The Mirror

Tamworth have copped huge criticism after deciding to charge a staggering £42 for a ticket for their FA Cup clash with Tottenham.

The National League outfit landed a blockbuster tie and will welcome Tottenham to the Lamb Ground next month. They currently sit 15th in the fifth tier of English football but are clearly looking to cash in when the Premier League side head up to the Midlands.

Tamworth stadium holds 4,963 - although only 518 of them are seated. They have decided to charge top dollar for the contest and a seated view for an adult in the main stand will cost £42. Even an adult wishing to stand on the terraces will have to pay £38.

The club, who have never played in the football league, are facing huge backlash after announcing their prices with those on social media taking aim at the mammoth price hike.

One user said: "How short sighted are these prices. A chance to repay and respect the fans that go and support you every week, and instead you release this monstrosity. Shameful."

Another fan said: "That pricing is an absolute disgrace. You should seriously reconsider what you’re doing. What a joke." One supporter added: "£42 quid sheesh, I get it's a big match but surely that will not bring any new fans in." Another said: "Thoughts with regular match goers, and in particular families just after Christmas and with this pricing. Awful".

Based on the prices broadcast on their website Tamworth are charging more than double if their fans want to watch the FA Cup tie against the north Londoners. An adult sitting in the main stand would usually pay £20 with someone wanting to stand in the terrace paying £18.

Even a child under the age of 10 wishing to attend the match in the main stand will have to pay £29. West Brom, who are located just 26 miles away, are currently in the top half of the Championship and do not charge more than £5 for an U17.

Mirror Football has approached Tamworth for a comment regarding their pricing for the clash against Tottenham. FA rules state the home club decides ticket prices, and higher prices may be mutually agreed between the clubs.

Only last year did Tamworth earn promotion from the National League North after a season that saw them finish top of the pile. Their game against Tottenham will take place on Sunday January 12 and comes after they beat League One Burton Albion on penalties in the second round.

Tottenham and Wolves fans travelling to Sunday’s Premier League clash face potential travel chaos because the main train station serving the stadium will be closed for the entire day.

Engineering work means Liverpool Street station is shut for the weekend - leaving thousands of fans to find an alternative route to the stadium for the 3pm kick off.

Transport for London have already emailed passengers with a warning ahead of the game that fans should instead take the Tube to Seven Sisters and finish their journey at “street level.”

And that is likely to cause a headache for supporters battling through the Festive chaos.

TFL said: “For customers travelling to the game on Sunday 29 December:

A limited service of two trains per hour will operate between London Fields and White Hart Lane, with no services between Liverpool Street and London Fields. This is due to planned Network Rail engineering works.

From central London, travel to Seven Sisters or Tottenham Hale on the Victoria line and continue your journey at street level”

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is under increasing pressure having seen his team succumb to a fourth defeat already this month against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.

And Tottenham have been hit by a fresh injury blow with Radu Dragusin hurting an ankle in the East Midlands and Ben Davies

That means Yves Bissouma might have to deputise at centre half against Wolves despite the head coach saying the midfielder has never played there before coming on for Dragusin at Forest.

Asked about the severity of Dragusin’s injury on Friday morning, Postecoglou said: “A bit early to tell. He tweaked his ankle last night and felt like he couldn't continue. So we'll just have to wait and see. We’ll kind of wait until he gets in today and then assess it from there.”

Postecoglou also hopes to see his squad strengthened in the January transfer window with Spurs languishing in the bottom half.

“I think in the context of where we're at at the moment I think it is an important one,” he said. “I think if we add what we need to add and it fits the bill in what we're trying to do… Our league position is not great but it’s super tight and we’re not that far off. Like I say, we're in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and still in a great position in Europe and there's the FA Cup.

“There's still everything to play for for us this year to make it a season where we can have success. But we need some help, the players need some help more importantly, and the club is working really hard to try make that happen.”

