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Tottenham head coach Igor Tudor claims Premier League relegation threat is not real pressure as he urges players to step up

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Tottenham head coach Igor Tudor has claimed that the threat of relegation is not real pressure and urged his players to take responsibility heading into crucial weeks of the season.

Tudor has watched his side lose both games since replacing Thomas Frank. A North London derby defeat to Arsenal was followed by another poor performance against Fulham which has left Spurs just four points from the drop zone.

It adds more pressure on Thursday's game against Crystal Palace, but the Croatian claimed that his players had to step up after a poor run of form.

"Everyone understands the situation. There is something wrong if you don't understand. My job is to put the pressure away but their job is to accept the pressure is there," he said in his pre-match press conference.

"So the pressure is everywhere, but you need to love this job. There's real pressure out there. People need to make money for their families or are working in jobs like doctors who are doing operations and they decide about life and death. That's the real pressure.

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"You need to be ready to accept this and stand up. Take responsibility. Have the courage to confront these things. This is the best way to do it, the only way to do it.

"I hope we have, and I'm sure because I saw in the training, the players to step up, take responsibility and make us start putting in, first of all good performances, and after also win points."

Tudor didn't hide his anger following the performance at Craven Cottage, which has led to some criticism from those who believe he needs to build up the players' confidence. However, he believes it is important the players don't accept low standards.

"To not accept defeat as something normal. That's the reason," Tudor explained when asked about why he reacted the way he did post-Fulham.

"It's about mentality. When you play with your friends, you can have the mentality of 'OK, we go to play tennis and

then we lose.' Or, you can be different."

"In this moment, we need to recognise this and believe we have the quality to do it.

"After the games you need to be angry and disappointed. You don't need to be the guy who comes in and says everything is perfect, smile and nothing happens."

Style no longer matters - it's all about the points

Tudor also conceded that it no longer matters how Spurs play, so long as they pick up crucial points during the run-in.

Much fanfare was made over Frank's style of play prior to his sacking, but Tudor says that no one can afford to think about that given their current predicament.

"It's all about three points. I said before the last game. When you are in this moment, it's all about three points.

"When you start the season and you choose the players, you choose the style you play, you have two months to work on that totally different moment, then you can think about how good you can be.

"After the last 10 games, it's a totally different state of mind."

O'Hara: Tudor should be sacked if he loses to Palace

Despite only having two games in charge, former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara believes that a third straight defeat could already spell the end for Tudor's temporary spell in charge of the club.

"I haven't seen any evidence they have got better," O'Hara said on Sky Sports Fan Club.

"They've got Crystal Palace at home on Thursday. If they lose that game, I can see them getting rid of him. He's come in all guns blazing. You've been here five minutes. What you don't need right now is a manager coming in and digging everyone out.

"You need someone coming in to breed some confidence and life out of these players. You've come in to get results. At the moment, you're doing all these interviews...it's risky business.

"I'd get rid of him [if he loses to Palace]. He's an interim manager and he's lost the first three games. It's a farce, but Tottenham is a farce."

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Live Commentary - Wolves vs Liverpool

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Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:

"Joao Gomes is a player that should never be heading for the Championship. He's very much in the shop window for Wolves surely and this could be another big night for him in a more attacking role. He has been given licence to join as Wolves spring their counter attacks – had five shots in last two starts including a goal against Aston Villa. Confidence could be high in terms of shooting from range and the home fans may urge him on."

Sky Sports' Lewis Jones predicts:

There's a bit of blind faith in the market around Liverpool at the moment.

They're being priced on reputation and peak performance levels rather than what the tactical match-up might look like here. The 13/8 with Sky Bet on Wolves double chance (win or draw) is worth serious consideration.

Why? Because this is exactly the type of game that can make life awkward for Liverpool.

Arne Slot has spoken openly about his side's discomfort when facing low blocks - teams that deny central space, slow the tempo and force them into sterile domination. Without Florian Wirtz knitting things together between the lines, that creative incision isn't quite as sharp.

Wolves, under Rob Edwards, are becoming a tougher nut to crack precisely because they embrace that approach. Compact, disciplined and prepared to suffer without the ball is their remit.

