The Mirror

Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham have all secured places in the Champions League last 16 after the final league stage matches and discovered the potential opponents they could face in the knockout round

Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City have all joined Liverpool and Arsenal in the Champions League last-16. The latter duo had all but confirmed top-eight spots the previous matchday; however, there was still jeopardy for the Blues, Spurs, Pep Guardiola's side and Newcastle United.

The Magpies needed a win at the home of reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain to avoid the play-off round, but could not manage that while the other three English sides did. A 2-0 win over Galatasaray for Pep Guardiola's side saw them finish eighth in the standings and thus only just make it.

Despite sealing a spot in the last-16, City face the prospect of a very tough draw. One of Bodo/Glimt, Real Madrid, Inter or Benfica will await them in the knockout rounds, with the latter only just qualifying on goal difference courtesy of a last-minute strike from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. Defeat in Portugal for Real saw them finish ninth, with Barcelona the only Spanish side in those seeded positions.

It is a very different story for the Premier League teams, though, with Chelsea staging a second-half comeback against Napoli to finish sixth. One of Monaco, Qarabag, PSG or Newcastle awaits in the round of 16.

The latter find themselves in the play-offs through finishing 12th after their 1-1 stalemate at the Parc Des Princes. Eddie Howe will discover which of those three teams his side will play over two legs in mid-February on Friday, January 30, which is when the play-off draw takes place.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!** Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page**.

Thomas Frank's side, meanwhile, have avoided that by beating Eintracht Frankfurt to finish fourth in the final league standings, and that will see them face one of Galatasaray, Club Brugge, Atletico Madrid or Juventus.

The same set of opponents can be applied to Liverpool, who finished one place higher, following a 6-0 win over Qarabag.

Arsenal had already qualified in the top eight but officially confirmed themselves as league stage winners with a 3-2 win over Kairat Almaty at Emirates Stadium.

In doing so, Mikel Arteta's side knew they would face one of the teams finishing 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th. Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiacos, Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta have since been confirmed as their potential opponents.

For Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester City and Chelsea, it represents a significant fixture relief with two fewer matches to navigate during a congested February schedule.

All five of those clubs will be watching the play-off draw on Friday closely to discover their potential last-16 opponents.

In terms of big shocks, it is certainly a surprise to see Real and PSG not in the top eight while Sporting snuck into those positions after beating the latter and Athletic Bilbao in the last two matchdays.

Champions League knockout draw as it stands and who Premier League teams would face

The Champions League league phase table is delicately poised ahead of a potentially chaotic evening of action on Wednesday. All 36 teams now have a solitary fixture remaining as they strive to secure their places in the knockout rounds.

And all 18 matches will commence simultaneously - at 8pm on Wednesday. Six Premier League sides will be in action, with five of them currently occupying positions in the top eight.

The teams who finish in the top eight receive seeding and advance directly to the round of 16, whilst those placed ninth to 24th must compete in a two-legged play-off to join them. Arsenal are already virtually guaranteed to finish top of the table owing to a commanding goal difference, while Liverpool and Tottenham simply require victories in their final fixtures, against Qarabag and Eintracht Frankfurt, to secure their last-16 spots.

Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester City are still battling to accompany them. And due to the Champions League's new draw structure, we already have an indication of who each side could face - although the table will obviously shift on the final night of league phase fixtures.

You can read more here.

Champions League permutations – What every Premier League club needs, where they can finish

Premier League clubs have everything to play for as the league phase of the Champions League reaches its conclusion. All but Arsenal have plenty to fight for on the final matchday, with the Gunners guaranteed a top-two finish after winning all seven of their European matches thus far.

First hosts last as Kairat visit the Emirates Stadium with neither side playing for anything. However, that is the exception rather than the rule.

Liverpool host Qarabag and Manchester City welcome Galatasaray to the North West with qualification still up for grabs. Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are all away, playing Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain and Eintracht Frankfurt, respectively.