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ryan Sessegnon offered his verdict on every Spurs boss he played under – from Mauricio Pochettino all the way up to Ange Postecoglou.

Despite being snapped up from Fulham by Pochettino for a hefty £25million in 2019, injuries haunted the 24-year-old, limiting his appearances before he ultimately returned to the Cottagers. While reflecting on his spell in north London, which was also interspersed with a loan at Hoffenheim, Sessegnon offered insights into his relationship with the last five permanent managers at the club.

At present, Postecoglou is the latest Tottenham boss to enter an uncertain period off the back of his side's 1-0 away loss to Nottingham Forest. The Australian was the final manager Sessegnon worked with before his permanent return to Fulham.

Now he is away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sessegnon gave his verdict on all of the managers he worked with at the club.

Mauricio Pochettino

Starting with the Argentine himself, who was captivated by Sessegnon's electric displays at Fulham and spurred the move to bring him on board. Fresh into the squad, an immediate injury meant Sessegnon faced isolation due to Pochettino's policy of keeping injured players away from the available players.

Sessegnon explained the sense of alienation in a chat with Rising Ballers, when he said: "I turned up to the club and I am not training, I'm in the physio room. At that time, not having too much contact with Pochettino and the team, because at that time, he did not want injured players to be in meetings and stuff like that. We were kept separate from that.

"Obviously, he welcomed me to the club and that kind of stuff, but I was not in and around the players at the time because I was injured. By the time I got fit, I went to England U21s camp in November 2019, that season, and when I came back, Poch had got sacked. I did not really have too much of a relationship with him, even though he brought me to the club, because I was never fit for him."

Jose Mourinho

When Jose Mourinho took the helm, it marked a significant uptick in Sessegnon's involvement with the Spurs first team. The versatile talent expressed his initial excitement about working under Mourinho when he said: "Mourinho was a very good manager.

"[He was] a good guy, very straightforward and honest guy. I remember at the time when he came in, everyone was buzzing. Everyone was sad that Poch had left, but bringing in a manager of his stature to the club, was very exciting for everyone around the club."

However, despite scoring in his debut against Bayern Munich, his opportunities were hampered by injuries once again. Mourinho would go on to loan him to Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.

Nuno Espirito Santo

Nuno Espirito Santo was regularly linked with Sessegnon when he was manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The dynamic Portuguese manager is known for favouring versatile full-backs who can make an impact at both ends of the pitch.

But despite a promising initial meeting firing up their rapport, Sessegnon's curse of injuries struck again. He added: "I came back to a new manager and it was Nuno Espirito Santo. He was a very good manager, he also wanted me when he was at Wolves so we had a good relationship straight away. When I came back to pre-season, I think it was the second or third session, I got injured.

"He did not really get to see me train or play or anything like that. It was frustrating, I really wanted to prove myself to this new coach. By the time I was ready to come back, he got sacked and he was gone. He got sacked in November and it was like that cycle from Poch to Mourinho. It was the same thing again."

Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte proved to be a turning point in Sessegnon's Spurs career. Under the guidance of the fiery Italian manager, he made an impressive 42 appearances – a stark difference from the mere 14 under the combined tenures of Postecoglou, Pochettino, Mourinho and Santo.

Looking back on his opening sessions with Conte, Sessegnon said: "He [Santo] went and then Conte came in. He was intense, in a good way. I loved him to be honest with you. He was a very good coach, honest and he helped me a lot.

"He just made us run. Tactically, he was one of the best coaches I have worked under."

Ange Postecoglou

Sessegnon's chances at Tottenham were cut short due to injuries and new signings when Postecoglou took over. Despite limited playtime under the Australian's reign, making only two appearances last season, the defender said: "When he [Conte] went, they brought in Ange Postecoglou.

"He is a very good coach, a very good guy. I've come back the following season, ready again. I've gone away, done my stuff, ready to go again. In pre-season, in one of the training sessions, I got injured again. That's how it kind of started with me under him.