Wolves have landed this double chance play against Arsenal, Newcastle United and Aston Villa when going off heavy outsiders. They're comfortable being underestimated.

SCORE PREDICTION: 0-0

Wolves haven’t scored before half time in any of their last nine Premier League games. Only once have they gone 10 games without a first half goal, doing so between August and November 2018.

Just 14% of Liverpool’s away league goals this season have been scored in the first half (3/21), with only one of those coming before the 45th minute (Ryan Gravenberch, 35th min v Newcastle in August). In Premier League history, only three sides have a lower ratio of away goals in a season scored before half-time: West Brom in 2008-09 (10% - 1/10), Leicester in 1994-95 (12% - 2/17), and Southampton in 1998-99 (13% - 1/8).

Hello and welcome to our live blog of the Premier League game between Wolves and Liverpool at Molineux.

Liverpool can move above Aston Villa into fourth with a win here and might even be eyeing third spot if they can beat the bottom club by three clear goals. That would lift Arne Slot's side above Manchester United.

Wolves did win here against Aston Villa on Friday evening, however, so maybe it will not be as straightforward as the table suggests.

We will have team news, video and stats before kick-off at 8.15pm.

Wolves boss Rob Edwards says Tuesday’s match with Liverpool will have no bearing on Friday’s FA Cup rematch.

The Reds travel to Molinuex twice in 72 hours in a quirk of the fixture list, with the league match followed by the FA Cup fifth round encounter.

“In the Premier League, anyone on their day can give anyone a run for their money and anyone a game,” Edwards told a press conference.

“We are showing that at the moment, but this is a different game now. It’s a different game to when we played them last time, it’s a different game to Friday night.

“To threaten these teams and to compete, we have to be at our best. Liverpool are obviously the current champions, they’re an amazing football club, so we know the size of the task – everything that we had on Friday, we’re going to need and more.

“They’re winning games and that’s a sign of a good team, whether you’re at your best or not. They’ve had a lot going on at that football club and some change with new players coming in as well.

“They’re looking strong as the season is getting to the really crucial stage. Every game for them now is about winning, whether it’s about Champions League qualification or winning trophies, that’s what they’re used to doing.

“We’re preparing for the best of them over these next two games, and I’m sure that’s what we’ll get.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot on race for Champions League places:

"So many things have gone against us this season.

"In terms of performances, only the first half against Forest was not of our standards.

"For all the other games, we've played to our standards, or what there is to expect in the Premier League because it's not like every game is as if you're watching Barcelona 10 or 15 years ago or watching the Premier League four or five years ago, it's changed how entertaining it is because of playing styles.

"We are well placed now, but two weeks ago, you could've asked the question 'you're not so well placed' so things can change really fast.

"We're really close together with a few teams and things can change every matchday because of who you face and who the other teams are facing.

"We focus on the next game, on ourselves and we know every game has been difficult for us for the whole season and that's what we expect in the upcoming ten [games] as well."

Liverpool boss Arne Slot on facing Wolves twice in three days:

"We are playing Wolves tomorrow and they've shown recently that they are doing much better or are getting more results from what they deserve.

"Throughout the whole season, they've hardly been beaten by big goal differences, so that tells you that they are a competitive team throughout the whole season and they've picked up points, and even a win against Villa.

"We know that we are going to face a difficult game tomorrow.

"It's not unusual to play three games in seven days... does it bring a challenge for the second game a little bit more because then you know what to expect?

"We've already played them once and you see a lot of games of them because they play against teams we are facing as well.

"You know each other well and I don't see that much difference in play each other twice in three days or that there is a longer period in between."

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Live Commentary - B'mouth vs Brentford

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Welcome to Sky Sports' live digital coverage of the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Brentford at the Vitality Stadium!

It's 10th vs seventh on the south coast tonight and, with both clubs aiming to be in the European conversation in the final weeks of the season, the stakes are high here.

Who takes those vital points? As always, you're in exactly the right place to find out!

We'll have all the updates and stats throughout right here and, crucially, FREE highlights after full-time - let's begin!

