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Graham Potter is “ready to return” to management, but where could he go? Here are five possible Premier League destinations for the former Chelsea boss…

Out of work for over 18 months, Potter has taken plenty of time to reset since leaving Stamford Bridge in April 2023.

He’s presumably made the most of this time off by having plenty of lavish holidays funded by the payoff from his five-year Chelsea contract. But he’s got the itch for management again and could foreseeably return before this season finishes.

It has been intimated that the England job could lure Potter back into the game, but his confessed preference for “day-to-day” management suggests he has his eye on another club job when he makes his comeback.

But who could take him? Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur, perhaps? The Big Six pair are among five potential next moves for Potter…

Brentford

Our beloved Tickers was ahead of the curve in predicting Potter’s imminent return as he raised Brentford as a left-field option for the 49-year-old.

While this move could raise a few eyebrows as critics consider whether he could do better than the Bees, it would actually make a lot of sense.

Brentford are unlikely to be without a manager anytime soon as the only way I can see them and Thomas Frank going their separate ways is if the amiable Dane is plucked away by a supposed bigger club.

Pep Guardiola was recently glowing in his praise for Frank, who is said to deserve a “big move”. For whatever reason, the Brentford boss has always been overlooked by the Premier League elite but were this to stop, the London outfit would be wise to turn to Potter.

While the former Chelsea head coach may prefer to hold out for a club with a higher ceiling, few Premier League teams present a lesser risk than Brentford and this move would be sensible as he gets his foot back in the door.

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Everton

Alternatively, Potter could always go the other way and take a risk with relegation-threatened Everton.

The Toffees were one of last season’s surprise packages as they – even with a points deduction – comfortably avoided relegation from the Premier League under Sean Dyche. But their winless start to the season is a cause for concern for supporters in their final season at Goodison Park and this could be the year they *finally* fall through the trap door.

Everton ideally only need to scrape through this campaign without it becoming a disaster ahead of next season’s stadium move as they can look optimistically into the future under new owners, the Friedkin Group.

They could be made to endure plenty of pain in the process and this has pre-emptively seen them linked with former boss David Moyes.

We’ve already given you eight reasons for and against Moyes coming back. The stars could align perfectly for the Scotsman’s return but nostalgia aside, he would be a like-for-like Dyche replacement and the veteran is unlikely to oversee a required seismic change.

Whereas Potter – who is reportedly one of Everton’s preferred alternatives – would forge optimism at the start of a new era by positively overhauling their style of play while the club, for the first time in a while, can look forward rather than purely focusing on stabilising in the Premier League.

Manchester United

While Potter to Man Utd is not quite as dramatic as Vincent Kompany’s undeserved move to Bayern Munich, it would still represent a manager falling upward after a failure.

Potter was one of several managers linked with Man Utd in the summer as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his recruitment dilly-dallied with their supposed post-season review before eventually sticking with Erik ten Hag.

However, Ratcliffe was not overly enthusiastic in his backing of Ten Hag as the Dutchman was only given a measly one-year contract extension and Man Utd’s poor start to the season has their head coach on the plank again.

Man Utd sacking Ten Hag feels inevitable after his frail side made the same old mistakes in their 1-1 draw against FC Twente in midweek and Potter is among the favourites to replace him.

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Tottenham Hotspur

The loveable Aussie became the tetchy Aussie as he was weighed down by Spurs’ uncompromising insistence of diverting into being a shambles. The Ange Postecoglou sack talk was raised again after their poor performance in their North London derby defeat to Arsenal.

Postecoglou put pressure on himself when he insisted after his side’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal that he always achieves success in his second season at a club and it’s certainly about time they put their miserable Europa League record right.

Spurs have racked up three straight wins across all competitions, but his future is far from secure ahead of what could be a decisive match – for both sides – at Old Trafford against Manchester United on Sunday.

Potter was mooted as the perfect candidate for Spurs before Postecoglou arrived. But should Ange-ball continue to deliver mixed results, he could soon be back in the frame.

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West Ham United

The Hammers opted against overseeing a major culture shift in the summer as they replaced Moyes with Julen Lopetegui. The two veteran bosses are renowned for their pragmatic tactical approach and the Spaniard is yet to get the desired results.

