The Independent

The decisive day may finally have arrived for Liverpool as they seek the point they need to secure a second Premier League title.

An outstanding first season under Arne Slot has seen them establish a dominant advantage at the top of the table, and Liverpool will be crowned champions in front of their home fans at Anfield provided they avoid defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. Having been denied the chance to celebrate their breakthrough success under Jurgen Klopp in 2020 due to Covid, the city should be fit to burst if Slot’s side do get over the line with several games to spare.

Hoping to delay the inevitable are Spurs, guided by a boyhood Liverpool fan. Ange Postecoglou insisted that those loyalties are long gone as he looked ahead to this game, with the Australian looking to spoil the title party - though the manager will no doubt have half-an-eye on next week’s Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, too.

A draw will be enough for Liverpool to win the Premier League for a second time

The decisive day may finally have arrived for Liverpool as they seek the point they need to secure a second Premier League title.

An outstanding first season under Arne Slot has seen them establish a dominant advantage at the top of the table, and Liverpool will be crowned champions in front of their home fans at Anfield provided they avoid defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. Having been denied the chance to celebrate their breakthrough success under Jurgen Klopp in 2020 due to Covid, the city should be fit to burst if Slot’s side do get over the line with several games to spare.

Hoping to delay the inevitable are Spurs, guided by a boyhood Liverpool fan. Ange Postecoglou insisted that those loyalties are long gone as he looked ahead to this game, with the Australian looking to spoil the title party - though the manager will no doubt have half-an-eye on next week’s Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, too.

Follow all of the latest from Anfield with our live blog below:

When would Liverpool lift the trophy?

Even if the Reds get the result they need today, they won’t be lifting the Premier League trophy at Anfield.

Instead, Arne Slot’s side will have to wait until the final matchday of the season to lift the trophy – they play Crystal Palace at home on 25 May.

Chris Wilson27 April 2025 14:25

Head-to-head

These two sides have met a total of 186 times in the past, with Liverpool winning 92, Spurs winning 50 and 44 ending as draws.

They have met three times this season already too, with Liverpool winning 6-3 in the reverse fixture in December before beating Spurs 4-1 on aggregate in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Chris Wilson27 April 2025 14:12

John Barnes believes ‘the character of the squad’ has taken Liverpool to title

Former Liverpool winger John Barnes believes character rather than quality has been the difference in this season’s Premier League title race.

Arne Slot’s side need just a draw to win a second title in five years as only two league defeats all season has left them 12 points clear with five matches remaining.

Barnes won two league titles with the club and was a member of the 1990 side which was the last to win the championship before a 30-year wait was ended by Jurgen Klopp and he sees similarities with the team of his era.

John Barnes believes ‘the character of the squad’ has taken Liverpool to title

Arne Slot’s side need just a point to win a second title in five years.

Chris Wilson27 April 2025 14:00

Match facts

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 15 home games against Tottenham in all competitions (W11, D4), winning the last three while scoring four goals each time.

Tottenham have won just two of the last 24 Premier League meetings against Liverpool (D6, L16), with both victories coming at home.

Chris Wilson27 April 2025 13:45

Will Jurgen Klopp attend Liverpool’s final Premier League game of the season?

Officially, there has been no word yet from Liverpool that Klopp will be at Anfield when they lift the Premier League trophy on Sunday 25 May.

But it seems very much possible.

Klopp, 57, will return to the city two days prior, as a guest speaker at the LFC Foundation’s annual Gala Ball on Friday 23 May. The German is an honorary ambassador for the club’s official charity.

He will attend the black tie event at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, with the prospect of him staying in the city over the weekend for the title celebrations a possibility.

Will Jurgen Klopp attend Liverpool’s final Premier League game of the season?

The Reds will lift the Premier League trophy after the match against Crystal Palace on 25 May

Chris Wilson27 April 2025 13:30

When could Liverpool win the Premier League?

So, one more point would be enough for Liverpool to seal the title, meaning they will win the Premier League if they draw or win against Spur today.

