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Micky van de Ven has not been good enough for Tottenham lately, and Igor Tudor must respond by replacing him with the in-form Kevin Danso.

Micky van de Ven has been quite the player for Tottenham Hotspur, and his goal-line clearance was just as essential to the club’s Europa League triumph as Brennan Johnson’s goal.

However, there has been speculation that van de Ven wants to leave Spurs, and it is hard not to believe this claim when you look at his performances.

The Dutchman has always been aggressive in his tackles, but recently, he has been uncharacteristically over the top and, at times, completely careless. This saw him sent off against Crystal Palace, and he was perhaps lucky to avoid the same fate in Madrid.

It was at the Wanda Metropolitano that van de Ven was at fault for one of the goals Tottenham conceded, and he only made four defensive contributions during the game.

Against Fulham, van de Ven made only three defensive contributions, 10 fewer than Radu Dragusin of all people! Compared with how he was playing under Thomas Frank, something is clearly not right.

Kevin Danso must start ahead of Micky van de Ven for Tottenham

Spurs are the type of team who do not drop key first-team players, regardless of their form. Take Harry Kane, for example, a brilliant striker who carried the club for years.

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However, there were times when he went through bad patches of form, and there was never any consideration to bench him for a game.

Tottenham must not make the same mistake with van de Ven, especially when in this situation, there is an adequate alternative in Kevin Danso.

The Austrian arguably worked harder than anyone else on the pitch at Anfield, constantly making clearances to relieve the pressure and covering for his inferior defensive partner.

Danso’s performances this season have been a mixed bag, but at least it is clear where his head is at. On Sunday, it was clear he was giving everything for his team, unlike the man who single-handedly cost Spurs a result against Crystal Palace earlier in the month.

Kevin Danso’s stats in Liverpool vs Tottenham:

Cristian Romero should be the defender to play alongside Danso at Spurs

If van de Ven deserves criticism, then so does Cristian Romero, considering his season has been made up of erratic errors and constant bookings. Whether it is arguing with the referee or running half a mile out of position, the Argentine has been a frustrating watch.

Still, just look at Tottenham’s results when Romero plays compared with when he does not. Spurs may have achieved a draw at Liverpool without their captain, but before that, they were defeated in all four of the Premier League matches where he was suspended. Prior to that, four draws were recorded in seven fixtures when Romero started.

Whereas in van de Ven’s past six starts, Tottenham have lost every game, but they drew with Man City and Liverpool directly before his two most recent absences.

Also, Spurs recorded Champions League victories over Borussia Dortmund and Frankfurt, respectively, keeping clean sheets too. Guess who did not play in those matches…

If van de Ven does leave North London this summer, he will be remembered as a superb defender who played a big part in delivering Tottenham a trophy. Right now, however, he needs to be dropped for Danso until he can show he is trustworthy and reliable enough to give his best.

Callum Olusesi enjoyed a memorable moment at Anfield after the Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate made his Premier League debut against Liverpool.

It was a proud moment for Callum Olusesi on Sunday evening when the Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate made his Premier League debut in the clash against Liverpool.

Olusesi came on in the 76th minute, replacing Djed Spence, and had a positive effect on proceedings, bringing some much-needed energy into midfield for the closing stages.

He did not do anything fancy, but it was the right sort of performance you would expect the youngster to build on.

Tottenham youngster Callum Olusesi impressive cameo stats vs Liverpool

Although he featured for just 14 minutes, Olusesi’s underlying numbers show how impressive his brief cameo was.

While on the pitch, the teenager completed all eight of his passes, earning a pass accuracy of 100%. He also managed nine touches and played two passes into the final third.

He was tidy with the ball and was never dispossessed. He made two defensive contributions and completed two recoveries in his brief time on the pitch, while being dribbled past zero times.

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FotMob handed him a 6.3 match rating, while we rated Olusesi’s Premier League debut against Liverpool a seven.

Callum Olusesi must push for more Spurs minutes

With his Premier League debut out of the way, Olusesi will now be hoping he can get more minutes in the first-team squad for Tottenham before the season ends.

