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Tottenham Hotspur host Chelsea in the Premier League today as they look to maintain their strong start to the season.

Spurs come into the weekend in the Champions League having won 3-0 away to Everton last weekend. Chelsea, meanwhile, were beaten 2-1 at home by newly promoted Sunderland and could finish the day in the bottom half.

Kick-off: 5.30pm UK, 1.30pm ET, 10.30am PT

Watch: Sky Sports (UK); Peacock (U.S.)

Get in touch: live@theathletic.com

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Thomas Frank reserved special praise for the job done by his opposite number at Stamford Bridge,

💬 “Enzo's done an amazing job at Chelsea. First season, qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Conference League, so competing in definitely more than one front.

“They won the Club World Cup and had a decent start to the season — very impressive. It was very clear what he and his staff want to achieve, how they want to play.

“It's going to be a nice, good challenge, another nice, good challenge in the Premier League against a very good manager and a very good team.”

Enzo Maresca has decided to make 10 changes to his starting line-up again with Malo Gusto the only one to keep his place from the victory over Wolves in midweek.

Given the way that Jamie Gittens and Estevao impressed at Molineux, it is a little surprising that the Italian has not gone with the two widemen in better form. In saying that, Pedro Neto's reliability to help track back is surely a factor why he has been included again, while Alejandro Garnacho did get his first goal for Chelsea versus Sunderland last week.

Joao Pedro is expected to start up front, with recent back-up options Tyrique George and Marc Guiu on the bench. Liam Delap is not an option of course due to suspension. Meanwhile Wesley Fofana starts his first game in three having been an unused substitute in the previous two fixtures.

We are only moments away from both line-ups being revealed.

Will Thomas Frank pack the midfield to contain the visitors? Has Estevao's recent form warranted a start?

Just a couple of minutes until we find out — don't go anywhere!

For the past two seasons, Chelsea supporters have worried where the flair will come from if Cole Palmer was not in the side.

Palmer has been the difference-maker since joining from Manchester City in 2023 but is currently sidelined with a troublesome groin injury that is expected to keep him out for another five weeks.

But Estevao has kept everyone enthralled. This is the kind of player that gets people out of their seats. Scoring the late winner against Liverpool earlier this month did wonders to cement his popularity.

You can now hear chants of “Estevao, uh-huh, uh-huh, I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh” to the tune of the 1975 hit That’s the Way (I like it) by KC and the Sunshine Band.

Thomas Frank and his coaching staff deserve a lot of credit for tightening up the defence, but the supporters are becoming frustrated with the side’s struggles to create chances from open play.

Mohammed Kudus has made an immediate impact, but it is taking Xavi Simons longer to settle.

The biggest issue is the pairing of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur in central midfield. Fans want to see Frank be more adventurous by dropping one of them and regularly starting Lucas Bergvall or Pape Matar Sarr instead.

The half-time whistle has gone in all five of today's 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League and we have had a goal in each of them.

Arsenal look to maintaining their lead at the top of the table as they are two goals ahead against Burnley, while the good times keep rolling for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United as they lead away to Nottingham Forest.

Elsewhere, Brighton and Crystal Palace are a goal to the good at home, as are Fulham against 10-man Wolves.

HT: Brighton 1-0 Leeds (Welbeck)

HT: Burnley 0-2 Arsenal (Gyokeres, Rice)

HT: Crystal Palace 1-0 Brentford (Mateta)

HT: Fulham 1-0 Wolves (Sessegnon)

HT: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester United (Casemiro)

That is the big question, with Enzo Maresca’s side putting in a good display in big matches like the win against Liverpool earlier in October but struggling against newly promoted Sunderland last time out.

The best and worst of Chelsea has been on show of late. They consistently struggle against teams using the low block and looking for the counter.

But they are also motivated by their ‘underdog’ status and are capable of outfighting their opponent.

They could need plenty of fight in today's clash of two London rivals.

It is difficult, when you look at the Premier League table, to argue with Thomas Frank’s record at Tottenham Hotspur so far.

Nine games into the new season, they sat in third place. Even if you think it is too early to glean clear lessons from the table, the evidence of those nine games is promising.

But there have arguably been as many bad performances as good ones. Their home league games have been miserable since the Burnley win on opening day.

Football is not just about numbers and outcomes. Fans want to enjoy the process too.

One of the biggest questions at the start of Chelsea’s season was how they would cope without Levi Colwill. Nine games into the Premier League campaign, that is still the case.

After nine games of this campaign, Chelsea are one of two clubs to have used five different starting centre-back combinations in the Premier League (also Burnley). Chelsea have used seven in all competitions.

Enzo Maresca is trying to create a Chelsea team that balances experience with youth, confidence and flair with reliability — ideally, the centre of defence would be one of the first bricks laid.

Right now, while he does have promising options to call on, his go-to partnership remains unclear.

We are 24 per cent of the way through the 2025-26 Premier League season and one team look to be a cut above the rest so far.

Spurs fans in particular will be hoping that current leaders and biggest rivals Arsenal can still be reigned in. Could it be Thomas Frank’s side?

Or how about second-placed Bournemouth or anyone in the top half of the table, including Chelsea?

We got our writers to make a case for each team up to ninth place (after match week nine results) who could stop Mikel Arteta’s men from lifting the title.

Read more below.

No early kick-off for us to enjoy in the Premier League today, but it's a busy afternoon.

Five matches started a few minutes ago and there are another two later on.

No goals just yet, but we'll keep you updated with the scores over the next couple of hours.

All times GMT

Tottenham became the first Premier League side to come away from Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium with three points with victory last time out in the league.

Micky van de Ven scored twice to put them in a commanding position in the match and Pape Matar Sarr secured the win late on as Spurs went third in the table.

A decent start to life in north London for Thomas Frank.

We want to hear from you, be it a comment, question, observation or something else.

Can Spurs finish in the top four this season? Is Enzo Maresca on borrowed time if Chelsea’s league form does not improve? And who do you think is going to win today?

Let us know at our email: live@theathletic.com and we may feature what we receive in our coverage.

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Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Lauded as one of the best stadia in Europe since its completion in 2019, the stadium has a capacity of 62,850.

Also a home for NFL games in the UK, Spurs’ stadium has also been used as a concert venue as well as hosting all of their home matches.

Tottenham Hotspur host Chelsea on Saturday in the pick of the Premier League games from the weekend.

They are fierce rivals and will be hoping to compete at the top end of the Premier League as the season wears on. After nine games, Spurs are third while Chelsea are in ninth.

But how does each club view the season so far? What are the expectations? How do fans feel about the manager? What does each team have to fear about the other? And just how intense does the rivalry feel right now?

Here, The Athletic’s experts Jay Harris and Simon Johnson answer a series of questions ahead of the game.

How has the season gone so far?

Jay Harris: It has been an encouraging start despite Wednesday night’s defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup. Spurs are third in the table and look far more compact than they did under former head coach Ange Postecoglou. They have a newfound resilience, demonstrated by scoring late equalisers against Bodo/Glimt, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Thomas Frank has done a solid job so far, especially when you consider James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and first-choice striker Dominic Solanke are all injured.

Simon Johnson: It can perhaps be best summed up by their best performance of the season against Liverpool, followed by the worst in their next home league game against Sunderland. Chelsea have been consistently inconsistent so far, with even performances during the 90 minutes fluctuating from one extreme to another. The latest example of this came just three days ago when they led 3-0 against Wolverhampton Wanderers at half-time and hung on to win 4-3. Chelsea’s poor disciplinary record — they have had six red cards in the past nine games — has been a major negative. But one of the things that makes going to a Chelsea game so interesting is you never know what is going to happen, for better or worse.