You can read more here.

When is the Champions League draw for the last 16? Date, time and how to watch

Europe's top clubs are desperately scrambling to nail down their spots in the next phase of the Champions League as the competition's initial stage reaches its finale. The leading eight teams in the table will advance directly to the last 16, while those placed ninth to 24th will endure an extra round of knockout play-off encounters.

After a strong first half of the campaign, the Premier League looks poised to boast excellent representation in the coming rounds. A full six English teams are presently involved in this season's Champions League: Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and Newcastle.

Five of these sides enter the final set of league phase fixtures on Wednesday occupying top-eight spots. City are the outliers languishing outside that privileged bracket right now following their stumble against Bodo/Glimt last week.

Clinching a direct route into the last 16 carries substantial benefits, as these teams will sidestep having to navigate another two-legged encounter in the knockout play-offs. However, this means fans will have to endure a bit more of a wait before learning which qualified sides will appear in the last-16 draw.

You can read more here.

Good evening!

Welcome to our live coverage of the final round of Champions League fixtures in the league phase format.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich have already guaranteed their spot in the last 16 but 30 of the 36 teams still have something to play for tonight.

FC Kairat, Villarreal, Slavia Praha and Eintracht Frankfurt are out of the tournament and cannot qualify for the play-off stage, regardless of what happens tonight.

Stay with us throughout the evening for all the latest scores, updates and flashpoints from across the games.

Tottenham Hotspur have plenty of transfer business to consider in the final days of the January window after selling Brennan Johnson and signing Conor Gallagher

Tottenham Hotspur head into the final few days of the winter transfer window with the chance to complete some significant last-minute business. Thomas Frank's side may have enjoyed a promising start to their Champions League campaign, but their domestic form tells a contrasting tale - particularly at their own ground.

New boss Frank faces mounting pressure as the club languishes in 14th place domestically, with a return of just nine points from 11 home league games a major problem. If they want to turn things around, it could require strategic acquisitions in the final hours of the window.

Spurs splashed out over £170million during the summer, bringing in Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons as their headline signings. Yet they have been hampered by an evident shortage of creative spark, with Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison sidelined through injury and unable to feature at all so far this term.

While they've already secured Conor Gallagher's services this month, Spurs have also generated funds through Brennan Johnson's departure to Crystal Palace. Transfer chief Fabio Paratici is on his way back to Italy but Spurs remain in need of reinforcements this January, so here's what they might look at doing.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

Pursue a move for Maghnes Akliouche

French winger Akliouche attracted interest from multiple clubs during the summer window, but Monaco's substantial valuation seemingly put off several potential buyers. However, that asking price is now understood to have dropped to a more manageable £43million.

Football.London reported that Monaco were scouting potential replacements for the 23-year-old, who netted his first senior goal for France in November. His ability to play on the right or behind a striker makes him an ideal candidate to fill the void left by Johnson's departure and Kudus' injury.

Negotiate a new contract for Pedro Porro

Spanish right-back Porro made a permanent move to Spurs in the summer of 2023 for just under £40m after a brief loan spell from Sporting CP. He signed a five-year deal at the time, which means there will be only two years remaining on his contract this summer.

Transfermarkt currently values him at around £35m, a figure that will only decrease as his contract nears its end. It would be sensible to secure an extension for the 26-year-old and pre-empt any bids, given his consistent form and availability in defence.

Since moving to north London, he has played in 106 of Spurs' 116 league matches, starting 97 of them. The injury he suffered over the weekend is set to mark his first prolonged absence in that time.

Secure a buyer for Radu Dragusin

Even with Johnson's sale, there is still money to be raised through other sales. Radu Dragusin recently returned from an 11-month layoff due to an ACL tear, but there seems to be potential interest in the Romanian.

Dragusin is likely seeking more playing time as he prepares to help his national team navigate their World Cup play-off campaign. The ex-Genoa defender continues to attract interest from across Europe, with reports from Italy suggesting AC Milan could potentially offer him a fresh start.