Liverpool’s next game after Tottenham is a trip to Chelsea on Sunday 4 May, followed by facing Arsenal at Anfield on 11 May. The Reds could therefore receive guard of honour at Stamford Bridge and from the Gunners at Anfield in the next few weeks.

Chris Wilson27 April 2025 13:20

What do Liverpool need to win the Premier League title today?

Liverpool are within touching distance of securing the Premier Leaguetitle but Arsenal’s draw with Crystal Palace on Wednesday night delayed the victory parade until at least the weekend.

Had the Gunners lost, then the title would mathematically have been heading to Anfield but, despite Jean-Philippe Mateta’s sublime finish snatching a 2-2 draw for Palace, Arsenal narrowed the gap to 12 points with four games to go.

Liverpool’s victory over Leicester City last weekend had moved that advantage to 13 points but as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners got marginally closer to Arne Slot’s side, one more point is still required for the Reds to make mathematically certain.

Chris Wilson27 April 2025 13:15

Arne Slot vows to make up for Liverpool’s ‘Covid title’ by winning Premier League in front of packed Anfield

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot admits his side have a big responsibility to fans to win the Premier League at Anfield.

Five years ago Jurgen Klopp’s team lifted the trophy in an empty stadium due to Covid restrictions, having won a first title in 30 years by 18 points.

Although there were celebrations outside the ground – both on the night they were confirmed as champions after Manchester City lost at Chelsea when Liverpool were not even playing, and the final game of the season – there was no victory parade for fans to show their appreciation.

Slot wants Liverpool to win Premier League title in front of packed Anfield

Liverpool last lifted the trophy five years ago in an empty stadium due to Covid restrictions, their firsr title in 30 years

Chris Wilson27 April 2025 13:05

Former Liverpool fan Ange Postecoglou hoping to spoil Anfield title party

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou insists he has moved on from his "boyhood" crush on Liverpool as he targets being a party pooper at Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool can clinch the title with a point at home to Spurs, who could equal their tally of most defeats in a Premier League season if they lose for a 19th time in the division this weekend.

Postecoglou's primary focus is on next week's Europa League semi-final first leg tie with Bodo/Glimt but the Australian was asked about his previous affinity to the Merseyside club ahead of a potentially pivotal day for Arne Slot's team.

Former Liverpool fan Ange Postecoglou hoping to spoil Anfield title party

The Tottenham manager was a boyhood supporter of the Merseyside club but insists those loyalties are long gone

Chris Wilson27 April 2025 12:55

Is the match on TV?

When is Liverpool vs Tottenham?

Liverpool vs Tottenham is due to kick off at 4.30pm BST on Sunday, 27 April at Anfield.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with build-up starting at 4pm, straight after the Bournemouth vs Man Utd game.

Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action at Anfield on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass hereto watch without a subscription.

Chris Wilson27 April 2025 12:45

Liverpool need just one point to secure the Premier League title as they host Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Arne Slot’s side are on the brink of their second league title in five years, following Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace in midweek. The Reds only need to avoid defeat against an out-of-form Spurs team to guarantee the 2024/25 title.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late winner last weekend at Leicester took them a step closer to an unassailable lead. A second Premier League title would draw them level with Manchester United in English top-flight league titles, at 20.

Spurs, meanwhile, are a lowly 16th in the Premier League table and have lost four of their last five league games, including a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday. Ange Postecoglou’s side are, however, in the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they face Bodo/Glimt in their first-leg on Thursday.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Premier League clash.

Liverpool vs Tottenham is due to kick off at 4.30pm BST on Sunday, 27 April at Anfield.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with build-up starting at 4pm, straight after the Bournemouth vs Man Utd game.

Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action at Anfield on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will be pushing to start after returning from injury last week with a match-winning goal at Leicester.

Joe Gomez is a long-term absentee. Other than that, Slot should have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Tottenham captain Heung-min Son missed the game against Forest due to a long-running ankle/foot injury. With Spurs’ biggest tie of the season to come in Europe, it seems unlikely that Postecoglou would recall the South Korean at Anfield.