What’s the mood like at the club?

Jay Harris: Frank and his coaching staff deserve a lot of credit for tightening up the defence, but the supporters are becoming frustrated with the side’s struggles to create chances from open play. Mohammed Kudus has made an immediate impact, but it is taking Xavi Simons longer to settle. The biggest issue is the pairing of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur in central midfield. Fans want to see Frank be more adventurous by dropping one of them and regularly starting Lucas Bergvall or Pape Matar Sarr instead.

Simon Johnson: Neither too high nor too low. Chelsea have won five of their last six games in all competitions, which is not a bad run at all. The manner of their 2-1 home defeat to Sunderland was really disappointing, though. It was their last league game, so that has put them under even more pressure to get a good result at Spurs, especially as they have dropped to ninth in the table.

How do the fans feel about the manager?

Jay Harris: Postecoglou was a divisive figure towards the end of his reign, but a significant section of the fanbase wanted him to stay after their Europa League success. Fans quickly warmed to Frank because of his clever tactical approach in different games. Defeats to Bournemouth and Aston Villa upset the supporters, as they have only won three of their last 18 home games, but they recognise this squad is still a work in progress.

Simon Johnson: It still feels like a potpourri of opinions. There is a contingent that sees recent results and worrying defensive displays as more evidence that Chelsea are not making much progress under the Italian. Others remain positive, with Maresca still in credit for how he finished last season, plus given some sympathy for the injury issues he has had to navigate.

How do you both feel about set pieces ahead of Saturday’s game?

Jay Harris: Fabian Schar scored from a corner in slightly bizarre circumstances for Newcastle, but otherwise, Spurs are excellent at defending set pieces. Frank’s side boast the best record in the Premier League as they have only conceded once. They have scored five times from set pieces, which is less than Chelsea (8) and Arsenal (9), but highlights the threat they pose. An interesting subplot to this game is that Bernardo Cueva, Chelsea’s set-piece coach, worked under Frank at Brentford for four years.

Simon Johnson: It has to be a major concern for Chelsea. They struggle against long throw-ins as we have seen against Brentford, Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers (in the Carabao Cup). Chelsea’s players are also guilty of switching off and being outmuscled in general. In saying that, Maresca’s side are second only to Arsenal in scoring from set pieces themselves, so they can certainly give as good as they can get.

How have Chelsea coped with Cole Palmer’s absence?

Simon Johnson: Any team is going to miss a player as good as Palmer. Chelsea have particularly felt the England international’s absence when facing a back five. His magic can obviously help break such teams down. It is to their credit that Chelsea are joint top scorers in the Premier League (with Tottenham and Manchester City), especially when you consider they have also had injury problems up front to deal with.

And have Spurs adapted to the injuries they’ve suffered, such as Maddison, Kulusevski and Solanke?

Jay Harris: Tottenham are over-reliant on set pieces to score, and that is due to the absence of this influential trio. Kulusevski was their best player last season until he suffered a foot injury in March. They sorely miss his ability to glide past defenders and carve open defences with clever passes.

Solanke is a pressing machine who can drop deep to link the play or run in behind centre-backs. He is an all-round threat compared to Richarlison, who looks clunky on the ball. The Brazilian has three goals in 15 appearances this season — and he scored two of them on the opening day against Burnley.

Maddison is capable of producing moments of magic to win games. He will probably miss the majority of the season due to an ACL injury, but there is hope Solanke and Kulusevski will return over the next few weeks.

Both clubs have impressive young players — who should we keep an eye on for Saturday?

Jay Harris: Bergvall is an excellent midfielder who grows in stature every week. The Sweden international will become undroppable if he scores and creates more goals. Simons has been around for a long time, but it is easy to forget he is only 22. He will be a huge problem for opposition defences once he adjusts to the physicality of English football. I also have a small confession. I was in the stands at Stamford Bridge for last week’s defeat to Sunderland with a couple of friends who are Chelsea season-ticket holders. It was an underwhelming performance, but Josh Acheampong caught my eye. The 19-year-old’s confidence to dribble out of defence is impressive for somebody who is so young and inexperienced.

Simon Johnson: I am going to sound like a broken record this season, but the answer to this every week will be Estevao Willian. It is too early to say he is on Palmer’s level, but there are similarities in the way they look a cut above the rest. He has already scored in the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup. Another one to look out for is Jamie Gittens. He got off to a slow start to his Chelsea career after joining from Borussia Dortmund last summer. He has begun to show his quality in recent weeks, though, and will be full of confidence following his three goal involvements (one goal, two assists) at Wolves in midweek. Chelsea generally have impressive young players, though — against Wolves, according to Opta, they became the first Premier League side with four scorers aged 21 or younger in a match in all competitions — Estevao (18), Gittens (21), Tyrique George (19) and Andrey Santos (21).

What is your club aiming for this season?

Jay Harris: Frank wants Spurs to compete in multiple competitions, which is why Wednesday’s exit from the Carabao Cup will be so frustrating. The minimum they should be aiming for is to reach the last 16 of the Champions League and to finish in the top six in the Premier League.

Simon Johnson: The objectives have not changed. Chelsea do not expect to win the Premier League, but the club want to challenge for longer and finish closer to top spot. They also intend to do well in the three cup competitions. As far as the latter goes, they have reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, where they have a very winnable tie against League One Cardiff City. By winning their last two games, Chelsea have also put themselves in contention for a top-eight finish in the Champions League group stage. Meanwhile, the FA Cup obviously does not start for Chelsea until the new year.

How big does the rivalry feel ahead of Saturday?

Jay Harris: Spurs’ recent record against Chelsea is abysmal. Postecoglou lost four times to them, including that infamous 4-1 defeat in November 2023. Spurs were 2-0 up at home after 11 minutes last season but somehow lost 4-3. One of the lowest moments of Postecoglou’s reign came at Stamford Bridge in April when he cupped his ears to the Tottenham supporters after Pape Matar Sarr scored, only for the goal to be disallowed. Lots of Spurs fans will tell you that only misery awaits them against Chelsea, so it will be huge for Frank if he beats them at the first attempt.

Simon Johnson: No matter how bad Tottenham are or how many times Chelsea beat them, it never diminishes. It is the one fixture no Chelsea head coach can afford to lose because of how much it means to the fanbase. There is a greater need for Chelsea to get the three points this season, with Spurs sitting above them in the table and looking likely to be a contender for one of the Champions League qualifying positions.

What should Spurs fear most about Chelsea?

Jay Harris: No matter how badly Chelsea are performing, they tend to find a way to beat Spurs.

Simon Johnson: Perhaps that the goals can come from anywhere rather than relying on one individual. Chelsea already have 10 different scorers in the Premier League. So it is not as if Tottenham can relax if they keep one or two players quiet.

And what should Chelsea fear about Spurs?

Simon Johnson: The topic has already been covered above, but Tottenham’s threat from set pieces. Frank has also made Tottenham frugal at the back. That will ask questions of Chelsea’s ability again to unlock a well-organised back line.

Jay Harris: Wilson Isidor scored Sunderland’s opener last weekend from a throw-in. With Cristian Romero a doubt due to an adductor injury, Chelsea need to prepare for Kevin Danso to launch the ball into the box from a throw-in at every opportunity.

What’s your prediction?