On paper at least, the Hammers did some brilliant transfer business in the summer, but their new additions are yet to bed in and Lopetegui is reportedly already under pressure.

Lopetegui did a great job in his short spell at Wolves and is especially respected in Spain. But his move to West Ham was puzzling and if they were willing to appoint the 58-year-old, they may as well have stuck with his Scottish variant.

If the Hammers board do not go running back to Moyes with their tail between their legs, Potter would be an interesting alternative and the Englishman should lap up the challenge of getting the best out of West Ham’s immense breadth of attacking options.

Manchester United host Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday. These two are very evenly matched and that reflects in our combined XI.

GK: Andre Onana (Manchester United)

It’s quite close between Onana and Guglielmo Vicario but the Man Utd man gets the nod. He cost the Red Devils more points than he won in the Champions League and the Tottenham man didn’t really cost his new side any points, but since both arrived in England last summer, we have been more impressed with the Cameroonian.

To be honest, this was a 50-50 so if you disagree that is fair enough.

RB: Pedro Porro (Tottenham)

Porro is usually unlucky to be snubbed in these when up against other clubs in the big six but he comfortably gets in ahead of Noussair Mazraoui.

His transfer to Spurs was a confusing one considering he was signed by Antonio Conte and appeared to be an out-and-out wing-back. Conte’s departure was inevitable and his future at the club seemed to depend on what formation the next manager wanted to play.

When Ange Postecoglou joined, it felt like Porro would not get much of a chance as a right-back but he has been first choice there and has barely put a foot wrong. He has probably been the most consistent performer in Postecoglou’s team.

CB: Cristian Romero (Tottenham)

Another very consistent player at Spurs is World Cup winner Romero. He has played every minute for the Londoners this season and last term, Spurs only won one of the five he missed, losing at Wolves, at home to Aston Villa, and being thumped by Brighton.

Out of every centre-back at both clubs, Romero is comfortably the best.

CB: Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United)

Romero partners his Argentina teammate Martinez at the back. This position was pretty tough. Matthijs de Ligt could easily get in, as could Micky van de Ven. Ultimately, we have gone with Romero and Martinez.

Man Utd are definitely a worse team without Martinez and they probably wouldn’t have won the FA Cup had he not returned for the final, which ultimately saved Erik ten Hag’s job and got the club into Europe.

LB: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United)

Destiny Udogie is very unfortunate to miss out but Dalot’s ability to perform in an incohesive side makes him our first choice in left-back.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Luke Shaw returns from injury. He will surely get back in Ten Hag’s starting XI and if he does, we imagine Dalot will move over to right-back and Mazraoui will drop to the bench. Dropping the Portuguese would be very harsh.

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CM: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Man Utd captain Fernandes walks into this team, as he usually does with our combined XIs. And as we always say, love him or hate him, he’s a terrific footballer.

CM: Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)

Spurs fans will probably disagree with Mainoo over Yves Bissouma but here we are. Is it English bias? No, I’m Scottish? Is it bias against one team or the other? No, I hate them both.

Mainoo is a fantastic young player and if Manuel Ugarte can find his feet, we will get to see the very best of him.

CM: James Maddison (Tottenham)

After a streak of Man Utd players, we are back discussing a Tottenham star. That star is Maddison, who scored his first goal of the season in last weekend’s victory at home to Brentford.

Maddison only has five goals in a Spurs shirt but his 11 assists is a solid return in 36 appearances. Postecoglou’s side suffered without the England international last season after an incredible start to life at the club. He did quite well when he returned but Maddison’s output – as it tends to do – waned in the latter stages of the season. Spurs will hope that isn’t the case again in 2024/25.

RW: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)

Garnacho has not got properly up and running this season but he is still Man Utd’s best attacker. The competition isn’t great, to be fair.

LW: Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Son has blown hot and cold under Postecoglou but is still an easy decision in most combined XIs we do.

He only has two goals in seven appearances this season but will benefit from having Dominic Solanke in the attack with him, while Brennan Johnson is scoring goals for fun at the minute.

ST: Dominic Solanke (Tottenham)

There are three strikers to choose from: Solanke, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. We think it was pretty straightforward to go with the Spurs man, who has proven he can score regularly in Our League.

Last season, he found the back of the net 19 times in the top flight and has two in two for Spurs – who paid a club-record fee to sign him from Bournemouth in the summer – going into the clash at Old Trafford.

