Metro.co.uk

Anthony Gordon has suffered no lasting problems after a ‘nasty-looking’ cut during Newcastle’s win at Tottenham on Saturday.

The England international was felled by Dejan Kulusevski in the Premier League clash at the weekend, with the Swede’s shoulder causing damage to his face.

Gordon managed to continue the game and Howe does not expect him to be out of action when Newcastle go to Arsenal on Tuesday night in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Howe does think the collision should have resulted in a penalty kick for his side, not that it proved important as the Magpies won 2-1 at Spurs.

‘Anthony was in a bit of discomfort with the cut which was a nasty-looking one,’ Howe told a press conference on Monday. ‘Looking back at the decision, I thought it was a foul, a clear penalty.

‘He came away from the incident with blood on himself. We dusted him down, he went back on the pitch and performed really well for us, I thought he had a really good game.’

Sven Botman returned to the starting XI against Spurs after a lengthy period on the sidelines with a knee injury, not playing in the first team since March 2024.

Howe was impressed with the defender’s return and said tiredness was the only reaction to his return after such a long spell out.

‘He feels good,’ said the manager of the Dutchman. ‘Naturally a little bit of fatigue at the end of the game.

‘With Sven, yes it was a long absence but he’s trained for a long, long time for this moment. From the Aston Villa game onwards he was cleared to play but we wanted to give him longer to try and reach his best physical levels.

‘It’s not like he’s been rushed back, but straight into action, did very well, really pleased with him. I think regardless of how you train, the Premier League is very different from anything else, you can’t really prepare for that intensity but he handled it really well.’

Newcastle will be without Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar against Arsenal on Tuesday, with the former a particular loss.

‘It’s a big blow,’ said Howe. ‘One of Bruno’s biggest strengths is that he is always there for you. His appearance record has been brilliant for us, especially when you consider the physical exertion he commits to us.

‘He’s going to be a big miss. We have big players who can fill his shoes.’

Arrow MORE: Arsenal transfer target Alexander Isak can break Gunners’ hearts in Carabao Cup encounter with Newcastle

Arrow MORE: Man Utd offered former Arsenal and Chelsea target in shock swap deal

Ibrahima Konate returned to the Liverpool starting XI against Manchester United on Sunday but Arne Slot does not expect him to be ready to play again on Wednesday.

The French defender had been out of action since late November with a knee injury but was back in the team for the visit of the Red Devils.

It was a surprisingly busy game for the centre-back as Manchester United impressed in a 2-2 draw at Anfield.

The Reds are back in action on Wednesday in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham in north London and Slot says Konate is unlikely to be risked so quickly after returning to fitness.

The Dutchman was asked why the 25-year-old was straight back in the starting line-up at the weekend and said: ‘Because he was fit.

‘If he wouldn’t [have been] then we wouldn’t have started him, then he doesn’t train with us. The moment he starts to train with the team he is fit again.

‘It is not to say that he can immediately play two games a week, but he can definitely play 90 minutes, like he showed today. Like you saw, except for the first game when I chose [Jarell] Quansah, all the other games when Ibou was fit he started, so that’s the answer I think to your question. The moment he is fit, he can start.

‘But if you have been out for such a long time it’s difficult to immediately play then two games a week, so it must not come as a surprise if he doesn’t play on Wednesday. But he played today for 90 minutes and I think he showed in that 90 minutes that he was ready to play.’

Liverpool are a bit short at centre-back with Konate still getting back up to pace and Joe Gomez out for a number of weeks with a hamstring injury he picked up against West Ham at the end of December.

The England international is Slot’s only serious fitness concern, though, as Dominik Szoboszlai missed the draw with Manchester United through illness but will not be sidelined for long.

The Reds have back-to-back cup matches as they got to Spurs on Wednesday and then host Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Slot’s side return to Premier League action when they host Nottingham Forest on Tuesday 14 January.

Arrow MORE: Gary Neville says Manchester United targeted Liverpool star at Anfield

Arrow MORE: Third Manchester United star decides to leave and has already agreed move

Fans have spotted the moment Wolves star Hwang Hee-chan helped goalkeeper Jose Sa save a penalty from Tottenham’s Son Heung-min.

