Modern Ghana

Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus endured an anxious afternoon after being forced off injured during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland.

The 25-year-old signalled for treatment shortly after the quarter-hour mark, clutching the upper part of his left leg before being withdrawn and replaced by Randal Kolo Muani.

While Kudus was able to walk off the pitch unassisted, the early indications point to a muscular issue, with concerns centred on a possible adductor problem. Further medical checks are expected to clarify the severity of the injury.

Kudus’ withdrawal compounded selection headaches for Spurs, who were already short of natural options on the right flank following Brennan Johnson’s move to Crystal Palace earlier in the week, forcing Paris Saint-Germain loanee Kolo Muani to fill in out of position.

Despite the setback, Tottenham took the lead in the 30th minute through Ben Davies. However, Sunderland rallied after the break and eventually drew level in the 80th minute, with Brian Brobbey finding the equaliser for the visitors.

The former Ajax attacker has been a mainstay for Spurs this season, starting all but one Premier League fixture. He has contributed two goals and six assists in the league, figures that underline his importance to Thomas Frank’s system beyond his output in front of goal.

Tottenham will be hoping the injury does not result in a lengthy absence for Kudus. The Ghana international joined the club from West Ham United in the summer in a £55 million deal, signing a six-year contract, and has registered seven goal contributions in 18 league appearances so far.

Tottenham Hotspur has joined the race to in-form attacker Antoine Semenyo from AFC Bournemouth at the end of the season.

The Ghana international has dominated the headlines with his impressive performances, scoring nine goals and five assists in all competitions this season.

He has since been linked to Newcastle United, Liverpool and Arsenal, with Spurs now the latest club to join the race for his signature.

The move to the North London club would be a step up in his career, and he will want to compete in European football regularly.

Tottenham could provide him with that platform. Even though they have had a disappointing season so far, they have an ambitious project and a talented squad.

The reported price is quite steep, and it remains to be seen whether Tottenham can negotiate a more reasonable fee for the African attacker.

They need to improve the other areas of their squad as well, and spending €60 million on Semenyo could prove to be difficult.

The 25-year-old attacker will want to join a big club as well, and it will be interesting to see if he decides to force an exit in the summer.

Semenyo is expected to be in action when Bournemouth travel to play Tottenham on Sunday in the Premier League.

Anthony Elanga fired Nottingham Forest up to third in the Premier League after a narrow win over Tottenham.

The in-form winger struck for a third straight game as Forest clinched a fourth successive win in the top flight for the first time since 1995.

It also earned boss Nuno Espirito Santo a first win over Tottenham - who had ex-Forest defender Djed Spence sent off in injury time - since being sacked by them three years ago.

Nuno lasted just four months in north London and, when he was dismissed in November 2021, his stock in England had fallen following a stale end to his four years at Wolves.

Although, as he was not first choice for the job in the first place, he was a symptom of the problems at Tottenham at the time, rather than the main issue himself.

With victory, Forest have more points than during last season's successful survival fight in half the games to underline the rapid progress made under Nuno who has restored his reputation.

He has the club in a strong position going into January's transfer window, yet Forest are wary of upsetting the dynamic of a squad which has taken them so far this season, and keeping the team together may be more of a concern.

Elanga's form means he will undoubtedly attract attention again with Newcastle long-term admirers, and the winger's current goalscoring run has ended a 10-month drought.

As for Spurs, they continue to drift after a sixth defeat in 10 Premier League games and are 11 points behind Forest and their former manager.

Brief chants of 'we want Levy out' echoed from the away end, especially after Elanga's 28th-minute winner, a cool low finish following a quick break.

Former Forest favourite Brennan Johnson tested Matz Sels three times but despite dominating the ball - having almost 70% possession - Tottenham missed a ruthless edge and questions about their direction on and off the pitch will continue to grow.

Liverpool went four points clear at the top of the Premier League as they handed out a merciless thrashing to Tottenham Hotspur in front of their own fans.

Arne Slot's pacesetters were simply irresistible as every frailty in an injury-hit Spurs team was ruthlessly exposed.

Liverpool had already had several opportunities before Luis Diaz headed in Trent Alexander-Arnold's perfect cross after 23 minutes, Alexis Mac Allister doubling their lead with another header 13 minutes later.

James Maddison gave Spurs hope of an unlikely comeback when he curled in his eighth goal of the season four minutes before half-time but that was snuffed out in first-half stoppage time when Mohamed Salah set up Dominik Szoboszlai for a simple finish.

Spurs, with a lengthy list of absentees and fielding an unchanged team having played a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United on Thursday, looked leg-weary, leaving them wide open to further punishment from this smooth Liverpool machine.

Salah drew level with Billy Liddell's record of 228 Liverpool goals when he extended Liverpool's advantage from close range after 54 minutes, then went into fourth place in the club's all-time list of scorers on his own when Szoboszlai repaid the first-half compliment to play the Egyptian in for his second.

Dejan Kulusevski scored for the fifth successive game with 18 minutes left, while another from Dominic Solanke threatened to give the scoreline an unrealistic appearance until Diaz swooped for his second and Liverpool's sixth.