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On Sunday afternoon, for the final Premier League game before Christmas, Spurs welcomed Liverpool to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

For the task at hand, Ange opted for a line up of; Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Spence; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke.

Spurs on the wrong side of another Kamikaze game at home

Within the first three minutes of the game, a loose pass from Forster was intercepted by Mohamed Salah, who dragged his shot into the side netting - but the warning signs were there.

Around ten minutes in, a ball in behind from Trent Alexander-Arnold found Salah, who was denied by Forster. The loose ball fell to Domink Szoboszlai, whose effort was very well blocked by Sarr.

Seven minutes or so later, Salah had two shots in quick succession following a cutback, with both being well blocked by Spence. Moments the later, the forward shifted the ball onto his right foot, before hitting the crossbar.

Midway through the first half, the expected goal came. From the right hand side, an inviting Alexander-Arnold cross was headed home by Luis Diaz to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Cannot say it wasn't coming.

With ten minutes of the first half remaining, it was two. After a cross came in from the left, the ball fell to Alexis Mac Allister, who managed to nod in to double the visitors lead.

Soon before the interval, Spurs had a lifeline. After a collision and tangle of legs between Mac Allister and Kulusevski, the ball dropped to Maddison, who curled a lovely strike from inside the D, for his eighth Premier League goal of the season.

However, it would not be enough for a one goal deficit at half time. Alexander-Arnold played a long ball over the Spurs press, where Szoboszlai beat Dragusin the air, playing the ball into the path of Salah, who played it back to the Hungarian international in behind, keeping his composure when through on goal to make it 3-1.

Fewer than ten minutes into the second half, it was 4-1. After a quick counter, Gakpo squared the ball for Salah, which was cut out by Gray. The ball fell to Szoboszlai, whose shot was blocked by Gray again, but the ball fell to the Egyptian forward, who could not miss.

Very soon after, Szobozslai went through on goal, straight from an Alisson long ball, but dragged wide from an angle. In the aftermath, Ange introduced Bergvall and Johnson for Maddison and Sarr.

Sadly, it would get worse. On the hour mark, Liverpool once again attacked with ease, and there was Salah for his second goal of the game to make it 4-1.

With just under twenty minutes to go, Ange's side had a second. After Kulusevski found Solanke, the striker scooped a through ball back to the midfielder, via a slight deflection from Van Dijk - with the 24-year old raking a finish past Alisson.

We had played around 82 minutes when Spurs had three. After a ball came in, Johnson headed the ball across the box to Solanke, who showed great athleticism to turn and fire the ball into the back of the net. Great goal.

Any hope of a miracle was soon gone, however, as Diaz scored his second goal of the game from the right hand side to make it 6-3 to Arne Slot's side. That would be that, and Spurs were condemned to a defeat.

Tottenham Hotspur are willing to listen to offers for Richarlison, according to Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt.

Spurs forward Richarlison played for Fluminense in Brazil before moving to Watford in 2017.

The Brazilian club are interested in re-signing Richarlison and have already made contact with Tottenham, according to Bittencourt.

The Fluminense president has revealed how Spurs have responded to their interest in Richarlison, who is injured at the moment.

Globo quotes Bittencourt as saying about Richarlison: “Tottenham responded that they are open to the offer, but that they are not currently interested in getting rid of the player, but they are willing to listen.

“We are also talking to the player to see if he is interested in returning. What is certain is that we have expressed formal interest in Richarlison.

“We know how difficult it will be to bring him, but we believe that he may want to be close to the Brazilian national team, to return home, to the club where he stood out.

“I have a close relationship with him. We have drawn up an initial document with the English club, without an offer yet, but asking if they would like to negotiate.”

View: Tottenham Hotspur are in a lose-lose situation with Richarlison

Tottenham are in a very difficult position with Richarlison. Whatever they do with the forward is not going to be a great solution.

The easiest option for Tottenham would be to sell Richarlison in the January transfer window or next summer. Now in his third season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the £90,000-a-week (Spotrac) forward has failed to make a huge impact at the North London club.

In 73 appearances for Spurs, Richarlison has scored 16 goals and given nine assists. That is simply not good enough for a forward who cost Tottenham an initial transfer fee of £50 million (Sky Sports) when they signed him from Premier League rivals Everton in the summer of 2022.

Yes, there have been injury problems, but when fit and available, Richarlison has not been very reliable in terms of scoring goals on a regular basis.

The problem with selling Richarlison is that Tottenham are not going to get a lot of money for him. It is hard to see Fluminense cough up anywhere near the £50 million that Spurs paid for him.

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On Saturday evening, Tottenham Hotspur locked horns with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, for the return of club football, after the final international break of 2024.

For the task at hand, Ange opted for a line up of; Vicario; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Solanke, Son.

Famous night up at the Etihad Stadium for Tottenham Hotspur

Within literally the first 15 seconds of the game, Bissouma found himself in the book for a foul on Foden, in what will have been very frustrating for Ange in particular.