Alan Shearer has made his Premier League predictions with the Newcastle United legend forseeing a draw between Man Utd and Tottenham.

Both the Red Devils and Spurs have had mixed starts to the new Premier League season with the two sides winning two, drawing one and losing two matches so far.

A victory for Erik ten Hag or Ange Postecoglou will catapult them up the table at this early stage of the season and leave the other manager under intense pressure.

And Shearer reckons the Premier League rivals will hold each other to a score draw on Sunday with lots of chances created for both teams.

Shearer told The Metro: “This is a huge game in terms of the top four. Both teams haven’t had the start they wanted albeit Spurs won last weekend, it’s a really tough one to call. Both teams aren’t in great form. It won’t be a great result for either team but I can see this being a draw.

“It was really interesting of Ten Hag to leave Marcus Rashford out, which I found really strange. Whether it was because of a knock or for a disciplinary reason, whatever it was, when you’re a forward and you haven’t scored for such a long time, you get your goal and then another two in midweek, then you’re left out three or four days later. I found it really strange.

“My guess is that he’ll be back in the team this week and if he can take the form from the last two games, he’ll be a key figure in what happens for Man United. He always is.

“Spurs have players that can hurt United. James Maddison is a top player, he’s one of the players that could say he played his part and did okay during Spurs’ slow start to the season. I’m a fan of his, I like what he brings to the team and he got his goal last weekend. Confidence wise, that’ll be great for him and he’ll play a huge part, absolutely.

“If Spurs do get into those positions and turn chances into goals then it’ll be tough for Man United as well because they do give you chances and that’s why I see it being a score draw.”

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Shearer is also predicting victories for Liverpool and Arsenal, with the two Premier League title rivals set to gain points on leaders Man City.

On Arsenal against Leicester City, Shearer added: “I can’t see Arsenal being as defensive in this one as they were for the second half at the Etihad! It’d be a huge surprise if Leicester took a point back. I can’t see it happening with the form that Arsenal are in and the confidence and belief they’ll take from last week’s result. I won’t go with anything crazy, I just see a convincing home win.”

On Liverpool’s trip to Wolves, Shearer continued: “Wolves did alright for large parts of the game against Aston Villa but I think Liverpool will have too much for them in forward positions so I’ll go for an away win.”

And Shearer reckons Newcastle will hold Man City to a draw at St James’ Park this weekend, he said: “Over the years, we’ve seen some blockbuster games between Newcastle and City at St Jame’s Park, and I’m expecting the same again for a couple of reasons.

“Newcastle’s cup game has been cancelled so they have a free week in terms of no midweek football. Man City on the other hand will go into the game without Rodri. Having said that, Man City can still hurt you with the players they have.

“It’ll be a really tough game. City will still be favourites for the title and favourites for this game but it’ll be a really good atmosphere and Newcastle will have to feed off that.

“When you’re as poor as they were against Fulham, you have a right of response and they have to respond in the right way because, prior to last week, without playing well they were getting results, so the match against Fulham was a bit of an eye opener and a reminder to who and what Newcastle are.

“So many games last year and the year before, Newcastle’s identity was about pressing teams, being aggressive, putting teams under huge pressure with energy and determination and we haven’t seen that yet this season so they have to get that back into their game. If they can do that on Saturday then it’ll be really tough for Man City. I’m going to go for a draw.”

The Barclays Crisis Club heavyweight title is on the line at Old Trafford as Manchester United face Spurs, while Man City face another tough test after the Arsenal battle and Luis Diaz gets the ideal chance to continue his fine goalscoring form.

Game to watch: Manchester United v Tottenham

A game between two teams locked together in mid-table on seven unconvincing points from five unconvincing games, teetering on the crisis club precipice with both managers under severe pressure.

Potentially far more fun for everyone else, then, than the tawdry spectacle served up last weekend when the biggest game of the weekend was between two teams who are really good. How boring. Give us flaws. Give us managers flailing around, trying to assert their credentials by pleading for time to develop younger players or the increasingly passive-aggressive use of the word ‘mate’. That’s Barclays heritage.

