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Archie Gray's first goal for Tottenham ensured they ended a rollercoaster 2025 with a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace to ease the pressure on Thomas Frank.

Spurs fans had started to turn on Frank after a run of five defeats in eight left them 14th in the Premier League on Christmas Day.

While there had been no suggestions internally that Frank's job was under immediate threat, Tottenham needed to return to winning ways and Gray's 42nd-minute header settled the contest between the current FA Cup and Europa League holders.

It moved Spurs up to 11th but crucially they are only four points off fifth-placed Chelsea ahead of Frank's return to old club Brentford on Wednesday.

Oliver Glasner watched his weary Palace team lose a third consecutive league game to further highlight the need for January reinforcements.

Both clubs had celebrated eagerly-awaited cup wins in May but Spurs were without one of their heroes from Bilbao with Cristian Romero suspended.

Kevin Danso replaced Romero and received a late Christmas present in the shape of a yellow card from referee Jarred Gillett after five minutes as Palace made the early running.

Chances remained limited, though, and Tottenham thought they had taken the lead in the 17th minute through Richarlison only for their celebrations to be cut short after Lucas Bergvall was deemed offside in the build-up.

Jean-Philippe Mateta signalled his intentions with an effort dragged wide from 20 yards soon after before a short free-kick routine created another chance for Palace's number nine but he nodded over from Maxence Lacroix's header.

Justin Devenny and Adam Wharton tested Guglielmo Vicario with tame efforts before Will Hughes curled wide after a slick move by the hosts.

It appeared a matter of time before Palace broke the deadlock but Spurs struck against the run of play in the 42nd minute.

After Randal Kolo Muani's blocked shot forced a corner, Pedro Porro's delivery to the back post was kept alive by Kolo Muani and then flicked on by Richarlison for Gray to head home from close-range to open his account for Tottenham.

Spurs' slender half-time lead was immediately under threat as stand-in away captain Micky van de Ven blocked Yeremy Pino's volley before an even better opportunity was created.

Pino produced a sumptuous outside-of-the-boot cross which was knocked down by Nathaniel Clyne but Devenny fired over on the turn.

Glasner turned to his bench with Eddie Nketiah introduced and another Palace chance was squandered with 20 minutes left when Jefferson Lerma teed up Lacroix but he sent his header wide.

Five minutes later and Tottenham had the ball in the net again through Richarlison after a wonderful Mohammed Kudus cross only for VAR to deny the visitors again as the Brazil forward was marginally offside.

Tottenham Hotspur forward Randal Kolo Muani has said the team remains fully behind their under-pressure head coach Thomas Frank, adding "everybody is happy with him."

It has been a challenging period for Spurs with inconsistent form under Frank, which meant they were 14th at Christmas.

Nevertheless, Kolo Muani's dynamism has quickly earned him a rapport with the fanbase and earlier this week he attended the club's One Hotspur Junior Christmas Party at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Kolo Muani said: "It is fun and for the kids it is a great moment. This is just magic for Christmas and everybody is happy, so that's good.

"Yeah, I feel that [support] when I go out to the games and before. I saw a lot of fans and I'm happy. I feel good."

France international Kolo Muani also offered his support for Frank amid fan criticism.

"Yeah we have a good relation[ship]," Kolo Muani said.

"We talk together so much and he has good coaches, so I am happy with him.

"All the team, my teammates, we have trust with the coach and everybody is happy with him. Now we work a lot to go hard [for this period]."

Kolo Muani knows only good performances and goals for Tottenham will help him realise his World Cup dream.

He featured for France in Qatar and had a one-on-one effort crucially thwarted by Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martínez during extra-time before a penalty shootout loss in the final in 2022.

Argentina claimed World Cup success and although Kolo Muani earned a move to Paris Saint-Germain six months later, a lack of game-time saw him drop out of international reckoning.