Centre-back Radu Dragusin is another long-term absentee.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Diaz, Salah, Jota

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven; Spence; Bentancur, Bergvall, Maddison; Johnson, Richarlison, Solanke

Liverpool win 1/4

Draw 5/1

Tottenham win 17/4

It all comes down to this: Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn meet in a grudge match tonight, more than two years after they were first due to fight – and over 30 years after their fathers last clashed.

In 1990, Eubank Sr stopped Nigel Benn, who fought his rival to a draw in their 1993 rematch. Now, the sons square off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in a unique extension of their fathers’ feud. And there is genuine bad blood between Eubank Jr and Benn, with the former taking great issue with his opponent’s adverse drug-test findings in 2022, which thwarted their planned bout that year.

Benn, 28, was subsequently suspended in Britain but fought twice in the US, staying unbeaten and finally being cleared to box on home soil in late 2024. Meanwhile, 35-year-old Eubank Jr has competed three times since, trading stoppage wins with Liam Smith and TKOing Kamil Szeremeta more recently.

Tonight, Benn fights two weights above his usual division, as he meets Eubank Jr at middleweight, although the latter was heavily fined for a minor weigh-in miss and also had a rehydration clause to battle; but he weighed-in under the 170lb allowance this morning. While Eubank Jr was fined £375,000, he is expected to make over £10m tonight, with Benn reportedly earning closer to £7m.

All aspects make for a huge night for British boxing, as the rivals top a stacked card in London. What’s more: Nigel will be in his son’s corner, and despite Sr’s strained relationship with Jr, the latter arrived in a last-minute plot twist – despite vowing to boycott the bout. Follow live updates and results from Eubank Jr vs Benn and the undercard fights, below. Purchase the event on DAZN here.

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn LIVE

Round three

Better jabbing start from Eubank but then BANG! The first major breakthrough of the fight!

Benn connects with a great one-two that knocks Eubank back. You could see it register on the 35-year-old’s face, that hurt.

Benn goes again with the overhand right, wayward this time. But it’s Eubank who finishes the stronger, landing a stiff right to the body in response to a round that was surely Benn’s, who is growing in confidence.

Will Castle26 April 2025 22:31

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn LIVE

Round two

Benn’s corner emphasising the fact the first round is out the way. Feels he’s going to grow in confidence from here on in.

Referee calls a brief pause to make it absolutely clear that he wants no punches when the pair are called to break.

Eubank lands with a left-hand low but it opens him up to a right from Benn, which knocks him back a bit. Jr keeps going for the jab but isn’t having much luck with it so far.

Right hook from Benn who is continuing to dive in with big shots, evoking a big reaction from the crowd. Benn then gets into good range and tries to left hand go, but can’t connect.

Bell rings and Eubank says something to Benn on the way to his corner. We are two down.

Will Castle26 April 2025 22:27

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn LIVE

Round one

BELL RINGS, WE ARE UNDERWAY!

The referee insists Eubank comes back to the centre and touches gloves. But here we go.

Eubank looks for the right hand early on but it’s Benn who’s aggressing. Wild left flies over as Eubank tries to whip in a long uppercut.

Benn once again shoots with a massive left but doesn’t connect. Sharp start from both guys as they try and find their range. They’re fighting in the middle of the ring, we’re getting the tear-up we were promised.

Final minute of the first, lots of upper body movement from Benn but Eubank connects with a left hook to the head. Benn is going for some huge overhands but isn’t getting close enough.

Plenty thrown, not much landed.

Will Castle26 April 2025 22:22

Michael Buffer makes sure Nigel and Chris Sr get their flowers

Michael Buffer honours Nigel Benn and and Chris Eubank Sr, who get a rousing ovation from the 65,000 in attendance.

Time for the introductions. This is electric.

“LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEEE!”

Will Castle26 April 2025 22:17

Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn share a moment

This is a great scene.

Chris Eubank Sr is in the ring with Nigel Benn and greets Conor with a big hug before the two bruisers are unleashed. Conor doesn’t reciprocate the gesture as much, he’s clearly locked in.

