In the Premier League...

Referring only to the times they have faced each other in the Premier League, we count 162 duels, where the numbers are in favor of Liverpool with 78 wins, while Tottenham has won 43, for a balance of 41 draws.

If we take into account the number of times Tottenham has played at home against Liverpool in the Premier League, there are 81 matches, where Spurs have the advantage with 37 wins over the 26 that the Reds have won, and 18 draws.

Liverpool had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Fulham during their last Premier League match, so they come into the game with the opportunity and responsibility to recover points they have let slip away.

Now unbeaten in 20 games in all competitions, the Reds have been in the top half of the Premier League, however, their lead is no longer insurmountable and they must get the three points.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking forward to matchday 17 after a 5-0 away win over Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium and after knocking Manchester United out of the EFL Cup to qualify for the semifinals.

After breaking a four-game winless streak in all competitions on home soil, the next objective for Ange Postecoglu's side will be to avoid going four games without a home win in the Premier League, something they have not suffered since 2013.

This stadium is also preparing to be one of the venues for the next UEFA EURO, to be held in 2028.

My name is Jhonatan Martínez and I will be your host for this match. We will bring you pre-match analysis, score updates and live news here on VAVEL.

Tottenham have so far gifted Crystal Palace and Ipswich their first victories of the season, but any inclination that the team's tendency to gift points to lower table sides was quickly put to bed with five first half goals.

The first came through vice-captain James Maddison inside 36 seconds, Tottenham's quickest Premier League goal since 2018. Djed Spence, who made his first top flight start for the Lilywhites, cleverly turned his marker on the half way line and accelerated towards the Southampton penalty area, before slotting through his compatriot who calmly finished through the legs of Alex McCarthy.

Boos echoed around St. Marys for under siege Russell Martin, as Southampton's defence carelessly gave away another two goals in quick succession courtesy of Son Heung-Min and Dejan Kulusevski.

The home side made a substitution after just quarter of an hour and reverted to three at the back, but the onslaught continued, with Pape Matar Sarr scoring his fourth goal of the season with a well taken finish, after maneuvering his way through the lacklustre Saints defence in the 25th minute.

Maddison added a fifth on the stroke of half time, with an incredible, powerful right-footed shot from a tight angle, to stun the already infuriated Southampton fans.

The home side managed to hold out in the second half to avoid what many feared could have been another humiliating and record equalling or record breaking defeat - having lost 9-0 twice in the past five years.

The result will significantly boost the confidence of Ange Postecoglou's side, who were winless in five prior to kick-off.

The win will no doubt increase their hopes of beating Manchester United in their vital League Cup quarter-final clash on Thursday, as they desperately aim to end their near 17 year trophy drought.

Tottenham Player Ratings

Fraser Forster - 8

Forster returned to his former club with his sights set on continuing his fine run of form, since stepping in for the injured Guglielmo Vicario.

The Englishman did just that, although not tested too often, Forster was worked on a few occasions in the second half and was secure in his handling when called upon.

Djed Spence - 9

The number 24 really seems to have revitalised his Tottenham career, after multiple loans spells and strong links of a permanent move away.

Spence's impressive assist was followed up with a solid defensive display, also maintaining possession well while under high press, when playing out from the back.

Radu Dragusin - 8

Dragusin commanded the thin Tottenham defence with authority and often cleared the danger after the sparse Southampton attacks.

Archie Gray - 9

The 18-year-old deserves so much praise. Gray has had limited opportunities since joining in the summer, but when called upon to play in a completely unfamiliar centre back role, has really stepped in when his side were in desperate need of a central defender, due to their abundance of absentees.

Destiny Udogie - 7

Tottenham's misery of constantly losing defenders to injury was worsened when the Italian had to be replaced after half an hour.

Until then, Udogie was dominant in winning his duals and it was his tackle to regain possession, which eventually led to his side's third.

Pape Matar Sarr - 8

Sarr made regular interceptions and always looked to advance the play forward after receiving the ball.

The Senegalese midfielder took his goal superbly, dribbling through a tight space between defenders, before poking the ball in with an outstretched left leg.

James Maddison - 9

Maddison continued his pursuit of regaining his international spot, with a fantastic performance. He took his two goals with sublime precision and really acted as the catalyst in every Tottenham attack.

Lucas Bergvall - 8

The Swede impressed during his first Premier league start, making some fine passes and showcasing neat footwork. Sometimes he took a bit too long on the ball and was subsequently dispossessed, but nothing drastic that can't be rectified with practice.

Dejan Kulusevski - 8

Tottenham's player of the season so far was once again fundamental in his side's victory.

