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Tottenham Hotspur's miserable season continued in Roberto De Zerbi's first match in charge as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland on Sunday, with Football London correspondent taking aim at Conor Gallagher for one key reason.

Tottenham and De Zerbi knew they needed a positive result at the Stadium of Light after they dropped into the bottom three on Friday night when West Ham United thrashed Wolves 4-0 at the London Stadium.

Spurs didn't get it though as they failed to find the score-sheet, which was coupled with Nordi Mukiele's heavily deflected shot beating Antonin Kinsky in the second half.

The north Londoners had no reply to that goal, and they are now two points from safety with six matches of the season left to play.

Nottingham Forest moved a further point clear of them too as they drew with Aston Villa on Sunday, which leaves Tottenham in a situation where they need points - and quickly.

They remain without a league win in 2026 and De Zerbi will surely be considering making changes to the XI that started on Wearside for the visit of his former club Brighton to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next weekend.

Gold: Tottenham Midfield Was a 'Mess' at Sunderland

While it would be hard to argue that anyone in a yellow shirt particularly stood out at the Stadium of Light, Tottenham's midfield struggled especially throughout against Regis Le Bris' men.

It was far too easy for Mukiele to cut inside and score what proved to be the winning goal, and Gold was left unimpressed after seeing the display of the £200,000-a-week Gallagher in the centre of the park.

Speaking on his latest YouTube video, Gold believes that the former Chelsea star simply isn't offering much right now.

The journalist said: "The midfield was a mess. He made this big show ahead of the game, De Zerbi, of talking up Conor Gallagher and talking about the Gallagher at Chelsea, saying 'what a player he was'. He didn't quite say like that, but along those lines, he's really big on trying to get confidence back into him.

"We know he wanted to sign him from Chelsea for Brighton. It was a player he really liked, but this is not that Conor Gallagher right now. He huffs and he puffs and he doesn't blow anybody's door down. He gives the impression of always looking busy, but you'd actually be hard-pressed to kind of jot anything down that he's done that's worthwhile and actually contributed to the cause."

Who Could Replace Gallagher Against Brighton?

If De Zerbi does want to drop Gallagher to the substitutes' bench for the visit of Brighton to north London next Saturday, he does have options of players to bring in.

Firstly, the Italian manager could drop Lucas Bergvall into a deeper role alongside Archie Gray, with loanee Joao Palhinha also available to play a defensive midfield position too.

Then, De Zerbi also has Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma available too, with the duo both returning to the bench at the Stadium of Light after suffering injury issues.

The 46-year-old will hope that both players are fully fit by the weekend so they are available to start, with Spurs surely needing more creativity ahead of the midfield duo in his system.

Tottenham missed a bit of a trick on Sunday afternoon and not just with their result against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light that plunged them deeper into the relegation mire at the bottom of the Premier League table, but with one of their best players in a dismal season.

Spurs were somewhat unlucky to go down to a 1-0 defeat away at the Black Cats, with Nordi Mukiele's deflected strike the difference between the two teams on the day.

It was Roberto De Zerbi's first game in charge at Tottenham, following his appointment during the international break to replace interim boss Igor Tudor on a permanent basis.

De Zerbi Made Tactical Switch That Did Not Pay Off

And while there were some encouraging signs in an attacking sense in the first half, it was the same old situation at the back as Spurs looked vulnerable.

And the second half petered out once Sunderland went in front and De Zerbi made changes - most noticeably in the middle of the park.

The Italian removed Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray right after the goal, to be replaced by Pape Matar Sarr and Joao Palhinha and any intent was lost.

It was the use of Gray throughout the match, not just his withdrawal after the goal, that was particularly perplexing. The England U21 international appeared to be being utilised as a single pivot in front of a back four, with Bergvall and Conor Gallagher ahead of him and then Randal Kolo Muani, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke ahead of them.

But while Gray was always an option, Spurs did not always use him. He only actually touched the ball 23 times, which is maddening given he has been Spurs' best performer for much of this season.

Not only that, but the warm-up appeared to suggest he was going to be an integral cog in the De Zerbi machine too.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, football.london's Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold described his use at the Stadium of Light "crazy".