A string of encouraging displays for Spurs resulted in Kolo Muani being recalled by France for last month's camp, but a broken jaw denied him the chance to feature under Didier Deschamps again.

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Quizzed on his motivation for 2026 with the World Cup only six months away, Kolo Muani insisted his full focus was on life at loan club Tottenham, who travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

"I feel very good and my team-mates are good with me," Kolo Muani said.

"For the moment I just want to play really good at the club. This is really important and after we will see for the World Cup.

"That is why I need and want to show more my quality and want to score also.

"We need to win more games and if I want to go to the World Cup, I need to do some [more] good performances."

Tottenham Hotspur forward Randal Kolo Muani has said the team remains fully behind their under-pressure head coach Thomas Frank, adding "everybody is happy with him."

It has been a challenging period for Spurs with inconsistent form under Frank, which meant they were 14th at Christmas.

Nevertheless, Kolo Muani's dynamism has quickly earned him a rapport with the fanbase and earlier this week he attended the club's One Hotspur Junior Christmas Party at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Kolo Muani said: "It is fun and for the kids it is a great moment. This is just magic for Christmas and everybody is happy, so that's good.

"Yeah, I feel that [support] when I go out to the games and before. I saw a lot of fans and I'm happy. I feel good."

France international Kolo Muani also offered his support for Frank amid fan criticism.

"Yeah we have a good relation[ship]," Kolo Muani said.

"We talk together so much and he has good coaches, so I am happy with him.

"All the team, my teammates, we have trust with the coach and everybody is happy with him. Now we work a lot to go hard [for this period]."

Kolo Muani knows only good performances and goals for Tottenham will help him realise his World Cup dream.

He featured for France in Qatar and had a one-on-one effort crucially thwarted by Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martínez during extra-time before a penalty shootout loss in the final in 2022.

Argentina claimed World Cup success and although Kolo Muani earned a move to Paris Saint-Germain six months later, a lack of game-time saw him drop out of international reckoning.

A string of encouraging displays for Spurs resulted in Kolo Muani being recalled by France for last month's camp, but a broken jaw denied him the chance to feature under Didier Deschamps again.

- Frank rejects Slot's claim Van de Ven tackle on Isak was 'reckless'

- Colorado Rapids hire Tottenham assistant Matt Wells as coach

- Premier League table

Quizzed on his motivation for 2026 with the World Cup only six months away, Kolo Muani insisted his full focus was on life at loan club Tottenham, who travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

"I feel very good and my team-mates are good with me," Kolo Muani said.

"For the moment I just want to play really good at the club. This is really important and after we will see for the World Cup.

"That is why I need and want to show more my quality and want to score also.

"We need to win more games and if I want to go to the World Cup, I need to do some [more] good performances."

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has rejected Liverpool boss Arne Slot's suggestion that Micky van de Ven's tackle on Alexander Isak was "reckless" and revealed the two players have spoken to address the incident.

Isak is expected to be sidelined for around two months after he underwent surgery on a broken leg sustained during the first half of Saturday's 2-1 win at Spurs.

Isak was injured when scoring the opening goal as Van de Ven lunged in to try and stop the shot. He was not punished by referee John Brooks at the time.

Slot said of Van de Ven's challenge: "If you make a tackle like that 10 times, 10 times there is a serious chance the player gets a serious injury."

Those comments were put to Frank on Tuesday ahead of Tottenham's trip to Crystal Palace and the Spurs boss said: "I'm obviously disagreeing in many ways. I think we are talking about a defender in Micky van de Ven that will do everything he can to avoid the goal. It is a transition so he is sprinting back in.

"There is a ball slid down the side and he does everything he can to see if he can block that shot so he is sliding. Unfortunately Isak has planted his foot straight there and that makes it look worse than it is.

"That would be a natural reaction for any defender. Put it this way, if my defenders don't do that, I don't think they are true defenders. I don't see that at all.