In fact, he’s standing dead middle of the ring and staring down Eubank Jr - he has to be pulled back to his corner by his team.

Will Castle26 April 2025 22:13

Here comes Chris Eubank Jr

Still in awe that Chris Sr is a part of this. He ties up his son’s fur robe and follows him into the cauldron.

“Simply The Best” is the song that plays over the speaker - the same his dad used to use.

However, his welcome is not exactly a positive one. Not even the presence of Sr has stopped the boos from raining in.

Eubank Jr, nevertheless, is relishing his role as villain. And either way, this is a walkout for the ages.

Will Castle26 April 2025 22:09

Conor Benn comes out to the same song his dad did, over three decades ago

There’s big-fight feel.

Conor Benn is being sung out by a choir to the tune of “Ready Or Not”.

And it’s the same track his father walked to the ring with, over three decades ago, that he comes out to. So much history.

Legacy is on the line. Can he do what his Nigel couldn’t and beat a Eubank?

Will Castle26 April 2025 22:05

Michael Buffer steps into the spotlight

“Let’s get this party started.”

The legendary Michael Buffer is upon us. The national anthem has been belted out, time for ringwalks.

First up, Conor Benn.

Will Castle26 April 2025 22:01

Raucous atmosphere as main-event ring walks loom

It’s cold in the stadium, but the crowd is warming up now. An impassioned rendition of “Sweet Caroline” rings out, meaning the ring walks for the main event are imminent. Don’t go anywhere.

Alex Pattle26 April 2025 21:54

Chris Eubank Sr speaks on shock arrival: 'I love my son'

Who would’ve expected this a few hours ago?!

Will Castle26 April 2025 21:52

Follow live coverage as Tottenham Hotspur face Nottingham Forest today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.

The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.

Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:

Liveupdated

Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest LIVE: Team news as visitors continue top-four push in Premier League

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are looking to get back on track after consecutive defeats

Nottingham Forest will hope to return to form as they continue their chase for a Champions League place with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been the Premier League’s surprise package in this campaign but have had their chances of a top-five finish imperilled by consecutive league defeats. With an FA Cup semi-final to come next weekend, Forest will hope to produce a strong end to the season and ensure a campaign to remember translates into truly tangible success.

Spurs are also still in the hunt for a trophy, though domestic matters are now clearly not the priority after an impressive Europa League win in midweek. Victory at Eintracht Frankfurt has staved off the sack for Ange Postecoglou - perhaps temporarily - but their lowly place in the Premier League is a matter that the Australian will wish to improve.

Follow all of the latest from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with our live blog below:

How Liverpool can win the title this week

A hectic chase for top-five places is rather keeping the interest alive in an otherwise undramatic Premier League season. Things are all but settled at the bottom of the table while Liverpool, who really have been outstanding this year, could sew up the title as soon as Wednesday night:

How Liverpool can win the Premier League on Wednesday

The Reds are comfortably clear of second-placed Arsenal

Harry Latham-Coyle21 April 2025 18:30

How a crushing defeat to Aston Villa exposed Newcastle’s biggest weakness in the fight for top four

Nottingham Forest would climb above Newcastle tonight with a win, with the Magpies far from assured of the top-five finish they looked to be powering towards after that Aston Villa defeat. Richard Jolly explores the key weakness exposed in that encounter and why it could be important...

How a crushing defeat to Aston Villa exposed Newcastle’s biggest weakness

Newcastle’s 4-1 hammering by Aston Villa left them exposed with Champions League qualification on the line

Harry Latham-Coyle21 April 2025 18:15

Champions League dream still alive for Chelsea after Pedro Neto heroics

Things were rather less emphatic for Chelsea, but a last-gasp success against Fulham has left Nottingham Forest out of the top five entering tonight’s fixture.

Champions League dream still alive for Chelsea after Pedro Neto heroics

Fulham 1-2 Chelsea: Pedro Neto salvaged an injury-time winner for the Champions League-chasing Blues in a west London derby

Harry Latham-Coyle21 April 2025 18:00

Aston Villa show off their key advantage to ignite Champions League charge

...while Aston Villa were the weekend’s big winners, throwing a rival off course in Newcastle as Unai Emery’s men seek back-to-back appearances in Europe’s top tier.