He said: "He's a clever tactical player with a good technique, he can ping a ball over the top as well, and they didn't use him in any progressive way at all. He only touched the ball 23 times, which made what they were doing in the warm-up all the more baffling for me, because I was watching the warm-up before the game, because I just wanted to see what little different things were happening under De Zerbi compared to the previously, and what they did.

Archie Gray Decision Was Baffling During Sunderland Vs Tottenham

"He was watching on, De Zerbi, and they organised this big rondo and it was essentially to get the players used to pressing, pressure, passing around it, and everything around it before the game started, just to get their head into that space and everything in it went around Archie Gray.

"So while other players had different bibs, and if they lost the ball, they switched, Archie Gray was among the middle group, but not as a tackler or a presser, but someone they were able to use to pass the ball to and he would knock it off to someone else. He was the hub. He was kind of meant to be the go-to man for everyone, anyone looking to a pass it, as if to say, 'when you get on the pitch, that's what to do, look for Archie, Archie will be there, he'll use the ball well, he'll turn, he'll do this, he'll do that', whatever, because he's probably one of the most energetic players, he's able to get into good positions to help people out, find a little bit of space.

"Yet that never happened. It wasn't a tactic that they took into the game. It was really weird. They mostly bypassed him. They would just knock the ball over his head. I just thought it was crazy."

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi desperately needs to try to figure out a way to change their fortunes after their latest defeat against Sunderland.

The new Tottenham boss made some interesting selection decisions heading into the game against Sunderland, with many questioning the decision to start Conor Gallagher.

The likes of Mathys Tel and Xavi Simons were also named on the bench, and it's safe to say his decisions didn't work as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light.

Spurs only have six Premier League games to turn things around, and they currently sit in the relegation zone, two points away from safety.

Up next for Spurs is a game against De Zerbi's former club, Brighton, and it's a chance to start their survival bid on their own turf.

De Zerbi Must Unleash Tottenham Star

With a game under his belt, De Zerbi will now have a better idea of who he wants to rely on ahead of the final six Premier League games.

The Italian manager doesn't have a lot of time to work with his players, so he needs to figure out his best XI as soon as possible.

One player he now needs to unleash is Mathys Tel.

The French youngster has found things difficult at Tottenham so far, and he's perhaps been harshly treated since his arrival.

Richarlison was deployed on the left-hand side of attack against Sunderland, but the Brazilian forward was wasted out there.

Tel offers something that Spurs don't have in their side, and De Zerbi needs to hand him a start if he wants to retain Tottenham's Premier League status.

Tel Offers Tottenham Something Different

Richarlison has been an effective weapon for Tottenham this season, but that's usually when deployed through the middle of attack.

The former Everton man was wasted out wide, especially when you have a player like Tel on the bench.

Journalist Alasdair Gold predicted that Tel would flourish at Spurs under De Zerbi due to his pace, and that's exactly what Tottenham need.

“[De Zerbi] likes speed up front, likes a lot of fast play. I think he'll like Mathys Tel, certainly could really flourish under him.”

His speed and technical quality out wide could be hugely beneficial, and De Zerbi needs to unleash him against Brighton.

Celtic are interested in signing Liverpool defender Andy Robertson ahead of the summer transfer window, competing with Tottenham for his signature, according to TEAMtalk.

Robertson is set to make a move in the summer, but it remains to be seen where he could end up.

The Scottish international is out of contract at Liverpool at the end of the season, and it was recently confirmed that he won't be signing a new deal at Anfield.

Robertson has enjoyed an illustrious career at Liverpool, winning the Premier League title and Champions League, but he's now set for a new challenge.

A return to Scotland would certainly be a fairytale ending, but there will be multiple clubs showing an interest in securing his signature, considering he's available on a free transfer.

Celtic in Race With Tottenham for Robertson

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham have an agreement with Robertson on personal terms ahead of the summer transfer window.

Nothing is signed and sealed, with Tottenham's Premier League status likely to be a factor in Robertson's decision.

Despite Tottenham pushing ahead with a move for Robertson, Celtic are also interested in signing Robertson, who was described as 'elite' by journalist Henry Winter.

Unfortunately for Celtic, Robertson would still consider a move to Tottenham even if they are relegated, but it would undoubtedly lessen their chances.