Kulusevski caused trouble for the Saints from both the right wing and central midfield and added to his goal tally with a poachers finish.

Domonic Solanke - 6

A frustrating evening for the striker, who would have been desperate to get on the scoresheet.

Son Heung-Min - 9

The South Korean has suffered one of his more difficult seasons in his tenth campaign for the club.

Yesterday however, Son scored his 16th goal against Southampton, netting more against them than any other side. He also registered two assists, making him Tottenham's record assist provider in the Premier League (68).

Substitutes

Pedro Porro - 6

After his introduction in the 28th minute, Porro was rarely troubled in the right back position but was caught on his heels on a couple of occasions.

Brennan Johnson - 5

The Welshman was often wasteful and didn't pose much threat going forward. He also squandered a great opportunity from close range, which he would have been offside for anyway.

Alfie Dorrington - 7

The 19-year-old centre back impressed on his debut, keeping calm in possession and eliminating threat. A great opportunity to gain some experience, especially considering he may be called upon soon, with Tottenham's lack of defensive options.

Timo Werner - 6

After being heavily scrutinised by his manager for his poor performance against Rangers on Thursday, Werner didn't get many opportunities to make amends but also didn't make any mistakes.

Will Lankshear - 6

The young striker linked up play well during his short spell on the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur's visit to the St Mary's Stadium pitted Ange Postecoglou and Russell Martin - two managers under increasing pressure - against on another with both looking to arrest their side's poor form.

Ravaged by injury, the Spurs boss will be delighted that his side won the match very early on, giving him the opportunity to protect his threadbare squad in the second half ahead of Thursday's Carabao Cup quarter final.

Spurs got off to a flying start with James Maddison capping off an excellent move (not least due to an sublime turn, run and pass from Djed Spence in his maiden Premier League start) inside the first minute. In truth, the match was won 13 minutes later with goals from Son Heung-Min and Dejan Kulusevski forcing Russell Martin to make an early sub and change formation.

Unfortunately for the soon to be dismissed manager, this made little different with Pape Matar Sarr and Maddison sealing the 5-0 victory by half-time. This allowed Ange Postecoglou's team to take it's foot off the gas in the second half and withdraw Son, then Maddison, early to ensure no injury flare ups.

Here are four things we learnt.

Bergvall has what it takes

Lucas Bergvall started a Premier League match for the first time at Southampton, and he didn't disappoint. There were errors in his game, some dallying on the ball, a couple of misplaced passes and trying a little too much, but the way he handled filling in at the base of Spurs midfield showed a maturity beyond his years.

With Yves Bissouma having had a nightmare performance against Chelsea and Rodrigo Bentancur still suspended, the young Swede may have showcased enough to keep his place in at least one of Spurs remaining matches before Christmas against Manchester United or Liverpool. Most impressive was his ability to take the ball from the defence under pressure and move his side up the gears, but his Postecoglou will have been pleased to see him respond well to receiving some physical treatment from experienced opposition and never wilting.

It seems clear can expect bright things from Bervall.

Gray will be great

If Bergvall's performance wasn't enough to get Spurs supporters excited about the future, summer signing from Leeds Archie Gray will have done the rest. So far this season Gray has played in both full back positions and now finds himself at centre back, partnering the also inexperienced Radu Dragusin. All this from a central midfielder yet to see his 19th Birthday.

Gray's passing out of defence was crisp and precise while his composure under pressure was unwavering. What might have been less expected was this slender teenager playing in an unfamiliar position could read a pass in behind and block a shot from the edge of the six yard box, but that's exactly what happened as he prevented Yukinari Sugawara putting away Southampton's best chance of the match in the 88th minute from close up, preserving the Spurs clean sheet.

Spence can deliver

As with both of the above players, it should be noted that all of this has come against comfortable the worst side in the Premier League. That said, Djed Spence will be delighted to have begun the game by able taking on a pass from deep, turning his man and driving the ball forward before finding the perfect pass for Maddison to score. The former Middlesbrough right back may be 24-years-old, but he had only played 8 top flight matches for Spurs before this match and this was his first start.

Following on from his explosive beginning, Spence was composed, energetic and aggressive throughout his time on the pitch, moving to left-back when Destiny Udogie was substituted early on, and will have reassured Postecoglou that he can at the very least deputise more often for the Italian left back and Pedro Porro on the other side.

Don't be surprised to see Spence start more matches in the remainder of 2024 with the Spurs defence injury ravaged and him having only impressed in his limited minutes so far this season. This may be the platform for him to be more than a squad player if he takes his chances.