Aston Villa show off their key advantage to ignite Champions League charge

Aston Villa 4-1 Newcastle: Ollie Watkins ran the show as impressive and in-form Villa pulled away in the second half to give their Champions League hopes a big boost

Harry Latham-Coyle21 April 2025 17:55

Champions League chase in focus

Those comments from Nuno came, however, before Manchester City found an unlikely hero to bolster their hopes...

Man City find huge Champions League boost from unlikely source

Everton 0-2 Man City: Nico O’Reilly fired Pep Guardiola’s side in front late on at Goodison Park

Harry Latham-Coyle21 April 2025 17:50

Nuno Espirito Santo believes Champions League qualification is in Forest’s hands

The chase for five Champions League places is hotting up as the top of Premier League table condenses. Speaking after Nottingham Forest’s defeat to Everton, Nuno Espirito Santo stressed that his side’s fate was still firmly in their hands.

Nuno Espirito Santo believes Champions League qualification is in Forest’s hands

Forest were well below their best and suffered a first home defeat since November.

Harry Latham-Coyle21 April 2025 17:40

No Son Heung Min for Spurs

Absent in Frankfurt, there will be no Son Heung Min tonight for Spurs, either, with the Tottenham skipper being given time to recover from a foot injury

Tottenham taking care of Son as they focus on European glory

The South Korean missed Thursday’s victory at Eintracht Frankfurt with a foot injury.

Harry Latham-Coyle21 April 2025 17:25

Early team news - Nottingham Forest

Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi continue to be doubts for Forest and Alex Moreno is set to continue at left-back. Antony Elanga is expected to return up front for Jota Silva.

Flo Clifford21 April 2025 17:20

Early team news - Tottenham

There were worrying signs for Spurs against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night as James Maddison went down heavily in a head-first collision with opposition keeper Kaua Santos, before coming off shortly before half-time clutching his hip.

However, Ange Postecoglou appeared satisfied there was no lasting injury to the midfielder and he’s expected to be included today.

But Radu Dragusin remains a long-term injury absentee and captain Son Heung-Min will miss the game due to a foot injury.

Flo Clifford21 April 2025 17:15

Ange Postecoglou basks in Frankfurt triumph: ‘You’re going to have to put up with me for a bit longer’

It’s been a strange period for the Tottenham boss, the sack perhaps looming but his promise of a second-season success still, just about, on the cards. He seems to be enjoying his back-and-forth with the press...

Postecoglou: ‘You’re going to have to put up with me for a bit longer’

Dominic Solanke’s 43rd-minute penalty earned Spurs a 2-1 aggregate win over Eintracht Frankfurt

Harry Latham-Coyle21 April 2025 17:10

Liveupdated

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham LIVE: Team news as Spurs look to progress to Europa League semi-finals

The quarter-final is nicely poised at 1-1 entering the second leg in Germany

Tottenham Hotspur will hope to continue their Europa League journey and retain hope of salvaging their season as they take on Eintracht Frankfurt.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have endured a dismal domestic campaign and were dealt another blow by Wolves between the two legs of this quarter-final tie, but remain in the mix in Europe. A 1-1 home draw is not as strong a position as Spurs would have liked to have taken to Germany, particularly having had the better of their home half of the encounter after Hugo Ekitike’s early goal.

A win in Frankfurt will be required to reach the last four, but it will not come easily. The hosts are having a strong season in the Bundesliga and boast a good recent record in this competition, with Eintracht looking to set up a semi-final against either Bodo/Glimt or Lazio as they bid to emulate their 2022 triumph.

Follow all of the latest from Frankfurt with our live blog below:

Eintracht Frankfurt 0-0 Tottenham

Johnson gives away a free-kick in a very dangerous area. Gotze curls in a good delivery but Romero heads it behind.

Flo Clifford17 April 2025 20:05

Eintracht Frankfurt 0-0 Tottenham

Van de Ven brings Ekitike to ground in a tangle of legs, but no foul is given.