Reports have previously claimed that Robertson would be open to a move to Parkhead, after he was linked during the January transfer window, but it remains to be seen if that has changed ahead of the summer transfer window.

Robertson Move Might Not Make Sense

Robertson is likely to command a large salary package in comparison to some of Celtic's current squad, and although he might be worth it in terms of experience and ability, there's a big caveat.

Celtic already have an experienced left-back in Kieran Tierney, so unless they plan on playing one of them in the middle of the defence, it might not make a lot of sense to bring Robertson to the club.

It might be tricky for Celtic to turn down a player of the calibre of Robertson if he's willing to make the move, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him arrive if a deal with Tottenham falls through.

As both a player and then as a manager, Glenn Hoddle was an important figure in British football for a number of decades. He was a boyhood Tottenham Hotspur fan and spent time in the academy, joining as a 12-year-old, before making his debut five years later.

At Spurs, the English midfielder won two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup – becoming a club legend – before then going on to win the league in France with Monaco. He later spent spells at Swindon Town and Chelsea, which led him into the world of management.

As a coach, he failed to ever win a major trophy but did get to manage England before then taking over at Tottenham between 2001 and 2003. Despite managing the club he'd supported as a youngster, this period in north London delivered more frustration than joy.

Hoddle Felt 'Disgruntled' at Tottenham

Speaking to The Guardian in 2021, Hoddle spoke about how he was unable to form any sort of relationship with the majority owner Joe Lewis, and a lack of investment left him unable to build a side capable of winning the Premier League.

The former Tottenham coach explained how his time at Spurs is actually one of his 'big regrets.' When asked if he'd ever even met former owner Lewis, he said:

“No. I’ve never met Joe Lewis. Never even had a phone call. Never had a conversation with him and Spurs were always my club. That was the happiest I should have been but it was probably the most disgruntled I felt – at Tottenham.

"It was such a shame because I wanted it so much. I wanted to build a side to win the league like we did at Monaco. That was one of my big regrets but the money wasn’t there.”

Having won major honours with Tottenham as a player, Hoddle wasn't able to bring more success to the club as a manager. They did actually reach the League Cup final in 2002, but lost 2-1 to Blackburn Rovers.

In his second season in charge, things started brightly with Hoddle named Manager of the Month for August, with Spurs top of the league. However, form steadily dwindled, and they ended the 2002/03 campaign in 10th place. Hoddle then lasted until just September the following season, having picked up only four points from the club's opening six league games.

Hoddle Was 'Hurt' as Spurs Denied Him Two Star Striker Signings

Perhaps things could have gone better had the club been a little more proactive in the transfer market. Indeed, Hoddle revealed that he could have bought both Fernando Morientes from Real Madrid and Samuel Eto’o from Mallorca for just £12m in 2003, but Lewis and Daniel Levy were too slow in reacting to the opportunity. He recalled:

“That hurt me big time."

Morientes would end up in England, but joined Liverpool instead, later winning both the FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup. Eto’o would join Barcelona and become a club icon with three La Liga titles and two Champions League triumphs, while also winning more major honours in Italy with Inter Milan.

The Cameroonian striker eventually came to England, enjoying a short spell each at both Chelsea and Everton towards the end of his career.

Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara didn't hold back with his assessment of Roberto De Zerbi's side after their defeat against Sunderland, with one player even given a 0/10 rating.

It must feel like Groundhog Day for Tottenham fans, as they watched their side slip to yet another defeat, keeping them in the relegation zone with six games remaining in the Premier League.

Shockingly, Spurs still haven't won in England's top flight in 2026, and they are sleepwalking to relegation unless they can drastically turn things around.

Nottingham Forest and West Ham both picking up points this weekend has worsened their situation, and De Zerbi has a real task on his hands to get a tune out of this squad in such a short space of time.

Jamie O'Hara's Tottenham Player Ratings

Reacting after the game on X, O'Hara shared his player ratings for the game against Sunderland. Dominic Solanke's rating stood out, with the former Tottenham midfielder giving him a 0/10.

O'Hara clearly wasn't happy with Spurs' attacking players, with Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani both given 1/10 ratings.