The worry for both these teams is that so far this season they have answered precisely none of the questions that existed about them coming into the campaign. United are making all the same mistakes in all the same ways as last season, with little evidence Erik ten Hag is about to hit upon a solution that survives a stress test of more than two or three games, while the inherent vulnerabilities of high-wire Angeball continue to be laid bare, with further questions about whether the ensuing attacking output generated is even really that good or worth it.

Funny thing about Spurs, though: they currently find themselves on a three-game winning run for the first time this year. It is perhaps the least convincing three-game winning run in the history of the sport, but a three-game winning run it nevertheless is.

And while that run may lack for compelling quality, it doesn’t lack for balls. Having scored two late goals to avoid humiliation in the Carabao at Coventry, Spurs were again required to come from a goal down in the Premier League against Brentford. There’s a decent case for saying this was Spurs’ best league performance of 2024, which is itself to damn with faint praise, but there was a purpose and directness to their football in the face of that early setback that had been sorely lacking.

Against Qarabag in the shiny (sh*te) new Europa League they ought to be prioritising, Spurs found themselves not a goal but a man down in the early stages and will have expended more effort and energy than might have been hoped in securing that 3-0 win.

But at least it was a win; United, for their part, could manage only a 1-1 home draw with Twente in the same competition on the back of last weekend’s stalemate against winless Crystal Palace in the league.

It’s a familiar one step forward, two steps back for Ten Hag’s team and this is a huge game now for both sides. Spurs are in urgent need of a result against someone half-decent having lost their last seven ‘big eight’ fixtures in the Premier League. United require some evidence that this season is going to look any different to the last, and a win in a fixture they were lucky to escape with a 2-2 draw last season would be something.

Defeat for either leaves their league season in serious early distress, in all probability already seven points adrift of the top four, and will increase the volume of those already really quite loud questions that have been echoing around since last season.

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Team to watch: Manchester City

It really shouldn’t be forgotten just how ordinary City looked against Arsenal’s 10 men last weekend. The late drama and swirling noise should not distract from how poor it was, and City must get straight back to business with a dangerous trip to a Newcastle side who have yet to truly convince this season but have proved mighty adept at snaffling plenty of points regardless.

City ought to win, of course, because that’s nearly always the case. An uneasy truce may have been declared between dug-out and boardroom at St James’ Park but it’s clear all is not well after a difficult summer, and the 10 points they won from their first four games flattered them long before last weekend’s sound beating at Fulham.

City have little room for error with all of last season’s top four on their tails again and this is a tougher fixture than Pep Guardiola might have liked to see on the itinerary after the stress and effort of last Sunday.

City do at least have the advantage of going first in the Saturday lunchtime slot rather than having to respond to the efforts of their rivals. Given City face Newcastle and Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa face Leicester, Wolves and Ipswich respectively, that may be just as well.

Manager to watch: Kieran McKenna

It’s been an interesting start to life back in the Premier League for Ipswich. And despite still searching for a first win five games into the season, a largely encouraging one. The only defeats have come against Liverpool and Man City, neither of them humiliating, followed by draws against Fulham, Brighton and Southampton.

There has been nothing to suggest Ipswich are going to be unable to compete in this division under their impressive young manager, but at some point it would be lovely to see that first win ticked off to prove it can be a season of more than just avoiding embarrassment.

The visit of Aston Villa gives McKenna and his side another chance to test themselves against the division’s current elite before a sequence of games around the interlull that look far more likely to provide opportunities for that first win with West Ham, Everton, Brentford and Leicester a run rich with potential if this weekend can be negotiated without too much unpleasantness.

Player to watch: Luis Diaz

A Liverpool team in rich goalscoring form head this weekend to a Wolves side that has already shipped six at home to Chelsea and must fear a repeat dose.

Liverpool, with one notable and costly exception, have made an excellent start to life under Arne Slot and the sheer depth of their attacking talent was in evidence as a much-changed side sauntered to a familiar-sounding 5-1 Carabao victory over poor old West Ham this week.

Slot’s first seven games haven’t perhaps been the toughest set of fixtures imaginable, but they have yielded 18 goals with the obvious prospect of more to come against what is currently the division’s joint-leakiest defence.

And one player in particular who appears to be enjoying the new regime is Luis Diaz. He’s always been an eye-catching part of Liverpool’s attack, but one for whom the numbers haven’t quite matched the visuals.