He's not the only player Tottenham might be able to move on to generate transfer funds. Mathys Tel has been linked with a departure after being omitted from Frank's Champions League squad, and Akliouche's potential arrival could pave the way for the ex-Bayern Munich talent to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Tottenham Hotspur players Wilson Odobert and Randal Kolo Muani have been involved in a car crash. The players were pictured in a layby next to a Ferrari with the car's right-hand side wrecked and the airbag inflated.

The two players do not appear to be hurt and are being assisted by repairmen seeing to the car. Spurs are preparing for the final round of this season's Champions League fixtures, with Thomas Frank's men set to take on Eintracht Frankfurt at 8pm GMT on Wednesday.

And Frank has provided an update on Odobert and Kolo Muani in Tuesday's pre-match press conference. He said: "Kolo Muani and Wilson Odobert are both fine. They were unfortunately involved in a minor accident.

"Everyone else involved is fine. It was a tyre blowing up. They will be travelling a little later tonight."

It has been confirmed that it was Muani's car that crashed, and Odobert was following him.

While Frank has provided a positive update on Odobert and Kolo Muani - the ex-Brentford boss confirmed that Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven are out of Wednesday's game through injury.

The 52-year-old said: "Pedro has a hamstring injury and will be out for four weeks. Micky has something minor.

"Definitely not a help to any of us. Of course, we prefer to have the best players out on the pitch.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

"Any coach wants that, and any teammate wants that. That's why we have a squad, though."

Tottenham are currently in fifth place in the League Phase and looking to rubber-stamp their place in the competition's top eight. Securing their current position would see them automatically seal a place in the last 16 and avoid a playoff tie.

Frank added: "We need to keep doing the right things and improve the things we want to do. Also getting players back. Dom [Solanke] is huge for us and he's been out for six months.

"To have your main striker and top scorer out, I'd like to see other teams deal with that. He's a physical beast and he's been pushing himself."

Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou kept a close eye on Arsenal's 3-1 win over Inter Milan in his new role

Just seven days after observing Arsenal in Champions League competition, ex-Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou will be monitoring another Premier League side just as closely. Postecoglou has been occupied in his fresh position as a UEFA technical observer, with the role taking him to the San Siro to watch Arsenal secure a 3-1 victory away at Inter Milan last week.

This Wednesday, he'll be at the Parc des Princes to observe Newcastle United's trip to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain. Both sides enter the fixture on 13 points, meaning only the winner will avoid a play-off and progress directly to the round of 16.

According to UEFA's own definition, 'The UEFA Technical Observer Group will be monitoring UEFA's club competitions in depth, with stats and video assistance enabling them to deliver detailed reports on the latest developments in coaching which are shared among the footballing community to give a dynamic account of the state of the game'.

Postecoglou is amongst more than 20 football figures selected for the position this season, with Gareth Southgate, Roberto Martinez and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer among the others. The technical observers select a player of the match whenever they are assigned a fixture, while their end-of-season responsibilities see them assist in determining the player, young player, team and goals of the season.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

Postecoglou's official assessment of the Inter vs Arsenal match was published on UEFA's website, with particular praise for Gabriel Jesus after the Brazilian's two goals. "Jesus' alertness in the box gave Arsenal a cutting edge to complement their ability to create opportunities from various avenues," Postecoglou wrote.

"Both [of the Brazilian's] goals were instinctive. The first was from a mis-hit shot that he was able to capitalise on and the second from a rebound off the crossbar. Both are a demonstration of a goalscorer's instincts as, while others are watching, he is anticipating an opportunity to score".

The Australian tactician had a short stint in the dugout earlier this campaign with Nottingham Forest, overseeing two Europa League fixtures during his tenure at the City Ground, having left Spurs after leading them to Europa League glory last term. Nevertheless, he endured barely a month and hasn't returned to the managerial hot seat since his dismissal in October.

