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Tottenham Hotspur will face Chelsea in the Premier League and the Blues are without one of their players due to an incident which occurred in the Carabao Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur will return to Premier League action on Saturday with the aim of building on an impressive 3-0 victory against Everton last weekend.

However, Spurs must overcome both their poor home form and poor record against Chelsea in order to secure all three points.

Tottenham are without a number of players due to yet another injury problem at the club, but Chelsea have their own problems with player availability too.

Liam Delap will not be allowed to face Tottenham

Chelsea’s latest problem is not the result of an injury. Rather, it is that Liam Delap has been handed a one-match suspension after being sent off against Wolves in the Carabao Cup.

The striker was only on the pitch at Molineux for 25 minutes before he was booked for an argument and then for a foul. Despite this, Chelsea sealed a 4-3 victory to advance to the next round of the competition.

It was the first time Delap appeared for Chelsea since the end of August, after he suffered a hamstring injury during a 2-0 victory over Fulham

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No striker is guaranteed to start for Spurs or Chelsea

Both Joao Pedro and Marc Guiu have failed to thrive in the striker role for Chelsea in Delap’s absence, so it remains to be seen who will lead the line against Spurs.

Tottenham have a similar situation, with Richarlison failing to impress in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle.

It is likely Thomas Frank will choose to start Randal Kolo Muani, but Mathys Tel is another option for the must-win derby.

Thomas Frank has revealed why Guglielmo Vicario did not feature against Newcastle United and whether the Tottenham goalkeeper will be back in time for this weekend’s London derby.

Kinsky made just his second start of the season at St James’ Park on Wednesday, and Tottenham fans were divided about the 22-year-old’s performance.

While he did make a couple of decent saves, he was at fault for the home side’s second goal, with the Czech goalkeeper coming out of his line but failing to reach a cross, which was headed into the back of the net by Nick Woltemade.

It is fair to say that Kinsky is not going to be challenging Guglielmo Vicario for the number one shirt for the moment, and Frank has now provided an update on the Spurs number one.

Thomas Frank reveals if Guglielmo Vicario will be back in Tottenham’s goal soon

The Tottenham head coach confirmed that Vicario, who has been in outstanding form over recent weeks, missed the clash against Newcastle due to an injury.

However, Frank described the 28-year-old’s injury as ‘small’ and confirmed that he will be ready for the clash against Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

When asked about Vicario, the Spurs head coach said, following the 2-0 loss against Newcastle (via Football.London): “He had a smaller thing that had to be done, but he’ll be ready for Chelsea.”

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Spurs need Vicario against Chelsea

The numbers clearly show that Vicario is one of the best shot-stoppers across the Premier League, but that is not the only thing that he brings to the table.

Vicario has been named in Tottenham’s new leadership group by Frank and is a voice who is respected in the changing room.

For a high-pressure London derby like the one on Saturday, his presence will be crucial to the Spurs backline, which is why this update by Frank comes as a huge boost for the Lilywhites.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dumped out of the Carabao Cup as some players failed to perform on a disappointing night up north.

Tottenham Hotspur have exited the Carabao Cup at the second hurdle, having previously defeated Doncaster in a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Spurs had some good spells in their third round tie against Newcastle United, but failures to be clinical and to defend well ultimately cost them a place in the competition.

Here are the five winners and losers from the disappointing defeat which has confirmed it will not be Tottenham who visit Wembley Stadium on March 22.

Pedro Porro was named Tottenham captain

Pedro Porro might not have been named in the leadership group Thomas Frank created, but he was named Spurs captain for the second time on Wednesday night. The right-back had already worn the armband in Tottenham’s previous Carabao Cup tie.

Porro did not have his best game against Newcastle, but he did fire in a cross which could have been an assist if Richarlison had his shooting boots on.

One standout moment from Porro was after the game when he called Djed Spence and Randal Kolo Muani back from the tunnel to go over and applaud the travelling supporters.