Evanilson is a doubt for Bournemouth’s Premier League clash with Brentford at Vitality Stadium because of a dead leg.

The Brazilian striker was brought on for the second half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland but having struck the equaliser, he limped off with five minutes left.

“It’s still too early. Yesterday (Sunday) he didn’t train. He was still very sore,” head coach Andoni Iraola said.

“But we train this evening so I hope he comes with better feelings and he gives it a try at least. Let’s see.

“He’s not injured, it’s just a knock, a dead leg, but obviously we are talking about one or two days and it still is a little bit sore.”

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Keith Andrews believes Brentford will learn from Saturday’s dramatic 4-3 win at Burnley ahead of a quick turnaround to visit Bournemouth in midweek.

The Bees face a second successive away fixture in the Premier League, but travel to the south coast after a thrilling seven-goal victory at Turf Moor.

Andrews told a press conference: “Ultimately where I’m at with it now is we found a way to win the game, but we must learn from it. I think we will.

“First half expectational, full control of the game and it’s not unfair to say we could have been five goals up, so then for the game to materialise in the way it did?

“In the second half the momentum was going against us, so it’s finding ways of stopping that.

“It is learning how to deal with that, tweaking how we can absorb and stay calm when the chaos comes. Yeah, it was an invaluable learning experience for us all and the best thing about it is we won the game.”

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Premier League club finances: What have we learned from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, Spurs and West Ham accounts?

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Man Utd need the Champions League ASAP - Sky Sports
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The Premier League's biggest clubs have recently published their financial results for the 2024-25 season.

While football is decided on the pitch, these off-the-pitch results tend to give clues as to which direction clubs are going in - and what transfer activity could look like in the years to come.

Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool all published their details by the end of February - while West Ham also joined them, revealing some surprising results.

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Sky Sports' reporters go through all the club accounts to reveal what we can learn from each club...

Man Utd need the Champions League ASAP

Man Utd profit/loss 2024-25 season: £33m loss

Man Utd's overall revenue: £666.5m (increase of £4.5m)

Manchester United's latest accounts show how important it is for the club to get back into Europe. If you want to make Manchester United great again, they need to be playing in the Champions League again as soon as possible.

The new expanded format of the competition means English clubs have each made between £73m and £86m from just playing in the league phase this season.

United are improving on and off the pitch, although it is too early to start celebrating about the latest figures they posted in New York.

Not being in Europe would be a financial disaster for most clubs, but United's finances are just about holding up - despite overall debt rising to £1.29bn with no new stadium for that vast borrowing. The long-term Glazer debt is still £488m ($650m), the short-term borrowing is up to £295.7m and more than £500m is owed on transfers.

As expected, being out of Europe means United revenues for the six months to the end of last December fell from £341.8m to £330.7m.

Matchday income was down £2.8m to £75.7m because United played five fewer games at Old Trafford than in the final six months of the previous year. Increased ticket prices mean they are making more per game and United still make more money on matchdays than any other club in England.

The departure of several high-profile players means their wage bill for the final three months of last year fell by nine per cent to £75.1m. There is no mention of how much compensation Ruben Amorim was paid as he was sacked on January 5 - just after the period covered in these accounts.

Kaveh Solhekol

Liverpool spend more than Man City

Liverpool's profit/loss 2024-25 season: £8m profit (after tax)

Liverpool's overall revenue: £703m (increase of £89m)

After two consecutive years of pre-tax losses Liverpool are back in profit to the tune of £15.2m. That's down to record revenue of over £700m.

In summary, during Liverpool's 20th league title winning season:

Media revenue increased by £60m to £264m

Matchday revenue rose to £116m from £102m

Commercial revenue went up to £323m - a rise of £15m

Overall revenue increased by £89m to £703m

Profit after tax went up by £8m

Media revenue had the biggest uplift largely due to Liverpool reaching the last-16 of the Champions League compared to the quarter-finals of the Europa League the previous year, as well as winning their Premier league title success. Liverpool were, in fact, the most-watched Premier League club last season.

This was also the first full season in which the new Anfield Road stand was fully open, hence the increase in matchday revenue. However, alongside record revenue growth, administrative costs increased significantly.

Squad performance bonuses for their title success plus contract renewals for Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk, an increase in staffing numbers and general matchday admin costs meant expenditure on staff rose by £42m to £428m.

These costs have more than doubled since the accounting period 2016/17 and are now higher than Manchester City's (£408m).

These figures do not take into consideration Liverpool's £450m summer spending on the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong - so expect those costs to go up in the next set of accounts.

Vinny O'Connor

Chelsea aren't earning as much as their rivals

Chelsea's profit/loss 2024-25 season: £355m loss (before tax)*

Chelsea's overall revenue: £511m*

* According to UEFA

Chelsea's record loss was for a season when they won the UEFA Conference League and qualified for the Champions League.

Two months after the end of the 2024/25 season they also earned up to £90m by winning the expanded Club World Cup in the United States.

In the old days. any losses would have been subsidised by former owner Roman Abramovich - but he was forced to sell the club and the regulatory landscape has totally changed from the early years of the Russian billionaire's ownership.

Chelsea's big problem - apart from the fact that they have not won a recognised major trophy under their new owners - is that their revenues lag behind those of their major rivals.

Chelsea's owners are facing challenges on multiple fronts. In the short term, their priority has to be qualifying for the Champions League again.

Champions League participation is more important now than ever - even though Chelsea are convinced their finances are improving.

Kaveh Solhekol

Arsenal in a healthy spot - but can they sell players better?

Arsenal's profit/loss 2024-25 season: £1.4m loss

Arsenal's overall revenue: £691m (increase of £75.2m)

Arsenal are certainly on the way up in terms of finances. They nearly broke even for the 2024/25 season, recording a loss of just £1.4m. Given their losses sat over £100m four years earlier, it's a positive sign.

The big boost for the Gunners was a club record revenue of £691m. As fashion and merchandise experts, Arsenal's commercial revenue continued to fire, with yearly revenue rising by 19 per cent to £264.4m.

Deloitte data says Arsenal's commercial revenue has increased by a world-football high of 104 per cent since 2021 - nearly twice as much as the average commercial growth of the rest of the so-called 'Big Six'.

Matchday revenue also increased to £154m, partly due to the men's team's Champions League run to the semi-finals which also impacted broadcast revenue - that rose to £272m last season.

Given Arsenal are in the Carabao Cup final, the latter stages of the FA Cup and have a nice route to the European semi-finals once again, that figure could well grow in the forthcoming campaign. The women's team playing more games at the Emirates Stadium than ever before will boost matchday revenue numbers too.

However, there is a downside to additional games - as Arsenal reported a "sharp" increase in costs on 'other operating charges'. That figure went up to £200.8m, an increase of £80m. "Increased staging costs, specific direct costs of delivering increased revenues, certain residual property matters and inflationary pressures," were responsible for that hike, say the club.

Last season also showed the power of Arsenal selling well. The £106m in player sales - including 'pure profit' home grown stars Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah - brought a net spend of just £18m, and an overall net transfer debt of £125m.

That last figure decreased massively from £229m in the previous season - so it can explain why Arsenal were able to spend so much in the summer just gone.

Arsenal's wage bill rose by 19 per cent - a shorter climb than last year - but a loss of £15.2m in written-off player values (funds where they were unable to recoup the value of certain players) shows the need to continue selling well. This season has seen them fail sell anyone for more than £5m in the transfer market.

But with Arsenal set to re-negotiate an Emirates Stadium catering deal this year, as well as the Emirates shirt sponsorship deal in 2028, there are plenty of other avenues for increased income in the coming years. They are in a healthy spot.

Sam Blitz

West Ham need to sell players - will that include Bowen?

West Ham's profit/loss 2024/25 season: £104.2m loss (before tax)

West Ham's overall revenue: £228m (decrease of £42m)

West Ham recorded over £100m in losses for the financial year 2024/25.

Regardless of what happens after the season finishes, they say they'll have to sell players to generate income. But life will be much easier if Nuno Espirito Santo can keep them in the Premier League.

West Ham say they are "forecasting a liquidity shortfall in summer 2026". In Layman's terms, they are spending more than they are making.

The reasons for this they say include league position, no European football and lower profit on sales of players. That's before what they describe as the "severe but plausible scenario" of dropping into the Championship.

Thoughts immediately turn to the future of captain Jarrod Bowen. You would imagine the England international will move on if the Hammers are relegated. But those financial figures mean that even if the Hammers survive, will the 29-year-old have to be sold no matter what?

Bowen will still have four years left on his West Ham contract this summer so could still command a significant fee. Other players such as Crysencio Summerville could also be used to raise funds, so what will West Ham do?

Chris Reidy

What would relegation mean for Spurs?

Tottenham's financial results for 2024/25 season are due by end of March

Tottenham Hotspur being relegated would be one of the the biggest stories in Premier League history. Rival clubs are foaming at the mouth at the idea.

It's simply unthinkable for a club of Tottenham's size to slip into the Championship, but they're heading that way after countless defeats.

Many say Spurs have the best stadium in the world. It generates on average £4.5m per match. Some Spurs players reportedly face up to 50 per cent wage cuts if they're relegated - but just how many would stay at the club?

They'll have to rip up managerial targets. Does a new director of football come in? Season ticket pricing details have already been released. That'll also have to be ripped up.

There are a very small minority who think relegation would be a good thing, as the club need a reset - and some at board level might deserve it.

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Tottenham new sporting director search: Paul Winstanley and Dougie Freedman targets - Paper Talk and transfer gossip

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The top stories and transfer rumours from Tuesday's newspapers...

PREMIER LEAGUE

Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their hunt for a new sporting director with checks believed to have been made on a number of potential candidates, including Paul Winstanley and Dougie Freedman - The Telegraph

Spurs players face wage cuts if the club are relegated from the Premier League, owing to clauses written into their contracts - The Athletic

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The Arsenal set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, receives a bonus every time the team score from a dead-ball situation - The Times

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be in for a culture shock at Mansfield Town this weekend, with the pitch described as a "tricky surface" - The Mirror

Chelsea are cracking down on players earning needless yellow and red cards as the club aim to stop their disciplinary record from derailing their season - The Telegraph

Mykhailo Mudryk has returned to training at semi-professional club Uxbridge FC's facilities amid a continued silence over his doping ban at Chelsea - Daily Mail

Benjamin Sesko has taken flight at Manchester United after drowning out the noise of aeroplanes at his home by having double glazing fitted at his Cheshire home - The Sun

Ex-Premier League referee Mark Halsey has called for the PGMOL to take a 'no-nonsense' approach to incidents from corners, and likened the current game to rugby - The Sun

The Football Association is keen to explore a challenge system for subjective VAR decisions - The Telegraph

EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is in Paris for additional tests and treatment on his left knee injury, but is not expecting to undergo surgery at this time - The Athletic

Weston McKennie has agreed a new Juventus contract through to 2030 - The Athletic

WORLD CUP

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates are viewed as the most likely beneficiaries should Iran withdraw from the World Cup - The Guardian

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

Scotland look set to play Venezuela instead of Peru in their final World Cup warm-up game - The Scottish Sun

RUGBY UNION

Steve Borthwick has completely ripped up his back line for England's Six Nations match against Italy, with playmakers Elliot Daly and Fin Smith set to be handed starting roles - The Telegraph

Steve Borthwick is ready to radically overhaul his misfiring England side for the Six Nations clash against Italy on Saturday, with Fin Smith expected to be handed the No 10 jersey - The Guardian

Steve Borthwick looks set to make an unprecedented overhaul of his England back line for the Italy match on Saturday, plotting a change in every position - The Times

Gloucester have sought to address their current malaise by securing the services of Chris Boyd, the former Northampton director of rugby, as technical director and Bath's Rob Burgess as general manager - The Telegraph

Drugs tests on rugby players in South Africa have plunged more than sixfold in the last decade - The Telegraph

FORMULA 1

Formula 1 has chartered flights to ensure key team staff arrive on time for this weekend's 2026 Australian Grand Prix, after the ongoing conflict in the Middle East heavily disrupted travel through the region - The Athletic

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Tottenham Hotspur: Igor Tudor's damning assessment of Spurs analysed after dismal defeat to Fulham

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Tottenham Hotspur: Igor Tudor's damning assessment of Spurs analysed after dismal defeat to Fulham - Sky Sports
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In his first press conference as Tottenham Hotspur manager, Igor Tudor said he was 100-per-cent confident that Spurs would avoid relegation. Ten days later, the mood has changed.

Back-to-back defeats in Tudor's first two games in charge against Fulham and Arsenal have forced a change of tune from the Croatian boss.

"We lack when we attack. We are lacking the quality to score the goal. We are lacking in the middle to run. We are lacking behind to stay there and suffer and not concede the goal. An amazing situation, " said Tudor after Spurs' latest lost to Fulham.

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Barring defending, attacking and running - there's little else you can do on a football pitch. Tudor's assessment paints a poor picture.

Spurs' new head coach - once excited about the challenge before him - has seen the true reality of his team after two games. Here are the numbers which show it...

'We lack when we attack'

Tottenham are on a run of 10 Premier League games without a victory and there is a real lack of winning feeling at the club.

In fact, Spurs did not take the lead in any league match in February. The last time they led in the top flight was during a seven-minute spell at Burnley on January 24.

There is a lack of fluency in attack, partly due to Spurs' inability to be consistent the ball.

Across Spurs' 10 matches since the turn of the year, they rank bottom in the Premier League for both being dispossessed on the ball and overall losses of possession.

"Look at the patterns of play Fulham had," said former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood to Sky Sports. "They had people in the correct positions to open up the pitch.

"Players were wide, balancing off, strikers up front and players in support - it was the opposite of what Tottenham had."

Since the turn of the year, only 35 per cent of Tottenham's possession sequences reach the final third of the pitch - only the bottom two teams in Wolves and Burnley have a lower percentage.

Essentially, Spurs really struggle to get the ball close to goal, playing like a bottom-three team in the process. So no wonder they cannot get into the lead, let alone hold onto it.

'We lack to not concede the goal'

"You put the players [on the pitch], but then you lack defending, running and winning the duels. So what to do?"

In that sentence from his post-match complaints against Fulham, Tudor said his team lacked the ability to compete in the duels once they crossed the white line, leaving the coaching staff helpless.

"Football is a sport of running and duels," he added. "I have a sensation that Fulham players always arrived before. Even with the brain, they arrived before us. We are always late."

In the first half, which saw Fulham race into a 2-0 lead, Spurs won just 40 per cent of the duels in the match. They were overrun by Marco Silva's side - the story of their season.

Spurs rank bottom in the Premier League for aerial duels won - and since the turn of the year have lost more duels than any other team.

But there is also a self-inflicted nature to Tottenham's defensive play. They have made a league-high five errors leading to a goal in 2026. On top of that, no Premier League team has made more errors leading to a shot this calendar year.

That has seen Spurs concede the highest expected-goals figure in the Premier League this year, so the prospect of keeping clean sheets becomes much, much harder.

'We are lacking in the middle to run'

Before the weekend just gone, Spurs had been outrun by each of their last five Premier League opponents.

At Fulham, Spurs covered more ground than they have managed in any Premier League match this season - but that was still not enough for Tudor. "We are lacking in the middle to run," he said after the game.

"It's a load of nonsense about who runs more," said Sherwood to Sky. "It's about when you run, how you run and when you stand still."

This is perhaps not a criticism of the Spurs team - but of the situation they find themselves in. Tudor's comments about his team's lack of ability to run are not a surprise given the way he described Spurs' poor physical condition earlier in the week.

"Physically, I believe, we are not in an amazing situation," he said. "They have played lots of games in the last period without lots of players available and it made the physical condition of the team drop down.

"They are fatigued. To press high you need to be fit, but all of them, because if one person is not in the right shape there is a problem because someone is coming late. And the second thing, is that there is the other goal to protect.

"It is easy to run there but you need to run back, so if you run up and don't run back it's a problem."

It won't get any easier for Spurs physically, given the Champions League returns next week and the toll on the team's legs will rise.

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