"I think I was in training, I took a shot and I remember it was crazy, because we was doing this transition and I was playing right wing. I cut inside, shot, into the top corner, but because I felt something, I didn't care about the shot. When it happened, I knew the feeling of how it felt. I remember walking out of the session, going to the physio and that kind of stuff. I was devastated."

Jeff Stelling was left in stitches after Chris Kamara cracked a joke while covering Tottenham's defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Kamara and Stelling were reunited on Boxing Day for Amazon's Every Game Every Goal show. The duo previously had a long-standing friendship from their time working on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday programme.

Kamara stepped down from that role in 2022 after revealing he had been diagnosed with apraxia, a neurological disorder that makes it difficult for him to speak. Stelling meanwhile remained for another season before leaving his presenting role.

He has since become an anchor for Amazon's coverage of the Premier League. Kamara was called by the show's producers last week to join their stable of reporters and cover Spurs' trip to Forest.

Anthony Elanga opened the scoring for the hosts just before the half-hour mark. And as he described the goal, Kamara cracked a joke that left his friend in stitches. Kamara said: "Morgan Gibbs-White to Anthony Elanga and Udogie just let him run. Apparently Jeff they might sell Udogie in the window."

That was of course a reference to the 1953 Lita Roza song: "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?". Stelling responded with a jibe of his own, saying: "Oh goodness me, Kammy! How long have you been away and that's the best you can come up with?"

Kamara joked back: "I'm afraid so Jeff." But Stelling calmed his nerves by insisting: "We loved it." Stelling was joined in the studio by Dion Dublin and Tim Sherwood, with all three left crying with laughter.

It could be the last time the duo cover live Premier League games, with Amazon's coverage of the division coming to an end this year. Both men posted emotional messages after the end of the day's action.

Kamara said: "Beyond my wildest dreams, doing the game with you today Jeff. The TV company’s won’t let that be your last game. But thank you so much. If that was my last hurrah then que sera, sera."

Stelling had already posted his own messaging citing how much he enjoyed the experience. "If that’s it for me on TV a great way to finish with my old mate @chris_kammy alongside me. Loved every single minute," he said.

Thursday's Coverage saw plenty of banter between the pair as Stelling welcomed Kamara to the day's coverage. Kamara quipped: "Thank you, Jeff. I have got the best game of the day. When Amazon rang me up I thought they wanted me to deliver parcels, but they sent the game, yes!"

Elanga's goal ultimately proved to be enough for Forest to claim a festive three points. Spurs also had Djed Spence sent off deep into second-half stoppage time to cap off a miserable afternoon.

High-flying Nottingham Forest will look to strengthen their hold on a top-four spot as injury-hit Tottenham Hotspur visit the City Ground.

There's been contrasting fortunes for the two sides so far this season. Forest have been a revelation under Nuno Espirito Santo and find themselves in the Champions League places.

Spurs, on the other hand, have tasted defeat more than victory in the Premier League. Their 6-3 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday left them languishing in the bottom half of the table and cranked up the pressure on Ange Postecoglou.

The Boxing Day trip north is far from ideal for the Aussie manager, who's still without several key figures. Those wishing to watch how the action unfolds will be able to do so for free.

What channel is Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham on?

The game is on TV but not through the usual broadcasters Sky Sports or TNT Sports. The matchweek 18 round of Premier League fixtures is the second of two that Amazon Prime will be showing this season.

That's eight today and two more tomorrow. It's the last of Amazon's offerings for the English top flight for now as they didn't get a slice of the pie in the new TV deal, which starts next season and runs until 2029.

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham for free

Amazon subscribers can watch the match at no extra cost than their membership fee, which in the UK is £8.99 a month or £95 annually. However, the streaming giant also offer a free trial.