The incredible incident occurred during the 2-2 Premier League draw between the two sides at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Hwang opened the scoring for Wolves – and after Spurs took the lead via Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson – Jorgen Strand Larsen equalised in the 87th minute to secure Vitor Pereira’s side a valuable point.

The result could’ve turned out differently had Hwang not pointed out to Sa exactly which way Son was going to shoot from his 43rd-minute penalty.

Eagled-eyed football supporters saw Hwang, from a distance, pointing for Sa to dive to his right, despite Spurs defender Radu Dragusin trying to get in front of the South Korean to block him from the goalkeeper’s view.

Portuguese goalkeeper Sa took the advice and it paid off as he made a save to his right to deny Son, who plays with Hwang at international level.

The incident has gone viral on social media with one football fan, Reddit user @coldnorth11, joking that ‘Hwang can probably never step foot on Korean soil again’.

‘Greatest betrayal since Judas,’ a second football fan, @Affectionate-Car-145, posted on Reddit.

‘Hwang will be invited to the next real life Squid Game,’ @Big-Bad-5405 added, making reference to the popular Korean TV show on Netflix.

@Visual_Fox5292 said: ‘I’m guessing Son won’t be letting Hwang take a penalty for South Korea anymore.

‘If I remember correctly, Hwang asked Son to take the penalty goal kick in the semi final of the Asian games not long ago.’

A fifth football supporter, @justk4y, pointed out that the ‘next national team training is gonna be interesting’.

Wolves are back in action on Monday when they host Nottingham Forest at Molineux.

Arrow MORE: Jarrod Bowen injury update as West Ham captain set for extended spell on sidelines

Arrow MORE: Manchester United star ‘agrees to leave’ in January as club crisis worsens

Wolves manager Vitor Pereira is hopeful that Matheus Cunha’s injury is not serious after the forward was subbed off at half-time against Tottenham.

Jorgen Strand Larsen scored a late equaliser as Wolves rescued a 2-2 away draw against Spurs to continue their impressive start under Pereira.

The Midlands club are now unbeaten in their last three games and and two points clear of the bottom three.

But there was some concern for Wolves on Sunday when Cunha was withdrawn at half-time in north London having picked up a knock in the first half.

The Brazillian has been the club’s shining light so far this season having nothched up ten goals and four assists in 19 Premier League games.

Wolves face a tricky fixture at home to in-form Nottingham Forest next Monday, but Pereira was hopeful that Cunha will have recovered physically to play his part having requested to come off at the weekend.

‘Cunha at half-time spoke with me and told me, ‘Coach I felt something during the first half and now I’m afraid to speed up. When I need to speed up or I need to make a sprint, I don’t feel confident for this. It’s better to stay out of the game’,’ the Wolves boss said after the game on Sunday.

‘He told me, and I respect that. I think it’s not serious.’

While the injury may not be too serious, the 25-year-old still faces the threat of a ban after he was charged with misconduct by the Football Association last week for his part in the bust-up after Wolves’ 2-1 defeat at home to Ipswich on December 14.

The incident occurred shortly after the full-time whistle as Cunha was seen pushing the Ipswich Town staff member in the face, which knocked off his glasses.

Despite being charged, Cunha has still been eligible to play in Wolves’ last three games while an outcome is considered by the FA.

More Trending

Speaking before their clash with Tottenham Pereira indicated that the club are expecting Cunha to receive a suspension.

‘We are trying to prepare other players because when it happens we must be ready with other players,’ the Wolves boss said.

‘They are working, they are doing good work, they are trying to understand the idea, the intention of what we want, with and without the ball, waiting for an opportunity.’

Wolves also face the possibility of losing Cunha in the transfer window, with Arsenal and Manchester United two clubs credited with interest in the in-form striker.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Arrow MORE: Chelsea eyeing £80m Premier League striker as Liam Delap transfer alternative

Arrow MORE: Chelsea join race to sign £76m Arsenal and Man Utd target in January transfer window

James Maddison has clapped back at a fan who criticised him for attending the World Darts Championship just hours after Tottenham’s frustrating draw with Wolves.

Maddison was a second-half substitute in north London on Sunday as Jorgen Strand Larsen’s late equaliser saw Wolves hold Spurs to a 2-2 draw.