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Randal Kolo Muani looks match fit for Spurs

Muani’s loan move has not gone according to plan. The centre forward was supposed to provide injury cover for Dominic Solanke, but ended up with fitness issues himself.

However, the France international looked bright off the bench last night and a run which began in his own half could have led to something, had the referee not got in the way.

It is good to see Muani looking sharper and he needs to follow this up with his first Tottenham goal.

Lucas Bergvall was electric for Tottenham

Lucas Bergvall has not been given enough minutes this season and it will be an injustice if he does not start against Chelsea after his performance on Wednesday.

The midfielder successfully completed all six of the dribbles he attempted, won eight of his ten ground duels and accurately placed 95 per cent of his passes.

Most of Tottenham’s attacking play in the first half went through Bergvall and he is putting some of his teammates to shame.

Now, let’s take a look at the three losers from Newcastle 2-0 Tottenham…

Antonin Kinsky failed his Spurs audition

There is an argument that Antonin Kinsky should be offered some leeway, considering he only made his second start of the season against Newcastle. However, he is out training most days and should have done better last night.

It is hard to blame Kinsky for the hosts’ opening goal, as it was the unprepared Tottenham defence which allowed Fabian Schar a free header. Kevin Danso must take some responsibility for the second goal as he carelessly gave the ball away, but Kinsky made a mess of things.

The backup goalkeeper left his net only to completely miss the ball in the air, providing Nick Woltemade with the opportunity to double Newcastle’s lead shortly after the second half began.

Guglielmo Vicario had two very strong performances against Monaco and Everton respectively and there should be no debate on him starting Premier League matches now.

Richarlison was poor in front of goal

Richarlison might struggle to finish a Happy Meal based on his showing last night. The striker started the season so well, but right now he is only keeping his first-team spot due to a lack of other available options.

Frank gave Richarlison the nod up front after he secured a good headed assist against Everton at the weekend, but his contributions against Newcastle were under par.

The 28-year-old was slow to arrive in the box and wasted a number of chances, causing Spurs supporters to once again demand his sale at the nearest possible opportunity.

In Richarlison’s defence, he did win a combined nine aerial and ground duels, which was more than any other player. However, this cannot compensate for the failure to be clinical.

Xavi Simons played another lacklustre performance for Spurs

Xavi Simons was not Tottenham’s worst attacking player against Newcastle. That dishonour goes to Brennan Johnson, who was absolutely hopeless on the right wing.

Despite this, Simons once again failed to make an impact for Spurs and he will be held to a higher standard. After all, the 22-year-old was supposed to be the marquee signing of the summer and an adequate alternative to Eberechi Eze.

Simons does not appear to be an attacking threat and at the moment it is hard to see why he should start ahead of either Bergvall or Pape Matar Sarr.

Tottenham Hotspur, semi-finalists in last year’s Carabao Cup, were knocked out by the cup holders Newcastle United, who secured a 2-0 win on the night, and Antonin Kinsky’s mistake has left Spurs fans divided.

It was a disappointing outcome for Thomas Frank’s side, who came into the tie with hopes of adding to the club’s silverware collection.

Frank had made it clear in his pre-match press conference that he wanted to guide Spurs to a trophy this season, but this latest setback leaves him with just the FA Cup, Champions League and Premier League as his remaining paths to success.

Despite his ambition to lift the Carabao Cup, the Tottenham boss opted to rotate his squad to keep players fresh amid a recent injury crisis, handing Antonin Kinsky a rare start in place of Guglielmo Vicario.

It was an opportunity for the Czech goalkeeper to make his mark, but it ultimately turned into a night to forget.

Tottenham fans react to Antonin Kinsky display against Newcastle

Tottenham fans had previously called for Antonin Kinsky to be given a run of games when Guglielmo Vicario was struggling for form earlier in the season.

Frank remained loyal to the Italian, but with Vicario left out of the squad for this tie, Kinsky was handed his chance to impress.

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However, the 22-year-old failed to make the most of the opportunity, committing a costly error for Newcastle United’s second goal after failing to deal with a cross.