Antonin Kinsky, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Pedro Porro can take some pride from their performances based on O'Hara's ratings, but even three of those were only a 5/10.

Some of the ratings might seem a little harsh, but it's understandable that Tottenham fans are incredibly frustrated with the players, with De Zerbi now the third manager in charge of them this season.

Tottenham Have Problems All Over The Pitch

It's no surprise to see O'Hara calling out a host of Tottenham players in different positions across the pitch, as they have plenty of problems throughout the squad.

Against Sunderland, Tottenham had very little in attack in terms of creativity, a lack of progression from midfield, their work-rate was incredibly disappointing, and Brian Brobbey had plenty of joy against their defence.

It looks set to be a busy summer transfer window for Spurs if they're are looking to solve their problems throughout the squad.

If they are relegated to the Championship, there's likely to be a mass exodus throughout the squad, but you'd imagine that won't bother Spurs fans too much.

Tottenham defender Cristian Romero was seen in tears as he walked off against Sunderland in the Premier League due to injury, and journalist Gaston Edul has now provided a worrying update.

Spurs suffered yet another defeat, with new manager De Zerbi unable to change their fortunes just yet, as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Sunderland on Sunday.

Tottenham are still searching for their first victory of 2026, and they sit in the relegation zone in the Premier League, two points behind West Ham.

There's now just six games remaining for Tottenham to turn things around, and they might have to do so without their captain Romero, if his injury is as bad as it looked as he walked off the pitch in tears.

Argentine reporter Edul has now shared a worrying injury update on Romero, suggesting that he's set to undergo tests for a potential MCL injury.

Edul suggests that there is some instability in Romero's knee, while the Tottenham defender is still feeling pain.

Depending on the severity, there's every chance Romero is unable for the remainder of the season, but it will be unclear until he undergoes tests.

Even if Romero is only unavailable for a few weeks, it's a crucial blow for the north London club.

Romero Injury Sums Up Tottenham's Season

Tottenham fans must be numb to players getting injured this season.

So many of their key stars have missed large portions of the campaign through injury, and they are still without the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, and James Maddison, while the majority of their squad have been sidelined at some point in the season.

Romero missing the final few weeks would sum up their season, and it would undoubtedly damage their chances of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

Kevin Danso would be a likely replacement for the north London club, but he's certainly not Romero, who is one of Spurs' best players and their captain.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi will already know three players he has to sell in the summer transfer window after what happened against Sunderland.

Spurs are fighting to stay in the Premier League, and despite the appointment of De Zerbi, it was another disappointing performance against Sunderland.

De Zerbi will be assessing his squad as he goes, but he doesn't have a lot of time to turn things around and steer them away from the relegation zone.

There are just six Premier League games remaining for Tottenham, and the threat of relegation is still serious for the north London club.

Three Players De Zerbi Must Sell

De Zerbi will already know three players he needs to sell in the summer transfer window, even if they remain in the Premier League.

The first one is Conor Gallagher. The English midfielder is incredibly useful in certain systems, but in a deep role in a side looking to dominate possession, he's simply not suited.

Gallagher's game is based on hard work and winning the ball back, but he struggles when trying to receive from deep and play progressively.

The second is Micky van de Ven. There's no doubting that the Dutch defender is a phenomenal footballer, but he's not played like that this season for Spurs.

Van de Ven simply isn't worth keeping, considering the fee another club is likely to be willing to pay for him, so he's another who needs to go.

The final one is Cristian Romero. It's a similar story to van de Ven, while he also doesn't appear to be fully committed after recent comments from his dad in the media, telling the world about a secret release clause.

They're Not the Only Ones

Gallagher, van de Ven, and Romero certainly won't be the only ones who should be departing in the summer.

Randal Kolo Muani and Joao Palhinha haven't done enough during their time at the club on loan, so there's no way Spurs should be looking to sign them on permanent deals.

In reality, Spurs need a huge reset in the summer transfer window. Last season, they finished 17th, and this term, they'll do anything for a 17th-placed finish at this stage.

It looks set to be an incredibly busy summer window for the north London club, and an important one at that.

Tottenham Hotspur are rivalling Bayern Munich in the race to sign Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen this summer, according to reports.