The result stretches Tottenham’s winless run to three games and piles further pressure on Ange Postecoglou who are bereft of confidence and fit players.

Spurs fans booed their team off at full-time, and Maddison caught the ire of some again later that evening when he and teammate Brennan Johnson were spotted at Ally Pally watching the darts.

The English midfielder is known for his love of the sport, often performing a darts-themed celebration when he scores, but some fans were clearly not pleased at seeing their players out and smiling after a disappointing result.

Replying under a post of the England midfielder on the PDC’s Instagram account, one fan wrote: ‘U taking the p***? The form were(sic) in and U go to the darts?? Unacceptable.’

But Maddison was not a fan of the criticism and hit back at the fan, responding: ‘Shut up u wally’, along with a laughing emoji.

After a hectic Christmas period, Maddison and his Spurs teammates are set to be given a few days off to reset ahead of more key fixtures.

‘This is the first week where we don’t have a midweek game, so I think the whole group probably needs a couple of days just to get away from everything and recover,’ Postecoglou confirmed after Sunday’s draw.

‘It’ll do them good to have a couple of days to themselves with their families and give them a chance to recover mentally as much as physically.

More Trending

Tottenham host Newcastle first up in the New Year before their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool.

Spurs continue to struggle with plenty of injuries as the likes of Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Gugliemo Vicario, Ben Davies and Richarlison all missed the clash with Wolves.

And their issues worsened on Sunday when Destiny Udogie appeared to pick up a hamstring injury and was forced out of the game early in the second half.

‘Yeah, I think it was a hamstring,’ said the manager. ‘Again like I said, we’ve been relying on a core group of players because we just haven’t had the ability to rotate so at some point it was going to catch up with us. Unfortunately it caught up with Destiny.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Arrow MORE: Arsenal told Premier League star is ‘perfect replacement’ for Bukayo Saka

Arrow MORE: Is Ipswich Town vs Chelsea on TV today? Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injuries

Ange Postecoglou says he will ‘look for help’ to improve Tottenham’s form after a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Wolves on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors had taken the lead but Spurs bounced back and looked to be heading for a much-needed win after back-to-back league defeats.

However, Jorgen Strand-Larsen scored a late equaliser to delight the travelling fans and infuriate the Tottenham faithful in north London.

Spurs sit 11th in the Premier League table after the draw, with just seven wins from 19 games and the pressure is starting to really build on Postecoglou.

The Australian is currently the favourite to be the next Premier League manager to lose their job, with a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool reportedly crucial to his prospects.

He reiterated after the draw with Wolves that he is dealing with a number of injury concerns and thinks a short break over New Year will help his players.

However, he also says he must seek help to turn things around, although it is not clear how he intends to do that.

‘We’re asking a lot of a small core group of players,’ said the Spurs boss. ‘The whole group probably needs a couple of days to get away and recover.

‘It has been really intense for a core group of players. It will do them good to go away with their families to recover with their families mentally as much as physically.

‘I’ll just keep going, mate. We’ve got work to do and try to get some help for these players and our role is to try and give them everything we can, the support we can to perform at their best.’

It was an especially frustrating day out as Son Heung-min missed from the penalty spot, with Postecoglou adding: ‘It’s a disappointing outcome. Obviously we went a goal down but after that I felt we controlled the game. It wasn’t easy always to get openings but we did look pretty threatening every time we did get forward.

‘We scored a couple of goals, we obviously missed the penalty and then second half, I just thought we had some really big moments to kill the game off.’

Spurs are indeed struggling with plenty of injuries as the likes of Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Gugliemo Vicario, Ben Davies and Richarlison all missed the clash with Wolves.

Concerningly, Destiny Udogie also appeared to pick up a hamstring injury and was forced out of the game early in the second half.

‘Yeah, I think it was a hamstring,’ said the manager. ‘Again like I said, we’ve been relying on a core group of players because we just haven’t had the ability to rotate so at some point it was going to catch up with us. Unfortunately it caught up with Destiny.’

Tottenham are back in action at home to Newcastle on 4 January before the first leg against Liverpool four days later in north London.

Arrow MORE: Erling Haaland gives sweary post-match interview after Man City end nightmare run

Arrow MORE: ‘You are underperforming’ – Man Utd star told to leave club by Old Trafford flop

Ange Postecoglou’s position at Tottenham is no longer secure with the club to consider his future if they lose the Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

Spurs have failed to build on their good first season under Postecoglou, struggling to turn their entertaining performances into positive results.