We want to see Olusesi in Igor Tudor’s line-up against Atletico Madrid in Spurs’ second-leg tie of the Champions League.

The midfielder can cover on the right for Spurs, as we hope Tudor sticks to the 4-4-2 formation that helped find some joy against Liverpool.

Igor Tudor has made a rough start as the Tottenham Hotspur manager, but now is not the time to part ways for one big reason.

Tottenham Hotspur were poor under Thomas Frank, but some would argue Igor Tudor has made the team even worse.

The Croatian lost his opening four fixtures at the club, making history for all the wrong reasons, and two of those defeats were pretty humiliating.

However, Spurs have finally managed to pick up a point this weekend and, better still, it was at a ground where they so often fail to claim anything – Anfield!

So then, should Tottenham get rid of the struggling manager, or should he be given a bit longer to steer the club away from the relegation zone?

Tottenham would lose momentum by sacking Igor Tudor

Spurs sacked Ange Postecoglou directly after he won a trophy, and look what happened! Getting rid of Tudor after he led his team to a positive result would follow the same mindless logic.

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Tottenham will be feeling good about their chances now. They needed a response after West Ham and Nottingham Forest took a point each at the weekend, and this has been delivered.

To risk destroying this momentum would be devoid of any common sense, because right now Spurs need rhythm, not disruption.

Tudor is beginning to look less like a fish out of water and more like someone who actually cares about what is at stake. He is really starting to let his emotions show, and that can sometimes do more for the players than hearing the same old passionate team talks.

The mood has shifted around Tottenham right before an absolute crunch match against Nottingham Forest, from the pitch to the terraces. To do anything to change that would surely be a mistake, at least for now anyway.

Tudor has not actually been that bad at Spurs

Being reactionary as a Tottenham supporter is a forgivable offence because boy, had we had it rough over the years! However, once the emotions of a matchday subside, look at the current situation with a clear mind and ask yourself the question, is Tudor really that bad?

Spurs would have been level at 2-2 with Arsenal if Randal Kolo Muani’s second goal had counted. The week after, Fulham’s goal stood when they committed an almost identical offence on Radu Dragusin and they won the game by a single strike.

Then came the match against Crystal Palace, which Spurs were winning until Micky van de Ven committed a foolish foul, which saw him sent off. This, of course, was followed by the Atletico defeat, a game which was lost very early on as a result of the Dutchman and Antonin Kinsky.

This is not to say Tudor has never made any mistakes, as he has made plenty. However, a lot of these things were out of his control, and they completely changed the direction of Spurs’ matches.

One thing which Igor Tudor was responsible for against Atletico Madrid was starting Kinsky in the first place, but this decision was actually cheered by a large section of the Tottenham support.

Yes, it went badly wrong, but the interim boss received praise for dropping Guglielmo Vicario before the match started.

Tottenham are improving under Igor Tudor, believe it or not

Spurs had 13 shots against Liverpool and seven of those landed on target. Two big chances were created and they recorded 1.18xG.

Against Atletico, Tottenham’s attacking stats were even better, with 1.99xG and three big chances created.

The defence may not have been as good, but a lot of that has been down to individual errors, rather than the structure itself.

There are still a lot of things Tudor has got wrong, although many new managers, when they do not arrive at a time when the club is an absolute trainwreck.

Right now, Spurs just have to stick with the manager and see what happens next Sunday. If he gets the win over Forest, he is definitely staying. If not, then there is time over the international break to reconsider, but for now, Tottenham fans have to get behind Igor Tudor and his players, ahead of a game which could make or break their season.

Tottenham Hotspur face a huge European challenge this week, but injuries and suspensions could leave Igor Tudor with a severely depleted squad for the Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid.

Tottenham Hotspur’s focus is now set to turn to the Champions League following their 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League last weekend.

But the task in front of Spurs in Europe on Wednesday night is massive as they aim to overcome a three-goal deficit following their 5-2 first-leg defeat against Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 of the Champions League.

Spurs must lead by at least three goals to force extra time and win by four goals to win the tie outright if they are to progress to the quarter-final of this competition.

