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Former Leicester midfielder Maddison sat out 375 days after being forced to undergo surgery on a serious knee problem. He returned to action in May 2026 and ultimately helped Roberto De Zerbi to steer a course towards Premier League safety.

Big money was invested during the last transfer window, with the most ambitious of outfits attempting to spend their way out of trouble. Little return has been seen so far, with two points being collected through four goalless top-flight outings this term.

Maddison has stepped off the bench in two of those fixtures, and a Carabao Cup defeat at Liverpool, with no unnecessary risks being taken on the classy 29-year-old after seeing him pick up a shoulder knock. There will, however, come a point when a calculated gamble on starting berths must be made.

Lavish additions Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes boast plenty of their own qualities, but could be considered relatively similar when it comes to filling roles in the engine room. A sprinkling of magic dust is required in that area of the field.

Maddison would provide that, with the ability to pick tight defensive locks and conjure up a moment of match-altering brilliance when standing over a dead ball, and De Zerbi cannot afford to hold him back much longer as pressure begins to build again in north London.

Asked if Maddison could be the answer to at least some of Spurs’ problems, ex-Tottenham star Murphy - who was speaking in association with Snabbare - told GOAL: “I've been a big fan of James Maddison for a long, long time because I like players who take risks and have an arrogance about them on the pitch. And Tottenham are crying out for creativity and they’ve missed him terribly when he's been injured.

“Now, when you look at who they brought in, none of them really, you would say, have the same attributes as Maddison. So, he's still quite unique in that squad. And I think when you look at their first four games, although [Omar] Marmoush and Savio have looked lively in the last couple, I know they haven't scored, but they do look like good additions. They do need someone to feed them.

“The problem is when someone’s been out for a long time, it's hard to know his levels of fitness and stuff. I don't know. I'm not seeing him train, De Zerbi is. But would I be putting Maddison in at the moment when you need some of that? A hundred percent.

“And I think Tottenham fans are crying out for him because he is one player - [Mohammed] Kudus is another, but in a different way, because he does it from a wider area - Maddison has the vision and he has the courage to risk the ball and take the groans and the moans and the disappointment of failing.

“He's great on set plays as well. He scores goals himself. I'd be really surprised if we didn't see Maddison soon in the starting line-up, because for me, he's still their most creative presence.”

Tottenham forward Omar Marmoush remains confident that Spurs are on the verge of turning their fortunes around despite a frustrating start to the campaign. Roberto De Zerbi's side went winless and goalless across their opening four Premier League matches, struggling to find fluid attacking output.

However, scoring against a top-flight side in Tuesday's Carabao Cup loss at Liverpool marked their first goal against top-tier opposition this season.

Marmoush insists the team's performances demonstrate clear progress in front of goal.

The summer arrival from Manchester City believes Tottenham's attacking patterns are steadily improving with every match. Marmoush emphasized that the squad possesses enough depth and individual talent to start converting chances into victories.

He stressed that small details will soon fall into place for De Zerbi's side.

"Every game we create more, more and more and more chances - I'm sure we are very close," Marmoush told club media. "We have so much quality on the pitch and from the people that come off the bench to give us this last push. When these small details click, it will be very, very good."

Marmoush highlighted how early-season adversity is helping unite the squad during a period of transition under De Zerbi. He also praised Spurs supporters for standing by the team through their early struggles.

Building internal confidence remains the primary focus for the players and coaching staff.

"These moments build the mentality and join the team together," Marmoush added. "These small glimpses of success give us another push and we have to build this confidence within us. I have to say our fans were unbelievable, we've had their support since the very beginning."

With their Carabao Cup run brought to a halt at Anfield, Tottenham turn their full attention back to domestic league action. De Zerbi's men remain determined to turn their goalscoring breakthrough into three points.

The squad continue working on the training pitch to refine their tactical execution.

Tottenham host their next fixture aiming to secure a long-awaited first league victory of the season.

Tottenham forward Omar Marmoush remains confident that Spurs are on the verge of turning their fortunes around despite a frustrating start to the campaign. Roberto De Zerbi's side went winless and goalless across their opening four Premier League matches, struggling to find fluid attacking output.

However, scoring against a top-flight side in Tuesday's Carabao Cup loss at Liverpool marked their first goal against top-tier opposition this season.

Marmoush insists the team's performances demonstrate clear progress in front of goal.

