SPORTbible

Tottenham star Lucas Bergvall attempted to make a genius play during the Premier League clash with Brighton, but it didn't go quite to plan.

As part of a thrilling day of Premier League fixtures that saw Liverpool beat local rivals Everton and Manchester United defeat Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur travelled to the Amex stadium to face Brighton and Hove Albion.

Despite heading into their home match as underdogs, the seagulls established an early lead in the match thanks to a goal from Yankuba Minteh, doubling their lead through midfielder Yasin Ayari.

However, the hosts couldn't hold onto their lead as Richarlison found the back of the net shortly before half-time before a late own goal from Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke led to a final scoreline of 2-2.

But it isn't the goals that got fans on social media talking, as many have pointed out the clever play that Spurs youngster Bergvall tried to get away with as his side tried to find their way back into the game.

Since the arrival of new manager Thomas Frank over the summer, Bergvall has been one of the standout players for Spurs, registering a goal and two assists in six appearances across the Premier League and Champions League.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that when his side was awarded a corner kick in the first half of the match against Brighton, he was maybe a bit too eager to get involved.

As teammate Pedro Porro prepared to cross the ball from the corner into Brighton's box, Bergvall decided to abandon his struggle with national teammate Ayari and make a run to the other side of the goal.

However, to do so the Sweden international cheekily decided to make his run behind the net, something that would have been genius if it wasn't immediately spotted by referee Chris Kavanagh.

Although it is rarely enforced, there is a Premier League rule that states that any player that deliberately leaves the field of play without permission in order to trick his opponents or gain an advantage should be penalised.

Technically, the offence is cautionable but, in this instance, Kavanagh decided not to show Bergvall a card for his behaviour, instead simply blowing his whistle and offering a warning.

Spurs star Xavi Simons had an impressive Premier League debut on Saturday and he did so with a different nation's flag on his boots.

Simons made his first appearance for Thomas Frank's side since signing in a £51.8 million switch from RB Leipzig, starting in a 3-0 win over West Ham at the London Stadium.

The 22-year-old registered an assist on his Premier League bow, setting up Pape Matar Sarr's opener.

Former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona prospect Simons played off the left wearing the No.7 shirt and dazzled on his debut in English football.

It will have been a proud moment for Simons and his family - and the midfielder honoured those close to him on his Puma boots.

Simons had the words 'Peggy and Kenza' as a nod to his mother and youngster sister - who were both with him on his special day signing his Spurs contract.

And although he is a Netherlands international, with 29 caps for his country, Simons also pays tribute to his roots with the Suriname flag on his boots.

Simons' father Regillio, a former player and manager, is of Surinamese descent and he still proudly adopts a lot of the culture - eating dishes like bami, saoto soup and rotia.

His late grandmother used to speak to him in Surinamese and he has been to visit members of his family who still live there.

After winning the KNVB Cup final against Ajax in 2023, Simons wrapped the Suriname flag around his neck in the post-match celebrations.

Which players come from Suriname?

"We're from Suriname, a little country but, yeah, my whole family's from there," he told the official Bundesliga website in a wide-ranging interview.

"I'm really proud that my family's from there. I've been there a lot. My grandma talked with us in Surinamese. I can't speak it, but I understand a little bit. My brother can, but I say quite a lot of times to my Mum that I'm really proud that I'm Surinamese. Not a lot of people know that because I play for the Netherlands, but I have Suriname in my heart.

"My family still lives there. You have to go there one time. The food is really good. Everything is good."

The South American country, a former Dutch colony with around 600,000 inhabitants, plays in the Concacaf federation which oversees football in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Dutch legends like Ruud Gullit, Frank Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were all born in the country.

Simons is not the only current Dutch footballer with Surinamese heritage as so too does Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk, as well as Denzel Dumfries and Gini Wijnaldum.

Lord Alan Sugar has threatened to sue both Jamie Redknapp and Sky Sports after comments made live on air.

On Saturday evening, Tottenham Hotspur took on West Ham United at the London Stadium.

Thanks to goals from Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven, Spurs came away 3-0 winners. Tomas Soucek was sent off for the Hammers.

Speaking on Sky Sports, former Spurs man Redknapp spoke about the surprise departure of Daniel Levy, who left his role as club chairman this month.

During the segment, Redknapp praised Levy for improving the club's finances during his 24-year stint.

The former midfielder compared Levy's tenure to Sugar's, who was chairman and part-owner between 1991 and 2001.

Redknapp stated that Levy inherited a 'complete mess'.

He said: "I've been critical with Daniel - there were a few things I didn't like with how he operated - but in terms of the training ground, the facilities, the infrastructure, one of the best stadiums in world - he's done a great job.