The mistake proved decisive, and supporters were quick to share their opinions after the final whistle.

One fan said: “Fans calling for Kinsky to replace Vicario were a tad premature. But his distribution is high quality.”

Another added: “Mixed bag from Kinsky. Distribution looked sharp at times, and he pulled off some solid saves early on, but that costly error changed the game. He’s got potential, but Spurs really needed more composure in big moments tonight.”

A third Tottenham supporter wrote: “Kinsky’s shot stopping was embarrassing, but his distribution was quite nice. Vicario’s distribution is embarrassing, but his shot stopping is stunning. If only there was a way to fuse them.”

Another said: “Had a couple passes that made me really confident of him for the future, but he is still miles behind Vic when it comes to shot stopping and commanding the box. Him being the number two for the foreseeable should be okay with everyone.”

One more Tottenham fan commented: “Keepers require consistent matches to improve. Unfortunately, torching Kinsky because of some dodgy moments in his second game in nine months is a bit harsh.”

While another summed up the general feeling: “Poor for both goals, first and foremost he’s a goalkeeper. It doesn’t matter how good his passing range is if he makes those kind of mistakes.”

Kinsky’s rust shows despite flashes of promise

Indeed, Antonin Kinsky has barely featured this season, making just two starts across all competitions, and the lack of rhythm could explain his costly mistake.

For a young goalkeeper, confidence and sharpness come from regular minutes, something he has not had under Thomas Frank.

Despite the error, it was not an entirely poor performance. Kinsky showed some composure in possession and looked assured in his passing for large parts of the game, even if the result overshadowed those positives.

Statistically, the Czech international completed 66% of his passes and successfully managed 6 out of 21 long balls. His distribution was arguably the standout aspect of his display, though it is clear there is still work to be done before he can seriously challenge Vicario for the number one spot at Tottenham.

Captain Pedro Porro has given his honest verdict on Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-0 loss against Newcastle United in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur suffered their first away defeat of the season, falling 2-0 to Newcastle United on Wednesday night.

The defeat brought an end to the momentum built from last weekend’s hard-fought win over Everton, as Spurs failed to make it back-to-back victories.

It was a frustrating evening for Thomas Frank and his players, who would have hoped to keep their cup journey alive.

The Carabao Cup offered one of several potential routes to silverware this season, but those hopes were dashed under the St James’ Park lights.

The loss means Tottenham now turn their focus towards the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Champions League, as they remain their only route to silverware this campaign.

Pedro Porro reacts to Tottenham’s defeat at Newcastle

Following the disappointing result, Pedro Porro, who captained the side on the night, spoke candidly about the performance and what went wrong against Newcastle.

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Speaking to the club’s official website, Porro reflected on the defeat, acknowledging both the disappointment of the result and the support from the travelling fans.

He said: “It is first very disappointing for us, for all the fans that come here today in the night on Wednesday fighting for me myself and my other teammates thank you so much for the support.

“But the result for them, no and for us I think I love the mentality the team because you concede a goal in the set pieces this is happen in football.

“Stay in the game and you start the second half and we concede again and now the best for today is our fans. Thank you so much and keep coming on Saturday.”

Tottenham created chances despite the loss

Tottenham did not go down without a fight, as Thomas Frank’s side carved out several chances but lacked the finishing touch needed to change the outcome.

Porro, when asked about Spurs’ attacking display, admitted that the side did well in moments but fell short in key areas.

He added: “Yeah it is we play well in the first half a little combination with Richarlison maybe we stay with the ball one more second for the last pass or maybe in this moment you need more in the area, sometimes football is there.

“But I think the most important is the mentality we put everything in the pitch, you lose this game it’s disappointing because the last season you arrive in the semi final and then you lose in Anfield but I think for me the other team is good.

“The atmosphere is incredible this is important for the game, but we know we have another game on Saturday in the afternoon.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been knocked out in round four of the Carabao Cup after falling to a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United.

Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United:

Tottenham out of the cup: One positive and one negative

Losing a game of football never comes with a good feeling, and this one will definitely hurt and leave a sour taste in the mouths of a few, but there is some positive to take from the defeat.