The 60-year-old, who previously guided Celtic in the Champions League, will be observing another boss going through a difficult spell when he travels to France this week. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe isn't believed to be facing any immediate threat to his job but a home loss to Aston Villa on Sunday left his side finishing the weekend in ninth, some five points adrift of the Premier League's top four.

Newcastle occupy seventh spot in the Champions League's league phase, trailing opponents Paris Saint-Germain on goal difference. Even should they suffer defeat on Wednesday, their present tally of 13 points might prove sufficient to secure seeding for the play-off round - last campaign there were five clubs level on 13 points and two of those (including PSG themselves) earned seeding courtesy of their goal difference.

EXCLUSIVE: Lord Sugar gives brutal verdict on Tottenham Hotspur season so far - 'Useless'

Lord Sugar gives crushing verdict on Tottenham Hotspur season so far

Lord Sugar has given his verdict on the Tottenham Hotspur season so far - and says he would give the players the same treatment as contestants on his show The Apprentice. Sugar was the majority owner and chairman of the club from 1991 to 2001, but he sold his remaining shares in 2007.

However he remains a Spurs fan and watches their matches on TV even when he is spending parts of the year living in Florida. Lord Sugar was asked about their season after they had lost to Aston Villa in the FA Cup and had very patchy results in the Premier league leaving manager Thomas Frank under pressure.

Asked if Frank should be 'fired' like someone on his BBC series, Lord Sugar said: “I have no comment really about that poor sod. I mean, I think the whole bloody team should be fired. They're useless. Bloody useless. And, you know, they're getting close to the relegation zone. And it'd be interesting to see what the new management [ownership] is going to do. Because, as you know, Daniel Levy has left. So it's now in the hands of Joe Lewis, who's a multi billionaire, and he needs to start throwing some money, some real money at it to get the top players. And if he throws more money at it, they'll do well, I guess. Seems to be the only way that all these clubs do, is buy players for £100million each, or something.”

Lord Sugar spoke to the Mirror about Spurs at the official launch of The Apprentice anniversary series. It celebrates 20 years on screen this year. He has signed a contract which will see the business reality series on screen for another three years as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Asked if the show helps him feel young, Sugar said: “Part of the contract is the BBC has got to provide me with an electronic Zimmer frame! I mean, three years takes me to about 82 I suppose, the time I'm finished, but I'll carry on as long as the BBC want me to and I will know personally when it's time for me to kind of hang up my finger, if you know what I mean. As the footballers say, they hang up their boots, hang up my finger or something. I'm happy about it. I'm a very fit person.”

The 20th series of The Apprentice launches later this week with an increased batch of 20 new candidates looking to impress Lord Sugar and secure his £250,000 investment. It kicks off in dramatic fashion as the contestants - and even Lord Sugar - relocate for a challenge in Hong Kong. But Lord Sugar confirmed the opening episode does not run smoothly.

He said: “Having spent a fortune flying 20 people out to Hong Kong, not to mention 20 production people and myself, yeah it was disappointing.”

He said the candidates got a telling off from him “in technicolour” but it was edited out of the episode and a toned down version is shown. The BBC show will also see the candidates undertake a series of tough tasks including creating a children's book, selling live on television, and hosting a corporate away day on the Red Sea in El Gouna, Egypt.

Advisor Baroness Brady says: “They're full of energy. They weren’t very nervous. Some are a bit overconfident. There's a real mix of personalities. Everyone always asks me, do you know who the winner is when they walk into the boardroom? And of course we don’t, because we don't know what they're capable of just yet. That comes out in the process.”

On the longevity of the BBC series, Brady added: "It's such a great show, it's such an honour and a privilege to be involved. I've always said I'll be doing it as long as Alan's doing it. Not more, not less. So it's really great to be a part of it. It's a great show," she says.