Jay Harris: Spurs have the joint-second-best defensive record in the league, and I struggle to see Chelsea breaking them down without Cole Palmer. I’m going to say 2-1 Spurs, with at least one of their goals coming from a set-piece.

Chelsea travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday with the sides mirroring each other in various statistics.

Both are averaging 1.9 goals per game, the joint-highest rate in the Premier League, and each has leant heavily on set pieces to reach that total. Chelsea’s total of nine goals from dead-ball situations trails only that of Arsenal (11) while Tottenham, under new head coach Thomas Frank, have tapped into his old Brentford blend of craft and chaos, scoring twice from corners in last weekend’s 3-0 win at Everton.

Two sides with shared strengths but differing methods, aligned in numbers, but divided by philosophy. Here, then, is how the tactical battle should play out in north London.

Structure and set pieces

Chelsea under Enzo Maresca have built their identity on structure and control. Their set-piece threat has carried much of the team’s attacking weight, and the patterns are now familiar. From corners, they mix short routines with whipped inswingers from both flanks — deliveries that curl into the six-yard area and invite near-post flicks. They also rely on a range of rehearsed short-corner moves. The technical quality of Enzo Fernandez, Reece James, Pedro Neto, Estevao and (the currently injured) Cole Palmer bring those patterns to life.

Open play has been harder to master. After a summer of heavy turnover, this young Chelsea side can dominate possession yet still struggle to break down low defensive blocks. They managed only 0.38 xG from open play in the 2-1 loss to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge last weekend, and just 0.10 non-penalty xG in away defeat by the same score against Manchester United in September.

Maresca’s 4-2-3-1 relies on inverted full-backs and wide wingers to create overloads in build-up, and on midfielders who can receive on the turn under pressure. Without Palmer’s invention, though, they have often lacked ideas and incision in the final third.

Defensively, Chelsea have looked vulnerable to the league’s growing directness: long balls, second phases and especially long throws. They have conceded from two long throws in their past two matches, most recently in the midweek Carabao Cup win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, when they lost four successive aerial duels before a far-post finish from David Moller Wolfe. The warning signs had already appeared when hosts Brentford scored from a similar routine in September’s 2-2 draw.

Neither goalkeeper Robert Sanchez nor his defence has yet imposed authority in their box, often losing sight of runners arriving from behind.

For all their control, Chelsea remain most vulnerable when the game becomes untidy.

Frank’s Tottenham emerge

Frank has brought calm, balance and intent to Tottenham after the turbulence of Ange Postecoglou’s final months. After finishing 17th last season with 38 points, progress in 2025-26 was always the floor, not the ceiling. The intrigue lies in how that progress has taken shape. Frank has traded idealism for a more pragmatic, calculated approach, occasionally helped along by the xG gods.

Spurs have conceded 0.78 goals per 90 minutes this season, down from 1.71 in the previous one, and are facing fewer shots on target and allowing less xG overall. Errors in build-up still appear, but Guglielmo Vicario’s form in goal has often covered them. His +2.3 PSxG (post-shot expected goals) figure is third-best in the Premier League, and his impact extends beyond the numbers. He produced a man-of-the-match performance against Monaco in the Champions League last week and followed it with decisive saves in that win over Everton.

The set-piece evolution at Tottenham reflects their broader attacking rhythm. Inswinging corners are consistently drilled into the same six-yard corridor, using heavy traffic around the goalkeeper to unsettle defences. The movement pattern is deliberately chaotic, players shuffling from far post to near, switching markers and creating blind-side runs, a routine lifted straight from Frank’s Brentford playbook. They have already scored five times from set pieces this season and added long throws to their armoury.

Lucas Bergvall’s long throw, alongside that of Kevin Danso, gives Spurs another way to attack, and their combination could trouble a Chelsea side who have struggled to defend such deliveries into their penalty area.

The evolution is clearest in how they use the ball.

Tottenham are now more vertical, using Pedro Porro’s passing range to break lines and new signing Mohammed Kudus’ carries to drive them forward. Their long-pass share has risen while total passes have fallen, a reflection of Frank’s preference for gaining ground quickly rather than circulating possession for its own sake.

The contrast between home and away matches is striking. On the road, Spurs have scored a league-high 12 goals from 5.8 xG, are unbeaten in five games and have conceded only three times. Playing on their own patch, however, they have produced 4.1 xG across four matches and scored four — evidence that the crowd’s appetite for expansive football sometimes collides with Frank’s measured plan.

It also underlines that while progress is evident, evolution takes time; this lot have come a long way but remain midway through their rebuild.

Injuries to James Maddison, Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie and Yves Bissouma have disrupted the team’s rhythm, while several summer signings missed out on a proper pre-season.

Combined with a busy schedule, it has left Frank refining both structure and chemistry in real-time rather than on the training ground.

Why the midfield battle should be decisive

The midfield contest promises to be both intricate and decisive. Moises Caicedo has been Chelsea’s anchor and most reliable performer this season. Calm under pressure and composed in tight spaces, his press-resistance allows Maresca’s side to build through the centre with control.

He also leads the Premier League in interceptions per 90 minutes, illustrating his influence on both sides of the ball. Opposite him stands one of the league’s most disruptive ball-winners in Joao Palhinha, a destroyer who relishes duels and dictates rhythm through aggression. Palhinha averages 4.2 tackles per 90, the highest rate in the division among midfielders.

Chelsea could strengthen their grip in midfield by pairing Caicedo with Romeo Lavia, forming a pivot that would be capable of circulating possession under pressure.

Liam Delap’s return from a two-month injury absence for this fixture would have been eagerly anticipated, but the striker’s suspension after getting sent off in his comeback appearance against Wolves in midweek leaves Maresca with a decision to make.

Joao Pedro provides a different option, preferring to drop deep and combine with team-mates. That contrast is reflected in the Chelsea scoring charts, where midfielders Caicedo and Fernandez lead the way on three each, with the latter also taking the most shots in the squad. Finding a way to involve their forwards more consistently will be crucial if Chelsea are to trouble Spurs today.

For Tottenham, this match represents another measure of how far they have come under Frank, a coach defined by preparation, adaptability and detail.

Victory would lift them into second place in the table behind only Arsenal and underline their quiet transformation.

With the Premier League season so far being defined by set plays and marginal gains, this game could be its ultimate advert.

Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero is available for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Chelsea, while head coach Thomas Frank says Wilson Odobert and Destiny Udogie are also fit.

Romero has missed four consecutive matches across the league, Champions League and Carabao Cup after being pulled out of the pre-match warm-up against Aston Villa on October 19 with an adductor injury.

Odobert was a surprise omission from Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Wednesday, with Frank later confirming he was unavailable due to a minor side strain, while Udogie has been out of action since picking up a knee injury on international duty with Italy earlier this month.

“(Cristian) Romero, Destiny (Udogie) and Wilson (Odobert) are available for selection tomorrow,” Frank said in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. “If (Romero) was fit enough, he would have been involved Wednesday. He’s ready to be involved tomorrow. Let’s see how much.”

After scoring his first career brace in Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Everton last Sunday, Micky van de Ven sat out their mid-week defeat to Newcastle. Kevin Danso, who has deputised excellently in Romero’s absence, played the full match alongside Joao Palhinha in central defence.

On the other end of the pitch, Frank said Dominic Solanke, who has only featured twice this season, will not return before the November international break.

“We’re very aware that when we get Dom back, we hopefully, touch wood, have him back and no setbacks,” Frank said. “We are very aware of doing it the right way. It’s going in the right direction, he will not be available before the international break. So that’s the status right now.”

