London Evening Standard

Spurs had the chance to secure their top-flight status with a game to spare against Chelsea in midweek, but lost 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. They remain favourites to stay up, however, as only two specific permutations will see West Ham leapfrog them on Sunday.

Burnley and Wolves are already long since relegated, while Leeds and Nottingham Forest have both pulled away from the battle at the bottom in recent weeks to ensure their safety. That leaves Spurs and West Ham fighting to finish above the dotted line.

Tottenham welcome David Moyes’ Everton to their corner of north London this weekend, with the 12th-place Toffees having little to play for aside from trying to secure a top-half finish.

West Ham’s opponents Leeds are safe up in 14th position after a strong finish to their first campaign back in the Premier League. It is worth noting that West Ham have lost twice to Leeds already this term, including a defeat on penalties in the FA Cup quarter-finals at the London Stadium back in March.

Roberto De Zerbi’s men hold the initiative with a two-point gap above 18th-placed West Ham. Their goal difference is also superior by some distance, sitting at -10 compared to West Ham’s -22. That provides Spurs with a bit of a cushion heading into Sunday.

The maths is simple for Tottenham: beat Everton at home and secure Premier League survival. However, that task might yet prove difficult, with Spurs winless at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League since December.

If Spurs can only draw with Everton, whom they beat 3-0 on Merseyside in October, then West Ham will require an enormous winning margin of 12 goals over Leeds in order to stay up.

While not technically impossible it is obviously extremely unlikely, and as such, the main permutation that will see Spurs go down for the first time since 1977 is if they lose to Everton and West Ham beat Leeds.

Victory for Tottenham at home to Everton will guarantee their Premier League status for another season, regardless of events across London. Defeat for Spurs will only be punished by relegation if West Ham win their game.

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Spurs need a result to avoid a stunning relegation

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

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Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Dominic Solanke will be available for selection ahead of Tottenham’s relegation decider against Everton.

Solanke has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury sustained during last month’s win away to Wolves.

De Zerbi had said last week that he hoped to have Solanke available to play some part this weekend.

"Solanke is available, we have to decide if he starts in the first XI,” De Zerbi said on Friday afternoon.

De Zerbi added that they still had to assess the “physical condition” of James Maddison, who has seen his minutes off the bench steadily increase since returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

“[James] Maddison is available. It's always tough to decide before the game how many minutes he can play.

“Of course, he's a different player, a top player for us, but we have to analyse the physical condition with this Italian weather.”

Djed Spence, meanwhile, is fit to play despite suffering a broken jaw during Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

Back: Djed Spence

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The England right-back, who has been called up to Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad, will play with a protective mask if called upon.

Cristian Romero remains out with a knee injury but will not be in attendance against Everton, having decided to continue his rehabilitation in Argentina.

De Zerbi has prioritised continuity since he took charge and named an unchanged starting lineup against Chelsea.

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Despite defeat at Stamford Bridge, it would not be unexpected for the Italian to once again opt not to make alterations to his team ahead of Everton’s visit.

Guglielmo Vicario is back fit and was on the bench against Chelsea. But the Italian goalkeeper is lacking match sharpness, and so it would be a risk to hand him his first start in two months in such a pivotal game.

De Zerbi appears to have settled on a midfield combination he likes, with Rodrigo Bentancur, Conor Gallagher and Joao Palhinha all starting the last three games.

He is therefore unlikely to make any changes in the middle of the park. Though he will have been impressed with Pape Matar Sarr’s cameo off the bench at Stamford Bridge.

Disappointment: Richarlison

PA

Injuries leave De Zerbi with little choice in attack, despite frustrating performances from Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani in west London.

With a decision to be made on Solanke’s fitness, Richarlison could continue to lead the line.

The Brazilian struggled for large parts against Chelsea before popping up with the goal that got Spurs back in the game and set up a nervy finish.

Spurs are two points above the relegation zone and know that a win against Everton will keep them up, while a draw will effectively secure safety due to their superior goal difference over West Ham.

Spurs would, however, be relegated if they lose to Everton and West Ham beat Leeds at the London Stadium.

Predicted Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kolo Muani, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison

Injured: Davies, Kulusevski, Odobert, Kudus, Romero, Simons

Date and time: 4pm BST on Sunday, May 24, 2026

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

How to watch: Sky Sports

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The Spurs captain had been expected to be in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, with the north Londoners looking to secure Premier League survival on the final day of the season against Everton.

Instead, Romero was pictured at Belgrano’s training ground on Thursday, and De Zerbi has confirmed the 28-year-old will not return to England ahead of this weekend.

“He spoke with the medical staff, together they decided to go to Argentina to complete the rehab with the Argentinian medical staff,” De Zerbi said in his pre-match press conference.

“We spoke last week. With me, he showed always that he wanted to stay with us, the injury is already an injury and we have to accept it.

“I am not stupid. I want to be clear. I am not stupid. If I understand there is any player, or some player, who thinks for himself before the club, I can't be the same Roberto. But with Cuti Romero, I can't say nothing, because with me, in my time, he has been correct in the beginning, until now.

“I will answer you. The decision was with the medical staff, and I think he can't change nothing if Romero tomorrow is in the stadium or not. And finally, I have no time to lose energy, to lose thinking other things. We have to be focused just on the game, and I think we have the players good enough to achieve our target.”

Romero has been a visible presence off the pitch during De Zerbi’s time in charge and could be seen celebrating on the touchline as Mathys Tel scored the opening goal against Leeds last Monday.

But his decision to return to his native Argentina, where he has been training with Belgrano in preparation for the World Cup, has not gone down well with Spurs supporters.

The World Cup winner, whose Spurs future is in doubt heading into the summer, has been widely criticised for deciding not to attend arguably the biggest game in the club’s history.

De Zerbi says he understands supporter frustration, but added that the decision was made with the medical staff as Romero steps up his recovery ahead of the World Cup.

“The decision is with the medical staff. I have not time to lose energy, we have to be focused just on the game. We have players good enough to achieve our target.

“Not all leaders are the same. Ben Davies spoke with me and he asked to stay today to work with us and tomorrow we sleep in The Lodge, the hotel, and he wants to stay with the team, the team-mates, but Romero is preparing for the World Cup, he has an injury and for me nothing has changed.

“And then we have to think after tomorrow, we have to think everything is for the future, the best future of Tottenham.”

Asked if Romero has played his final game for Spurs, De Zerbi said: “I don't know ... After tomorrow there is no trophy, no bonus. There is more than that. There is the history of the club, the pride of the players and their families, the dignity of everyone.

“I can't lose energy on the future. I'm not stupid. I have clear ideas of what I want but there is a process.”

David Moyes says he "would love" to help West Ham avoid relegation when his Everton side visit Tottenham on the final day of the Premier League season.

Spurs need just one point at home to Everton on Sunday to secure their Premier League survival, while West Ham need to beat Leeds and hope for a helping hand from the Toffees.

Moyes has plenty of affinity for the Hammers, having twice managed the club. His second spell was a huge success, guiding the club to Conference League glory and a top-half finish in the Premier League.

West Ham have been proven wrong to get rid of Moyes, with their league performances only worsening in the two years since, but Moyes holds no hard feelings.

His biggest job at hand, though, is not West Ham's survival but rather Everton's exploits.

Everton have not secured a top-half finish in the league for five seasons, and a win will be required to match that feat on Sunday.

"I would love to keep West Ham in the league if I can do, but it is more important I get Everton that top-half finish."

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