No doubt, winning the Carabao Cup would have been a really good thing for Tottenham fans who would be eager to see their club lift more silverware this term.

Thomas Frank even stated he was aiming to go all the way in the Carabao Cup, but that has now slipped through.

If Spurs are to make it back-to-back trophy wins, then it has to be one of the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, or Premier League.

Can they go all the way in all three? Time will tell, but realistically, it might be the FA Cup that offers the best route to silverware, and that is where the negative comes, as this defeat severely hinders the chances of another piece of silverware.

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However, it is not all doom and gloom, as a loss now means fewer games to worry about for Frank, who is without eleven first-team players, and that could help his side perform better in the other competitions they are competing in.

Antonin Kinsky fails to take his chance to challenge Guglielmo Vicario

This cup tie saw Frank ring the changes, and one of those came in goal as Guglielmo Vicario made way for young understudy Antonin Kinsky.

The Czech international started brightly, making a fine early stop from Malick Thiaw’s effort, but a few nervy moments began to creep in as the game went on.

Kinsky was indecisive when going for the ball after a Newcastle corner, and that led to Fabian Schar’s first goal.

In the second half, another far-from-convincing attempt to deal with a cross led to Nick Woltemade’s goal, which doubled the Magpies’ advantage.

Vicario has had his own howlers this season, and fans have called for Kinsky to replace him, but with a performance like this, it is very unlikely the young keeper will be taking the number one spot – especially not now, with Vicario in top form.

Tottenham’s injury crisis worsens with leadership vacuum clear to see

As mentioned earlier, Spurs are currently without eleven outfield players, which is the same situation they found themselves in last season.

It is an injury crisis, and Frank now has about fifteen first-team players at his disposal.

Today, we saw the lack of real depth in action, with none of Frank’s leadership players on the pitch. Cristian Romero is sidelined, and so are James Maddison and Ben Davies.

Vicario did not make the squad, while Micky van de Ven was named on the bench and was an unused substitute.

Pedro Porro filled in for the absent leaders, but with fixtures coming thick and fast, Tottenham will be hoping they can get as many players off the treatment table as soon as possible.

And of course, getting as many leaders in his side for big games could make the difference, as their experience is often vital.

Xavi Simons struggles again as Spurs fall short in midfield

Xavi Simons is still yet to find his rhythm in a Tottenham shirt, and today’s tie saw him struggle once again – especially with the physicality of Newcastle’s midfielders and defenders.

Simons was at times bullied off the ball when Newcastle players got close to him, although in transition, where there was a lot of green grass to run into, he looked like a threat.

Even in those moments, though, his final ball was lacking, often overhitting passes to his teammates.

He did still create one of the big chances Spurs managed, with a short pass to Pape Matar Sarr, who forced a save from Aaron Ramsdale.

His performances are slowly improving as he is seeing more of the ball in Frank’s latest tactical tweak, but he needs to be much better if he is to play at the top level for Tottenham.

Mathys Tel slipping down the Tottenham pecking order

Mathys Tel has not been seeing game time in recent weeks, missing out against Aston Villa, and today, he was not named in the starting eleven.

Instead, Frank opted for Richarlison as his forward and Simons off the left, although he drifted inside most of the time, while Brennan Johnson operated on the right.

Tel’s chances to impress are quickly reducing, especially with a few players coming back to full fitness.

Randal Kolo Muani got more minutes than Tel today, with the 20-year-old getting only twelve minutes of game time, even with so many injuries hitting Frank’s squad.

This shows that he could very much be slipping down the pecking order for Tottenham, which is not good for the forward, who has already been left out of the UEFA Champions League squad.

The full-time whistle has blown between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup, and the player ratings are in.

Below, we have given each Tottenham player a performance rating on a scale of 0-10, with 10 highest score achievable for an impressive performance.