That’s all changed this season. After scoring 16 goals in 67 Premier League appearances under Jurgen Klopp, it’s currently five in five for the Colombian under Slot. Sure, that may only be half as much as Erling Haaland, but it’s more than anyone else and that feels rather more relevant.

Diaz is in the finest goalscoring form of his Liverpool career, and there’s not many teams you’d rather face while in that form than Wolves right now.

Football League game to watch: Sheffield Wednesday v West Brom

It’s Sky Sports+ for the pick of the weekend’s Championship games as surprise leaders West Brom take their unbeaten record north to Sheffield and a Wednesday team once again deeply embroiled in the relegation picture despite starting the season with a thumping 4-0 win over Plymouth.

It’s been just one point from five subsequent games for Danny Rohl’s side, who finished last season so impressively to beat the drop. West Brom, on the other hand, go from strength to strength. They finished fifth last season but a full 12 points behind fourth-place Southampton and lost in the play-off semi-finals.

They appear to be a different beast this season, though, dropping only two points in six games via a draw with Leeds and boasting the league’s top scorer in Josh Maja.

This is the Baggies’ fourth year in the Championship, their longest such stint since their first relegation from the Premier League back in 2003. They’ve always found yo-yoing back into the top flight relatively straightforward when it’s previously been required, never taking more than two seasons about it and finishing no lower than fourth.

It’s been harder graft this time, but the trend is at least in the right direction after finishes of 10th, ninth and fifth. Early signs suggest a team capable of avoiding any more play-off unpleasantness.

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European game to watch: Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen

There are two European must-watches really this weekend, with the Madrid derby on Sunday. But that’s already starting to look like a scramble for the minor placings in La Liga given the form of Barcelona, so forced to choose one we’ll take what looks like a crucial early title clash in Germany.

It’s the perennial champs against last season’s upstarts and a game that feels like it carries a similar early yet potentially season-defining heft as last week’s Premier League clash between Man City and Arsenal.

Having, to their eternal shame, lost a domestic game of football already this season, Bayer are on the back foot heading to Munich to face the leaders, who have four wins from four and appear in no mood for f***ing about this time.

A win for Bayern opens up a six-point lead that even this early in the season would appear to be a formidable one, but it’s never quite as straightforward as that with this odds-defying Leverkusen outfit.

Tottenham begin their latest Europa League campaign tonight. It is a tournament in which Spurs, even by well-established Spursy standards, have a miserable record.

The Europa League occupies a uniquely singular spot in Spurs’ trophy-dodging efforts of the last 16 years. It is a competition they consider beneath them, yet one which has also often proved quite significantly above them.

Since the UEFA Cup was rebranded in 2009, Spurs have had seven goes at it along with six in the Champions League. It’s close enough to an even split, and in stupid yet on-brand fashion they have a far better record in the latter.

As well as the 2019 final, Spurs have reached a Champions League quarter-final and the last 16 three further times. Only once have they failed to get out of the group.

In their seven sniffy attempts at the Europa League they have made it as far as the last eight only once, and then no further. Three last-16 exits match their Big Cup efforts, while there’s also a pair of last-32 exits – one of which represented the first Europa hurdle after dropping down from the Champions League.

Their last crack at this tournament in 2020/21 was perhaps the most ignominious of all, ending in last-16 humiliation for Jose Mourinho’s side against Dinamo Zagreb. Having won the first leg 2-0 in London, Spurs were stunned by a 3-0 defeat in the return against a side whose manager had recently been sentenced to prison.

It’s a part of the story Mourinho always leaves out, for some reason, when complaining that he was denied his God-given right to lead Spurs out in the Carabao Cup final against Man City shortly afterwards.

There is surely no club of Spurs’ size to have had more goes at the rebadged Europa League and do so little with them, and all while viewing the competition with a uniquely arrogant and unjustified disdain.

It is a tournament that, in the time Spurs have been turning their noses up at it while winning sod all else, has been won multiple times by Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, as well as Porto and Manchester United. Arsenal have been beaten in the final, as have United, Liverpool, Ajax, Inter, Roma and Bayer Leverkusen.

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Spurs, frankly, have no right to be as sniffy as they historically have been about a tournament that offers a plausible – often their most plausible – route to notable silverware at a club in urgent need of such a thing.

This year’s collision between Spurs and the Europa is thus a particularly fascinating one. We’re genuinely intrigued as to how they’ll approach it.

