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Tottenham host Sunderland in the Premier League
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Arthur Ferridge
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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri
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Tottenham face Sunderland in their first home game of 2026.
Spurs started the year with a 0-0 draw at Brentford on New Year’s Day and fans will be hoping for better fortunes at home after just four Premier League wins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year.
Sunderland are enjoying a brilliant first season back in the top flight and are just four points off Liverpool in fourth place.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game…
Date, kick-off time and venue
Tottenham vs Sunderland is scheduled for a 3pm GMT kick-off on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
The match will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Where to watch Tottenham vs Sunderland
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Football, with coverage starting at 2pm GMT ahead of a 3pm kick-off.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau at the ground.
Tottenham vs Sunderland team news
Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Destiny Udogie remain sidelined for Spurs. Dominic Solanke has returned to training, but this game is likely to come too soon for a return to action.
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Xavi Simons serves the final game of his suspension and Lucas Bergvall is a doubt after missing the goalless draw against Brentord. Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are both away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Richarlison, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Pedro Porro and Rodrigo Bentancur all avoided yellow cards against the Bees, so are now free from the threat of an immediate ban.
For Sunderland, Regis Le Bris is missing six players due to AFCON.
However, star centre-back and talisman Dan Ballard could return after missing the draw with Man City on New Year’s Day.
Dominic Solanke is closing in on a return to action for Tottenham
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Tottenham vs Sunderland prediction
After two difficult London derbies on the road, Thomas Frank’s side return to home comforts for their second game of 2026 and will be keen to put on a performance in front of their own supporters.
Sunderland put in a huge effort against Man City and that could work to Spurs’ favour.
Tottenham to win, 2-0.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
This will be the first Premier League meeting between these sides since 2017, which finished as a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light.
Tottenham wins: 48
Sunderland wins: 36
Draws: 31
Tottenham vs Sunderland match odds
Tottenham to win: 17/20
Sunderland to win: 7/2
Draw: 5/2
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
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Thomas Frank seeks more creativity after dour Spurs display at Brentford
Tottenham face Sunderland at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The Standard
Sam Tabuteau
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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri
I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.
Tottenham have been sweating over the fitness of Lucas Bergvall ahead of the Premier League clash with Sunderland.
Bergvall missed Thursday’s 0-0 draw with Brentford with a muscular injury after coming off in the 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace after Christmas.
“Lucas Bergvall is a doubt,” said Thomas Frank on Friday. We hope he'll be ready.”
With Bergvall a doubt, Frank is likely to stick with the same midfield three he deployed against Brentford.
But he will hope to see more from his midfielders in possession as Spurs struggled to build any momentum on New Year’s Day.
Xavi Simons remains out as he serves the final game of his three-game suspension following his red card against Liverpool.
Frank provided a positive update on Dominic Solanke after the draw with Brentford, stating that the striker could return to fitness by the end of January.
Solanke, who has not played since August, has struggled with a recurring ankle injury, but partially returned to training this week.
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Frank, though, has not put a timeframe on the 28-year-old’s return.
“The thing I need to know about, of course, is when he's out there on the pitch. Then that's positive, of course,” Frank said.
“But to say mid-Jan or end of Jan or 25th of Jan, I will not do that. I will very much look forward to naming the dates when he's involved in the squad.”
Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Destiny Udogie, meanwhile, are long-term injury concerns, with Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr still away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Spurs were disjointed and struggled to create anything against Brentford, but with Frank short of options he is unlikely to make any drastic changes to his starting line-up.
Wilson Odobert was given a rare chance to impress at the Gtech Community Stadium but his performance lacked intent.
He could make way for Randal Kolo Muani, who dropped to the bench against Brentford.
Predicted Tottenham XI (4-3-3): Vicario, Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Porro, Bentancur, Gray, Palhinha, Kolo Muani, Richarlison, Kudus
Injured: Solanke, Maddison, Udogie, Kulusevski
Doubts: Bergvall
Suspended: Simons
Unavailable: Bissouma, Sarr (AFCON)
Time and date: 3pm GMT on Sunday, January 4, 2026
How to watch: Sky Sports
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
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Spurs have struggled for consistency at home so far this season and welcome Sunderland to north London on Sunday
Thomas Frank’s Tottenham face Sunderland at home on Sunday
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Sam Tabuteau
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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri
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Thomas Frank is not concerned about the atmosphere around Tottenham heading into Sunday’s crunch match at home to Sunderland.
Frank was booed by sections of the travelling Spurs support upon his return to Brentford on New Year’s Day, as his side mustered just two shots on target in a dreary, yet emotional reunion.
The rising dissent from the stands, with supporters also heard chanting ‘boring, boring Tottenham’, is not something Frank is worrying himself with, though.
His focus is on delivering a performance against Sunderland worthy of the admission fee alone, with taunts of ‘we want our money back’, another popular jibe from the Spurs supporters on a bitterly cold evening in west London.
“There are a lot of other things to worry about in life that are much more important,” Frank said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“What I’m focusing on is to make sure that we perform in the best possible way. All my focus is on that.”