"The one thing I'll say is the wages at the club - everyone applauds that - but I think what that's done is not get the best players for the club. So that's always been a bit difficult."

Redknapp added: "But whoever takes over - you think back to how Alan Sugar left the club, it was a complete mess - Daniel Levy has left this club in a really good way and Vinai will know that and the people in charge now can look at this club and really believe that this can go forward."

Alan Sugar hits back at Jamie Redknapp and Sky Sports

In response, Sugar threatened legal action on social media, he wrote: "Jamie Redknapp is a double barrel idiot. He talks a load of rubbish.

"He said when Daniel Levy took over Spurs, Alan Sugar left the club in a right mess. He and SKY will be hearing from my lawyers Monday."

Sugar added: "I am coming after you Jamie Redknapp idiot."

UEFA have announced a late change to European competition squad rules that could have an impact on those who were overlooked from their club's Champions League squads.

A record six English clubs will take part in the Champions League this season – Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham.

All of the above announced their squad lists last week, with a number of high-profile names missing out, including Liverpool's Federico Chiesa and Spurs forward Mathys Tel, who reacted to the snub while on international duty.

Chelsea, meanwhile, omitted summer signing Facundo Buononotte, just days after the Argentine opened up on playing in Europe's elite competition.

"I’m sure it will be a positive season," he said in his first interview as a Chelsea player. "Of course, I’ll get the opportunity to play in the Champions League for the first time, which will be a great challenge."

It looked like the previously mentioned would not be able to feature in the Champions League until the knockout phase, which takes place early next year.

But teams will now be able to make a change to their submitted squads during the group phase after UEFA announced clubs will be allowed to include a "temporary" replacement if one of their outfield players suffers a "long-term injury or illness".

UEFA explained the decision in a statement on Thursday.

It read: "The Executive Committee approved an amendment to the 2025/26 UEFA men’s club competitions’ regulations to admit the temporary replacement of a maximum of one outfield player with long-term injury or illness during the league phase until matchday 6 included.

"The reasoning for the adaptation is to ensure that squad lists are not unfairly reduced and players are safeguarded from additional workload pressure."

As mentioned above, the rule is in play until the sixth match day.

Spurs omitted six players from Champions League squad

Thomas Frank has made some difficult decisions ahead of their Champions League opener against Villarreal, with summer signing Mathys Tel being the most notable absentee following his £30 million arrival from Bayern Munich.

The 20-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Spurs, is still waiting for his first start under Frank, although he has appeared as a subsitute in games against Paris Saint-Germain, Burnley and Bournemouth.

Another high-profile omission from the squad is Yves Bissouma, who has yet to make a competitive appearance under his new manager as he enters the final year of his contract.

Employers can lawfully choose one job candidate over another on the basis of which football teams they support, according to a court judgement.

The ruling by Judge Daniel Wright concluded a case that had nothing to do with football and was focused instead on employers' right to maintain cultural harmony in the office.

But the judge laid out a football example to illustrate his judgement, effectively giving employers the legal right to overlook a fan of a particular club in one ludicrously specific circumstance.

The case in question was brought by a Russian job candidate in the UK who claimed she was rejected for a job at the final interview stage because she doesn't like going to the pub.

Maia Kalina said she wasn't hired because she wasn't keen on the 'typically British' pastimes of swearing and drinking with colleagues.

The interviewer told the court she 'vibed' better with the chosen candidate, thus rendering the entire case utterly farcical. The judge continued that theme with the football illustration outlined in his ruling.

"We have two candidates who were both considered appointable. They were pretty evenly matched, with their own particular strengths. I see nothing wrong with looking at who would fit into the team better as long as the assessment is done with caution," said the judge.

"I find that there is no stereotype of British workers being as [Kalina] describes.

"There may be times when it is perfectly lawful for an employer to decide that somebody just will not be a fit with the team and that therefore it would be difficult to work together."

Social suitability is undoubtedly a tiebreaker in hiring processes but the idea of a candidate missing out on a job because of the football team they follow is a huge leap from there.

'Last question from us. What football team to you support?'

"An example of this could be a small company where everybody who works in the office is an ardent supporter of Arsenal football club, and they decide to pick an Arsenal fan at interview over a similarly qualified Tottenham Hotspur season ticket holder because they do not want to damage the harmony of the office," added Wright.

It might not be too long before that particular shaky precedent gets a legal test of its own.

Tottenham forward Mathys Tel has broken his silence after being left out of Thomas Frank for his side’s UEFA Champions League campaigns.

Each club is only permitted a squad of 22 players for their campaign in Europe’s elite competition.