That means new members can access the service for 30 days before either continuining at the monthly rate or cancelling. What's more, students and 18-22 year olds can enjoy a six-month free trial and a 50% discount on the standard rate.

What time does Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham kick-off?

Forest's clash with Spurs is one of five 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League on Boxing Day. Presenter Jim Rosenthal will be pitchside with former Forest boss Martin O'Neill and ex-Tottenham striker Les Ferdinand, with Conor McNamara and Stephen Warnock on commentary duties.

It could turn out to be a bitter pill to swallow for Tottenham if Randal Kolo Muani joins arch rivals Arsenal.

The 26-year-old French striker has been placed on the transfer list by Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the January transfer window, having failed to recapture the form that led to his €75million (£64m) plus €15m (£12.2m) in add-ons transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023.

The season before in the Bundesliga, Kolo Muani netted 23 times and provided 17 assists for Frankfurt, but his return to France has yielded just 18 goal contributions. Before his PSG move, Tottenham considered signing him as a replacement for Harry Kane.

But he allegedly turned them down due to their delay in making a formal offer. Now, after falling out of favour under Luis Enrique, Kolo Muani might be on the move again, with several Premier League clubs named in connection with him.

He has recently been omitted from PSG's matchday squad, with Enrique telling reporters last week: "I could speak about it, but I won't because my decisions say it all. Even if, as I have said, all of my decisions can be changed."

It's no surprise Kolo Muani's availability has attracted the attention of English admirers considering the high demand for top-tier strikers in today's day and age. TBR Football claim Arsenal are contemplating bringing in a new centre forward next month and he is of consideration.

Manchester United, potentially facing the departure of Marcus Rashford, might also be in the mix. It's thought that a loan deal with an obligation to buy next summer is the most probable transfer scenario.

Mikel Arteta is likely regretting Arsenal's failure to secure a striker during the summer transfer window. Their lack of scoring prowess has been particularly evident in recent weeks, leaving the Gunners lagging in the title chase.

James Maddison has revealed he once asked his parents to get him a baby brother called Jason for Christmas.

The Tottenham star admitted it was the "weirdest thing I ever asked for" and that his parents still laugh about his request to this day. When asked what the best Christmas present he has ever received was, Maddison told BBC Radio London : "The one I was probably happiest with...

"I think my mum and dad got me a Beyblade. Kids these days won't remember, but it was like this little spinny thing that you'd have a battle against another thing and they'd bash against each other until one won and one didn't.

"You'd get a little arena and you'd let it rip. I went round my cousin's and we both got a Beyblade for Christmas and I think it kept us occupied for about 12 hours straight.

"I'll tell you the weirdest thing I ever asked for which I didn't get. I think I was about five or six and I asked on the top of my list for a baby brother called Jason!

"Now at my age I realise... imagine your five-year-old son asking for that. It's not something you can just pluck from Toys R Us! My mum and dad always laugh about that one."

Maddison does now have a younger brother called Ben and the 28-year-old says his family is "everything" to him. He told club media: "I've a little boy with my partner, he's everything to me, and we've two on the way very soon (his partner gave birth to twins last July).

"It's been a whirlwind few weeks, actually, because we're getting close to that due date with all this stuff happening in the background. My family is everything and I can't wait to have my family at the games at our unbelievable stadium.

"My mum and dad have been with me from the start, my little brother Ben... family is everything. As soon as I could walk, I was kicking a ball. Dad's got loads of videos of me in the garden, kicking a ball around.

"That's the same for many of us footballers, it's that from the start. You see a lot of stuff these days about footballers maybe falling out of love with the game, but I can't see that ever happening to me."

Tottenham forward Richarlison waited in the tunnel for Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker after Sunday's match.

On the weekend, Arne Slot's side hit Tottenham for six in a dominant 6-3 victory in North London. It was Ange Postecoglou's side's eighth Premier League defeat in 17 matches and the latest example of the club shipping huge amounts of goals at home.