The return leg against Atletico Madrid takes place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a ground where Spurs have a strong European record and where they have remained unbeaten since 2020.

Tottenham injury list before Atletico Madrid Champions League clash

Igor Tudor will have to pull off whatever remontada is required without several of his outfield players as Tottenham continue to manage an injury crisis.

As it stands, Spurs are set to be without a rather high 13 players when they take on Atletico Madrid in north London.

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The usual names remain sidelined, with Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert and James Maddison all out.

Mohammed Kudus is edging towards a return, with one pencilled in for after the international break, but it remains to be seen if he will be back sooner rather than later.

Destiny Udogie is also sidelined for this one as it might come too soon for the Italian, whose return is pencilled in for the weekend.

Richarlison is not injured but is suspended after picking up a yellow card in the first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha are also expected to miss out because of concussion protocols following their clash of heads late in Madrid last Tuesday.

Meanwhile, full-back Souza is not part of Spurs’ Champions League squad alongside Bissouma, who remains sidelined through injury.

Spurs could rely on youngsters against Atletico Madrid

Tottenham will, however, be hoping that Conor Gallagher is at least fit for this one, as he is nursing an illness he picked up before the Liverpool clash.

The former Atletico Madrid midfielder does represent the little bit of respite Spurs are expected to get on the injury front heading into this encounter.

We could well see a rather depleted bench that will feature several youngsters as Spurs push to turn this tie on its head. Both Callum Olusesis and James Rowswell came off the bench to help Tottenham earn the draw with Liverpool.

Opta’s Supercomputer has shared its updated predictions on where Tottenham Hotspur will finish this season in the Premier League after they earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Liverpool.

Spurs fans have had little to cheer all season, and the situation has got extremely depressing over recent months, with the club still winless in the Premier League in 2026.

It appeared that the Lilywhites were sleepwalking towards relegation, especially after Igor Tudor lost all of his first four games after replacing Thomas Frank.

However, a light has finally appeared at the end of the tunnel for Spurs, who showed against the Reds that they had not thrown in their towel just yet.

Supercomputer backs Tottenahm to preserve their Premier League status

The 1-1 draw at Anfield means that Spurs sit a point clear of their two relegation rivals, Nottingham Forest and West Ham.

Opta’s Supercomputer now predicts that Igor Tudor’s men will finish the season with an expected 40.43 points.

The data analysis website believes that that will be enough for Spurs to secure a 16th-place finish, predicting that Tottenham will finish with approximately two points more than Forest and three more than the Hammers.

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How many points do Spurs need to avoid relegation?

Opta suggests that 38 points may be enough for clubs to secure their Premier League status this season.

That means that Tottenham need two wins and two draws from their remaining eight league matches. Considering that they still don’t have a win in 2026, that could be a tall ask, though.

Kevin Danso’s latest display for Tottenham Hotspur has once again highlighted his growing influence in the heart of the defence.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool will no doubt have infused some belief within this group of players that they can avoid relegation.

It was a spirited display from all those who made it onto the pitch, with Spurs not only creating good chances but also restricting Liverpool to just one goal, which came from a set play.

Igor Tudor is hoping that Richarlison’s strike serves as a spark for Tottenham, who have suffered in recent weeks after losing four games on the bounce.

Kevin Danso’s impressive stats for Tottenham vs Liverpool

Spurs are currently managing an injury crisis and need all of their top players performing at their best. Against Liverpool, a whopping 13 players were absent, including centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

However, it proved no problem for Spurs as Kevin Danso produced a performance that even Romero would be proud of.

The centre-back was paired with Radu Dragusin, who looked shaky at times, but still ensured Spurs came away with a point.

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Not only did he defend well, but he also got on the ball and looked to progress play from deep, similar to how club captain Romero does.

His underlying numbers back this up. During the game against Arne Slot’s men, the Austrian produced the following statistics.

Kevin Danso pushing for starting role amid Romero and van de Ven struggles

Van de Ven and Romero have long been Tottenham’s first-choice pairing in recent seasons, but with Danso putting in these sorts of shifts, that might not be the case for much longer.