"I think reckless challenges normally, you haven't seen any one from Micky, as I remember. He is a very fair and competitive player. That's one thing. I also know the two players have sorted it out so that's a good sign."

Meanwhile, Frank refused to be drawn on whether Fabio Paratici will soon be leaving the club for Fiorentina.

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Sources have told ESPN that Fiorentina are interested in exploring a deal for Tottenham's co-sporting director but a formal approach is yet to be made. Reports in Italy suggest Paratici is open to the move.

Asked about the situation, Frank said: "I think first and foremost it is not the first rumour I need to speak about if it staff, director or a player. In general, I am not speaking about that. I try to focus on the Crystal Palace game."

Virgil van Dijk has revealed he has spoken with Xavi Simons after the midfielder's red card challenge inLiverpool's 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur and insisted his international teammate did not intend to hurt him.

Simons was dismissed in the first half of Tottenham's clash with Arne Slot's side after a VAR review showed the 22-year-old had raked his studs down the back of Van Dijk's calf. His dismissal opened the door for Liverpool to secure a win that moves them up to fifth in the Premier League table, while Spurs dropped to 13th.

"I don't think there was any intention to hurt me but obviously he hurt me and then the referee and the VAR made the decision to send him off," Van Dijk said. "I spoke to him. It's a chat that no-one needs to know."

Liverpool's victory came at a price, with forward Alexander Isak being forced off the pitch just moments after scoring the visitors' opening goal in north London. The 26-year-old looked in a great deal of pain following a coming together with Spurs defender Micky van de Ven, and the Reds now face an anxious wait to discover the extent of his injury.

"Injuries unfortunately are part of football and hopefully with Alex it's not too bad," Van Dijk said. "He scored a great goal. It's too soon after the game to know [the extent of it]. He will need to be assessed.

"We all saw how bad it looked with Alex but hopefully it won't be too bad."

Liverpool are now unbeaten in six games in all competitions but came close to conceding a last-minute equaliser against nine-men Spurs, who finished the game strongly.

Reflecting on the performance, Van Dijk said: "The immediate reaction coming off was that it was a chaotic last five to 10 minutes. It wasn't great but to get the three points is massive. There was nothing wrong up to us conceding a goal. We need to analyse the last part but personally I'm very pleased and it's on to the next one.

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"When you concede a goal and their fans get behind them like they did, it's never easy to make the right decisions and find the right solutions. That's something we can improve but I don't think it's worrying. It's a transition and we need to keep getting better."

The Dutchman added: "Winning more, getting results, is always positive. Losing games, especially at a club like Liverpool, is always bad. For us it's about staying calm. Taking each game as it comes.

"Today we won. Now we have a couple of days off. We will recover and then we will focus on Wolves. It will be a tough game. I saw their game against Spurs. Wolves will make it difficult for us and we have to be ready for that.

"First we have Christmas. Being with your family and being healthy are the most important things in life."

Virgil van Dijk has revealed he has spoken with Xavi Simons after the midfielder's red card challenge inLiverpool's 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur and insisted his international teammate did not intend to hurt him.

Simons was dismissed in the first half of Tottenham's clash with Arne Slot's side after a VAR review showed the 22-year-old had raked his studs down the back of Van Dijk's calf. His dismissal opened the door for Liverpool to secure a win that moves them up to fifth in the Premier League table, while Spurs dropped to 13th.

"I don't think there was any intention to hurt me but obviously he hurt me and then the referee and the VAR made the decision to send him off," Van Dijk said. "I spoke to him. It's a chat that no-one needs to know."

Liverpool's victory came at a price, with forward Alexander Isak being forced off the pitch just moments after scoring the visitors' opening goal in north London. The 26-year-old looked in a great deal of pain following a coming together with Spurs defender Micky van de Ven, and the Reds now face an anxious wait to discover the extent of his injury.