When the whistle was blown, Richarlison, 27, who has been out with a hamstring injury since November, waited in the tunnel for Alisson. However, their exchange was positive, with their friendship deriving from the substantial time they spend together on international duty with Brazil.

Despite the result, Richarlison was more than happy to reunite with the shot-stopper, who has had to fight his own injury issues this season, as spotted on Liverpool's tunnel cam on YouTube.

Richarlison could be seen standing between the changing rooms in the corridor of the tunnel, wearing a large Tottenham winter coat with his hood up. As Alisson walked past, the ex-Roma keeper, stopped, smiled and hugged his compatriot

While they were embracing, James Maddison, who scored an impressive goal against him in the first-half, also shook hands with Alisson. After a brief moment, Richarlison and Alisson went back to their respective changing rooms.

Aside from the reunion with his international team-mate, there was little for Richarlison or any other Tottenham player to smile about. The loss means they will sit down for their Christmas dinner while in 11th place in the Premier League.

They will be hoping they can overcome Liverpool in the semi-finals of the League Cup, as winning a domestic trophy appears to be their best hope of qualifying for European football next season. Many of Spurs' struggles can be put down to the injury crisis they are enduring at the back of the field.

They are missing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and defenders: Micky van der Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies. However, Postecoglou insisted he will not be changing his ways any time soon.

After the match, he said: "The challenges we have from a squad perspective are as obvious as you want to make them. I get the idea that people think I should just flip a switch and change, and somehow that will miraculously make us a better team.

"It is what it is. I'm just going to continue, stay focused on trying to build this team to be the team we want. In the interim, we are going to accept there are going to be challenges along the way."

In a prickly exchange with BBC Sport, the Australian added: "If you want to discount the fact we're missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and left-back and that hasn't coincided with what we're doing... I don't know what to say anymore.

"It's fairly significant, if you took out Liverpool's goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back - or any team other than Liverpool, they'd find it tough going as well."

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has claimed reporters have tried to "poke the bear" with him this season after his angry response to a reporter who questioned his style of play.

The Australian gave a spiky reply after his side's 6-3 loss to Liverpool when asked about the team's struggles to maintain their high-intensity and demanding attacking philosophy. He insisted the team's injury crisis - which has seen them lose nine players - played a huge part in their heavy defeat and recent struggles.

"I'm just going to stop answering these questions," he said at the time. "If people can't see the obvious I‘m not going to point it out. Make of it what you want, yes we're conceding goals. If you want to discount the fact we’re missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and left-back and that hasn't coincided with what we're doing… I don’t know what to say anymore."

Tottenham's first choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have all been out for a lengthy spell, while left-back Destiny Udogie was missing against Liverpool.

Ahead of his side's trip to Nottingham Forsest on Boxing Day - which is set to see Udogie return - Postecoglou insisted he was not angry after the Liverpool game but claimed it was normal for a manager to not be "cheery" after a painful defeat.

"I wasn't angry, but I don't know many managers that bounce into interviews after a defeat and are all cheery," he said. "Fair to say I am getting tired of the same questions over and over and I just think it's almost like people want to sort of poke the bear to see if I react. And obviously after a loss, it's a lot easier for people to get a reaction out of me."

Spurs were at sixes and sevens against the Reds on Sunday as Arne Slot's men went 5-1 up before the London outfit threatened an unlikely comeback to make it 5-3 before the league leaders finished them off. Postecoglou was asked if he had seen a reaction to the damaging defeat and the 59-year-old insisted the players still had belief.

He said: "I still feel like the players, and I see, that they have still got real belief in what we are doing. It is difficult because it is a tough day for the supporters, the players and for all the people who work so hard at the club.

"What I try and sort of reiterate is that it's all hopefully for a greater purpose. And, again, that's my ultimate responsibility is to try and bring success to the club. But you understand in the meantime, you know, it's not nice seeing the players out there doing everything in their power to try and get a result.

"Obviously with the situation we're in there are limits to what they can do. So you feel, I certainly feel that responsibility. But as disappointed as they are, they're still very, very determined to continue."

Ex-Tottenham striker Gary Lineker reckons that Liverpool would have triumphed over Spurs on Sunday regardless of the tactics employed by Ange Postecoglou in their 6-3 defeat – simply because the Reds are a far superior team.

The Lilywhites were trounced at home by Arne Slot's unstoppable side as Postecoglou watched his team fall to a 5-1 deficit with only 60 minutes on the clock. Although Spurs did manage a partial comeback, pulling the score back to 5-3 after Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke netted in the final 20 minutes, it wasn't enough as Luis Diaz bagged his second of the match to make it six and seal a thrilling victory for table-topping Liverpool.

Postecoglou has faced severe criticism for his tactical approach in some of Spurs' most significant losses this season, despite grappling with numerous injuries, particularly in defence. However, Lineker believes that Spurs wouldn't have been able to compete with Slot's squad regardless of the line-up they fielded or whatever strategy their Australian manager implemented.

James Maddison had clawed one back for Spurs in the first half after Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister put the visitors 2-0 up within 35 minutes. With Liverpool's lead cut in half, it seemed like Postecoglou's team had a shot at mounting a comeback.

Yet, moments later and right before half time, Dominik Szoboszlai broke through and slotted the ball through Fraser Forster's legs as Spurs suffered from another rapid counter-attack. Their players were once again caught out while pressing high at arguably the wrong moment.

Game management and adapting to the match situation are factors often brought up with Spurs by pundits, particularly as they could have regrouped for a second-half push being just 2-1 down, if only they held out until the half-time whistle. Instead, trailing 3-1 going into the break, Spurs never truly managed to put Liverpool on edge again.

Lineker, speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, asserted that Liverpool were just too formidable and that there was an inevitable outcome, showing how far former Champions League regulars Spurs have dropped in recent times. "When those two teams lined up today, you thought, well, however Tottenham shape up, and they're going to get beaten by that [Liverpool] side, particularly if they're playing that well," Lineker said, as per Football London..

The former England forward suggested that Spurs' scintillating form in front of goal under Postecoglou – that has led them to being the leading goalscorers in the Premier League this season with 39 goals – might be a draw for supporters, enthralled by the exhilarating style of play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But Spurs still find themselves in 11th position – a situation many fans lay at the feet of Daniel Levy and the board, accusing them of failing to support the manager adequately in the transfer market and leaving him with a team that lacks the depth needed to compete at the top. Frustration towards Levy was palpable both inside and around the stadium on Sunday as protests took place.

"It's Tottenham. I mean, they're gung ho, we know that," Lineker added. "And he [Postecoglou] doesn't change things just because he's got a few injuries and played boring football.

"I mean, every time Tottenham play, I think, and some of the fans will disagree with me, and that's absolutely fine because we know it's a results business. But you must look forward to going to see the games and not knowing quite what to expect."

His podcast colleague, Alan Shearer, said that it was perhaps naive and impulsive behaviour from some players that led Spurs to press Liverpool just before the half-time whistle, consequently leaving themselves exposed for the Reds to all but seal the game's fate. "Sometimes, as a player or a team, you have to take responsibility without your manager, without whatever way he wants to play," Shearer said.

"You know, they get to 2-1 today and a minute before halftime, it's still gung-ho. You just say, 'okay, we've actually taken a beating in that first half. If we can get to 2-1, we've probably been extremely lucky'. So once you get that goal, you say, 'okay, two minutes to half time, let's just see'.

"But yet, they still commit so many men forward and then get hit on the break. And once Liverpool get that third one, just before the break, you're thinking, done. I thought that minute cost them the game. And then they were never going to come back from that."

Spurs are now gearing up for a challenging visit to fourth-placed Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.