Though only Liverpool have scored more goals in the Premier League, Tottenham currently sit 12th in the table, 11 points off the top-four.

They’ve won just three of their last 12 games across all competitions and lost four of their last five league matches, including 6-3 to Liverpool and 4-3 to Chelsea, both at home.

As such, Postecoglou now leads the Premier League sack race ahead of West Ham’s Julen Lopetegui and Everton boss Sean Dyche.

It was previously said that Tottenham’s hierarchy were fully backing the Australian manager, and the Daily Mail now report that his position is still safe for now, in part because of the performances in other competitions.

Spurs are through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, where they’ll take on the Reds over two legs and are well-placed to qualify for the Europa League last-16 providing they beat Hoffenheim and Elfsborg next month.

Additionally, the Lilywhites will begin their FA Cup campaign with a highly favourable draw against Non-League side Tamworth.

Postecoglou has a reputation for winning silverware in his second season with a team, and Tottenham chiefs are hopeful that streak continues as the club look to end their trophy drought which stretches back to 2008.

As such, the Mail’s report adds that failure to reach the Carabao Cup final could severely impact the 59-year-old’s future in north London, especially if their league form does not improve.

It is acknowledged that injuries are contributing massively to Tottenham’s poor form, with no centre-back’s available for Sunday’s game against Wolves.

More Trending

‘We’re in a tough spot and have been for a while,’ Postecoglou said in his pre-match press conference.

‘We’ve been getting through it for quite a while now and keeping fingers crossed that we don’t get more issues but the nature of football and fixture scheduling we’ve had means we’ve always been on a fine line of being able to get through.

‘It’s another test for us but whatever we need to deal with, we’ll deal with and get ready for Sunday.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Arrow MORE: Lukasz Fabianski injury latest ahead of West Ham vs Liverpool

Arrow MORE: Man City ‘ready to trigger £50m release clause’ of dream Arsenal signing

Chelsea and Tottenham are locked in a transfer race to sign Denmark international star Patrick Dorgu from Lecce, according to reports.

Dorgu is thought to be at the top of Spurs’ wishlist for the January transfer window amid the left-back’s impressive performances for Lecce in Serie A.

Spurs have been dealt a blow, though, with the Daily Express stating that the 20-year-old is now reportedly being watched by Chelsea scouts.

Manchester United have also been linked with a move for Dorgu – who is likely to cost around £50m – according to CaughtOffside.

The same outlet reports that Chelsea are currently ahead in the race to land Dorgu’s signature.

Dorgu, born in Copenhagen, was called up to the senior Denmark national team for the first time earlier this season and has earned four caps to date.

He joined Lecce’s academy from Danish club FC Nordsjælland in 2022 and has been with the Italian side ever since.

Dorgu has played 52 matches for Lecce to date across all competitions, with the team currently sat 14th in the top-flight of Italian football.

His current contract runs until 2029 – which does not include a release clause – meaning Lecce are able to hold out for a sizeable fee.

Spurs will be kicking themselves that they did not move sooner for Dorgu, having been linked with the player last summer.

Dorgu was also linked to Liverpool earlier this year, but a move never materialised.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca rates Dorgu highly because of his versatility and ability to play in both defence and midfield.

Maresca has raised concerns over Chelsea’s defence on a number of occasions this term, using it as a reason why they are not title challengers.

Arrow MORE: Rasmus Hojlund hits back at Man Utd fan after ‘disturbing’ online criticism

Arrow MORE: Declan Rice claims ‘ridiculous’ Arsenal academy star was built in a lab

The agent of Manchester United winger Antony confirmed that multiple clubs are interested in signing the Brazilian but suggested the club have no intention of parting ways in the January transfer window.

Antony arrived at United with weighty expectations on his shoulders back in 2022, with the winger following Erik ten Hag from Ajax to Old Trafford in an eye-watering £82million move.

But the 24-year-old has so far flattered to deceive with the Red Devils, managing just five league goals across two-and-a-half underwhelming seasons in the north west.

The winger started just his second game under new boss Ruben Amorim against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup but was hooked after just 55 minutes with his side 3-0 down away from home.