The summer arrival from Manchester City believes Tottenham's attacking patterns are steadily improving with every match. Marmoush emphasized that the squad possesses enough depth and individual talent to start converting chances into victories.

He stressed that small details will soon fall into place for De Zerbi's side.

"Every game we create more, more and more and more chances - I'm sure we are very close," Marmoush told club media. "We have so much quality on the pitch and from the people that come off the bench to give us this last push. When these small details click, it will be very, very good."

Marmoush highlighted how early-season adversity is helping unite the squad during a period of transition under De Zerbi. He also praised Spurs supporters for standing by the team through their early struggles.

Building internal confidence remains the primary focus for the players and coaching staff.

"These moments build the mentality and join the team together," Marmoush added. "These small glimpses of success give us another push and we have to build this confidence within us. I have to say our fans were unbelievable, we've had their support since the very beginning."

With their Carabao Cup run brought to a halt at Anfield, Tottenham turn their full attention back to domestic league action. De Zerbi's men remain determined to turn their goalscoring breakthrough into three points.

The squad continue working on the training pitch to refine their tactical execution.

Tottenham host their next fixture aiming to secure a long-awaited first league victory of the season.

Tottenham forward Omar Marmoush remains confident that Spurs are on the verge of turning their fortunes around despite a frustrating start to the campaign. Roberto De Zerbi's side went winless and goalless across their opening four Premier League matches, struggling to find fluid attacking output.

However, scoring against a top-flight side in Tuesday's Carabao Cup loss at Liverpool marked their first goal against top-tier opposition this season.

Marmoush insists the team's performances demonstrate clear progress in front of goal.

The summer arrival from Manchester City believes Tottenham's attacking patterns are steadily improving with every match. Marmoush emphasized that the squad possesses enough depth and individual talent to start converting chances into victories.

He stressed that small details will soon fall into place for De Zerbi's side.

"Every game we create more, more and more and more chances - I'm sure we are very close," Marmoush told club media. "We have so much quality on the pitch and from the people that come off the bench to give us this last push. When these small details click, it will be very, very good."

Marmoush highlighted how early-season adversity is helping unite the squad during a period of transition under De Zerbi. He also praised Spurs supporters for standing by the team through their early struggles.

Building internal confidence remains the primary focus for the players and coaching staff.

"These moments build the mentality and join the team together," Marmoush added. "These small glimpses of success give us another push and we have to build this confidence within us. I have to say our fans were unbelievable, we've had their support since the very beginning."

With their Carabao Cup run brought to a halt at Anfield, Tottenham turn their full attention back to domestic league action. De Zerbi's men remain determined to turn their goalscoring breakthrough into three points.

The squad continue working on the training pitch to refine their tactical execution.

Tottenham host their next fixture aiming to secure a long-awaited first league victory of the season.

Tottenham are weighing up a surprise move for Icardi as they struggle to find the back of the net in the Premier League. The North London side have endured a difficult start to the domestic campaign under De Zerbi, failing to score a single goal in their opening four league fixtures.

According to reports from Cronache di Spogliatoio, the 33-year-old Argentine is being considered as a short-term solution to Spurs' offensive woes. Icardi is available for free after ending his four-year tenure with Galatasaray, where he enjoyed a prolific spell in the Super Lig.

The interest in Icardi comes despite a summer of heavy investment at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The club spent significantly to bolster the squad, bringing in Sandro Tonali for £100 million, Mateus Fernandes for £85 million, and winger Savio for another £85 million. They also secured Omar Marmoush on loan from Manchester City in a deal that includes a £60 million obligation to buy. However, the Egypt international has yet to open his account despite starting against Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and in the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool - where he showed glimpses of quality but failed to find the net.

Furthermore, Dominic Solanke has failed to justify his selection in terms of output, going scoreless in his first five appearances for the club. The attacking crisis is compounded by the situation surrounding Richarlison. The Brazilian forward has been exiled from the first-team picture following a disastrous fallout with the club and has not featured since a 3-0 opening-day defeat to Brentford.

While Tottenham are monitoring the situation, they are not the only club linked with the experienced forward. Journalist Nahuel Ferreira reports that Greek giants Olympiacos have already made 'formal contacts' to close a deal for the former Argentina international last week. However, no agreement has been reached yet, largely due to the striker's significant wage demands, with Icardi reportedly earning around £8.6m per year.