Spurs supporters have had enough

With Spurs having stuttered by and large during the first half of the season, the supporter base has become increasingly frustrated. Often the manager will receive their fair share of this ire, and Ange Postecoglou has had to deal with criticism recently (not always in the most constructive way), but by and large the away supporters were united behind the Australian. Daniel Levy and ENIC, however, were not made to feel so welcome.

With some exceptional performances from the team in white so far this season, and the reasonable assumption that the extensive injury list has been a huge reason for Spurs' inconsistency, the club's fans can be forgiven for looking at a summer transfer window which again left the squad thinner than necessary.

No wingers who seem to really suit the system this manager prioritises, a lack of a genuine 'number 6' midfielder to play deep and the requirement for 31-year-old Ben Davies to again provide cover at both left centre back and left back might more easily be forgiven if ENIC didn't have form for doing as little as could be got away with, or if there had been even one trophy since 2008. Imagine if Fraser Foster hadn't been rolling back the years this past few weeks in Guglielmo Vicario's absence?

ENIC have consistently left managers short of the tools they really need, and Spurs have been at best bridesmaids, never brides, in the past 16 seasons. The result? Scoring five goals by half-time to arrest recent form in yet another entertaining display and yet the chants of "we want Levy out" and "I don't care about Levy, Levy doesn't care about me" persisting up until and beyond the final whistle.

January provides the opportunity for Spurs to reinforce Postecoglou's squad, and if done so with some quality and Spurs finish the season with some success, this noise would likely calm. That is unless it is too little too late.

Two first half goals from Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap secured a 2-1 victory for Ipswich Town over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Tottenham Hotspur nearly cut into the two-goal deficit immediately after halftime when Dominic Solanke scored in the 49th minute.

The goal was overruled after a VAR check due to a handball from Solanke.

Rodrigo Bentancur opened the scoring for Spurs in the 69th minute, but the home side were unable to close the deficit.

Ipswich Town were able to secure their first victory in the Premier League and pull themselves out of the relegation zone.

We explored how each player performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Starting XI

Arijanet Muric - 8

Muric has been on a quality run of form over the last five matches. This match he definitely produced his best. He completed five saves, three from inside the box.

He helped protect Ipswich Town’s lead. Muric helped navigate the team through an early first half period where Tottenham Hotspur were pushing for a goal.

Leif Davis - 7

Another very strong performance from Leif Davis after he scored a stunning goal last weekend. He had six clearances and was a large part of the team securing their first victory.

Alongside his defensive contribution, Davis had two key passes and helped to influence play moving forward.

Cameron Burgess - 7

He assisted heavily with the defensive work for his side. He had nine clearances. He nearly scored from a header on the left hand side of the six-yard box in the 9th minute.

His effort hit the bar and he nearly opened the scoring for Ipswich Town early in the match.

Dara O’Shea - 7

Another defender who was valuable to Ipswich Town’s victory. He had nine clearances and three blocked shots. He had two tackles and won half of his duels in the match.

Axel Tuanzebe - 6

He had two interceptions and two tackles. A solid performance from Tuanzebe was needed for the result. He didn’t have much of an impact on the attacking side of proceedings.

Jens Cajuste - 6

He did well to get forward from his defensive midfielder position. He had three successful dribble attempts and played almost the full ninety minutes.

Sam Morsy - 7

Morsy completed 91% of his passes (30/33) and controlled the tempo of the match from midfield. He had three clearances and three interceptions.

Morsy has been influential in the last few matches with accurate passes from midfield.

Sammie Szmodics - 7

His overhead kick goal in the 31st minute opened the scoring for the match and stunned the hosts. This is the second time he scored against a traditional ‘Big Six’ side in the 2024/2025 season.

He scored against Manchester City at the the Etihad and opened the scoring there, too. Szmodics stepped up to the plate again today and helped his team once again.

Omari Hutchinson - 7

He completed 88% of his passes (23/26) and had a key pass in the match. Hutchinson helped defensively and had two tackles. He also had an interception.

The defensive side of proceedings is something Hutchinson will probably focus on developing as the season progresses.

Ben Johnson - 6

Johnson did not have much of an impact in the final third. A lot of his passes did not lead up to attacking chances. He completed one dribble attempt and had three tackles. He put forth a pretty good effort for Ipswich, but there wasn’t anything too extraordinary to speak about.

Liam Delap - 8

A goal and assist against Tottenham Hotspur have topped off some good performances over the last month. His hold up play was once again influential in a tough away battle.