Tel signed for Spurs for a reported £30 million this summer, having spent the second half of last season on loan in north London.

The Frenchman has scored three goals and registered two assists in 23 appearances across all competitions since making his debut for the club last term.

However, he has revealed that it hurt to have the chance to increase his goal tally in the Champions League taken away from him.

“It’s clear that when you’re not on a squad, it definitely hurts,” he said while on international duty with France Under-21s.

“But I’m someone who stays pretty positive, no matter the situation, because I think I’ve worked a lot on my mental side, so today it’s definitely a disappointment.

“I would have liked to be there.

“But the coach’s choice is the coach’s choice; we can only respect it, and we’ll work to come back in the best possible way.”

Tottenham had a superb opening two games of the Premier League season, beating Burnley 3-0 before stunning Manchester City with a 2-0 triumph at the Etihad.

However, their final game before the international break ended in a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Bournemouth.

Frank’s side will get their Champions League league phase campaign underway against Villarreal on Tuesday, 16th September.

Spurs qualified for this season’s competition by beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final of the UEFA Europa League.

Tel insists that he will continue to fight for a place in Frank’s starting XI despite the omission from his Champions League squad.

“It doesn’t matter, even if I were on the list, I would have had this desire, to seek revenge, to be effective this season, to be able to kick-start my season in the Premier League," he added.

“Because this is the beginning of a long first season, since last year was on a six-month loan.

“A desire to go elsewhere? I’m under contract with Tottenham, so I’m a Tottenham player, and I’m going to do my best to simply play.”

Dele Alli has Wrexham and two other clubs to choose from after his brief stint at Como in Italy.

The former England star was recently released by Como, leaving him as a free agent once again.

Alli made just one appearance for Cesc Fabregas' side, coming on as a substitute last season against AC Milan.

But his debut was short-lived, as he was sent off just 10 minutes after coming on for a bad challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Despite appeals from his former Tottenham teammate Kyle Walker, who was playing for Milan, Alli was dismissed.

At the start of September, Fabregas made it clear that Alli was not part of his plans for the season and the club agreed a mutual termination of the contract with Alli.

That leaves Alli without a club once again, with those minutes remaining his only first-team action in the last two-and-a-half years.

The midfielder still has suitors, with several Championship clubs reportedly interested in his signature, according to the Daily Mail.

Wrexham, backed by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, see Alli as an experienced addition that could help propel them to the Premier League.

They have shown they are willing to spend in the market, splashing out £33 million in the summer to sign Nathan Broadhead, Ben Sheaf and Callum Doyle among others.

Birmingham City, who were also promoted from League One just last season, are another potential destination.

They have already strengthened with experienced Premier League attacker Demarai Gray and the former Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi.

Like Wrexham, they are backed by wealthy American owners who could make a move for Alli feasible.

The other club reportedly interested in the 29-year-old is West Bromwich Albion.

The Baggies have made an unbeaten start to the season under new manager Ryan Mason, winning three of their first four matches.

Mason has a history with Alli, having brought him back into the Spurs squad during his interim spell after Jose Mourinho had left him out.

That previous faith which Mason showed in the midfielder could be enough to convince Alli to reunite with the manager.

Alli's next move is crucial if he is to revive a career that once looked so promising.

After difficult spells at Everton, Besiktas and Como, making the right choice now is vital.

At 29, he still has time to reignite his career and recapture the form that once made him one of the Premier League's brightest young players.

Ange Postecoglou recently turned down a 'huge offer’ to replace Jose Mourinho as Fenerbahce head coach amid links with a Champions League side – but the club in question have opted to go for another head coach instead of the Australian.

Postecoglou, 60, has managed in Scotland with Celtic, Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos, Australia as Socceroos’ boss and most recently in England with Spurs.

The 60-year-old guided Tottenham to a fifth-place finish in the 2023/24 campaign but failed to build on the position the following season as the north London club finished 17th in 2024/25.

However, the Australian may have thought his blushes had been spared when he led Spurs to their first major trophy in 17 years with victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final.

But just 16 days later, he was sacked and remains without a managerial role three months on.

Last week, it was reported by Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu (via Sport Witness) that the 60-year-old had turned down an offer to replace Jose Mourinho as Fenerbahce boss following the Portuguese’s sacking.

It was claimed that Postecoglou held talks with the Istanbul club before turning down an offer due him still having ambitions of managing in a top-five European league.

Also last week, Ange’s name was reported discussed by Bayer Leverkusen after Erik ten Hag parted ways with the Bundesliga side after just two league matches in charge.