"I think it's incredible to think we've reached the 20th series. That's a real milestone for any television show. And I think it speaks volumes about the strength of The Apprentice as a format and as a brand, two decades on, it's still entertaining, it's still competitive, and actually it's still as relevant as ever. And I think the show's evolved with the times. The business world has changed massively since series one, and the show has changed with it, we've got more entrepreneurial candidates, they're more digitally savvy, they are more aware of social impact and innovation.

"So I'm incredibly proud of what the show has achieved. It's not just about great TV, but it's launched real businesses with real success stories. I think we've helped shine a light on ambition, hard work, and resilience, qualities that are more important now than ever before."

* The Apprentice Series 20 kicks off on Thursday night on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer at 9pm.

Liverpool have blocked Andy Robertson's move to Tottenham Hotspur despite initial talks between the two clubs.

The Scottish defender looked set to move to North London, but according to The Times, the Reds have pulled the plug on any discussions and will not consider his exit.

Spurs were willing to pay around £5m for the defender, with boss Thomas Frank keen on adding more experience to his squad. But having considered the offer, Liverpool have decided to retain Robertson's services.

Speaking after his side's late defeat at Bournemouth, Arne Slot expressed his desire to keep Robertson at the club.

He said: “I think I need all my players. Robbo had to come in at half-time, in my opinion. I always knew that for Milos (Kerkez), another 90 minutes against a very intense Bournemouth side was not a possibility for him, so I knew I would have to bring (Robertson) in.

Liverpool - FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

“I had already had one substitution in the first-half, then you only have two moments left, so I thought ‘let’s bring Robbo in at half-time to make sure Milos stays available for the rest of the season’.

“There’s a lot of games to be played with the players available. I have to manage that as well. The last thing we could need right now is another injury.”

Meanwhile, captain Virgil van Dijk also underlined his desire for Liverpool to keep Robertson. He said: "He's my vice-captain. Robbo is a very important member of our team and I want him to stay but whatever happens, let's see."

Who should Liverpool sign in the January window? Share your thoughts in the comments below

The decision to block Robertson's move to North London leaves him facing fresh questions over his future, with his contract set to expire in the summer.

It also leaves Kostas Tsimikas in an awkward position, with Liverpool understood to have opened talks to potentially end his loan spell with Roma.

AS Roma chief Frederic Massara confirmed discussions had taken place. He said: "They are all situations that are evolving, we are in a dialogue with Liverpool and we’ll see how that evolves over the next few days."

Robertson, 32, joined Liverpool from Hull City in 2017 and he has gone on to make 364 appearances at Anfield. In that time, the Reds have won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

A 2-2 draw at Burnley on Saturday left Tottenham with two wins from their last 14 Premier League matches, and with a tricky run of games on the horizon, a decision needs to be made

The late equaliser was a thing of thunderous beauty - as good a header as the Premier League has seen. Seriously.

Ok, in terms of importance, it barely registers on an all-time list which is probably topped by the second of Steve Bruce’s double against Sheffield Wednesday in April, 1993, putting Manchester United back on track for their first Premier League title. But in terms of technique and power, Cristian Romero’s high-speed leveller at Turf Moor takes some beating.

In October, 2016, Luis Suarez headed a remarkable finish from the edge of the penalty area against West Brom and, at Stoke City in 2010, Javier Hernandez scored a ‘back-header’ for Manchester United that was all about improvisation. And the Romero header that earned Spurs a well-deserved point belongs in that sort of bracket.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

The Wilson Odobert cross was slightly behind Romero. It arrived at shoulder height. But somehow, Romero fashioned himself into a position to power his header past Martin Dubravka.

For a moment, the entire congregation was stunned. But as quickly as Spurs fans realised it was time to celebrate, they then realised this was still a result that gave weight to their contention that Thomas Frank should be dismissed.