Tottenham are not in good form against Chelsea, losing four straight games under previous head coach Ange Postecoglou. Still, Frank is looking forward to his first London derby at home as Spurs boss.

“Very exciting,” he said. “Really looking forward to it. It’s a London derby between two big rivals. There’s so much on it, against a very good Chelsea team. It will be a very, very competitive even game under the floodlights. It’s got everything to be a top game where you will be on the edge of your seat hopefully.

“We need to come flying out and get the fans with us. I’m very, very positive about us coming out and performing very well tomorrow.”

Mikel Arteta says he is hopeful that Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz could return from injury in time to face Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby on November 23, providing the Arsenal squad with a “huge boost”.

Speaking at his press conference ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Burnley on Saturday, Arteta said: “I’m excited because they are tremendous players. I see them work every single day, how desperate they are to be part of the team.

“The huge boost that is going to be for the squad to have and those players again, after such a long, long time, so really happy that I think it’s going to be very soon.”

Havertz underwent surgery for a knee injury in August, while Madueke went off injured against Manchester City in September.

Club captain Odegaard suffered a medial collateral ligament injury against West Ham in early October. Arteta declined to be more specific in terms of individual timelines, but believes the trio are all edging closer to a return. Arsenal are also hopeful that Gabriel Jesus will not be too far behind.

“I would say weeks, and some of them pretty soon, hopefully, if they keep evolving the way they are doing,” Arteta added.

“It’s difficult to put a game, you know — we have the international break, which is a two-week break there. And after that, I think we’ll have some back. I don’t know if it’s going to be all of them or some of them, but we’ll be quite close by then.”

There was less positive news on Gabriel Martinelli, who has been ruled out of the trip to Burnley. “This game is going to come too early,” confirmed Arteta.

William Saliba, who missed the midweek Carabao Cup tie against Brighton & Hove Albion, could be in contention for a place. “We have to wait and see,” Arteta said.

Arteta is anticipating a tough test for the Premier League leaders at Turf Moor.

“The game against Burnley is going to be really tough,” the Arsenal manager warned. “They are extremely well-coached, and Scott (Parker) has done really well with the club and with this team. It’s formidable and when you look at all the games, five of the last games that they played, they showed they are a very, very tough team to beat.”

Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brighton on Wednesday set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace – but the tie is facing severe scheduling issues due to Palace’s participation in the Conference League.

Arsenal’s preference is to play the tie, as scheduled, on Tuesday, December 16, which would leave Palace facing four games in eight days but Christmas Eve is another option.

The English Football League (EFL), which runs the Carabao Cup, is in conversation with all relevant stakeholders, including both clubs, over the scheduling of the tie.

“Every decision that we make in terms of a fixture has to be guided on two main things: players’ welfare and then supporters,” said Arteta. “That’s it. And the rest has to come very, very far away from that. And we should never forget that principle. That’s the only thing I would say.”

If you want a good example of how Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur are an unusual team, having an unusual season, try this simple experiment. Take their nine Premier League games so far and rank them in order, from best to worst.

At the top you will probably have the 2-0 win at Manchester City and Sunday’s 3-0 win at Everton. Then the wins at West Ham United and Leeds United. At the bottom would be the defeat to Bournemouth, then the defeat to Aston Villa and the 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, although you may want to switch the order of those two around.

But the pattern would be clear. The best three or four games would all be away from home. The worst three, certainly, would all be at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Now, you may argue here that it is too early in the season to draw big conclusions. The samples are too small. The fixture computer has too much weight. Maybe that is right. In the Champions League, Spurs have won their one home game (Villarreal) and drawn both away (Bodo/Glimt and Monaco). In the League Cup they breezed past Doncaster at home and then lost 2-0 away to Newcastle United on Wednesday night.

But take a step back and you can see that this is a real trend. And not one that just started this summer either. Look back over the last year and Tottenham’s home record in the league is pitiful. Over the last year — a run starting with the 4-1 win over Aston Villa on 3 November 2024 — Spurs have played 19 home league games. They have won just four of them: Villa, Manchester United and Southampton under Ange Postecoglou, and Burnley under Frank at the start of this season. They have drawn four and lost 11, meaning they have taken 16 points from 57 available at home.

You can compare this record with the other 16 teams who have been in the Premier League both this and last season. Over the last year, Spurs average 0.84 points per home league game. Only West Ham United, with 0.78, average less (by way of comparison, every other team averages at least one point per home game, six teams average at least two, and Liverpool average 2.42). Tottenham’s home win rate of 21 per cent is the second worst, only ahead of West Ham on 17 per cent. And only 33 per cent (four out of 12) of Spurs’ league wins in the last year have come at home. The only other team with such a low percentage is, of course, West Ham.

If Spurs are to achieve anything this season, this has to change. They have been carried so far this season by their away form: four wins and one draw, the best away record in the league by a distance. And as luck would have it, their three remaining games before the November international break are all at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Chelsea this Saturday evening. FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday night. And then Manchester United next Saturday lunchtime.

Who knows, they could finish with three rousing wins, and then all of this will look like worrying about nothing. But what if they continue in this way? Trying to build a competitive team who rarely ever win home games is an impossible job. You might as well be trying to build a car without wheels.

The fascinating question is why. Tottenham have the best stadium in the country. How can it possibly be one of the easiest grounds to go and play at? The only Premier League ground easier to win at is West Ham’s London Stadium, which as we all know was built to host the 2012 London Olympics, where it is nearly impossible to generate an atmosphere, and where some fans are so far from the action they may as well bring binoculars.

But the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was meant to be different, and better than everyone else’s home. The club spent roughly £1.2billion building it. They moved to Wembley for a season and a half to make it possible. This is a stadium with every technological advantage, big bright screens and deafening loudspeakers. It has a famously steep south stand, modelled on Borussia Dortmund’s ‘Yellow Wall’. It is visually spectacular, lit up on a dark night. And yet increasingly, teams know they can just show up there and turn Spurs over.

You could look for a footballing explanation. Tottenham’s league record over the last year has not been especially good overall, the result mainly of Postecoglou prioritising the Europa League from the halfway point of last season. His gamble paid off, but it came at a price: 22 league defeats, 17th place, and his dismissal as manager in June.

More specifically, Tottenham have not played a brand of football over the last year conducive to dominating games at home. ‘Angeball’ was effectively wound down last Christmas and replaced with a more conservative game. Frank’s football has its strengths but it is essentially reactive. It is no coincidence that Spurs are much better this year away from home when they are not expected to have the ball.

But the football explanations cannot tell the whole story. You would still expect, over the course of a year, Tottenham’s higher quality of player to tell. It feels as if there is something specific to the stadium itself that makes it easier to play in, that does not intimidate the visiting team like it should. Perhaps it is the plush quality of the facilities. Visiting teams remark that the away dressing room at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the biggest and best in the league. That in itself does not explain everything, but there is a sense that the stadium is so modern, so comfortable, so forward-looking, that it lacks some of the competitive edge and tension that old grounds — not least White Hart Lane — had in spades.

The sad fact is that there is a problem with the atmosphere at the stadium. That has been true for some time but it feels like it is getting worse rather than better. Almost six and a half years since moving in, the stadium has yet to fully find its voice. There have been some great nights along the way — Manchester City in the Champions League in 2019, Arsenal in 2022 as the two teams hunted for fourth place, Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semi-finals last season — but they have been few and far between. Even in recent home games when Spurs have taken an early lead — Villarreal and Aston Villa — the atmosphere has then gone flat.