"Injuries unfortunately are part of football and hopefully with Alex it's not too bad," Van Dijk said. "He scored a great goal. It's too soon after the game to know [the extent of it]. He will need to be assessed.

"We all saw how bad it looked with Alex but hopefully it won't be too bad."

Liverpool are now unbeaten in six games in all competitions but came close to conceding a last-minute equaliser against nine-men Spurs, who finished the game strongly.

Reflecting on the performance, Van Dijk said: "The immediate reaction coming off was that it was a chaotic last five to 10 minutes. It wasn't great but to get the three points is massive. There was nothing wrong up to us conceding a goal. We need to analyse the last part but personally I'm very pleased and it's on to the next one.

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"When you concede a goal and their fans get behind them like they did, it's never easy to make the right decisions and find the right solutions. That's something we can improve but I don't think it's worrying. It's a transition and we need to keep getting better."

The Dutchman added: "Winning more, getting results, is always positive. Losing games, especially at a club like Liverpool, is always bad. For us it's about staying calm. Taking each game as it comes.

"Today we won. Now we have a couple of days off. We will recover and then we will focus on Wolves. It will be a tough game. I saw their game against Spurs. Wolves will make it difficult for us and we have to be ready for that.

"First we have Christmas. Being with your family and being healthy are the most important things in life."

LONDON -- Thomas Frank has criticised referee John Brooks for his officiating in Tottenham's 2-1 home defeat to Liverpool and questioned the likely three-man ban Xavi Simons' now faces after his red card.

Spurs finished Saturday's game with nine men after Simons was sent off following a VAR review for a late tackle on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk after 30 minutes.

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Substitute Alexander Isak opened the scoring on 56 minutes and suffered an injury in the process before Hugo Ekitike doubled their advantage with a header as he beat Cristian Romero in the air.

Romero was booked for complaining he was fouled and after Richarlison scored to halve the deficit with seven minutes left, the Argentina centre-back was dismissed for appearing to lash out at Ibrahima Konaté.

Simons is now set to miss Tottenham's matches against Crystal Palace, Brentford and Sunderland over the festive period.

Former Brentford boss Frank said: "We get the first red, which I have seen being given before. I've also said before, definitely a few times at Brentford, I've also seen others and I don't like this as a red card.

"I think the game is probably too big to say 'gone' but for me it is not reckless, he has not come with exceptional force. He is chasing Van Dijk. He is trying to put pressure and then he changes direction and then unfortunately his foot is on his Achilles.

"You can say 'ah you need to be smarter, don't do it' and all that but so we are not allowed to have physical contact anymore? So that's the thing.

"The next thing on that, if he gets three games, how can he get three games for something that is not reckless? That is absolutely wrong and we probably can't appeal it."

Frank also questioned the decision not to disallow Liverpool's second goal for what he claimed was a push by Ekitike on Romero.

"We responded excellently to [Simons' red card]," he added. "Then I think the second goal is a mistake from the ref. I think there is clearly two hands on the back. I don't understand how he can do that.

"We've seen that a thousand times out there on the pitch: someone go up, goal kick, two hands on the centre-back, foul but apparently not in the penalty box. That was the biggest mistake in my opinion. And from VAR. We kept going."

Frank went on to defend Romero despite his loss of composure just when Spurs were threatening a late equaliser.

"I can't see if it is right or wrong that he gives the first yellow," said Frank. "The second yellow, I see two big boys competing. Konaté absolutely smashes through Cuti. It is a foul, nothing more. His foot lands on Cuti's head. Not a yellow, not saying that. Cuti makes a reaction. I guess it could be given but it can also be not given.

"Any player needs to control their emotions and be cool-headed, it is not only because you are captain. You are talking about a very passionate player who has been very good for this club in many years."

Liverpool forward Alexander Isak could be facing a lengthy spell on the sideline after suffering an injury while scoring in his team's Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Isak was introduced as a halftime substitute in north London and opened the scoring against 10-man Spurs with a cool finish in the 56th minute.