There are reasons to suppose the answer is ‘properly, for once’. It certainly should be. For one, there’s Ange Postecoglou’s self-constructed petard about always winning things in his second season. Already, the options there are pretty bare. The Premier League title is out of the question, obviously, the Carabao could have gone once again at the very first hurdle but now requires clearing the most significant of all in the last 16, and the FA Cup is a long and unpredictable road the navigating of which requires both luck and skill.

Spurs have, it must also be noted, displayed desperately little of either in that tournament recently as well, having failed to go beyond the last 16 in their last six attempts.

The Europa League, then, offers both the biggest and most realistic route to success for Postecoglou and his team. They have absolutely no excuse not to give it their full attention.

Well, almost no excuse. Because here’s the other thing, of course, that makes Spurs’ approach here so tricky to unpick: the format. We’ve covered this in quite some detail already, with all the same problems with this set-up from the Champions League applying to the Europa League, but with knobs on because the standard of opponent is patchier still.

There is, if anything, even less peril about the ‘league phase’ here, and no matter what Spurs do they should still find themselves by hook or by crook in the top 24 when the music stops.

The fact the league stage extends into January also gives clubs even more opportunity to take stock and assess the lay of the land and prioritise accordingly. We can help Spurs out here; this is their priority. They do not and have not for really quite a long time now appear a side equipped to challenge for a Champions League spot via the league. They are absolutely a side that could, with a sprinkling of luck and a following wind, pick a path through Europe’s second-tier opponents. And there are no Champions League dropouts to worry about in the knockouts now.

Such are the tension-free, low-stakes nature of the early rounds, Spurs could be forgiven for treating tonight’s game roughly the way they did the Carabao trip to Coventry, with near-disastrous consequences. They also have a league game at Manchester United this weekend to consider.

But even with this format and other upcoming tasks, we’d love to see Spurs take this very seriously from very early on. From tonight.

It’s not just that it’s a chance to lay down a marker for how they see this competition in general, it’s also just sensible use of resources. The very nature of this tournament means the eight-match fixture list will vary significantly in standard. Spurs have a gentle start, with Qarabag followed by Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar before things step up a notch with Galatasaray away and Roma at home giving things more of a ‘Champions League group stage’ vibe.

Yet the chance is there for Spurs to make those games the ones they needn’t worry about. It’s not Spurs’ fault the format is cooked and that making a decent start in what are on paper some of the easier challenges will go a long way to securing a place in the knockout rounds. They must take that chance.

Some rotation is inevitable and understandable. But these are not nights where we want to see Postecoglou doing the eight or nine changes dance. We want to see Spurs show some proper respect to a tournament they have treated shabbily in the past.

Who knows, they might even surprise themselves and actually do quite well. And at least this way if they still make a big ol’ bollocks of it then it’ll be even funnier for everyone else. Win-win.

Can you name the Tottenham XI that turned over Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2018?

Spurs go to United on Sunday having enjoyed some big wins at Old Trafford in recent years.

In 2020, under Mourinho, they rattled six past the Red Devils. But two years prior to that, Mourinho was in charge of the hosts, who went down 3-0 to Pochettino’s side, which went all the way to the Champions League final.

Can you recall the XI that piled the pressure on Mourinho as United boss?

As ever, leave your scores on the leaderboard or Below The Line.

If you enjoyed that and need more reasons to dodge work, we’ve got plenty more quizzes here. And our friends at Planet Football have even more.

In the meantime, make sure you don’t miss these…

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Manchester City will travel to face Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Holders Liverpool have been given an away tie against Brighton, while Manchester United are at home against Premier League strugglers Leicester City.

Championship outfit Preston’s reward for seeing off top-flight Fulham in a dramatic penalty shoot-out last week is a home game with Arsenal.

Fellow second-tier sides Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke go to Brentford and Southampton respectively.

There is another all-Premier League tie as Aston Villa host Crystal Palace, and a potential one if Newcastle get past League Two AFC Wimbledon, with the winners of that game to face Chelsea at home.

The AFC Wimbledon-Newcastle contest was due to be played at the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Tuesday night but was switched to St James’ Park next Tuesday after the former was affected by flooding.

The fourth-round games are scheduled to take place in the week commencing October 28.