Flo Clifford17 April 2025 20:03

KICK-OFF: Eintracht Frankfurt 0-0 Tottenham

The whistle goes and the visitors get us underway!

Flo Clifford17 April 2025 20:01

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham

The teams are walking out onto the sodden pitch now on a wet night in front of a hostile Frankfurt crowd. Nearly ready for kick-off...

Can Spurs secure a famous win on the road?

Flo Clifford17 April 2025 19:58

Line-ups

A reminder of tonight’s teams:

Eintracht Frankfurt XI: Santos, Kristensen, Kock, Tuta, Theate, Skhiri, Larsson, Bahoya, Gotze, Brown, Ekitike.

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Bergvall, Maddison, Johnson, Solanke, Tel.

Flo Clifford17 April 2025 19:55

Nearly time for kick-off

Ten minutes to go at the Deutsche Bank Park.

Can Tottenham salvage their season with a rare win away from home?

Or will Eintracht Frankfurt secure a third Europa League semi-final, and pile even more pressure on the London side?

Flo Clifford17 April 2025 19:50

Who next?

The winner of this tie will face the winner of Lazio vs Bodo/Glimt, which also kicks off at 8pm.

The Norwegian side have a 2-0 lead from last week’s opening leg.

On the other side of the draw, Manchester United are in action against Lyon and in a similar situation to Tottenham having drawn 2-2 at home last week.

They’ll face the winner of Athletic Club vs Rangers, which was goalless at Ibrox in the first leg.

Flo Clifford17 April 2025 19:45

Son Heung-Min to miss tonight's tie

For those surprised to see Son Heung-Min out of the squad for this fixture, the Tottenham captain has been hampered by a foot injury in recent weeks and stayed at home as a result.

“Sonny didn't travel,” Postecoglou said on Wednesday. “He's been battling with a foot problem. It's got too painful so we made a decision to leave him at home.

“Sonny tried really hard. We left him out at the weekend to try to allow him time to recover but he couldn't make it. We've had these challenges like this all year, this is just another.”

Flo Clifford17 April 2025 19:40

Ange Postecoglou has 'no idea' if he'll remain Spurs boss by summer

Much of the discussion of Tottenham’s season has centred on the fate of manager Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian has had a fractious relationship with fans this season and has suffered a major injury crisis, but even with the majority of his first team back and fully fit, the performances have yet to really improve.

Quizzed on Wednesday about whether he’ll still be in the dugout by the end of the season, he said, “No, no idea”.

“We have a game tomorrow night, but it's not something I need to think about. I've never thought about those things in terms of what is important.

“What is important is the game that's a massive opportunity for this group of players and this football club to get closer to achieving what everyone wants to achieve.”

Flo Clifford17 April 2025 19:35

Eintracht Frankfurt look to make history

The hosts are looking to become just the third team to reach three or more Europa League semi-finals, having previously reached the last four in 2018-19 and 2021-22 - when they went on to lift the trophy.

Only Sevilla (five semi-finals) and Manchester United (three, although they would move up to four with victory over Lyon in tonight’s second leg) have reached that mark.

Flo Clifford17 April 2025 19:25

Tottenham Hotspur may not have the lead in this Europa League quarter-final, but they do have a sense of life. They were much the better team against an awkward but uninspired Eintracht Frankfurt, in a 1-1 home draw that could have gone much worse.

Ange Postecoglou can tell his players they have the winning of this tie even in Frankfurt. He himself might say that would make a difference from the rest of the talk around Spurs of late. There’s a bit of hope, and spirit. They’re alive in a competition that can yet save the manager’s job and the season, when the campaign has seemed moribund.

Pedro Porro instead personified a spirit of revival, recovering from his own error for Hugo Ekitike’s fine opening strike to score a brilliant goal of his own. James Maddison cut the ball back, for Poro to flick the ball in with his heel. It was the vintage Lee Sharpe, or Gianfranco Zola, depending on when you want to hark back to.