How the Tottenham players rated vs Newcastle

Antonin Kinsky – Made a few smart stops in the first half, and his distribution was equally impressive. However, a poor decision in the second half, when he came for a cross without conviction, led to Nick Woltemade doubling Newcastle’s lead. 5.

Pedro Porro – Newcastle found some joy down the left, with Harvey Barnes creating a few good chances in both halves while Porro was often caught too high to put pressure on him. The Spaniard, however, delivered a dangerous cross into the box that created a good chance for Richarlison, which the forward failed to convert. 5.5.

Kevin Danso – After a near-flawless aerial display against Everton last time out, Danso was part of a defence that conceded twice from headers. He could have done better with the first goal from Fabian Schar. 6.

Joao Palhinha – The Portuguese midfielder put in a strong shift throughout this cup tie. He was willing to cover out wide and push forward when required. The 30-year-old made several key interceptions, tackles, and headers. One of Tottenham’s few positives on the night, and his versatility will be vital amid the current injury crisis. 7.

Djed Spence – Tasked by Thomas Frank with holding width on the left, Spence looked decent for most of the match. However, his limitations on the ball were evident, as his weaker left foot prevented him from delivering quality crosses. Tottenham may find more attacking threat if Destiny Udogie returns to that role. 5.

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Rodrigo Bentancur – Nothing particularly stood out in his performance. Tried to stay tidy in possession but was overpowered by Newcastle’s midfield. Later replaced by Randal Kolo Muani. 5.

Pape Matar Sarr – Began making more forward runs in the second half and had a good opportunity to put Tottenham ahead, but Aaron Ramsdale denied him. It could have changed the momentum had he taken that chance. 5.5.

Lucas Bergvall – Much of Tottenham’s attacking play went through him in the first half, but his influence faded after the break. 5.5.

Xavi Simons – Struggled in the first half, though he showed improvement after the interval. His final passes often lacked precision, but he did create one of Tottenham’s better chances, which Sarr could not convert. 5.

Richarlison – The Brazilian forward had a few chances in the game. One header in the first half went straight at Ramsdale, and an improvised finish from a Porro cross in the second half looked destined for goal until the Newcastle goalkeeper stood firm. 6.

Brennan Johnson – Produced a few bright moments in the second half, getting into good areas to create chances, but his final delivery at times let him down. Faded as the game wore on and was replaced by Mohammed Kudus. 5.

Substitutes

Randal Kolo Muani – Replaced Bentancur as Frank continues to build his match sharpness. Showed glimpses of his pace and link-up play. 5

Mohammed Kudus – Came on for Johnson and immediately got involved, drawing some heavy challenges from Newcastle’s midfielders. 6

The half-time whistle has blown between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle in the Carabao Cup, and the player ratings are in.

Below, we have given each Tottenham player a performance rating on a scale of 0-10, with 10 highest score achievable for an impressive performance.

Tottenham player ratings vs Newcastle

Antonin Kinsky – Called into action early on from a Newcastle set piece after Malick Thiaw got his head on a Sandro Tonali cross, but the Czech international was equal to it. The 22-year-old has been tidy with his distribution, often finding Richarlison’s feet. Conceded from a corner after Fabian Schar headed in – came out to claim but hesitated. 6.

Pedro Porro – Newcastle United started the first half at full tilt, creating a couple of early chances. Jacob Ramsey looked to test Kinsky after a driving run into Spurs’ box, but Porro stuck with him and got a vital block in to deny the former Aston Villa man. 6.

Kevin Danso – The Austrian was immense last time out against Everton, but here he was caught out by Schar, who rose above him to give Newcastle the lead. Managed a strike from range as Tottenham pushed for an equaliser, though it went straight at Aaron Ramsdale. 5.

Joao Palhinha – The Portuguese midfielder does not look out of place in defence, given how solid he’s been. Made a couple of key interceptions, blocks and tackles, and dealt well with aerial duels. Has, however, been dragged out of position at times when Djed Spence pushes forward. 7.