However, the Sweden international was immediately forced off after a coming together with Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven inside the penalty area in which he appeared to injure his right knee.

He did not need a stretcher but looked in a lot of pain as he hobbled off the pitch, with Liverpool now facing an anxious wait to discover the full extent of his injury.

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"I don't have any news on him but if a player scored and then gets injured and doesn't try to come back on the pitch, that's usually not a good thing but I cannot say anything more than that," Liverpool manager Arne Slot said. "It's just a gut feeling but nothing medical to say about it. I haven't spoken to him yet.

"It's a good thing that he scored. A good goal assisted by Florian Wirtz."

It is yet more disappointment for the 26-year-old, who has endured a difficult start to life on Merseyside following his acrimonious summer move from Newcastle United.

The £125 million ($167m) striker has scored just three goals in all competitions since joining Liverpool on transfer deadline day and was sidelined for a spell earlier in the season with a groin problem.

On his goal, Slot added: "That's what we would like to see happening a lot. A good finish, a good pass. Let's not be too negative yet. We don't know yet. Let's hope he's back with us soon, but it's difficult to say to you."

Hugo Ekitike scored a second goal for Liverpool in the 66th minute at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Spurs threatened to claim an improbable draw when Richarlison pulled a goal back in the 83rd.

Liverpool forward Alexander Isak could be facing a lengthy spell on the sideline after suffering an injury while scoring in his team's Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Isak was introduced as a halftime substitute in north London and opened the scoring against 10-man Spurs with a cool finish in the 56th minute.

However, the Sweden international was immediately forced off after a coming together with Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven inside the penalty area in which he appeared to injure his right knee.

He did not need a stretcher but looked in a lot of pain as he hobbled off the pitch, with Liverpool now facing an anxious wait to discover the full extent of his injury.

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"I don't have any news on him but if a player scored and then gets injured and doesn't try to come back on the pitch, that's usually not a good thing but I cannot say anything more than that," Liverpool manager Arne Slot said. "It's just a gut feeling but nothing medical to say about it. I haven't spoken to him yet.

"It's a good thing that he scored. A good goal assisted by Florian Wirtz."

It is yet more disappointment for the 26-year-old, who has endured a difficult start to life on Merseyside following his acrimonious summer move from Newcastle United.

The £125 million ($167m) striker has scored just three goals in all competitions since joining Liverpool on transfer deadline day and was sidelined for a spell earlier in the season with a groin problem.

On his goal, Slot added: "That's what we would like to see happening a lot. A good finish, a good pass. Let's not be too negative yet. We don't know yet. Let's hope he's back with us soon, but it's difficult to say to you."

Hugo Ekitike scored a second goal for Liverpool in the 66th minute at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Spurs threatened to claim an improbable draw when Richarlison pulled a goal back in the 83rd.

Liverpool travel to north London for the Premier League's evening kickoff on Saturday, where they face Tottenham Hotspur. You can follow all the updates from the match, as they happen, in our live blog bloew.

Liverpool have relieved some of the pressure that was forming on Arne Slot with recent performances being improved. The Reds are unbeaten in their last five games, and have won two in a row now -- against Inter Milan and Brighton & Hove Albion. With Mohamed Salah now away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, there are some selection issues for Slot to deal with. Cody Gakpo is ruled out too, and as is Joe Gomez. Gomez's place at right-back will be taken by Conor Bradley, and jeremie Frimpong is back with the squad too. However, Liverpool's options in attack are dwindling, particularly with Slot not trusting Federico Chiesa regularly to start games.

Spurs need to find form again, and they need to find some kind of consistency. They were soundly beaten 3-0 by Nottingham Forest last week. Recent history isn't particularly kind to Spurs either, in the fixture. Last season, they faced Liverpool four times, won one and lost three, and conceded 15 goals in those games.

Spurs will have to be much better defensively as they look to try and stop the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.