There is certainly a ‘chicken and egg’ element to this question. The team would be better if the atmosphere was better, and the atmosphere would be better if the team was better. Frank knows this himself. Before the Aston Villa game, he said that he wanted the stadium to be “a fortress” but knew that both the team and the crowd had to work together.

“It cannot only be the team, it cannot only be the fans,” Frank said in a press conference. “It needs to be both. We need to bring energy to each other. We need to work unbelievably hard, perform well, try to be positive — but also need a little bit of help. Every game goes a little bit up and down. You have good spells, bad spells. We need the fans, especially in the tough moments. The better they can be behind the team, the better it will be.”

One theory is that for so much of last season the atmosphere was defined by negativity, as fans voiced their opposition to Daniel Levy, and to the combination of high ticket prices and perceived lack of ambition for the team. The anti-Levy songs were more widespread than ever, and the protest marches better attended than anything seen at Spurs for years. But Levy was dismissed as chairman last month, and now there is a widespread sense of waiting to see what happens next. Given the profound change at the top of the club, many fans are willing to see what happens in the next transfer window, or with next season’s ticket prices, before making up their minds.

The club is certainly aware of the need to improve the atmosphere, and has been working with the Fan Advisory Board to do so. An Atmosphere Working Group has been set up so club staff can discuss ideas with fan representatives. One idea that is frequently pushed for is a ‘singing section’ at the new ground, to bring fans who want to be vocal together. This was trialled against Roma in the Europa League league phase last season and there are talks about trying it again this season, although it will always face the challenge of requiring existing season ticket holders to be relocated.

There are still other things that can be done. ‘Can’t Smile Without You’ is now always played before kick-off, along with a new video about the club’s history narrated by Sir Kenneth Branagh. Going into this Saturday’s game against Chelsea, there is renewed initiative from both the club and the fans. There will be pitchside ‘pyros’ emitting flames before the kick-off, and perhaps more importantly, the club will turn off the music inside the stadium five and a half minutes before kick-off, giving the fans a chance to make the atmosphere themselves. On Thursday afternoon fans announced online a new campaign — ‘Park Lane for Vocal Fans’ — to bring fans together to make more noise.

There is an acceptance on all sides that the atmosphere must improve, and a hope that if it does then the home form might follow. Four home wins in a year was clearly not the plan when this shining metal bowl was unveiled in 2019. And maybe Chelsea on Saturday, a fixture Spurs have struggled with in recent years, is the right place to start.

Welcome to week 10 of The Athletic’s Premier League predictions challenge, where I find myself wrestling with how to deal with Liverpool’s dramatic slump.

After starting their league title defence with five straight wins, Arne Slot’s team have lost their last four. What was a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after five games has become a seven-point deficit to Arsenal.

The reasons for that nosedive have been explored and debated in detail. Here on The Athletic, you can read detailed analysis on the struggles of Mohammed Salah, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, the problems at right-back, the various tactical issues opponents are exploiting and, in a broader sense, the challenges facing Slot after an expensive summer overhaul that seems to have brought more questions than answers.

But this column is simply about trying — and largely failing — to predict the future. In this case, it’s about trying to work out whether, having underestimated the depth of Liverpool’s malaise, we should chase those lost points by belatedly jumping on the Anfield crisis bandwagon or put our faith in the law of averages and tip them to bounce back at home to Aston Villa on Saturday night.

Each week, four of us — a guest subscriber, six-year-old Wilfred, the algorithm and me — are predicting the Premier League results with varying degrees of success.

We’re awarding three points for a correct scoreline and one point for a correct result. There’s also a bonus for any correct “unique” prediction, so as well as nine points for his three correct scorelines last week, Wilf got a bonus point for being the only one to tip Bournemouth to beat Nottingham Forest 2-0. Clever boy.

But nobody predicted Brentford to inflict Liverpool’s fourth consecutive defeat. In fact, looking back, not one of us saw any of those four defeats coming — although the algorithm went for them to draw the last three while the rest of us were tipping them to win.

I sensed vulnerability in Slot’s team at the start of the season, predicting they would lose against Arsenal and Newcastle United because I felt such a major turnover of players would cause teething problems. But they won those first five games, albeit not entirely convincingly, so their slump caught us all by surprise.

It is timely that a Liverpool supporter, Hari, a 34-year-old from south London, is this week’s guest subscriber. He will be looking to build on a fine effort last week by Leeds United fan Andrew, whose eight points (combined with Wilf’s brilliant 10) shook up the table, taking the subscribers back up to second place and leaving me looking nervously over my shoulder after a torrid couple of weeks.

Anyway, over to you, Hari.

Our subscriber’s match of the week

Liverpool vs Aston Villa, Saturday, 8pm UK/4pm ET

Hari says: "Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea has all the ingredients to be a really fun, chaotic contest, but given the pressure that will be on Slot this week and the fact he rested nearly his entire first team in midweek, it’s hard to look past Saturday night’s game between Liverpool and Villa at Anfield. Heart over head — I’m going with 2-1 to LFC."

Liverpool 2-1 Aston Villa

Oli says: "On the evening of September 20, Liverpool had 15 points from five games and Villa had two points from four games. Going into this weekend, they are level on points: a 13-point swing over five weeks. Looking back, I kept backing Villa throughout their slump on the simplistic basis that they were stronger than most of the teams they were facing. That’s pretty much where I am with Liverpool. Slot has serious issues to address — structural, tactical, physical and, not least of all, psychological — but I would at least expect a battling performance against Villa and possibly a very tight win.

Liverpool 2-1 Aston Villa

The rest of Oli’s predictions

Crystal Palace vs Brentford

Oli says: As a spectacle, this could be the defining game of the Premier League season. Brentford and Palace are the two teams at the top of the long throw-in table (both for the number attempted and the number of shots arising from them) and only Burnley have a lower pass completion rate. It’s been working very well for both — Brentford have won four of their last five in all competitions — but I wonder if it might be less effective against each other than it was against Liverpool, for example. Palace to shade a war of attrition.

Crystal Palace 1-0 Brentford

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United

United have won three in a row, but here’s something interesting. In their two games against Forest last season, they had 71 per cent and 68 per cent possession — the highest shares in their first 36 Premier League games under Ruben Amorim — and they lost both. Forest have changed their manager twice since then, but it’s safe to say Sean Dyche will be happy to follow the sit-deep-and-hit-them-on-the-break formula that worked for Nuno Espirito Santo last season. It will make an interesting test for United, who, as Amorim has said, still have room for improvement when it comes to controlling games.

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Manchester United

Burnley vs Arsenal

Opta’s prediction model puts Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League at 66.9 per cent. I would be inclined to go even higher. It’s not that they are playing brilliantly, but more that their performances have demonstrated a far greater maturity, resilience and focus than anyone else looks capable of. I can see Arsenal extending their lead at the top between now and the November international break. Burnley away is a test, but one I would firmly expect the leaders to take in their stride.

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United

Hallelujah. I’ve just realised I finally got a Brighton result last week, having predicted them to lose at Manchester United. But I still look at their next five games — Leeds (H), Crystal Palace (A), Brentford (H), Forest (A), Villa (H) — and think they could win or lose any of them. They’re uniquely unpredictable, so it is with great uncertainty that I predict them to beat a decent Leeds team.

Brighton 2-1 Leeds

Fulham vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Fulham have lost their last four, leaving them one place above the relegation zone, but they have a relatively gentle run of games between now and the end of the year — and they don’t come much gentler right now than Wolves at home. This one has a Raul Jimenez respectful non-celebration written all over it. Where that would leave Wolves, other than in big trouble, I don’t know.