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Arsenal beat Bolton 5-1 at the Emirates on Wednesday night to advance in the competition. 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri had a night to remember as he netted a brace for the Gunners.

Speaking post-match, Mikel Arteta admitted the teenager is “ahead” of schedule and “will have the minutes”.

“You can tell he is playing with a confidence and belief and an understanding of what he needs to do on the pitch,” Arteta said.

“In his journey with the first team he is always ahead of what everybody expected and I expected, too. He deserves that and he is part of us so he will have the minutes.”

On starting 16-year-old Jack Porter, he added: “We told him yesterday and he was over the moon.

“He spoke straightaway to his family and they were not prepared for that.

“It is a big step, a big occasion for them and I think they were nervous about it. But he reacted really well, he was really composed in training and his team-mates helped him, too. What an experience and what a way to break a record.”

On a night filled with positives for Arteta, on-loan Chelsea attacker Sterling also broke his duck as he extended Arsenal’s lead around the hour mark.

“It was very good performance by Raheem,” continued Arteta.

“He is getting better and better and you can tell physically he is making steps. He was involved in a few goals so it was a very strong night for him.”

Son Heung-min has expressed his “love” for Tottenham teammate Rodrigo Bentancur, despite him making an alleged racist remark about the South Korea star.

The former Juventus midfielder was charged last Thursday with an alleged misconduct breach by the Football Association in relation to a media interview in the summer.

In the clip, which surfaced in June, the host of a Canal 10 show asked Bentancur to show the shirt of a Spurs player, with the 27-year-old allegedly replying: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”

While an apology from Bentancur was swiftly forthcoming, due to this being an “aggravated breach”, if an independent regulatory commission panel upholds the FA charge, he could be suspended for six to 12 domestic matches, the PA news agency understands.

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Speaking ahead of Thursday’s Europa League home tie against Qarabag, Son said: “At the moment, because of the FA process, I can’t say much about it.

“But I love Rodrigo, I love him. We’ve a lot of good memories, we started playing together when he joined (in January 2022).

“He knew. He apologised straight afterwards when we had holiday. I was at home. I didn’t even realise what was going on. He sent me a long message and you could feel it was coming from his heart.

“When we came back for pre-season, he felt really sorry and he almost cried when he apologised publicly and personally as well. He felt like he was really sorry. We are all human and all make mistakes and we learn from it.

“I love Rodrigo. I love him, I love him. He knows he made a mistake but I’ve no problem at all with him. We move on as a team-mate and friend and as a brother. We move on together.”

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Son is one of only two players along with Ben Davies left at Tottenham from the squad which reached the Champions League final in 2019.

Defeat in Madrid to Liverpool extended the club’s trophy drought and it now stands at 16 years, but Son is determined to end the wait for silverware this season.

“Yeah, it’s a dream. There is no hiding this. That’s what we work for,” Son insisted.

“Obviously, we are looking for another big competition that everybody wants to win. It’s going to be tough, a tough competition, a lot of games and a lot of travelling, which makes it even harder.

“We’ve just got to be ready and take it seriously the competition, because it’s a massive competition.”

Son also reflected on his contract situation after he entered the final 12 months of his Tottenham deal.

Spurs hold the option to extend his terms by a further year and plan to activate it, PA understands, but Son added: “We haven’t talked (about) anything yet. It was very clear for me, I’m very focused for this season.

“At this age, every second is like a goal, especially this season, we are in a lot of competitions, it feels like I’m taking even more care about this. I’m just fully focused on this situation and this year.

“I just want to win something that everybody in this club and these players and all around deserves. That’s what I’m working for.

“In the future, you never know what’s going to happen, but I will make sure I give everything for this club. It’s almost 10 years that I give everything. We’ll see what happens.”

Son also talked up 17-year-old Mikey Moore, who is expected to get more minutes on Thursday night.

“If I can help him a little bit with advice, then I’m always open to it,” Son revealed.

“I enjoy talking to him. He’s a fantastic boy and then I’m definitely sure that he can be a fantastic player. There’s no doubt because he has such amazing quality.”

Ange Postecoglou believes Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Brentford should have been more convincing but insists “life’s good” after Brennan Johnson’s second goal of the week.