In truth, the quality of the goals belonged to a match other than this one. For all that it might be easy to carp about the level of the sides and these Europa League quarter-finals, the context matters.

It would have been very easy for Spurs to implode after Ekitike’s goal. After months of noise and doubt, that led to the manager openly talking about his own future before the game, the excuse was there for the stadium and the team to just deflate.

That didn’t happen. There was a response, and a show of some resilience. The crowd did initially rally to all of the pre-game imagery of Spurs’ success in this competition in 1982 and 1984. There was some sense of occasion, which made the timing of Ekitike’s strike all the worse.

Spurs then showed some of their best qualities, if not quite their best possible performance. There was still something lacking, not least that key second goal.

Spurs did have the best chances by some distance, and were the superior side. While sitting off might have been a tactic from Frankfurt, Postecoglou’s side made them much more uncomfortable than they might have anticipated. Frankfurt were dependent on a series of saves from the impressive Kaua Santos to keep the score down, especially amid a second-half flurry. One acrobatic effort from a Son Heung-Min shot was spectacular.

That was still almost surpassed by one of his very last acts. With Spurs looking to make good on so much pressure, and striving for what would have been a deserved winner, Rodrigo Bentancur headed the ball back across goal for Micky van de Ven to arrive. The defender didn’t quite get the connection he wanted, but it almost seemed like it could be fortuitous as the ball bounced up off the ground and looked set to drop into the net… only for Kaua Santos to again use his agility to touch it over the crossbar.

Postecoglou had his head in his hands.

It wasn’t all about the goalkeeper’s ability, mind. There was also just blind luck, especially for a Lucas Bergvall heat seeker of an effort in the second half. The midfielder turned near the centre to unleash a rising true drive that just cannoned off the crossbar. It would have been one of the goals of Spurs’ season.

It was also among the precious little quality on show. Frankfurt didn’t have much beyond their forward. You can see why Ekitike is being hailed as one of the brightest talents in world football, and why almost every major club wants to get in there before any of their rivals. He has that striker’s quality that is at such a premium in the world game, as illustrated with the way he suddenly let fly for the game’s first goal.

It wasn’t even that much of an opening, despite the typical sloppiness in Spurs’ backline. Yes, Porro slipped and the rest of Postecoglou’s defence gave the 22-year-old plenty of space. There was still a lot to do, but Ekitike exceeded it. The forward wrapped a drive low into Guglielmo Vicario’s bottom corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

There is an oddity to Frankfurt, though, that should embolden Spurs. They have this immense talent, but don’t exactly maximise it. So much of their game is based on waiting, which leaves Ekitike doing a lot of running.

When he finally got another chance towards the second half - after yet another Porro slip - he hit a tame effort right at Vicario. There is still some developing to do.

There’s still almost an entire tie to play. It’s as you were, but where Spurs have shown they might just have a bit more.

Tottenham host Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash on Thursday evening with pressure mounting on manager Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs are enduring a difficult season in the Premier League and sit 14th with just seven matches left to play. They have lost 16 of their league games this year though ended a run of back-to-back defeats with a 3-1 win over Southampton last time out.

In Europe they have fared much better. They finished fourth in the league phase after five wins from eight before defeating AZ Alkmaar 3-2 on aggregate to reach this round.

In comparison, Eintracht Frankfurt finished fifth in the table, one point below Spurs, and cruised past Ajax 6-2 in the last-16. They sit third in the Bundesliga though are 20 points behind leaders Bayern Munich and will have their sights set on winning this tournament.

At Tottenham Hotspur, there’s a familiar tone. Ange Postecoglou had attempted a call to arms as the club gets closer to a first trophy since 2008, but not even he could resist sparking discussion about his own immediate future.

A press conference that started with the Spurs manager talking about having to “make the most” of a Europa League quarter-final evolved into Postecoglou volunteering references to articles discussing whether he would go regardless, and even name-checking journalists. The generous interpretation of this is that it is classic siege mentality amid a difficult period for the team. Except, most of the difficulty has been around the manager’s performance. It’s not about the players, it’s him, and when a coach starts getting involved in debates about his own media coverage it isn’t a good sign.