Fulham 2-0 Wolves

Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea

Chelsea’s record against Tottenham is remarkable. Between 1989 and 2006, they were unbeaten in 32 league matches against their London rivals. Even in more recent years, they've won 13 of their last 17 clashes in all competitions, scoring four on each of their past two visits. They won’t score four on Saturday evening, but they might have the tools to stretch a Spurs defence that has looked decent. I won’t be playing the high-scoring-draw card very often this season, but this could be one.

Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea

West Ham United vs Newcastle United

Even if I close my eyes and try to get my imagination working, I can’t work out what a West Ham home win looks like at the moment. Their last one came in February against a doomed Leicester City. Since then, it’s no wins, three draws and six defeats in the last nine at London Stadium. How is that one-paced midfield going to cope with the formidable Newcastle trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton? I don’t think it will. Away win, with empty seats and a lot of agitation at the final whistle.

West Ham 0-2 Newcastle

Manchester City vs Bournemouth

There are times when Pep Guardiola seems to lay it on a little too thick when praising opposition coaches, but his respect for the “incredible” Andoni Iraola is entirely genuine. City have won 17 of their 18 meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions, but that one defeat, at the Vitality Stadium this time last year, made a real impression on Guardiola. I fancy City, purely for the Erling Haaland factor, but it looks like an intriguing match-up.

Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth

Sunderland vs Everton

David Moyes has not been back on the touchline at the Stadium of Light since his unhappy spell in charge of Sunderland ended in relegation in 2017. He might struggle to recognise the place on Monday night, given how upbeat it will feel. Sunderland's 17 points from their first nine games is a remarkable feat for a promoted team. How long can they keep defying gravity? A little longer, I fancy.

Sunderland 1-0 Everton

Alfie Whiteman was never your typical footballer.

As Tottenham Hotspur’s third-, fourth- or latterly fifth-choice goalkeeper, the prospects of making an impact for his boyhood club on the pitch were slim. So, in his free time, he channelled his energy into different passions: taking acting classes, developing his skills as a photographer and hosting a monthly radio show where the listed genres are folk, indie rock, leftfield pop and dream pop.

And while his team-mates whisked into the training ground in supercars, he travelled on public transport.

After leaving Spurs as a free agent this summer, he expected to continue his career, perhaps lower down the English football pyramid or abroad, where he would have the chance to prove himself as a No 1.

However, despite receiving concrete interest from clubs as high as the English Championship, Whiteman decided to quietly retire from the game on his own terms this summer at just 26, just months after winning the Europa League.

Whiteman is beginning a new career as a budding photographer and film director signed to Somesuch, a global production company with offices in London and Los Angeles. It is the studio behind Harris Dickinson’s directorial feature film debut ‘Urchin’ and Aneil Karia’s ‘The Long Goodbye’, winner of the Oscar for Best Live Action Short at the 2022 Academy Awards.

While it was not an easy decision, it has been years in the making.

“I signed for Spurs at 10 years old,” Whiteman tells The Athletic over a jug of lemonade at a cocktail bar in east London. “Then I left school at 16 and went straight into this full-time life of football. When I was around 17 or 18, living in digs, I just had this feeling inside of, ‘Is this it?’ Getting on the mini bus, going to training, doing the Sports Science BTEC (he also did an A Level in Economics) and going home to play video games. I realised, ‘Oh, I’m not happy here’ from quite a young age.

“The stereotype of a footballer is generally quite true. It’s the golf, washbag culture. I was that young footballer. I wanted the Gucci washbag and I drove the Mercedes. You all just become a reflection of each other. You’re a product of your environment. It’s the way football is in this country; it’s so shut off from anything else. You go to training and then you go home, that’s it.

“I guess I always felt a little bit different. My team-mates — who I got on well with — called me a hippie. That was their definition. But then, when I was 18, I met my ex-girlfriend, who was a model. She was a bit older than me. Her best friend was a director. It just started opening my eyes to what life has to offer.

“So as I was getting a bit older around 18 or 19, I started meeting new people and realising a bit more about myself, and understanding the football bubble, because it’s so insular.”

Stuck behind internationals Hugo Lloris, Michel Vorm and Joe Hart in the goalkeeping pecking order, Whiteman continued training hard with the hope of one day representing Spurs as a professional or developing elsewhere on loan. Meanwhile, he was mixing with new crowds in his free time and making friends within the creative industry. On his days off, producers, directors and photographers invited him to assist them as a runner on set. While he expected it would happen well into his 30s, Whiteman was consciously setting himself up for a life after football.

“Football is a short career regardless, even if you do really well, and I knew that I didn’t want to stay in it,” says Whiteman. “It was about trying to gain experience and be proactive in learning about these things I was also interested in, but mainly because I was enjoying it, and was surrounded by the kinds of people that were doing what I enjoyed as a job. They were making things. It was really inspiring.”

Whiteman made one appearance for Tottenham as a second-half substitute in a Europa League match under Jose Mourinho before moving on loan to Degerfors in Sweden in 2021. There, he had the opportunity to play frequently and build form on the pitch, making 34 appearances across an 18-month period in Sweden’s top flight. Living in a small cabin in the woods, Whiteman spent large amounts of his time alone, exploring his feelings through art.

“I learned a lot,” he says. “I was in a new environment, in nature. I’ve got this exhibition coming up in spring about a body of work I did while I was there, which is all these self-portraits and weird things. I never planned it to be, but it served as this period of introspection. I look at the work now, and these feelings of being a bit lost or torn are in it. That was in 2022, so it’s always been there.”

He returned to Spurs determined to make an impact and signed a two-year extension in 2023. Under new coach Ange Postecoglou, Whiteman played and trained well in pre-season, but his progress was halted after sustaining an ankle injury in Singapore, which would keep him out for most of the season. His ‘Sweet Tooth’ show on NTS, a radio channel founded in east London in 2011 focusing on eclectic music from around the world, served as a creative outlet through the toil of recuperation. Reflecting on the injury now, Whiteman sees it as a sliding doors moment.

“It was a kind of freak injury, causing me to miss most of the season, where a new manager comes in,” says Whiteman. “So I was immediately in this bad situation. But during that rehab, I worked so hard every day to try to get back. I eventually did, but even then, it was just to be sat in the stands. It was so hard applying myself and really trying and then just not getting the games.

“That’s where you show the work you’re doing. Otherwise, the training and stuff, it’s all repetitive and in the shadows. It’s like f***ing Groundhog Day. Tottenham have an incredible training ground with incredible facilities, and I was working with the best players. But it wasn’t fulfilling. I want to be in a high-pressure game, or feel progress. When you’re not playing, it’s very difficult to do. It’s even worse, it’s more like you’re regressing.”

Whiteman, who represented England at the under-17 World Cup in 2015, made it clear to the Tottenham hierarchy after recovering from his injury in summer 2024 that he would like to leave the club on loan to explore first-team opportunities. But with Spurs short on club-trained players for their upcoming Europa League campaign (clubs are required to involve four players developed in their own academy for UEFA competition), the club would not sanction a move away.

He describes the lack of control as “frustrating”. The season ended with Spurs winning the Europa League, with Whiteman collecting a winners’ medal and circling through Tottenham, the neighbourhood in which he grew up, on a bus in the parade.

“My house is two minutes from the stadium,” says Whiteman. “I used to walk to the home games. So the bus goes past my road, my sister, my best friend who lives at the house with me, they’re there waving from my street. I spotted a girl who goes to the youth centre that I was volunteering at; I did her headshots because she wants to be an actor. I was like, ‘Hey!’ And she was there in disbelief like, ‘What are you doing on the bus?’ It was funny.”