They had serenaded him early in the game with a rendition of ‘Sideways and Backwards Everywhere We Go’ and sent him home with a throaty ‘Sacked In The Morning’. Which, on the stand-alone evidence of this football match, was a bit harsh.

For starters, Burnley are not as bad as their 15 points from 23 matches would suggest. Recently, they have merited the points they earned against Manchester United and against Liverpool at Anfield.

And secondly, Spurs came up against an inspired goalkeeper in Dubravka and were a touch profligate with their finishing, Dominic Solanke missing a sitter and Xavi Simons smashing one against the bar. It was a game they almost lost because of negligence in defence, Simons admitting: “We wanted to win and the two goals we conceded are not acceptable. It's a shame but we have to go on.

“We cannot concede this goal one minute before half-time and the second goal as well, I think we can avoid this. You have to win here - even if the keeper has a great match. We have to score those goals and we have to win. The only solution is to keep working. That's how we do it."

And there was no indication that Simons and every one of his team-mates was not prepared to put in the work for Frank. After Axel Tuanzebe had cancelled out Micky van de Ven’s opener and Lyle Foster had put Burnley ahead, Spurs rallied and could well have gone on to win after Romero’s header.

But results show Tottenham have won only two of their past 14 Premier League matches and the fixture list shows they have Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Arsenal coming up. And more significantly, the reaction of the travelling fans after Romero’s violently beautiful intervention shows a basic truth.

A significant section of the Spurs support is not having Frank. Simple as that. They have made up their minds. So, now, it is over to the decision-makers. It was hard not to have a twinge of sympathy for Frank as he felt compelled to applaud those who wanted him sacked.

And as old school as it would be - archaic, in fact - perhaps it is time for the Spurs board to go public. The good old vote of confidence, or not. Perhaps it is time for Tottenham to back him or sack him.

Andy Robertson had been in contract negotiations with Liverpool before Tottenham's interest with the Scotland captain seeking regular football ahead of the World Cup

Virgil van Dijk has made it clear he wants Andy Robertson to remain at Liverpool as negotiations continue with Tottenham Hotspur over a possible transfer before the January window slams shut. Robertson had been in talks with Liverpool over fresh terms before Spurs' unexpected approach earlier this week.

The two clubs are now deep in discussions with no verdict reached as yet. The Reds acknowledge and value the distinguished service their vice-captain has provided over the past eight-and-a-half years, and it's thought that the Scotland skipper is eager for consistent first-team action ahead of his nation's first World Cup appearance since 1998 later this year.

Van Dijk revealed he's had conversations with his vice-captain about the speculation and is hopeful the experienced left-back will stay at Anfield for the rest of the season at least, with his contract set to expire in the summer, reports the Liverpool Echo.

"Of course I speak to him," Van Dijk said. "I speak to him every day, he’s my vice-captain. Robbo is a very important member of our team and I want him to stay but whatever happens, let’s see.

"Do I expect him to be here on Wednesday [for the Qarabag game]? That’s not on me, is it? Let’s speak about [my best memories of him] when [a move] happens."

FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

Van Dijk was addressing the media following Liverpool's first defeat in 13 matches - a 3-2 loss at Bournemouth. Amine Adli netted the final goal of the match, following Liverpool's comeback from goals by Evanilson and Alex Jimenez, thanks to a header from the captain and a free-kick by Dominik Szoboszlai.

This defeat could be a significant blow to their hopes of securing a spot in next season's Champions League, and Van Dijk concedes that fatigue was a factor, especially after a 3-0 Champions League victory at Marseille earlier in the week.

Van Dijk said: "What can explain tiredness? What do you think? Last season we did not have many injuries. Look at the last line in the last minutes of the game, that says quite a lot.

"Tiredness, yeah. Listen, they created chances because we were very open at times. If you then don’t make the right decision in possession, you can get counter-attacked.

"I don’t start to worry personally [about the top-four race] But the matter of fact is about what we do in the week. We are trying to find consistency and we still don’t have it, that is something we need to focus on.