On September 3, journalist Fabrizio Romano wrote: “Ange Postecoglou, emerging as an option for both Bayer Leverkusen and Fenerbahçe looking for new head coach. Former Spurs manager discussed as a name at both clubs ahead of the decision.”

However, it has since emerged that former Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand is now the favourite to fill the vacancy left by Ten Hag.

On Monday (September 8), German outlet Kicker reported that Leverkusen have reached “an agreement in principle” for Hjulmand to become their next head coach.

The 53-year-old previously endured an unsuccessful spell in Germany in 2014/15 when he was manager of Mainz.

Hjulmand has since guided Denmark to relative success and helped the side reach the semi-final of Euro 2020 (held in 2021).

Ange Postecoglou has reportedly rejected a significant offer to return to management three months after being sacked by Spurs.

Postecoglou was relieved of his duties in June, under two weeks after leading Spurs to the Europa League title.

Success in that competition earned qualification for the Champions League, but that wasn't enough for the popular Australian to keep his job.

Postecoglou revealed that he prioritised Europe over the Premier League in the final months of the season, with the north London club eventually finishing in 16th place.

Since his sacking, the 61-year-old has been linked with Nottingham Forest and Bayer Leverkusen as he awaits a return to football.

He has stayed out of the limelight since his Spurs departure, but did accept the John Duncan Award - for significant football accomplishments - from the League Managers Association on Thursday, alongside Chelsea's Enzo Maresca and Arsenal Women boss Renee Slegers.

In the meantime, he has turned down the opportunity to replace another former Spurs boss in Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce, according to Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu (via Sport Witness).

He claims that Postecoglou held talks with the Turkish Super Lig club, but eventually turned their offer down as he wants his next job to be in Europe's top five leagues.

That would indicate that the Australian remains interested in returning to the Premier League should the right opportunity arise.

Any interested club may have to act quickly, however, with Fabrizio Romano reporting on Wednesday that Postecoglou's name had been discussed as a candidate to replace Erik ten Hag at Leverkusen.

The 2023/24 Bundesliga champions sacked Ten Hag after just two league matches in charge on Monday, with the Dutchman releasing an explosive statement through his agency, SEG Football, in response.

The former Manchester United boss wrote: "To part ways with a coach after just two league matches is unprecedented.

"This summer, many key players who were part of past successes left the squad ... a new coach deserves the space to implement his vision, set the standards, shape the squad and leave his mark on the style of play.

"Unfortunately the management was not willing to grant me the time and trust I needed, which I deeply regret. I feel this was never a relationship based on mutual trust.

"Throughout my career, every season I have been able to see through to the end as a coach has brought success. Clubs that placed their trust in me have been rewarded with success and silverware."

Mathys Tel has been left out of Tottenham's 22-man squad for the opening stages of this season's Champions League alongside a number of high-profile names, including Yves Bissouma.

Thomas Frank has made some difficult decisions on this occasion, with summer signing Tel being the most notable absentee following his £30 million signing from Bayern Munich.

The 20-year-old striker, who spent last season on loan at Spurs, is still waiting for his first start under Frank, although he has appeared as a subsitute in games against Paris Saint-Germain, Burnley and Bournemouth.

Another high-profile omission from the squad is Yves Bissouma, who has yet to make a competitive appearance under his new manager as he enters the final year of his contract.

Kota Takai, a summer signing from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale, has also been left out following a foot injury, while James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin are also on the sidelines, therefore have missed out.

Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons, meanwhile, have been included in Frank's 22-man squad alongside fellow summer signings Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus.

Spurs will face Villarreal in their Champions League opener before coming up against Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Eintracht Frankfurt. Slavia Praha, Bodo/Glimt, Copenhagen and AS Monaco.

Speaking after the draw was made, Frank said: "Overall, I thought it was an okay draw. Sometimes draws can look very bad on paper or really good, but it depends how we perform against them. They are the biggest games of the season, so they will be tough."

Tottenham’s Champions League squad in full

Goalkeepers: Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, Brandon Austin

Defenders: Kevin Danso, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies

Midfielders: Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Mohammed Kudus, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur

Forwards: Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, Randal Kolo Muani

UEFA rules state that List A is made up of a maximum of 25 players, two of whom must be goalkeepers.

There are a minimum of eight places reserved exclusively for ‘locally trained players’ and no club may have more than four ‘association-trained players’ listed among those eight places.

A player may be registered on List B if he is born on, or after, 1 January 2004 and, has since had his 15th birthday, been eligible to play for the club concerned for any uninterrupted period of two years or a total of three consecutive years with a maximum of one loan period to a club from the same association for a period not longer than one year.

Players aged 16 may be submitted if they have been registered with the club for the previous two years without interruption.