Whiteman went on trial at two clubs in the English Football League in the summer. The first, a League One side, could not offer a contract due to financial issues. He then went on trial with a Championship club, who offered him an initial six-month contract as a No 2. However, by the time the contract offer came, he had decided professional football was no longer for him.

“There was a weekend when I went home, and I started contemplating all my options,” says Whiteman. “I had other things I’ve been building on the side and it was more exciting to me. To put it plainly, I saw happiness in these other avenues.

“It got to this point where I’d rather end this on my terms than go to a club that I just didn’t want to go to. When I was younger, I always said I didn’t want to play in the lower leagues; it was always about the highest level. Otherwise, I’d rather do something else. So I just took this step into the unknown, and I was like, ‘Oh, holy s***. I’m actually doing it.’ Anything can happen. I’m in complete control of my life, and it’s really exciting and really scary.”

Within days of calling his agent to inform him of his decision, Whiteman was on set with fashion photographer Harley Weir and British rapper Central Cee for a Nike shoot. He later travelled to Norway and Ukraine to help his friend Aria Shahrokhshahi film a feature documentary. In between, he was getting in contact with people in the industry and introducing himself over coffee.

“I ended up going to assist my friend for this photography job for Vibram (a footwear company known for their ‘five finger’ shoes) at the World Toe Wrestling Championships,” says Whiteman. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll come hold the lights!’ And the day before that shoot, they asked for a video, too, so I was like, ‘I’ll do it. I’ll do it!’

“There was no budget or brief, nothing. I turned up with him on the day and ran around with my camera, and then took it to an editor, sat with him, and made this thing and it got posted.”

The short film was a critical success, earning a five-star review from David Reviews, a prominent outlet within the short-form content space. Within weeks, he was signed to Somesuch as a professional film and commercial director.

“Somesuch have their film and commercials departments and I do photography,” says Whiteman. “I’ve got project ideas for photo stuff and short film ideas. The plan is to do some short films, and then hopefully one day a feature-length. But there are no real strict steps. You can decide. I just want to be on set and work with some of the most talented cinematographers, DoPs (directors of photography), producers and meet new people. There’s just so much to learn.”

While he has not watched any football since his retirement, he’s not turning his back on the game completely. He has ideas for films based on next summer’s World Cup in North America, and is excited to pick up the gloves again soon — without any of the politics of the industry attached.

“I’m really excited to go and play on a Wednesday night with my mates,” he says. “I’ve had a load of friends inquiring! I just enjoy playing football with my friends. It’s pure.”

Since becoming Tottenham Hotspur head coach this summer, Thomas Frank has reminded everyone at the club of the value of set pieces.

Following on from Ange Postecoglou, who disparingly compared them to rugby scrums, Spurs’ efficiency and ingenuity from corner kicks is a significant reason why they are sitting third in the Premier League. Defender Micky van de Ven, who bagged the first brace of his professional career in the 3-0 away win to Everton on Sunday, is Spurs’ leading scorer this season, with all four of his goals coming from or shortly after a set piece. But they’re also among the best in the league at defending them.

Frank and set-piece coach Andreas Georgson approach dead-ball situations as if it were a science, paying attention to every detail, zone and player to maximise their chances of success. The moment the structure, developed and refined in training, has a piece missing, the arrangement can collapse — which is precisely what happened for Newcastle United’s first in a 2-0 defeat on Tuesday night.

Leading up to the decisive corner, the referee allowed Djed Spence to take his boot off and adjust his laces around 10 yards from Sandro Tonali, who was setting up to take a corner kick. It was not the first time the England international had issues with his boots in the first half, attempting to alter them on multiple occasions during brief stoppages, suggesting there may have been an issue with the fit from the opening whistle.

With jeers becoming louder from the home support at St. James’ Park, and having given Spence over 40 seconds to adjust the boot, referee Chris Kavanagh signalled to Tonali to take the corner. The Spurs defender was still on the floor. As Tonali began his short run-up, Spence had yet to get back into position. By the time Fabian Schar had powered his header past Antonin Kinsky in the Spurs goal, Spence was around five or six yards from the position he assumed in the previous defensive corner.

“I feel it’s harsh on Spurs,” pundit Jobi McAnuff, who played for West Ham United and Crystal Palace among others over a 21-year professional career, said on British broadcaster Sky Sports.

“He’s playing an important part in terms of where that ball is going to be delivered. That is where Djed Spence would be. I feel like the referee should have given him a little bit more time to get in. I know there’s going to be an argument against that.”

Immediately after Schar put Newcastle in front, Frank directed his frustration towards the fourth official. He later confirmed Spence was responsible for marking the goalscorer.

“I think the first was a mistake from Chris (Kavanagh), the ref, because he didn’t allow Djed time to come back in, which he clearly should have done,” he told Sky Sports. “He’s supposed to mark Schar, who scored. So I think that was the first mistake.

“It’s very, very rarely I comment on any decision, but this we need to comment (on) because it was completely common sense.”

In this age, where set pieces seem to reign supreme — 19 per cent of all goals in England’s top-flight this season have been scored from corners (45 of 241), the highest share in Premier League history — does Frank have a point? There is no rule that Kavanagh violated in giving Spence time to get into position, and it would be plausible to suggest that the 46.5 seconds (timed by Sky) it took for Spence to sort his boot and get back into position was more than enough.

But in the interests of fair play, Newcastle, who have scored four goals from set pieces this season in the league (one fewer than Spurs), may not have been entirely pleased if the proverbial boot was on the other foot. In a game settled by fine margins, the referee’s decision to wave play on left Spurs at a significant disadvantage. This was punished by Eddie Howe’s side.

What few can dispute, however, is that Tottenham were deservedly beaten on the night. Before Schar profited from the breakdown in Spurs’ set-piece structure, Newcastle had already sliced through their defence from open play on several occasions.

It took Newcastle’s opener to wake them into action, but there were moments in the aftermath where Tottenham’s forwards and midfielders connected in a way they have struggled to do for much of the season. In the 4-4-2 structure, which occasionally resembled the 4-2-2-2 popularised by the Red Bull football group, it’s perhaps no surprise that Xavi Simons appeared to come alive, receiving the ball in pockets and showing glimpses of the talent fans were anticipating when he arrived from RB Leipzig in the summer.

As inverted No 10s, Simons and Lucas Bergvall were involved, fluid and as likely as anyone to create a moment of magic — something that has been lacking from Spurs in open play for much of the season.

“I think the way we played the game in how we built from behind in phase one and especially in phase two, I think we controlled the game much more,” Frank said. “I think we had some short connections in the middle of the pitch. I think we found Lucas (Bergvall) and Xavi (Simons) in good positions. I think it was one of our better offensive performances of the season. It was not like we created 500 per cent chances, but we created some really big chances.”

Unfortunately, Guglielmo Vicario was not around to deliver an inspired performance to keep them in the game, with backup Kinsky at fault for Newcastle’s second, which ultimately killed the tie and Spurs’ hopes of adding another trophy to their cabinet.

But Spence and Spurs have left with a lesson that might prove as valuable moving forward: make sure your boots are tied and snug before you step onto the pitch.

Carabao Cup holders Newcastle United reached the quarter-finals of this season’s competition after easing past Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at St James’ Park.

Newcastle took the lead when Fabian Schar headed in from a corner on 24 minutes, though Spurs protested that Djed Spence had not been given time to take up his defensive position after tying his lace by the corner flag.