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Frank’s honesty in highlighting the chasm between where the club wants to be and the reality of where it finds itself after years of instability has been admirable, but it has also wrangled with supporters desperate to see a more entertaining brand of football.
Rough reception: Thomas Frank
AFP via Getty Images
The Dane is not blind to supporters’ frustrations; he, too, wishes his side could play on the front foot with little repercussion, and he hopes to give those in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday something to rally behind as they host high-flying Sunderland in search of a rare home win.
“When we play the game (against Sunderland), we need the fans behind us. They need to push and need to help us. It’s just facts, that’s the way it is.
“If they can see we run hard and do everything we can, then they should help us all the way, and that’s hopefully enough to win the game.”
Frank knows how quickly perceptions can change; a week is a long time in football, and it is why he is not getting caught up in the chorus of boos that threaten to undermine his tenure.
Win against Sunderland and Spurs will have taken seven points from a possible nine, which in a season where every team is struggling for consistency, cannot be overlooked.
“This is a beautiful example of how football works,” Frank continued.
“There was one snapshot of the game yesterday. Before that, at home, we played against Brentford, we played a very good game, the fans were fantastic.
“We played against Slavia Prague, they helped us, were fantastic. We played against Liverpool, they almost gave us a draw, where it seemed like everything was a little bit against us.
“The last three home games, the fans have been very good. Then there was the chants last night and boom, now it’s the biggest problem in the world.
“I’m pretty sure that all the fantastic Tottenham fans we have out there, they want the best for the team, for the players, they want to do everything they can to push them.
“And why not? Hey, it’s life, and football is hope. There’s always hope. We’re going into that game with massive hope.”
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The Spurs boss was subjected to boos as he went over to thank the travelling support at the Gtech Community Stadium on New Year’s Day, with his side producing a performance desperately devoid of inspiration on his return to west London.
After the game, Frank acknowledged supporters’ frustrations, but said his side’s lack of attacking intent was in part down to where the club finds itself after a difficult year on and off the pitch.
It was a message he was keen to impress again as he spoke to the press on Friday afternoon, launching into a near four-minute monologue about the club’s current plight.
“I think expectation is good, and I also think we are probably in a bit of a transition. Not that we don’t want to play a lot better, but the club, the squad, the injuries, all that taken into consideration, is part of that,” said Frank.
“What I'm 100 per cent sure will happen is that I know we will be able to score a lot of goals and I know we will be much more dominant in a lot of games, but with the current situation with too many of the top players out, playing a lot of games, that just makes it more tricky, also with no time to train, it’s just reality.”
Frank, whose side produced just two shots on target against Brentford, arrived at a club which, despite lifting the Europa League in May, finished 17th in the Premier League last season.
The Dane says he knew the gravity of the situation when he took the job in June, but with long-term injuries to Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Dominic Solanke significantly depleting Spurs’ attacking options, he has been cautious not to let expectations get out of hand in his debut season.
“I think it's also okay to mention that we still lack some very important offensive players that’s been out for a while,” Frank continued.
“I don't want to mention it again. I'm getting a little bit bored, very bored, and sick and tired of naming them. And on top of that, we didn't have Xavi Simons for various reasons, or Lucas Bergvall (against Brentford).
Frank wants his team to play on the front foot, and says they will endeavour to do so when they host Sunderland this weekend - Three points against Regis Le Bris’ side would make it seven points from a possible nine and change the mood around the club yet again in what has been a topsy-turvy season.
However, there is a line, he admits, between playing aggressive, attacking football and opening up defensively. This is the balance Frank is trying so hard to straddle as outside noise builds.
“We need to do everything we can to put an attacking, intense, front-footed performance out against Sunderland in two days' time. I'll do everything I can to make sure we do that. And if we do that and get three points, it's seven from three, which would be a very good output.”
Thomas Frank has confirmed that co-sporting director Fabio Paratici is still firmly involved in Tottenham’s transfer plans despite reports linking him with a move away from the club.
Paratici has been heavily linked with Fiorentina, who are said to have offered the Italian a five-year deal to become their new sporting director.
Rumours over his potential departure have only intensified after Spurs agreed a deal to loan winger Manor Solomon to Fiorentina on Friday.
Quizzed on who Paratici was working for, Frank insisted he was still in constant contact with the 53-year-old about Spurs’ January plans.
“Good question, maybe you know… (who he is working for),” Frank joked in his press conference held before Sunday’s Premier League clash with Sunderland.
Frank says Paratici, who returned from a 30-month FIFA ban in October, and fellow sporting director Johan Lange are working together to deliver for Spurs in what is expected to be a busy January window.
“I just know when I speak to Fabio, who I spoke to twice yesterday, and Johan, who I spoke to this morning, the two of them are working very, very hard,” he said.
Tottenham are in the market for new players and have been boosted by the sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for a club-record fee.
“It always needs to be both players that can impact the team now, that’s the main priority,” he said.
“But at the same time, it’s not that we just stop signing teenagers because you need to have players with impact now and players for the long-term.
“Sometimes you sign maybe a young player who is good enough to play now, sometimes you sign a young player who comes in and you send him on loan and they are part of the long-term thinking. So it will still be a mix of both.”
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