The north London side have placed the signing of a new shot-stopper at the top of their agenda ahead of the summer as they look to replace Guglielmo Vicario.

The Italian is expected to depart Spurs amid interest from Italian clubs, with Inter Milan among those reportedly tracking the 29-year-old.

Inter are believed to have identified Vicario as their top target to replace Swiss international Yann Sommer and have already discussed a move with his representatives, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Tottenham Want to Sign Bart Verbruggen

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham’s admiration for Verbruggen has only intensified since the arrival of manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Verbruggen played under De Zerbi at Brighton for one season following his arrival from Anderlecht in the summer of 2023 and made 27 appearances across all competitions.

Bayern are also believed to be among Verbruggen’s long-term admirers and view the £50m-rated Dutchman as a leading candidate to succeed Manuel Neuer.

However, a summer move hinges on Neuer’s final decision –the 40-year-old is yet to confirm whether he will continue playing beyond the current campaign.

Neuer, whose contract expires at the end of the season, could reportedly delay his decision until after the Champions League final in May, and the uncertainty is believed to be impacting Brighton’s goalkeeping situation.

The Seagulls are looking to secure a significant profit on Verbruggen this summer and are eyeing Carl Rushworth, who is spending the season on loan at Coventry City, as his long-term replacement.

Verbruggen, praised as ‘unbelievable’, has been Brighton’s first-choice goalkeeper for the past two seasons and is set to make his 100th appearance for the club next weekend.

Tottenham Reach Agreement for Andy Robertson

Tottenham have reached a verbal agreement to sign Liverpool defender Andy Robertson this summer, journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

The north London side are in pole position to land the Scottish international on a free transfer when his contract with Liverpool expires in June.

Robertson is believed to have earmarked Tottenham as his preferred destination, provided they avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Spurs are in the bottom three ahead of De Zerbi’s debut game on Sunday, an away clash at Sunderland.

Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action on Sunday in Roberto De Zerbi's first match in charge, knowing they need to bring all three points back from Sunderland.

Spurs slipped into the relegation zone following West Ham's win against Wolves on Friday night, and they will kick off against the Black Cats knowing they are two points from safety with seven matches remaining.

To move out of the drop zone, the north Londoners need to pick up their first three points in the league since they defeated Crystal Palace on December 28.

Tottenham fans will be hoping that De Zerbi has made a major impact on the training ground over the last week to improve a dressing room that appears to be at an all-time low confidence wise.

The Italian would have been hoping to have a strong squad available to him for the long trip north, but he has already confirmed the absence of some key players in his pre-match press conference.

GIVEMESPORT takes a look at the latest injury news ahead of the clash on Wearside.

Mathys Tel was taken off with an injury issue during the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in Igor Tudor's final game in charge, but he has been pictured in training and looks to be the one player guaranteed to be returning to the squad at Sunderland.

Meanwhile, Pape Matar Sarr suffered a shoulder injury and while he has been pictured back in training later in the week at Hotspur Way, it was noticeable that his shoulder was heavily strapped, which could make him a doubt to face Regis Le Bris' men.

De Zerbi also confirmed that three players they hoped might be back in Guglielmo Vicario, Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur will all be missing.

The former underwent surgery on his hernia during the international break and while he is close to a return he isn't ready to play yet. That means that Antonin Kinsky will return between the sticks for his first appearance since his disaster against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Speaking about Bentancur, De Zerbi said:

"Bentancur is working with us, but not completely, but we are enough to fight, to play and to make points."

Tottenham also confirmed Kudus' injury setback this week, which could require surgery in a huge blow to De Zerbi, who tried to sign the player when he was Brighton boss.

Spurs confirmed in a statement: 'He [Kudus] had returned to team training during the past week, however will now require further specialist review and, potentially, surgery. We will provide any relevant further updates in due course.'

All The Spurs Players Unavailable

Tottenham and De Zerbi will once again be without Ben Davies and probably Yves Bissouma, who is yet to be seen in a group on the training pitch, although both are expected to return to action this month.

Vicario, Kudus and Bentancur will also be absent against Sunderland, while Spurs are still without three long-term absentees.

Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Wilson Odobert all remain likely to miss the rest of the season.