That may feel unfair, and it’s hard not to have sympathy with someone facing such harsh discussions about themselves, but it is the reality of elite football.

There is of course one way to make a statement that matters. That is to win games, and particularly a crunch match like a Europa League quarter-final against a fine Eintracht Frankfurt side.

Three of Tottenham’s eight wins across 20 games of 2025 so far may have come in the Europa League, but performances haven’t exactly been encouraging. The narrow aggregate victory over a moderate Dutch side like AZ Alkmaar almost ended up causing more alarms, because of the nature of the display.

For a long time this season, it was easy to understand Spurs’ form, because Postecoglou had endured several injuries and the squad wasn’t exactly stacked. Notional rivals like Aston Villa and Newcastle United had surpassed them in their wage bill. Postecoglou himself would bring up the injuries all the time.

Except, now that players like Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are back, results and performances have stayed at the same level. It is as if the poor form from earlier in the season has had such a profound effect, and caused so many more issues, that the manager is now struggling to work his way out of it.

Except, some of the more critical voices around Spurs would say this goes much further back than injuries. They would point to how points return has plummeted from Postecoglou’s first 10 games. The optimism that airy period created now feels such a remove from what is going on now.

For all the emotion that has come into this, there are rational explanations.

Postecoglou was attempting to educate Spurs in a totally new ideology, that was a complete change from the tactical philosophies of all of the previous three managers. This can take time and those who work in coaching circles often talk about how it is comparable to any educational process. There is an immediate uplift from the initial impact – roughly a 10-game period – until a deeper immersion in a next stage brings more inconsistency and difficulties.

Pep Guardiola endured exactly this in his first season at Manchester City. One difference was that he started to right it. Those at Spurs might fairly say this was aided by over £200m of expenditure in his next summer, but Guardiola started to see progress before that. Postecoglou has not.

The inability to keep a Champions League place ahead of Aston Villa, especially in a season where Manchester United plummeted, was arguably one of the biggest checks against him.

And there are many parallels with United under their then-manager Erik ten Hag, right up to how a trophy might change Postecoglu’s future.

Ten Hag had attempted to introduce a new style to United, and did create an early feel-good phase with promising league form and a League Cup. He then endured a spate of injuries, with many sources questioning his training methods, and constantly got drawn into debates about that. And by the time he got players back, it was like Ten Hag couldn’t escape the funk that United had been drawn into. Even cup progress seemed to perpetuate the problem, as the FA Cup semi-final victory over Coventry City was so fortunate and unconvincing.

And then something changed. Ten Hag leaned into some of the better aspects of his time – including a willingness to listen to staff on tactics – to produce an inspired performance against Manchester City and win the FA Cup.

It is eminently possible Postecoglou can do similar. You don’t even need to go to the extremes of Ten Hag and United for countless examples of struggling teams who just find something different amid the self-contained magic of European nights. It has happened over the road in London, at both Arsenal and Chelsea.

Postecoglou, for his part, pointed to the importance of the crowd in that.

“With every European game, whether you were watching last night or tonight, whoever is playing at home the atmosphere makes a big impact, absolutely it does. I think it is a big part of European football. A lot of teams who have success in European football is on the back of really strong home atmosphere.”

It could have been argued that Postecoglou’s strange ear-cupping moment last week may have affected this, except Sunday against Southampton showed there is no real issue. What’s more, the home support will know what Thursday is really about.

The only danger is if it starts to go wrong.

Frankfurt are a good side, who have adapted superbly to the sale of Omar Marmoush, not to mention the previous departure of Oliver Glasner. A European level is maintained. They really fancy winning this tournament again themselves, just as they did in 2022.

It is instructive that Spurs’ own wait for a European trophy goes back much further, to the 1984 Uefa Cup.

That’s also why this tie is about issues of a far bigger scale, at the same time as it is about one man.

Postecoglou must find a way to offer the only response that really matters. The rest, including comparisons with Ten Hag, would only be noise amid greater glory.

That is what Spurs really have to focus on.