There was barely five minutes on the clock when Haaland found himself in space for the first time, but he set himself poorly and Davies was able to block the ball and send it behind. A let off in any case.

Around 11 minutes in, Haaland had another presentable opportunity, with Vicario saving well with his outstretched foot from the strikers left footed effort that was heading into the bottom corner.

However, just a couple of minutes later, with Spurs' first real attack of the game, they would take the lead. An absolutely superb, delicate, inswinging cross from Kulusevski found Maddison inside the box, who stabbed the ball home first time, having made a brilliant run to get there.

We had played around 18 minutes when Son had his first shot of the game, as his trademark curling effort from the left hand side had to be tipped behind by Ederson.

Within barely a minute, Spurs had two. A high turnover found the ball with Maddison, who played the ball to Son. The skipper feigned to cut inside, before scooping a deft ball back to Maddison, who kept his cool to lift the ball over Ederson, making it two for him and two for Spurs.

After 28 minutes, Solanke shrugged off Walker to get a shot off, forcing another save from Ederson in the City goal, as Spurs looked to have joy in transitional moments. The final 15 minutes of the half were much of a muchness, and Spurs would go into the break two goals to the good.

Seven minutes into the second half, and they were three to the good. A counter attack ended up with Solanke having the ball wide in the penalty area, as he patiently held onto the ball, waiting for runners. That runner would come in the form of Porro, who smashed the ball into the top corner from Solanke's lay off to make it 3-0.

It would not be fair to go without mentioning Kulusevski's part in the goal. Incredible ball carrying to get away from his markers, before playing a give and go with Son and releasing Solanke in behind. Incredible work from an incredible player.

We had played about an hour when Bissouma was caught on the ball in his own box, resulting in a strike from Haaland, whose effort kissed the crossbar on its way over. Let off from Spurs and Bissouma's point of view.

Three minutes later, Son was replaced by Johnson, as Ange manages the captain's minutes. He did not get his usual goal against City, but did provide a superb assist for Maddison.

Very shortly later, Solanke did absolutely superbly on the break to hold off a challenge and find Kulusevski, who managed to shift the ball back onto his left foot, before seeing his effort saved by Ederson.

With just over 15 minutes left, De Bruyne and Grealish entered the pitch - in case anyone thought it may have been game over.

Soon after, Gundogan found himself unmarked in the six yard box, but his shot was fortunately from an angle, and beaten away by Vicario, with Spurs dealing with the subsequent corner well, eventually winning a free-kick.

Not long later, Haaland had his most presentable opportunity since the first half, after a one-two with De Bruyne, but Vicario was again equal to it and kept it out.

With a minute of normal time remaining, Maddison was replaced by Bergvall. An incredible birthday for the midfielder, with two goals and a win at the Etihad. In the same window, Spence and Werner replaced Udogie and Sarr.

The absolute icing on the cake came in stoppage time. Werner burst down the left side, playing a ball across goal that was tapped home by Johnson from all of a half yard out. Spurs pull off an incredibly historic 4-0 win at the Etihad. COYS.

Later on this afternoon, Spurs will take to the field as they face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium for match day of the 24/25 Premier League season.

Weirdly, City come into this game having lost four games in a row for the first time under Pep Guardiola. The first of those four games of course being against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month. However, in this international break, Pep Guardiola has extended his contract at the club, with the clarity potentially being able to give them a boost on the pitch.

As for Spurs, they come into this game with many absentees. Micky van de Ven’s injury in the aforementioned Carabao Cup tie against City will keep him sidelined here, and likely for the next few games as well. Cristian Romero has not recovered from the foot injury he suffered on international duty with Argentina, and Wilson Odobert has had hamstring surgery.

How both teams are lining up for this evening's showdown

Therefore, Ange Postecoglu has opted for the following starting XI; Vicario, Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Solanke, Son.

The skipper scored two goals with South Korea on international duty during the break, and Spurs will need him to be at his absolute best if they are to have a proper chance in this game. Johnson grabbed a goal for Wales, and his pace in behind will be key in this game.

In midfield, Kulusevski was at his absolute best during the Carabao Cup win over City, and comes into this game after a really productive international break with Sweden. The 24-year old scored the equaliser in this fixture last season, and scored + assisted in this fixture in 21/22, where Spurs won the game in stoppage time.

However, based on the graphics, he does appear to be on the right-wing for this one, which is a shame. Either that, or it is Maddison off the left and Son off the right.

Elsewhere, Udogie’s role with Italy during the break was limited to two substitute appearances, giving him some much needed rest, and we will hopefully see the rewards of that this evening. That too, with Solanke, who played 15 minutes during the break - the striker had looked tired beforehand, so that should have done him some good.

As for Manchester City, Pep has opted for a line up of; Ederson; Walker, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Lewis, Gundogan, Silva; Savio, Haaland, Foden.

Despite being back in training this week, De Bruyne and Grealish are only named on the bench. Spurs fans will no doubt in particular be relieved at seeing De Bruyne on the bench, though we know what he can do even in a cameo.