Throughout his career, Icardi has lifted numerous trophies, most notably securing two Ligue 1 titles during his time with Paris Saint-Germain alongside four Super Lig crowns with Galatasaray.

The pressure is mounting on De Zerbi to fix a Tottenham side that looks disjointed and devoid of confidence in the final third. Spurs currently sit 17th in the Premier League table after collecting just two points from two draws and two losses, while conceding eight goals in the process. While their Carabao Cup campaign began with a promising 5-1 victory over Charlton Athletic, their midweek exit at the hands of Liverpool highlighted the gap between Spurs and the league's top contenders.

Mac Allister played a pivotal role in Liverpool's 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur, scoring the opening goal in a match that saw several academy graduates given the chance to shine. While the likes of Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, and Rio Ngumoha earned plaudits for their composure against Premier League opposition, Mac Allister revealed that he maintains a high bar for them behind the scenes. The former Brighton man admitted that he does not shy away from confronting the youngsters when their levels drop during daily sessions at the AXA Training Centre.

Speaking to ITV, the midfielder was candid about his mentorship style. "I focus quite a lot on them and I get angry. I think it's part of me wanting them to succeed. As I said, they're really good. They have quality, they are intense and they know what the club means. It's important and they are going to be really important for us this season," Mac Allister said.

The third-round clash at Anfield served as a significant litmus test for Andoni Iraola’s fringe players, especially given the strength of the Tottenham side deployed by Roberto De Zerbi. Despite the pressure, the youthful Reds stayed aggressive against a Spurs team. The Argentine’s veteran presence in the middle of the park helped settle the nerves of those around him, ensuring that Liverpool remained in control even when the visitors threatened to claw their way back into the contest after Conor Gallagher's second-half goal.

Mac Allister noted that the performance of the starlets was not a fluke but a reflection of the work put in on the training pitch. "Definitely. It was really important for the young players. They show every single day in training that they want to be here. They work really, really hard and they have quality. I'm really happy for them because they deserve this in training," he noted.

The variety of goals on display against Spurs suggested that the hours spent on the training ground are yielding significant results. Mac Allister’s opener was a testament to his desire to impact the game in the final third, a trait he is keen to develop further under the current coaching staff.

"We are practicing a lot of shooting," he explained. "Dom (Dominik Szoboszlai) has it - it’s natural for him. For me, I was a bit lucky. I like getting in the box and scoring so it’s really important to score for our confidence and important to win because that's what we wanted," he explained.

Despite the celebrations following the Carabao Cup win, Mac Allister was quick to remind his teammates that they must remain grounded. The midfielder pointed to previous results as a reason to stay focused, noting that consistency is the key to a successful season at a club of Liverpool's stature.

"We need to understand that it’s only one game and if you look back and you see the games against Ipswich and Atletico, they were really good," the midfielder cautioned. "Then against Fulham we couldn't play the football we wanted. Now we need to make sure we are ready for the next game."

Ajax have officially confirmed the acquisition of Bissouma, ending the midfielder's period of uncertainty following his departure from the Premier League. The Mali international, who saw his contract at Tottenham expire at the conclusion of last season, has put pen to paper on a deal that keeps him at the Johan Cruyff ArenA for the foreseeable future. The club announced that the contract takes immediate effect and runs until June 30, 2027, providing the experienced campaigner with a long-term platform to rediscover his best form in the Eredivisie.

During his final year at Tottenham, he managed just 11 appearances, struggling to convince the coaching staff of his reliability. His time in London was marred by multiple disciplinary issues, including a high-profile suspension two years ago after social media footage appeared to show him using nitrous oxide.

Despite the controversies that trailed him at Spurs, Bissouma arrives in the Netherlands with a defiant attitude and a clear sense of purpose. The former Brighton man expressed his excitement about joining one of the continent's most historic institutions. "I feel really happy. It means a lot, because Ajax is one of the biggest clubs in Europe. And for me to be part of the trip of this great club is something nice," Bissouma stated.

When asked if the move caught him by surprise, the midfielder explained that he was already sold on the vision presented by the Ajax hierarchy. "Not really, because I've spoken to a lot of people here beforehand. They told me about the project and that was very interesting to me. That's why I'm here," he said. "They just told me the project, what they really want to do this year and for the years that are coming as well."

The signing is not just a gamble on talent but a calculated move by the Ajax recruitment team to add steel to their midfield. Bissouma left no doubt about his objectives for the next chapter of his career. "I’m a winner and then you want to win everything. That’s my desire and I’m ready to start," he stated.

Bissouma is also keen to assume a leadership role within a squad that often prides itself on developing young talent. "I'm just going to give them some advice, like how I see things and how I see football. Just to let them know I'm here for all of them, all of the youngest players. They can talk to me, we can have a very good conversation about anything," he added.

Technical Director Jordi Cruijff highlighted the strategic nature of the signing, revealing that the club had been tracking the player's situation for several months. Cruijff noted that discussions with the player began as early as August, and the club is pleased to have secured a player of his calibre without a transfer fee.

"Discussions with Yves began in August and we are delighted that he has now signed for Ajax. We have brought in an experienced player who knows what it takes to perform at the highest level. He is capable of playing in several positions, and we hope he will be available for selection as soon as possible."

Andy Robertson made his first return to Anfield since bringing his illustrious nine-year spell with Liverpool to a close during the summer transfer window. Now plying his trade with Tottenham Hotspur under Roberto De Zerbi, the Scotland international was named among the substitutes for Tuesday night's Carabao Cup third-round tie. Despite lining up for the opposition, the 32-year-old was greeted with immense affection by the home crowd.

The fixture marked a significant milestone for the left-back, who left the Reds as a free agent ahead of the current campaign after Milos Kerkez secured the starting berth on Merseyside.

Robertson was forced to wait for his moment on the bench, but when he was introduced by De Zerbi in the 57th minute to replace Destiny Udogie, Anfield rose to its feet. The defender was greeted with a massive standing ovation from all four stands, while supporters immediately reprised the familiar chants dedicated to him throughout his trophy-laden years at the club.

It was a touching acknowledgement of the eight major honours he captured during his time with the Reds, including two Premier League crowns and the 2019 Champions League.

Andoni Iraola made 10 changes to his starting lineup with Joe Gomez taking the captain's armband, but Liverpool's momentum never stuttered on home soil. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in the first half with a thumping first-time finish before Cody Gakpo doubled the advantage shortly after the interval. Although Conor Gallagher managed to head in a corner to pull Spurs back into the tie, a stunning stoppage-time strike from substitute Dominik Szoboszlai sealed a thoroughly deserved victory.

The 3-1 scoreline firmly reflected Liverpool's attacking superiority as they safely negotiated their passage into the next round of the tournament.

The result means Iraola's side remain completely unbeaten under the new head coach and head into the next stage of the Carabao Cup with growing confidence. The squad depth was thoroughly tested on the night, with valuable minutes given to returning players and youngsters alike as the Reds shuffled the pack. Liverpool will now shift their immediate focus back to domestic action with a weekend Premier League trip to Bournemouth, while Tottenham will look ahead to a return to Anfield on December 19.

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As soon as the final whistle went, Spurs coach Roberto De Zerbi confronted the former Bayern Munich top talent. TV pictures showed the Italian trying to explain something to the 21-year-old with animated gestures.

Tel initially did not seem to know what to make of the criticism coming his way and merely raised his eyebrows in bewilderment. De Zerbi, though, did not let up. He kept talking to his striker and eventually left him standing on the pitch.

At the subsequent press conference, the Tottenham manager revealed why he was unhappy with Tel's display: "He has to play like a striker, keep his eye on goal or wait for the cross from (Andy) Robertson."

De Zerbi criticised the 21-year-old for not holding his position. "He has to stay up front. He started as a striker, now he is playing as a winger." Nevertheless, the Italian also struck a conciliatory tone and defended his player: "I love Mathys as a player and as a person, there is no problem."

Tel came on for Dominic Solanke in the 63rd minute of the 0-0 draw against Everton but could not make any decisive impact in the time that remained.

How has the season gone so far for Tottenham Hotspur?

Spurs are left with just two points after four matchdays, which puts them 17th in the table. They have also failed to score a single goal of their own in the first four Premier League matches of a new season for the first time in the club's history.

Only Coventry City, aside from Tottenham, have yet to score in the current Premier League season. However, the promoted side have played one game fewer and still have to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. With a win, they could even move above Spurs in the table.