He didn’t get many touches of the ball, 18, but did a lot when he did receive the ball. Another really good performance from Delap.

Substitutes

George Hirst - 6

He came on and contributed defensively, but did not provide much in an attacking sense. He won all four of his aerial duels and had a clearance.

Jack Clarke - 6

Clarke played 19 minutes and came onto the pitch for Sammie Szmodics. He got 15 touches, but did not pose much of an attacking threat.

He won a few duels and showed effort to protect the lead. This is the most important contribution someone can make for a team that has a one goal lead away from home.

Massimo Luongo - 6

He only came onto the pitch for eight minutes and did not have much of an impact. He only touched the ball one time and was subsequently fouled.

He won a ground duel and moved around the pitch. There wasn’t much to speak on his individual performance, and he was sent on to protect the lead.

Two first half goals from Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap secured a 2-1 victory for Ipswich Town over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Tottenham Hotspur nearly cut into the two-goal deficit immediately after halftime when Dominic Solanke scored in the 49th minute.

The goal was overruled after a VAR check due to a handball from Solanke.

Rodrigo Bentancur opened the scoring for Spurs in the 69th minute, but the home side were unable to close the deficit.

Ipswich Town were able to secure their first victory in the Premier League and pull themselves out of the relegation zone.

We explored how each player performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Starting XI

Arijanet Muric - 8

Muric has been on a quality run of form over the last five matches. This match he definitely produced his best. He completed five saves, three from inside the box.

He helped protect Ipswich Town’s lead. Muric helped navigate the team through an early first half period where Tottenham Hotspur were pushing for a goal.

Leif Davis - 7

Another very strong performance from Leif Davis after he scored a stunning goal last weekend. He had six clearances and was a large part of the team securing their first victory.

Alongside his defensive contribution, Davis had two key passes and helped to influence play moving forward.

Cameron Burgess - 7

He assisted heavily with the defensive work for his side. He had nine clearances. He nearly scored from a header on the left hand side of the six-yard box in the 9th minute.

His effort hit the bar and he nearly opened the scoring for Ipswich Town early in the match.

Dara O’Shea - 7

Another defender who was valuable to Ipswich Town’s victory. He had nine clearances and three blocked shots. He had two tackles and won half of his duels in the match.

Axel Tuanzebe - 6

He had two interceptions and two tackles. A solid performance from Tuanzebe was needed for the result. He didn’t have much of an impact on the attacking side of proceedings.

Jens Cajuste - 6

He did well to get forward from his defensive midfielder position. He had three successful dribble attempts and played almost the full ninety minutes.

Sam Morsy - 7

Morsy completed 91% of his passes (30/33) and controlled the tempo of the match from midfield. He had three clearances and three interceptions.

Morsy has been influential in the last few matches with accurate passes from midfield.

Sammie Szmodics - 7

His overhead kick goal in the 31st minute opened the scoring for the match and stunned the hosts. This is the second time he scored against a traditional ‘Big Six’ side in the 2024/2025 season.

He scored against Manchester City at the the Etihad and opened the scoring there, too. Szmodics stepped up to the plate again today and helped his team once again.

Omari Hutchinson - 7

He completed 88% of his passes (23/26) and had a key pass in the match. Hutchinson helped defensively and had two tackles. He also had an interception.

The defensive side of proceedings is something Hutchinson will probably focus on developing as the season progresses.

Ben Johnson - 6

Johnson did not have much of an impact in the final third. A lot of his passes did not lead up to attacking chances. He completed one dribble attempt and had three tackles. He put forth a pretty good effort for Ipswich, but there wasn’t anything too extraordinary to speak about.

Liam Delap - 8

A goal and assist against Tottenham Hotspur have topped off some good performances over the last month. His hold up play was once again influential in a tough away battle.

He didn’t get many touches of the ball, 18, but did a lot when he did receive the ball. Another really good performance from Delap.

Substitutes

George Hirst - 6

He came on and contributed defensively, but did not provide much in an attacking sense. He won all four of his aerial duels and had a clearance.

Jack Clarke - 6

Clarke played 19 minutes and came onto the pitch for Sammie Szmodics. He got 15 touches, but did not pose much of an attacking threat.

He won a few duels and showed effort to protect the lead. This is the most important contribution someone can make for a team that has a one goal lead away from home.

Massimo Luongo - 6

He only came onto the pitch for eight minutes and did not have much of an impact. He only touched the ball one time and was subsequently fouled.

He won a ground duel and moved around the pitch. There wasn’t much to speak on his individual performance, and he was sent on to protect the lead.