Amorim is likely to be given the chance to reshape his squad in the coming windows, with Antony one of the names mooted for an exit when the transfer window opens next week.

And the Brazillian’s agent has now confirmed that several clubs are interested in exploring a move for his client in the New Year.

‘Yes, many clubs have approached us for Antony’s move in January,’ Junior Pedroso told GiveMeSport. ‘These clubs wanted to understand the situation for Antony, so I can confirm that there’s concrete interest.’

Despite interest in the winger, however, Pedroso said that United had given him no indications that they are ready to sell Antony in the upcoming window.

‘To be fair, Manchester United have never expressed any interest to sell or loan out Antony to us,’ he said.

‘We never received this sort of communication so far. Man United management never told us that they want Antony to leave, despite the reports we see around about our client.’

Antony’s agent continued: ‘I can say that Antony’s future is very much tied to Manchester United’s interests.

‘If the club thinks it would be a good idea to loan Antony out in January so he can get more minutes and regain his trust, we will work together on that option.

‘Otherwise, Antony is working hard to regain his place and show his best skills under the new coach Ruben Amorim.’

While Antony’s future at the club still appears uncertain, others, including former Premier League striker Troy Deeney, have been more forthright with their assertion that Antony needs to be moved on in the upcoming window.

More Trending

‘They’ve got to cut ties with him,’ Deeney said of the Brazillian on CBS Sports in the wake of United’s loss to Spurs in the Carabao Cup last week.

‘I don’t want to make him the scapegoat but, honestly, watching him is so frustrating. This is your big moment.

‘He doesn’t run, he doesn’t sprint… just get him out.

‘If you’re getting rid of Marcus Rashford, whoever is taking him, we’ll pay you to take him [Antony] as well. Get him out the club.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Arrow MORE: Chelsea make transfer decision over Raheem Sterling ahead of January window

Arrow MORE: ‘I made my Man Utd debut under Alex Ferguson – now I’m 32 and work as a postman’

Former Chelsea boss Graham Potter has become the ‘favourite’ to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, a Betfair spokesperson has claimed.

Spurs head coach Postecoglou currently remains in his role but is under huge pressure after Sunday’s 6-3 defeat to Liverpool in north London.

That result has seen bookmakers Betfair make Postecoglou the new second-favourite to become the next top-flight manager to face the sack.

‘Following Tottenham’s 6-3 defeat against Liverpool on Sunday, Ange Postecoglou is now the 3/1 second-favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave their role, having previously been 14/1 to go next,’ Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said.

‘Looking at who could be the next permanent Spurs boss, Graham Potter is the 2/1 favourite, with Eddie Howe 9/1 and Brendan Rodgers 12/1 to take over at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.’

Potter, linked to the Manchester United job before Ruben Amorim arrived, has been out of work since he was sacked by Chelsea in April 2023.

The Englishman was hired after his heroics at Brighton but lasted less than seven months in charge at Stamford Bridge after losing the dressing room.

Postecoglou, meanwhile, was left incredibly frustrated in his post-match interview on Sunday after Spurs’ painful 6-3 home defeat to Liverpool.

The result leaves Spurs 11th in the Premier League table at Christmas in what has been a disappointing season so far under the Australian.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Postecoglou said: ‘It’s obviously a painful one for us. Credit to Liverpool, they were too good for us. They’re in a great moment, great form, feeling confident. It was a bridge too far for us. We looked like we lacked energy, which is understandable.’

Asked about the various injuries that were impacting his team’s form, an angry Postecoglou added: ‘I’m just going to stop answering these questions.

‘If people can’t see the obvious, I’m not going to point it out. Make of it what you want, yes we’re conceding goals.

‘If you want to discount the fact we’re missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back and that hasn’t coincided with what we’re doing… I don’t know what to say anymore. I think people make up their minds in their own way. They either think what I’m doing is good or bad, and that’s fine.

‘It’s fairly significant, if you took out Liverpool’s goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back – or any team other than Liverpool – they’d find it tough going as well.’

Arrow MORE: Arsenal vs Ipswich Town: TV channel, team news, predicted lineup and injuries

Arrow MORE: The games Bukayo Saka could miss as Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal star is out for ‘many weeks’