"We played Bournemouth who are very intense. When we only have myself and Wata (Wataru Endo) as the last two, if we lose the ball then there is a lot of space. We are having a difficult season in terms of ups and downs but now we have an opportunity on Wednesday to qualify for the top eight of the Champions League. That is our target but today is tough to take.

"It was tough. I'm disappointed. The first goal, I take full responsibility for that even though it was a very difficult ball to judge. In the second half, we tried to do that.

"The second goal, we can all speak and say we should have kicked the ball out, we should have done this. But to concede like that puts ourselves in a position where we have to work even harder than ever.

"It was good that we scored before half-time but we fought so hard in the second half but did not create very big chances. We came in promising positions and eventually scored an equaliser but the throw-in in the end, it is difficult to take.

"First half, up until the first goal, I don’t think there was anything wrong in my feeling. The 1-0 and 2-0 in a very short space of time was a big blow, you have to fight back and be very strong mentally.

"The goal before half time helped, it gave us a big push. Second half we were obviously pushing a lot. We could not create open, big clear-cut chances, they created bigger chances because we were wide open at times trying to score our goal, that is the situation.

"The thing is, that is part and parcel. In the good times, these things happen as well, the other side of it. I am just as involved as everyone else. Today as well, unfortunately.

"I will always take that responsibility. Today is difficult because you lose, in a difficult season already. We have to turn that feeling around as quickly as possible to get the job done on Wednesday. That is the life.

"Last Wednesday we had a lot of praise, team and personal, and everything was all good. Today, the flip side, all the other things will be mentioned because it’s the life we live. We have to take responsibility and I will definitely take responsibility."

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank was asked about the club's transfer talks for Liverpool star Andy Robertson as the January window reaches an interesting climax

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank would not be drawn into a discussion over the club's transfer talks for veteran Liverpool defender Andy Robertson. The Mirror reported on Friday that Spurs made contact with their Premier League rivals over the possibility of signing Robertson this month.

They had planned to sign the left-back in the summer, when the Scotland international's contract is due to expire at Anfield, though have been encouraged to bring forward said plans. Frank was questioned on the subject for the first time following his side's 2-2 draw away to Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

The Dane was asked specifically if the two-time Premier League winner would have helped Spurs defensively in a match they were minutes away from losing to the top-flight's 19th-placed side at Turf Moor.

"Just on that one, in general you don’t know me that well, I don’t speak about players that are not in the club, except Ronaldo and Messi," Frank replied, adding: "So, that’s no comment."

The club's interest in the Liverpool left-back comes just days after Spurs announced the £13m signing of Souza from Santos on Thursday night.

The 19-year-old plays in the same position and Frank described him as "one of the brightest left-back talents in the world" in Spurs' announcement.

Mirror Football - JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

The north London side already have Destiny Udogie, Djed Spence and Ben Davies on the books as options for the position.

Robertson himself is yet to come to a final decision over his future as he recently revealed contract renewal talks had started with the reigning champions.

He said: "We’ll see what happens. We’ve had chats now which will remain private. I've spoken to them and we’ll see what happens.

"Would I like to stay? Yes, but it’s a difficult question to ask. I’ve got five months left and we need to see the option to stay or if there’s options to go and things like that.

"I’ll sit down with my family and decide. After a stressful summer, I’m just trying to enjoy being a part of it, and being a Liverpool player.

"I wanted to qualify for the World Cup and thankfully we’ve managed to do that. I need to see what myself and my family wants moving forward."

The 31-year-old has regularly started on the bench this season for Liverpool as head coach Arne Slot has given preference to Milos Kerkez, who was signed last summer from Bournemouth for £40m.

This was the case yet agon on Saturday night following Spurs' draw at Turf Moor, as Kerkez was given the nod against his former club.

However, Robertson was introduced as a surprise half-time substitution in place of the Hungarian with the Reds trailing 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium.