ESPN

Thomas Frank's reign as Tottenham Hotspur manager has come to an unceremonious end after only eight months in charge. Despite qualifying for the UEFA Champions League knockout stage with a fourth-placed finish in the league phase, two wins from their last 17 Premier League games has seen Spurs drop to only five points above the relegation zone.

The writing was on the wall, and Frank's spell might go down in the history books as one of the worst for the north London club.

Tim Sherwood's 13 wins from 22 games in charge remains the best in Tottenham's Premier League history (59.1%), closely followed by Antonio Conte (57.1%), but perhaps most Spurs fans would look back fondly on the reign of Mauricio Pochettino (55.9%).

Andre Villas-Boas (53.7%), Ryan Mason (six wins from 12), Nuno Espirito Santo (five wins from 10) were the other managers to have won at least half of their league games in charge. None of these managers won any trophies for Spurs.

However, here's a list of the worst-ever Tottenham managers this century (arranged by decreasing order of win percentage in the league).

Harry Redknapp (October 2008 to June 2012) - 49.3%

It almost seems harsh to place Harry Redknapp on this list, as many a Spurs fan would opine that he was responsible for the club's resurgence in the mid-2000s. Appointed after leading Portsmouth to the FA Cup title in 2008, Redknapp replaced Juande Ramos and while his start saw Spurs drop into the relegation zone, he recovered to an eighth-place finish and a League Cup final that they lost on penalties to Manchester United.

Redknapp qualified twice for the UEFA Champions League in three years, which included a stunning run to the quarterfinal, but he was eventually let go after failing to agree a new contract. In total, Redknapp finished with a record of 71 wins from 144 PL games.

Jose Mourinho (November 2019 to April 2021) - 46.6%

The Special One's most memorable moment as Spurs' boss was arguably the timing of his sacking -- days before Tottenham were set to take part in the League Cup final. It was the first time Jose Mourinho departed a club without winning a trophy since 2002.

The Portuguese boss replaced Pochettino, and his dour style of play was in stark contrast to his Argentinian predecessor, who had led Spurs to the Champions League final. The results never made up for Mourinho's style of football, as the club managed a sixth-placed finish in his first season.

Spurs topped the league in December in Mourinho's second season, but a disappointing run of results saw the Portuguese boss get the sack, with the club losing out on the League Cup as well as finishing seventh in the league.

Martin Jol (November 2004 to October 2007) - 41.6%

Martin Jol arrived as an assistant to Jacques Santini, but after the Frenchman's early exit (more on that later), the Dutchman was promoted into the hot seat. Instilling an expansive style of football, Jol recovered to a ninth-place finish in his first season. It was his second season that saw Jol challenge the traditional top four, battling with rivals Arsenal for the final Champions League spot.

Spurs had it in their hands on the final day of the season, but the infamous 'Lasagna-gate' incident saw his squad struck down with illness and Tottenham missed out on the Champions League, losing to West Ham United. The fifth-place finish was Spurs' best since 1990 and they repeated it the following season. With Spurs spending big in the transfer market, expectations were raised but Jol couldn't live up to them, with Tottenham sacking him in 2007.

Ange Postecoglou (July 2023 to June 2025) - 40.8%

"I'll correct myself -- I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing's changed."

Postecoglou lived up to his promise, winning the Europa League -- Spurs' first trophy in 17 years, and their first European trophy since the 1983-84 UEFA Cup. The Australian manager's high-risk style of play saw him make one of the best-ever starts in the Premier League, but Tottenham were eventually found out as they finished fifth in Postecoglou's first season.

The second season was nothing short of a disaster, as despite salvaging the season with the Europa League trophy, Spurs finished 17th in the league, one point above the relegation spots, which resulted in his departure.

David Pleat (September 2003 to June 2004) - 36.8%

David Pleat's time with Tottenham goes back to 1986, but he had multiple spells as caretaker boss. In the Premier League, his record for Spurs reads 14 wins from 38 games.

Despite having a penchant for unearthing young stars from the club's academy, Pleat's final spell as Tottenham boss was one of the club's worst, as they finished a lowly 14th in the 2003-04 Premier League season, their lowest since 1998.

Glenn Hoddle (April 2001 to September 2003) - 36%

Glenn Hoddle was unable to replicate his trophy-laden career with Tottenham as a player (two FA Cups, an FA Charity Shield and a UEFA Cup) as a manager, but he still had an eventful two years at the club.

Hoddle came to be known for his early season potential to dwindle as Tottenham finished ninth and 10th, before a poor run saw him sacked early into his third season. That promise also saw Tottenham reach the League Cup final in 2002, but despite being favourites against Blackburn Rovers, they lost out and their trophy drought continued.

George Graham (October 1998 to March 2001) - 33.7%

Graham's status as an Arsenal legend having won multiple titles with Spurs' rivals did not prevent him from taking the job in 1998. The Scot brought his winning habit to Tottenham, guiding the club to their first trophy in eight years after winning the 1998-99 League Cup.

Yet, Graham never managed a finish better than 10th in the Premier League in any of his seasons in charge, and after ENIC's takeover of the club in 2001, he was sacked.

Juande Ramos (October 2007 to October 2008) - 27.8%

Having won the Copa del Rey, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the Supercopa de Espana with Sevilla, Juande Ramos came to the Premier League with a glittering CV. The Spaniard became infamous for his disciplinarian ways, putting his Tottenham squad on a strict diet. While the club managed an 11th-placed finish in the league, they won their first trophy of the century by winning the League Cup, which also included the high of a 5-1 win over Arsenal.

However, Ramos' man-management left plenty to be desired and a very poor start to the following season, which left the club in the relegation zone and dealing with an unhappy squad. His departure soon followed.

Jacques Santini (June 2004 to November 2004) - 27.3%

Hailed as one of the best-ever French managers, Santini arrived to London having rebuilt Lyon as well as winning the 2003 Confederations Cup with France. Expectations were high, but the Frenchman left the club after only 13 games in charge in all competitions.

Santini never truly revealed what led to his departure, going only as far as saying that the club had reneged on certain agreements, but he also blamed himself for not doing his due diligence while agreeing to take the job during Euro 2004 while still in charge of France. In the league, his win percentage for managers who had at least managed 10 games in charge of Tottenham was the worst, until a certain Dane came along...

Thomas Frank (June 2025 to February 2026) - 26.9%

A summer that saw Tottenham spend their second-highest total in the last decade meant Thomas Frank was sufficiently backed ahead of taking over from Ange Postecoglou, and his exploits with Brentford last season meant there was an air of cautious optimism. However, Frank never truly had a chance to work with a full squad and paid the price, frequently boasting of an injury or suspension list that was 10 players long.

Two wins from 17 Premier League games, the club's worst points-per-game ratio in the league (1.12), and Spurs' second-longest winless streak in the league (eight) since Juande Ramos was in charge. The numbers were untenable, and eventually led to Frank's departure.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust has welcomed the dismissal of Thomas Frank but urged the club to take the threat of relegation seriously.

Spurs brought Frank's seven-month tenure to an end after Tuesday's 2-1 home loss to Newcastle made it two wins in 17 Premier League fixtures and left the club only five points above the bottom three.

In a lengthy statement, the Supporters' Trust questioned why the club waited until after the winter transfer window to make this decision and called for a "clear long-term plan built around attacking football" from the board moving forward.

"The Trust welcomes the decision to part ways with Thomas Frank," a statement read.

"While his appointment initially appeared to be a positive step, it has not delivered the progress or results the club urgently needs and decisive action was required.

"We now face another rebuild whilst we are fighting relegation. This is a crucial moment for Tottenham Hotspur. Strong leadership is needed at every level of the club to restore belief and direction for both the players and the supporters.

"The club's statement that the board concluded this morning that 'a change at this point in the season is necessary,' raises questions as to why this conclusion has only been reached today, after closure of the January transfer window.

"It is clear that not taking decisive action sooner, and failing to strengthen in the January transfer window, has contributed to our slide down the table and left the club facing a very real risk of relegation.

"No manager can succeed without proper backing. Serious financial investment in the squad is essential, as it is plain to see the team is down to the bare bones.

"The immediate priority must be appointing a manager who can lift the team out of the relegation battle we are currently in. But, changing the manager alone won't solve our problems; ambition, investment and strong leadership must follow.

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"We need a clear long-term plan built around attacking football that plays to our strengths, rebuilds confidence and helps unite the fanbase.

"The next appointment must bring stability, belief and a clear footballing identity -- and it must be backed with the resources needed to succeed.

"The club needs to show fans it has ambition and is serious about getting out of the relegation battle, rebuilding the squad, winning trophies and competing for Champions League places on a regular basis and restoring Tottenham Hotspur to where it belongs."

Thomas Frank has been sacked as Tottenham Hotspur head coach, the club confirmed Wednesday.

He leaves his post after eight months in charge with Spurs lying 16th in the Premier League following Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United.

Frank, 52, faced chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" from Spurs fans who also sang the name of former manager Mauricio Pochettino as they slipped to an 11th league defeat of the season.

"The club has taken the decision to make a change in the Men's Head Coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today," read a club statement.

"Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together.

"However, results and performances have led the board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.

"Throughout his time at the club, Thomas has conducted himself with unwavering commitment, giving everything in his efforts to move the club forward. We would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him every success in the future."

Sources told ESPN the club have yet to decide on a replacement plan, but an interim appointment is considered more likely at this initial stage. Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham is expected to make a longer statement later Wednesday.

Sources said Venkatesham recommended the decision to ownership Tuesday night after the game as Tottenham's dreadful run of form continued and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium witnessed another toxic evening.

Spurs have won just two of their past 17 league matches -- taking 11 points in that time -- and the current winless run of eight games is their longest in the Premier League since October 2008.

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Sources said Spurs were reluctant to make a change due to an acknowledgment that many issues at the club predate Frank and he has been unfortunate to suffer the volume of injuries he has.

Last season, under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs finished 17th in the league but won their first trophy in 17 years, lifting the Europa League in May after beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final.

But Frank only oversaw a modest initial improvement in form, narrowly losing the UEFA Super Cup final to Paris Saint-Germain before winning six of their opening 16 league games.

And the board felt compelled to act as Tottenham are now in danger of relegation as they sit just five points above the drop zone.

Frank guided Spurs to the Champions League round of 16 after finishing fourth in the group stage but the club's results were too disappointing to ignore.

They were beaten in the EFL Cup fourth round by Newcastle and the FA Cup third round by Aston Villa. They had won just two league games at home all season and the negative atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was compounded by off-field issues with captain Cristian Romero criticizing the club's hierarchy in a social media post just minutes after the transfer window closed.

It is the first sacking of the post-Daniel Levy era at Spurs. Levy left the club in September as the majority owners of Spurs' holding company Enic, the family of billionaire Joe Lewis, took on a more prominent role.

At the start of Tottenham Hotspur's preseason tour in Hong Kong last summer, Thomas Frank went for his customary early-morning run, a ritual from his days as Brentford manager. But shortly after leaving the Kerry Hotel to take in the views of Victoria Harbour, Frank was quickly recognized by local fans, many of whom had lined the entrances and lobby areas of the Premier League club's luxurious base each day of their stay.

Before drowning in requests for selfies and autographs, he made it back to the hotel where club officials used it as an example of the step up he had made to Spurs: The scrutiny and exposure would be on another level to what he was used to. It was an adjustment Frank was never able to make.

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The 52-year-old was sacked as Spurs head coach on Wednesday having never appeared to be the right fit almost from the outset. He departs after eight months, amassing 13 wins from 38 games and with Spurs 16th in the Premier League table. (They have zero league wins so far in 2026.) Spurs are safely through to the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 after a solid league phase campaign, but the club could not afford to hope history repeats itself.

Last season, they neglected their domestic season in pursuit of European glory. It ended with a UEFA Europa League triumph -- their first trophy in 17 years -- and the departure of Ange Postecoglou as head coach. If they compartmentalized the campaign this time around -- in the hope of a (let's be honest, highly unlikely) Champions League triumph -- it could end in relegation.

Spurs are just five points above the bottom three having won just two of their past 17 games, and something had to give. But what went wrong, and who is to blame?

Frank made a promising start. Spurs were painfully porous under Postecoglou and Frank did stabilize Tottenham's back line, racking up five clean sheets in his opening eight matches across all competitions, including a 2-0 win at Manchester City.

There was tactical flexibility -- which felt a blessed relief after Postecoglou's dogma -- right from the beginning. Spurs were 2-0 up with five minutes to play against an undercooked Paris Saint-Germain in August's UEFA Super Cup, before the European champions struck twice to force a penalty shootout that they won 4-3.

It was a collapse reminiscent of the worst of Spurs, an abrupt introduction to the club Frank had taken over. But it was only when the club's Champions League campaign began in earnest that Spurs began to struggle. That flexibility gradually became a desperate scramble for answers.

The relentless schedule of playing three games in seven days for weeks would ultimately expose cracks everywhere: in Frank, the squad and the club itself.

Sources have told ESPN that friends living close to Frank in East Sheen, a southwest London suburb, had noticed the early-morning taxis taking him to Tottenham's training ground every day were starting to drain a manager used to spending most midweeks without matches at Brentford. Sources at Tottenham's training ground also told ESPN that players became surprised at the volume of work done on nullifying opponents in training, rather than focusing on developing their own style of play.

Discipline had also become an issue. Sources close to the dressing room have told ESPN that there was some concern over how he handled a difficult incident at the beginning of November in which Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven ignored Frank's request to acknowledge the home support at the end of a dismal 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

His lack of command over the dressing room was also thought to be a factor in a repeated refusal to publicly condemn Cristian Romero, despite the defender's decision to criticize the club twice on social media over a perceived lack of investment and an injury crisis that left Spurs with roughly a dozen players unavailable for selection. Romero's red card in Saturday's 2-0 loss at Manchester United -- his second of the campaign -- was another rash moment which cost his team dearly. A four-game ban means he will not play again until mid-March.

Sources have told ESPN that there was a recognition both from Frank and within the club's hierarchy that the squad lacked sufficient leadership. This was a motivating factor behind signing Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid in January and a failed attempt to bring in Andy Robertson from Liverpool.

Frank's authority was also undermined by some questionable public statements. At his unveiling, Frank said: "One thing is 100% sure, we will lose football matches." It was of course factually true and by itself not controversial, but some supporters compared it unfavorably with predecessors who talked about winning trophies and appeared to aim higher with their aspirations.

Frank explained on Monday that in addressing supporters through the media, "there needs to be the nice combo between reality and selling hope." It was a balance he never got right.

His gaffe in holding an Arsenal-branded coffee cup before losing at AFC Bournemouth on Jan. 7 was again symptomatic of a head coach not used to being alert to the optics of big-club management. Fans had never warmed to Frank and incidents like this, as trivial as they first appear, only widened the wedge between supporters and the team.

As early as Nov. 8, Frank's substitutions were booed during the 2-2 draw with Manchester United. And yet, as those fans filed out of the ground, Spurs were third in the table.

But the game play was dull. The team lacked confidence and conviction. And as the slide continued unabated, the dissent grew louder to the point where Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United was awful for all concerned.

Spurs fans sang "you're getting sacked in the morning" at Frank, who had to endure the name of ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino ringing out from the South Stand. The board had to act.

Major change at the top

It's clear that Frank's departure is not a panacea, with the club's problems running far deeper than the head coach. Sources at the training ground have told ESPN that the club has a rudderless feel to it at present.

Daniel Levy, who left the club in September after 24 years as chairman, had his faults, but sources say he was always willing to listen and engage with staff. That engagement is missed by some members of staff who believe the restructured ownership has yet to present a compelling vision of the club's future direction.

Spurs' ownership is complicated. Current owners Enic Sports & Developments Holdings Ltd is a company owned by billionaire Joe Lewis which has an 86.58% stake in Tottenham. Lewis' daughter Vivienne, his son Charles and grandson-in-law Nick Beucher -- co-CEO of Tavistock Group, the Lewis family office and private investment company -- have taken a more hands-on role. But the day-to-day running has been passed to chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange.

Sources close to the appointment process have told ESPN that Lange was instrumental in Frank succeeding Postecoglou. Fabio Paratici was rehired as co-sporting director in October, only for the club to confirm his departure in January as Lange continued to stick by Frank, who he has known for around 20 years. Venkatesham is overhauling the club's infrastructure and seeking to drive higher standards, but those changes will take time. Meanwhile, sources say some at the club feel like they are treading water. One source suggested Beucher has attended first-team training sessions and spoken with players.

The dissonance around the club's direction also meant that they struggled to back Frank in the transfer market. Failed moves for Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest and Eberechi Eze, who instead joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace, complicated Frank's effort to build a more dynamic side. Recruitment has long been an issue.

Injuries were also a major factor, with striker Dominic Solanke ruled out for several months while midfielders James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski face battles to play again this season. Sources close to Frank have told ESPN that he believes the club's medical department needs significant improvement.

Sources close to the hierarchy have told ESPN they recognize there is no quick fix. It is a key reason why they were reluctant for so long to part with Frank, who himself had privately acknowledged this season would be extremely difficult as the club sought to overhaul the squad and change a culture of underachievement which has held the club back.

But there is only so long that short-term results can be ignored. And if Spurs do indeed lack a coherent plan for the future, one possibility above all others sharpened minds: relegation.

And faced with that shocking prospect, the end for Frank became inevitable.

LONDON -- Four minutes into the second half of Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United, Spurs fans began singing the name of former manager Mauricio Pochettino. The visiting Toon army had earlier serenaded under-fire Newcastle boss Eddie Howe in the very first minute as a defiant show of support.

Who was pulling for Thomas Frank? By the end of another dismal Spurs performance, the Dane stood on the touchline with a vacant expression, sodden by the relentless swirling rain and listening to the ultimate insult: "You're getting sacked in the morning" ... from Tottenham fans.

How much longer can this go on? The club's senior decision-makers recognize that no quick fix exists for the current malaise. Deep-rooted problems predate this head coach, and until now they have been reluctant to sack a likeable character in the knowledge that stability is required.

But with Frank getting booed off at halftime and full time, the short-term pain is becoming severe. Spurs are winless in their past eight Premier League games, their longest run without a victory since October 2008.

Frank oversaw a fine Champions League group stage campaign that saw them finish fourth and qualify automatically for the round of 16. Yet while Spurs were willing to neglect their domestic campaign in the hope of European glory last season, if they do the same this time, they could be relegated.

And that is why Frank's position is under imminent, unprecedented danger. Spurs have won only two of their past 17 league games. They have taken 12 points in that time.

Frank sidestepped questions Monday about whether Tottenham were in a relegation battle. He can't hide from it anymore. West Ham, currently in 18th place, were denied a win by Manchester United, who equalized in the 96th minute at London Stadium. Spurs are only two places higher and five points above the drop zone after Benjamin Sesko's goal, which occurred seconds before Frank walked into the postmatch news conference room to face questions about his future.

Because of their early exit from the FA Cup, Tottenham won't play again for 12 days, until they host north London rivals and Premier League leaders Arsenal. It was more than fair to ask whether he will be in charge for that game.

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"Yeah, I'm convinced I will be," he replied. "I understand the question, it is easy to point on me, but it is never only the head coach, or the ownership, or the directors, or the players, or the staff. It is everyone.

"If we do something right, we can build something that can last. Of course we are not in a top position now. Everyone knows -- directors, ownership, myself -- what position we are in and what we need to do better. And that's what we are working very hard on.

"[I'm] 1,000% sure [I'm the right man to lead Tottenham]. I'm also 1,000% sure that I never expected us to be in a situation like this with 11, 12 injuries on the back end of this and what we have been facing.

"I know when you need to build something and you need to get through things, you need to show unbelievable strong resilience. ... We can only get through this together."

All this, remember, against a Newcastle side enduring its own existential crisis and a manager in Howe who has engaged in a bit of soul searching in the past few days. "A bit is an understatement," he said afterward.

Spurs started slowly and effectively allowed Newcastle to rediscover their confidence. Joe Willock had a goal disallowed on the stroke of halftime on VAR review for offside, but Tottenham still couldn't get to the break level. Malick Thiaw scored in stoppage time with a goal that summed up the home side's indolence. Spurs failed to close down the cross or react when goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario saved Thiaw's initial effort. Archie Gray struck against the run of play in the 64th minute, but Newcastle responded just four minutes later as Jacob Ramsey swept the ball in after good work from Anthony Gordon.

Frank was left to defend firstly the clubs' dreadful injury record -- Wilson Odobert limped off here to exacerbate the situation -- and the wider idea that sacking a head coach in difficult circumstances is the panacea many believe it to be.

"I understand the mechanism in football, no doubt about that. But I also think there are a lot of studies that say that is not necessarily the right thing to do," Frank said.

"I know it is the only movement they have, but there are also plenty of situations where it is not the right thing to do. And the only thing I'll focus on is fighting, doing the right thing together with everyone else."

In the end, it was actually Howe who was left to speak up for Frank. "It is an incredible list of players they are missing, and I think that is really difficult," Howe said.

"I think he is an outstanding manager. I've come up against him many times. I think he has all the attributes to be a top manager for this football club, and I hope he gets the time to show that."

Frank faces a nervous wait to see if his time has run out.

Spurs vs. Newcastle (10 Feb, 2026) Live Score  ESPN

Tottenham Hotspur host Newcastle United with both clubs in desperate need of a morale boosting result. Losses at the weekend have left both teams in a spiral and eyeing each other as the perfect opportunity to get some positivity and momentum as we head toward the business end of the season. Can either team drag themselves to a much-needed win?

Here's everything you need to know about the match:

How to watch

The match will be broadcast on Tuesday on TNT Sports 3 in the UK, NBC in the U.S., Jio Hotstar in India and Stan Sport in Australia. You can also follow ESPN's live coverage here.

Key Details

Kick-off time: Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 7.30 p.m. GMT (2.30 p.m. ET; 1 a.m. IST and 6.30 a.m. AEDT, Wednesday)

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Referee: Anthony Taylor

VAR: Nick Hopton

Injury News

Tottenham Hotspur

Cristian Romero, D: OUT, suspended

Dejan Kulusevski, M: OUT, knee

Destiny Udogie, D: OUT, muscle

Ben Davies, D: OUT, ankle

Kevin Danso, D: OUT, toe

Djed Spence, D: DOUBT, calf

Pedro Porro, D, OUT, hamstring

James Maddison, M: OUT, ACL

Lucas Bergvall: M: OUT, leg

Rodrigo Bentancur, M: OUT, hamstring

Mohammed Kudus, F: OUT, muscle

Richarlison, F: OUT, hamstring

Newcastle United

Emil Krafth, D: OUT, knee

Fabian Schär, D: OUT, ankle

Tino Livramento, D: OUT, hamstring

Joelinton, M: OUT, thigh

Anthony Gordon, F: OUT, hamstring

Lewis Miley, M/D: DOUBT, knee

Talking Points

Are Spurs in a relegation battle, really?

According to Wayne Rooney, yes. Speaking on BBC's Wayne Rooney Show: "You'd have to say they are [in a relegation battle] with their current form. West Ham have been in form; Nottingham Forest pick up results here and there. You can't think that they're not in a relegation battle where they are. I think they'll definitely be looking over their shoulders."

What they'll see over the shoulders is Leeds United tied with them on 29 points, Nottingham Forest who've had two wins and two draws in their last five and are just three points behind Spurs, and a resurgent West Ham (four wins out of their last five) only six points behind Spurs in 18th. For a team that have failed to win any of their last seven Premier League games and continues to go through one of the worst injury crises in their storied history (just look at that list above), all that amounts to bad news.

Unlike the Ange Postecoglou debacle last time around, there's at least one team in the relegation zone this season who look more than capable of staying up, and that should cause a flutter of worry amongst Spurs fans.

Newcastle need to reverse their momentum to salvage season

If 29 points in 25 games isn't a good enough showing, 33 in 25 isn't all that much better, is it? Eddie Howe's men have lumbered along all season, still adjusting to the loss of Alexander Isak. To make things worse, they are in the middle of quite a poor run of results that's seen them slide down: they've lost four of the past five matches in all competitions (the other being a 1-1 draw vs PSG) and look incapable of producing a consistent performance across 90 minutes at the moment.

The bright side to it all, though, is that with Bruno Guimarães back to full fitness, they are fully capable of finding some form out of nowhere and going on the sort of run that can close the mere six-point gap to the European spots. For that, they need a reversal of momentum, and as things stand in the league, they won't get a better fixture than this to get that shift going.

Romero's red will hurt Spurs now more than ever

Cristian Romero ended Spurs' hopes of getting anything from Old Trafford with his rash challenge on Casemiro and the resulting red card, but the ramifications are longer term. For one, this leaves a beleaguered squad (one that Romero himself complained about, re: inactivity in the transfer market) a fit player short for four games (three for violent conduct, one for this being his second red), for another, it robs Spurs of their best defender and their leader on the pitch.

For all his proclivity for throwing himself into needless challenges, his passing range from the back often helps set the tempo, his leadership at the back helps them maintain shape and his threat on set-pieces keeps opponents on their toes. At a time when all this was needed the most, he will be missing. For Spurs, that's simply inexcusable.

Guimaraes is key for Newcastle

Here's an unbelievable stat for you: Newcastle United are yet to win a league game without Bruno Guimaraes since he made his debut for the club in 2022.

In the games he missed over the past fortnight, you could see exactly why. Newcastle without their Brazilian midfielder simply seem unable to get things moving. After their tame loss to Aston Villa late in January, Eddie Howe said: "I just thought we missed Bruno's forward thinking. He always wants to pass forward and is always looking for a creative pass. You could see we missed that today. He always wants the ball and he's always demanding the ball from his team-mates. They're massive qualities, and then there's his never-say-die spirit and attitude, too."

He's back now and almost inspired a comeback point against Brentford this past weekend. Him staying fit and firing will be key to any Newcastle plan for resurgence.

What do the numbers say?

These are numbers that won't give Spurs fans much hope ahead of the match: Spurs have lost five of their last seven Premier League games against Newcastle (W1 D1); and against no team have Newcastle won more Prem games overall (27, level with Aston Villa) or away from home (12, level with West Ham) than Spurs

What makes it worse for Spurs fans is that they've won just four of their last 26 league games at the Tottenham Hotspur stadiums (D7 L15)

Here's one for the neutrals. These two teams have played each other 61 times in the Premier League: not once has it finished 0-0. It's also the fourth highest scoring fixture in the league (196 goals)

Spurs are winless in their last 11 midweek Prem games (D3 L8), while Newcastle have won six of their last eight such fixtures (D1 L1)

Eddie Howe has won six of his nine league meetings with Thomas Frank (D2 L1), garnering 2.22 points-per-game in the process. That's his best ratio against any manager he has faced more than five times.

Tottenham Hotspur host Newcastle United with both clubs in desperate need of a morale boosting result. Losses at the weekend have left both teams in a spiral and eyeing each other as the perfect opportunity to get some positivity and momentum as we head toward the business end of the season. Can either team drag themselves to a much-needed win?

Here's everything you need to know about the match:

How to watch

The match will be broadcast on Tuesday on TNT Sports 3 in the UK, NBC in the U.S., Jio Hotstar in India and Stan Sport in Australia. You can also follow ESPN's live coverage here.

Key Details

Kick-off time: Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 7.30 p.m. GMT (2.30 p.m. ET; 1 a.m. IST and 6.30 a.m. AEDT, Wednesday)

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Referee: Anthony Taylor

VAR: Nick Hopton

Injury News

Tottenham Hotspur

Cristian Romero, D: OUT, suspended

Dejan Kulusevski, M: OUT, knee

Destiny Udogie, D: OUT, muscle

Ben Davies, D: OUT, ankle

Kevin Danso, D: OUT, toe

Djed Spence, D: DOUBT, calf

Pedro Porro, D, OUT, hamstring

James Maddison, M: OUT, ACL

Lucas Bergvall: M: OUT, leg

Rodrigo Bentancur, M: OUT, hamstring

Mohammed Kudus, F: OUT, muscle

Richarlison, F: OUT, hamstring

Newcastle United

Emil Krafth, D: OUT, knee

Fabian Schär, D: OUT, ankle

Tino Livramento, D: OUT, hamstring

Joelinton, M: OUT, thigh

Anthony Gordon, F: OUT, hamstring

Lewis Miley, M/D: DOUBT, knee

Talking Points

Are Spurs in a relegation battle, really?

According to Wayne Rooney, yes. Speaking on BBC's Wayne Rooney Show: "You'd have to say they are [in a relegation battle] with their current form. West Ham have been in form; Nottingham Forest pick up results here and there. You can't think that they're not in a relegation battle where they are. I think they'll definitely be looking over their shoulders."

What they'll see over the shoulders is Leeds United tied with them on 29 points, Nottingham Forest who've had two wins and two draws in their last five and are just three points behind Spurs, and a resurgent West Ham (four wins out of their last five) only six points behind Spurs in 18th. For a team that have failed to win any of their last seven Premier League games and continues to go through one of the worst injury crises in their storied history (just look at that list above), all that amounts to bad news.

Unlike the Ange Postecoglou debacle last time around, there's at least one team in the relegation zone this season who look more than capable of staying up, and that should cause a flutter of worry amongst Spurs fans.

Newcastle need to reverse their momentum to salvage season

If 29 points in 25 games isn't a good enough showing, 33 in 25 isn't all that much better, is it? Eddie Howe's men have lumbered along all season, still adjusting to the loss of Alexander Isak. To make things worse, they are in the middle of quite a poor run of results that's seen them slide down: they've lost four of the past five matches in all competitions (the other being a 1-1 draw vs PSG) and look incapable of producing a consistent performance across 90 minutes at the moment.

The bright side to it all, though, is that with Bruno Guimarães back to full fitness, they are fully capable of finding some form out of nowhere and going on the sort of run that can close the mere six-point gap to the European spots. For that, they need a reversal of momentum, and as things stand in the league, they won't get a better fixture than this to get that shift going.

Romero's red will hurt Spurs now more than ever

Cristian Romero ended Spurs' hopes of getting anything from Old Trafford with his rash challenge on Casemiro and the resulting red card, but the ramifications are longer term. For one, this leaves a beleaguered squad (one that Romero himself complained about, re: inactivity in the transfer market) a fit player short for four games (three for violent conduct, one for this being his second red), for another, it robs Spurs of their best defender and their leader on the pitch.

For all his proclivity for throwing himself into needless challenges, his passing range from the back often helps set the tempo, his leadership at the back helps them maintain shape and his threat on set-pieces keeps opponents on their toes. At a time when all this was needed the most, he will be missing. For Spurs, that's simply inexcusable.

Guimaraes is key for Newcastle

Here's an unbelievable stat for you: Newcastle United are yet to win a league game without Bruno Guimaraes since he made his debut for the club in 2022.

In the games he missed over the past fortnight, you could see exactly why. Newcastle without their Brazilian midfielder simply seem unable to get things moving. After their tame loss to Aston Villa late in January, Eddie Howe said: "I just thought we missed Bruno's forward thinking. He always wants to pass forward and is always looking for a creative pass. You could see we missed that today. He always wants the ball and he's always demanding the ball from his team-mates. They're massive qualities, and then there's his never-say-die spirit and attitude, too."

He's back now and almost inspired a comeback point against Brentford this past weekend. Him staying fit and firing will be key to any Newcastle plan for resurgence.

What do the numbers say?

These are numbers that won't give Spurs fans much hope ahead of the match: Spurs have lost five of their last seven Premier League games against Newcastle (W1 D1); and against no team have Newcastle won more Prem games overall (27, level with Aston Villa) or away from home (12, level with West Ham) than Spurs

What makes it worse for Spurs fans is that they've won just four of their last 26 league games at the Tottenham Hotspur stadiums (D7 L15)

Here's one for the neutrals. These two teams have played each other 61 times in the Premier League: not once has it finished 0-0. It's also the fourth highest scoring fixture in the league (196 goals)

Spurs are winless in their last 11 midweek Prem games (D3 L8), while Newcastle have won six of their last eight such fixtures (D1 L1)

Eddie Howe has won six of his nine league meetings with Thomas Frank (D2 L1), garnering 2.22 points-per-game in the process. That's his best ratio against any manager he has faced more than five times.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are both monitoring Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic while Brentford defender Michael Kayode is a target for both Manchester United and Manchester City. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

Transfers home page | Men's winter grades | Women's grades

TRENDING RUMORS

- Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are keeping a close eye on Dusan Vlahovic's situation at Juventus, Footmercato reports. The Serbia forward has entered the final six months of his Juventus contract, and as such is expected to depart the club this summer. There is interest in the player from within Italy, with AC Milan on the lookout for a new No. 9. However, the Premier League is also a potential landing spot for Vlahovic, who has been sidelined by injury for much of the season so far. Across his time at Juve, he has scored 46 goals in 117 Serie A games.

- Manchester United and Newcastle United have joined the race to sign Brentford wing back Michael Kayode, TEAMtalk reports. The 21-year-old is also wanted by Manchester City, after impressing in his first full season in west London. The Italy U21 international has gained plenty of attention for his long throws, which have caused problems for defenses up and down the Premier League this term. Brentford paid around £15 million to sign Kayode permanently in the summer following a six-month loan from Fiorentina, but will now demand a fee in excess of £50M from any interested clubs. Alongside Premier League interest, several European giants have scouted Kayode in recent months, including Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

- Arsenal are one of several clubs attempting to sign Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka on a free transfer, according to the Daily Mirror. The Gunners are said to have had their inquiries over a January move knocked back by the German club, but that could all change at the end of the season. Goretzka's current contract is set to expire in June, opening the door to a potential summer transfer. Atlético Madrid are long-term admirers of the 31-year-old, alongside Napoli and Juventus. However, with Goretkza wanting to challenge himself in the Premier League, Arsenal might well emerge as the front-runners in the months to come.

- AFC Bournemouth are set to sign Álex Jiménez on a permanent deal after the fullback triggered a clause in his loan from AC Milan, Sky Sports News reports. The Cherries are set to pay Milan £16.8M (plus £4.5M in add-ons) for Jiménez, who has been a regular in the Premier League this season, with 21 appearances to date. Once the transfer is complete, his contract at Bournemouth will run until June 2031.

- Sandro Tonali could demand a move away from Newcastle United if the club fails to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, according to Football Insider. Recent reports linked the Italy international with a move to Arsenal on deadline day, although such a move failed to materialize. Nevertheless, with clubs from around Europe tracking his development, the Magpies could be forced to let their star midfielder go in the summer if European football isn't secured next season.

EXPERT TAKE

Could Carrick's Man United finish above Man City?

Janusz Michallik debates Man United's aims under Michael Carrick after their win over Tottenham.

DONE DEALS

- Orlando City have signed defender Iago Teodoro from Flamengo. He joins fellow Brazilians Luis Otávio and Tiago Souza as winter signings for the MLS club.

OTHER RUMORS

- Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique is set to snub Manchester United and sign a contract extension with the reigning European champions. As things stand, the Spaniard believes United is "not the right project for him". (Daily Mirror)

- Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini will have to take pay cuts if they want to stay at Roma. (La Gazzetta Dello Sport)

- Lyon midfielder Tyler Morton is a summer target for Newcastle United, while Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are also tracking his development in France. (Ekrem Konur)

- Sporting defender Ousmane Diomande has an exit clause in his contract which can be triggered at the end of the season. (Ekrem Konur)

- Chivas are in talks to sign Nashville SC winger Jonathan Pérez. An offer has been lodged, and negotiations are said to be progressing in the right direction. (Tom Bogert)

- The transfer of Eintracht Braunschweig captain Sven Köhler to FC Zürich is a "done deal". (Sky Germany)

Spurs vs. Chelsea (8 Feb, 2026) Live Score  ESPN