Johnson was criticised by Tottenham fans on social media after the 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal and bounced back with a crucial goal away to Coventry City in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

He made it two in two to help Postecoglou’s side beat Brentford at home on Saturday afternoon.

Spurs went a goal down inside a minute thanks to Bryan Mbeumo but bounced back quickly through Dominic Solanke, who netted his first goal for the club.

Johnson then put Spurs in front and the points were secured when James Maddison scored with five minutes remaining.

Spurs boss Postecoglou said after the match: “It was a good win, a good performance.

“Our performances have been good all year but today we got the result as well which is the most pleasing but. We should have won by a fair bit more but we still got the job done.

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“You’re always keeping the opposition in the game [at 2-1] and it’s been the story of our season so far. It was a quality goal from three of our four captains, who I think got involved in it. It was important to finish the game off.

“Dom [Solanke] worked his socks off.

“He was gone at the end. He is still getting back to match fitness, but I know he is going to provide so much for us in that central position.

“All strikers love goals so it will be a great moment for him, especially at home.

“We’ve got a Europa game in the week so that will be our focus and then we’ll look at Man United. It’s a big game.”

On Johnson, Postecoglou added: “He’s had a top week, he’s scored two goals, he’s won us a game to get through in the cup.

“Life’s good. Sometimes going through tough moments gives you perspective of what’s important.”

Goalscorer Solanke added: “[It feels] fantastic. To get the win here meant a lot to all of us.

“We have had some great performances to start the season but haven’t managed to get the to match that so today we wanted to mix them both together. Today we did that.

“We have been playing well all season but sometimes you don’t get the results you deserve, but if you keep going, keep sticking at it and playing the way we want to play it’s going to happen.

“As a striker it’s always important to get that first goal and I managed to get that today which I’m happy with so hopefully I can continue in this way.

“It’s magnificent and Brennan is a great player,” Solanke added when asked about Johnson.

“In the last two games he has had two great finishes and helped the team massively so great credit to him. We’re all happy for him.

“Everyone in the team loves and helps each other so it’s a great spirit.”

Ange Postecoglou confirms Tottenham “did look” at Ivan Toney as a potential signing before they bought Dominic Solanke from AFC Bournemouth.

Spurs spent £65million to bring in Solanke from Premier League rivals Bournemouth last month, but his start to life at the club has been hampered by an ankle injury picked up on his debut at Leicester City.

Toney was another high-profile English forward on the market, but he eventually joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in a surprise move. This means Spurs will not face him on Saturday when Brentford make the trip to play their London rivals.

Postecoglou briefly touched upon Toney’s summer availability before launching a staunch defence of Solanke, who produced good moments against Leicester and Arsenal but is without a goal after three appearances.

“We did look at him (Toney) but I have said, Dom was the one I wanted and it took pretty much the whole summer to get him in because he was the one who fitted the profile of what we were looking for at the time,” Postecoglou explained.

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“People are just so quick to judge, mate. It’s a small sample. The guy has played less than two games for us.

“If he has gone 15 games without a goal then I can answer that question or 15 games where he hasn’t contributed, but I just think take a breath. Do a bit of yoga. Think about the world for a second and make an assessment after that.

“We don’t have to rush to make judgement all the time because the alternative is he may have got off to a great start, he is fit, scored in all four games, is flying and then he goes through a patch like all strikers where he doesn’t score.

“What I look at is he has come in, fitted really well and quite logically has picked up an injury that has disrupted the way he wanted to start his career, but he’s still got plenty of time for that.

“I haven’t sensed (anxiety). I don’t sense that. In his mind, I think he just wants to be in a good physical condition so he can contribute. That is where he is at and the space we want him in.

“Hopefully he gets a bit of confidence out of the game time he got during the week and builds on that tomorrow. I’m sure as the season goes on he will be a real strong contributor for us.”

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Solanke will start again against Brentford after Postecoglou delivered a mixed update on injuries.

Wilson Odobert (hamstring) is definitely out, but Yves Bissouma (groin) and Timo Werner are available.

Richarlison remains “a fair way off” with a calf issue.

Postecoglou added: “Wilson doesn’t look good, we are still waiting for it to settle down and get all the information but he will definitely be out for the next period.

“Bissouma trained today so he should be available for tomorrow. Timo is okay.

“(Richarlison) has still not trained with the first team so he is still a bit off.”