In a lively first half, both teams created chances and Harvey Barnes could have scored twice, with Newcastle eventually doubling their lead five minutes into the second half when Woltemade headed in after Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky misjudged a cross.

Aaron Ramsdale, in goal for Newcastle, saved well to deny Pape Matar Sarr’s low drive from the edge of the box and while both sides made changes in pursuit of goals, Eddie Howe’s team held firm.

Newcastle, who have not been behind in a Carabao Cup game since losing the 2023 final to Manchester United, will now continue in pursuit of a third final in four years with a home tie against Fulham in mid-December.

Here, The Athletic’s Chris Waugh and Elias Burke explain the key talking points.

Is the Carabao Cup Newcastle’s competition?

Some of the key personnel may have changed, including the striker who is putting the ball in the back of the net, but this very much remains Newcastle’s competition under Eddie Howe’s tutelage.

Only once, in 19 matches spread across four seasons, have Newcastle lost in normal time in the Carabao Cup. And that was their 2-0 final defeat against Manchester United in 2023. They have not trailed in a match in this competition since, being knocked out by Chelsea on penalties in 2023-24 before lifting the trophy last season.

For the fourth year in succession under Howe, Newcastle have reached the last eight, and they have beaten all of the so-called ‘Big Six’ now in this competition. In Arsenal’s case, twice.

Alexander Isak, the scorer of the winning goal in March’s final, may have deserted Newcastle, but his replacement, Woltemade, continues his ridiculously impressive conversion rate in front of goal. Across nine starts, he has scored six goals for Newcastle so far, four of them at St James’ Park, and once again he did so with a solitary shot.

Some of his build-up play, the touches, flicks and passes, was breathtaking once more, and he is brilliant at setting up his team-mates. Yet he only managed three touches inside the opposition box, the first coming in the 43rd minute, and only had 21 in general.

Regardless, the 23-year-old has been prolific since arriving and Newcastle continue to find ways to win in this competition. Having failed to lift a domestic trophy for 70 years until seven months ago, they are not willing to give up this one easily and are still on course to become only the fifth team to retain the League Cup.

Chris Waugh

Why did Newcastle’s opener upset Spurs?

Tottenham have been among the best teams in the Premier League from set pieces this season, proving as formidable at defending them as they are threatening when attacking them. Thomas Frank and Spurs’ set-piece coach Andreas Georgson obsess over every detail, and when one piece is out of place, it can throw the whole structure off.

In the corner-kick routine before Newcastle opened the scoring, Spence was in the mix inside the box. Tottenham, as they have done so well this season, defended that corner kick competently. However, in the lead-up to Schar’s header, Spence was near the corner flag, tying his laces.

After Spence had tied his laces — a process that seemed to take an age, inviting jeers from the home support — the referee allowed Sandro Tonali to take the corner, but Spence was rushing back into position.

Frank immediately turned towards the fourth official, venting his frustration. In his view, Spurs were left a man down in the box, and the referee should have given Spence the time to return to his designated position to defend the corner. Frank criticised Chris Kavanagh and said afterwards that Spence was due to mark Schar.

Elias Burke

Did Schar show he can still be a starter?

Ask those inside Newcastle and they will stress that, no matter how much he may be doubted, Schar always backs himself to come good again.

The 33-year-old had not started a match since he was forced off due to concussion against Barcelona on September 18. Malick Thiaw slotted in alongside Sven Botman and that pairing have complemented one another superbly, supporting the theory that they can and will be Newcastle’s centre-back pairing for years to come.

Thiaw has started nine matches in succession in all competitions and, with Botman rested on to the bench after having his head stapled followed a clash of heads with Sasa Lukic during the victory over Fulham, he shifted across to left-sided centre-half. Schar, who came on against Fulham, resumed his position as right-sided centre-back, despite having played on the left for much of 2023-24 when Botman was sidelined with a knee injury.

For much of his short Newcastle career so far, Thiaw has looked largely unflustered and extremely impressive, but it was Schar who appeared most at ease against Spurs. Thiaw misplaced a couple of passes and decided he had to commit a tactical foul just before half-time, receiving a booking for upending Xavi Simons.

Schar, meanwhile, capped off his return to the XI with the opening goal, powering in a header from a Tonali corner having found himself in space inside the area. Regardless of his age, Schar consistently produces when called upon.

Impressively, despite this back four having never started together, with Dan Burn and Emil Krafth playing down the defensive flanks, Newcastle kept an eighth clean sheet in 14 matches in all competitions. No matter the make-up of their backline, Newcastle are stifling their opponents.

Chris Waugh

Did Spurs miss Vicario?

Guglielmo Vicario produced possibly his most impressive display in a Tottenham shirt against Monaco and followed it up with a similarly excellent performance against Everton in the 3-0 win on the weekend, putting to bed any doubt over his status as Spurs’ No 1 for the here and now. Still, having joined in January to significant fanfare after impressing for Slavia Prague, 22-year-old Kinsky is viewed as a potential long-term successor, and he had the chance to assert his status as one for the future at St. James’ Park.

Kinsky had a solid first half, demonstrating the short and medium-length distribution which promises to potentially add another dimension to Tottenham’s build-up play. On one occasion, he set Lucas Bergvall away on the counter-attack with a perfectly weighted throw into his direction, an encouraging sign of his ability to inject pace into a Spurs attack that has been ponderous and slow from open play for much of the season so far.

His second half, however, was much tougher. Kinsky was culpable for Newcastle’s second goal of the evening, flapping at a floated Joe Willock cross which Woltemade headed into an empty net. From that point, his distribution was slightly more erratic, miscuing the chipped balls over the Newcastle attack that brought a different dimension to Spurs’ attack in the first half. Still, Frank will take encouragement from the fact that Kinsky’s head didn’t drop, and he continued to make himself available to receive in awkward situations and attempt riskier passes.

With Vicario missing from the matchday squad without explanation, perhaps Kinsky will be called upon again on the weekend to deputise. In the Italian’s absence, Brandon Austin and Luca Gunter were named on the bench, but it seems unlikely that they will ascend Kinsky in the pecking order, despite his error for the goal.

And while Spurs can ill afford another error leading to an opposition goal against Chelsea on Saturday evening, Kinsky is clearly talented, and offers attributes with his feet that no other Spurs keeper has.

Elias Burke

What did Howe say?

“I thought everyone played with the right spirit and determination, it was a hard-fought win,” Howe said.

On if players who came into the team took their chances: “There was no sort of great message to the group from me, but I think on a subconscious level they’ll have known they needed to grab these ones. Of course, training is a massive opportunity for them to impress me. They didn’t let me down.”

On Willock’s performance: “Really pleased for Joe because we all have very short memories in football. We forget how good players can be, but we haven’t as coaches. The biggest problem he has had has been his body but he looked really fit, he covered lots of grounds and tactically he was excellent in a different role. He got an assist and could have scored as well.”

What did Frank say?

“I think we conceded two goals where it was two mistakes,” Frank said to Sky Sports. “I think the first was a mistake from Chris, the ref, because he didn’t allow Djed time to come back in, which he clearly should have done. He’s supposed to mark Schar, who scored. So I think that was the first mistake.

“It’s very, very rarely I comment on any decision, but this we need to comment because it was completely common sense.

“And the second, unfortunately, was a mistake from Atonin.”

What next for Newcastle?

Sunday, November 2: West Ham (Away), Premier League, 2pm UK, 9am ET

What next for Spurs?