Romero, as we know, is capable of making silly, costly mistakes, while van de Ven has followed suit of late, with neither looking as assured as they ought to be.

Tottenham Hotspur remain firmly in the Premier League relegation battle with West Ham and Nottingham Forest with just eight games remaining. We have compared Spurs’ next five league fixtures with their relegation rivals.

We are now in the final stretch of the 25/26 Premier League season, and Tottenham Hotspur still have it all to play for.

Spurs are in a relegation scrap with Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and West Ham United, and it remains anyone’s guess as to who will go down this season.

Tottenham managed to reach the 30-point mark with their latest draw with Liverpool at Anfield, but 30 points will do little in their fight for survival this term.

Nottingham Forest and West Ham United, in 17th and 18th, are on 29 points after 30 games, while Leeds United, in 15th, are on 32 points.

With eight games left, each side will be doing its utmost to beat the drop and avoid playing in the Championship next season.

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We have now decided to take a look at the next five fixtures for Tottenham compared to their relegation rivals.

Tottenham Hotspur fixtures compared to relegation rivals

Leeds United’s next five Premier League fixtures

Nottingham Forest’s next five Premier League fixtures

Following their Premier League debuts at Anfield, Tottenham youngsters Callum Olusesi and James Rowswell have now opened up on what it means for them.

The youngsters at Tottenham Hotspur are certainly stepping up to the plate as Spurs fight to avoid the drop this season.

Archie Gray has been praised for his displays on the pitch and his leadership traits in the dressing room by team-mate Dominic Solanke, as the 20-year-old continues to spur his team on as they fight for Premier League survival.

Pape Matar Sarr also brought some much-needed freshness in the middle of the park alongside Gray in the game against Liverpool, leaving interim boss Igor Tudor to praise the two youngsters.

Tottenham youngster Callum Olusesi opens up on Premier League debut

There have been calls for Tottenham to give youth a chance, given the injury crisis the club is dealing with, and Sunday marked a huge milestone for two academy graduates.

Callum Olusesi and James Rowswell were handed their Premier League debuts in that encounter, in what was a big moment for the youngsters.

Olusesi managed 14 minutes of action after coming on for Djed Spence in the 76th minute, adding positive energy into midfield during the closing stages.

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Speaking to Tottenham Hotspur Official Website about fulfilling a long-held ambition, Olusesi explained what it meant to finally step onto the pitch.

“It’s a dream come true, there’s been a couple of games where I’ve been on the bench, loads actually, but to get on the pitch – it’s a great feeling,” Olusesi said.

When asked about the feeling of being on the pitch when Richarlison scored, Olusesi reflected on the importance of the goal and the situation Spurs currently find themselves in.

“Yeah, it’s good we need all the points we can get right now.

“Obviously, we’re not in the best situation, but if we all work hard and stick together, we’ll be able to get out of it.”

James Rowswell hopes to see more Spurs academy graduates break into the senior team

Olusesi was not the only Tottenham academy star to make his Premier League debut on Sunday, with James Rowswell also coming on in the final stages for Richarlison.

The 19-year-old earned legacy number 904 following his brief cameo. Speaking after the match about the emotions surrounding the occasion, Rowswell admitted he was struggling to take it all in.

“Thank you very much. I don’t even know what to say at the minute. I am so happy right now. It is all I have been working for, everything building up to this moment. I am so happy for it to come around.”

Reflecting on what he has learned about himself during a difficult period for the club, the youngster explained he is focused on helping the team in any way possible.

“I just try to do my part and help the team as much as I possibly can. Everyone just plays their part and what a massive point it was today at Anfield. So we just have to keep building on this.”

Rowswell also spoke about the moment Richarlison’s goal went in and the impact it had on the team.

“Massive moment for us. Yeah, it brought home the points.”

He then addressed the significance of receiving his legacy number and what it meant for him and his family.

“Definitely a proud moment for me and my family. I am just very grateful for this opportunity to come around.”