Djed Spence – Really positive going forward for Tottenham as they chased an equaliser. Decision-making in the final third was decent, with Thomas Frank trusting him to hold width on the left. His boot let him down for Newcastle’s corner that led to the goal, as he could not get into position in time after trying to rectify the problem. 6.5.

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Rodrigo Bentancur –Spurs have been far too easy to play through in this tie, often looking outnumbered in midfield. Bentancur has kept things ticking with neat sideways passes but hasn’t imposed himself enough. 5.5.

Pape Matar Sarr – Industrious as ever, helping out defensively, but he could offer more both in attack and in his pressing. 5.

Lucas Bergvall – Lively in spells and involved in much of Tottenham’s attacking play. Had a good chance to play in Richarlison but misplaced his cross behind the Brazilian. 6.5.

Xavi Simons – No real quality from the Dutchman, who’s been overpowered by Newcastle’s physical midfield and defence at times when he’s got on the ball. He has been good in transition and managed to get an effort on goal, but he did not hit the target. 4.

Richarlison – More involved this time, dropping deeper to link play. Had an early effort blocked by Newcastle’s back line. He had a really good chance late on in the first half, but his headed effort was straight at Ramsdale. 6.

The Tottenham Hotspur team for the Carabao Cup fifth round match against Newcastle United, which takes place this evening has been announced.

Tottenham take on the current cup holders at St James’ Park in a busy schedule of fixtures for the North Londoners that lies ahead.

Spurs booked their place in the fifth round following a 3-0 win against Doncaster Rovers as Thomas Frank looks to lift his first piece of silverware with his new club.

Guglielmo Vicario has been in remarkable form over the past two matches and Tottenham fans will be hoping he isn’t called into action as much tonight.

Tottenham’s team against Newcastle has been revealed

Tottenham’s injury woes have not eased with Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie both still not ready to return for the Carabao Cup tie.

Romero picked up an injury in the warm-up before the 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa and has missed the subsequent fixtures against Monaco and Everton.

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Dominic Solanke is still ruled out with an ankle injury, while Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, Ben Davies, Kota Takai, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are still sidelined.

This is the Tottenham team which takes to the field under the lights on Tyneside this evening.

Newcastle: Ramsdale; Krafth, Thiaw, Schar, Burn; Tonali, Ramsey, Willock; Elanga, Barnes, Woltemade.

Tottenham: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Palhinha, Spence; Bentancur, Sarr; Johnson, Bergvall, Xavi; Richarlison.

Subs: Austin, Gunter, Tel, Kudus, Van de Ven, Kolo Muani, Scarlett, Olusesi, Rowswell

Newcastle have won each of their last three matches against Tottenham Hotspur in all competitions

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a move for a young Kosovo striker, who is turning a lot of heads in the Bundesliga, but the competition for his signature is now intensifying.

There have been mixed reports on whether Tottenham are expected to sign a striker in January, but it appears that the Lilywhites are looking closely at various number nines across Europe.

Over the last few days, a number of outlets have reported that Spurs are eyeing a move for a Bundesliga youngster, who has scored six times in nine matches across all competitions this season.

The player in question is Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani, who has been on fire since returning from his loan spell at SV Elversberg in the summer, but Thomas Frank’s men will not have a free run at the 23-year-old.

Bayern Munich ready to challenge Tottenham for Fisnik Asllani

We heard just a couple of days ago that Barcelona are prepared to battle Spurs for Fisnik Asllani, who is thought to have an undisclosed release clause in his contract.

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has now revealed that the Kosovo international has also emerged as a target for Bayern Munich.

The journalist asserts that the Bavarian club are eyeing Asllani as a potential backup to Harry Kane and that the youngster is expected to leave Hoffenheim at the end of the season.

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Should Spurs prioritise signing a striker in January?

One can understand why the Lilywhites are scouring the market for a striker. Richarlison’s form has completely dropped off, while Dominic Solanke’s injury woes have put Thomas Frank in a difficult position.

However, Frank has been positive in his assessment of Randal Kolo Muani, who is still building up his fitness, while Mathys Tel is still very young and undoubtedly has a lot of potential.