Olusesi also spoke about Rowswell’s debut, praising the work his fellow academy graduate has put in behind the scenes.

“It’s great. I’m happy for James as well. Obviously, I’ve seen the hard work he’s put in training every day. Now that his time has come, I’m happy for him. It shows the academy that there is a chance if you keep working hard and believe in it.”

Finally, when asked about young players progressing through the Tottenham academy pathway, Rowswell explained his own journey through the system.

“I came in at 8 or 9 and have done a journey up through the academy. Hopefully, we get many more people doing the same thing and, like Cal said, it is great for the academy.”

Ramon Vega has given his opinion on whether Tottenham Hotspur should persist with Igor Tudor following the side’s 1-1 draw against Liverpool.

Ahead of Sunday’s game, there was almost no evidence to suggest that Tudor was capable of getting a response out of the Spurs squad.

While the Croat has been dealing with an extremely challenging injury situation, Tottenham had failed to deliver a competent display in any of his first four games in charge, with the 5-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid arguably being the worst of the lot.

Ahead of Spurs’ trip to Anfield, it was widely reported that Tottenham had begun the process of identifying Tudor’s replacement, but the 47-year-old may have now got a lifeline after seeing his side secure a point against the Reds.

Ramon Vega urges Tottenham to stick with Igor Tudor

Vega believes that the point Tottenham earned at Anfield will do the players’ confidence a world of good as they battle for their Premier League survival.

He also suggested that it is no longer about coaching or tactics, but rather about mentality, praising the fight Tottenham showed in Merseyside and urging the club to stick with Tudor.

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Vega first wrote on X: From my own experience, which was also in the relegation battle with Spurs. This point is a major win for the team and confidence! Gives the dressing room the belief that they can do it without some big players involved. It’s HUGE, believe me. I have been in this shit dressing room situation with very low confidence. I hope they can take this to the next games. COYS.

When a supporter then asked if the club should stick or twist with Tudor, Vega responded: “Stick mate! From now on, it’s all in the hands of the players! Not much coaching is needed but mentality today they showed some!”

Tudor is hopeful Spurs can build on Liverpool draw

Tottenham had lost six games on the bounce ahead of their trip to Liverpool, and the point was thus crucial for the team’s morale and confidence ahead of their six-pointer against Nottingham Forest.

Tudor is hopeful that the draw at Anfield will spark a turnaround for Spurs, who are still without a whole host of key players.

There is now finally light at the end of the tunnel for the Lilywhites, and the squad will now believe that they can get out of the perilous situation they currently find themselves in.

Roy Keane was particularly impressed by one thing he saw from the Tottenham Hotspur players against Liverpool in their 1-1 draw.

Igor Tudor was a man under immense pressure ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Anfield, and many Spurs fans were already resigned to the fact that the Croat would be sacked after a defeat in Merseyside.

Yet, a severely depleted Tottenham Hotspur side showed plenty of fight against Arne Slot’s men, and in the end, emerged with a deserved point, owing to Richarlison’s late equaliser.

Tudor is hopeful that the performance against Liverpool can be a turning point for the Spurs squad, which had looked completely devoid of confidence over recent weeks.

Roy Keane praises Tottenham players for digging deep against Liverpool

It was not the most entertaining or high-quality encounter at Anfield, but Keane liked the fact that Tottenham delivered an ugly performance and made it hard for the home side.

He praised the Spurs players for digging deep and showing fight amidst widespread criticism and ridicule.

The Man United legend told Sky Sports (15/03/26): “They dug deep. People have been poking fun at Spurs the last few months. It’s been a difficult season, no doubt. Today they showed fighting spirit. It was ugly sometimes, but they went direct, they showed fight and quality and we have to give them credit today.”

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Jamie Redknapp admits he did not give Spurs a hope against Liverpool

Fellow Sky pundit, Jamie Redknapp, confessed that he expected the Lilywhites to roll over at Anfield, given their run of form coming into the game.

He suggested that the point is crucial for Spurs, adding that Tudor would have been removed had they lost yet again.

Redknapp said after Tottenham’s 1-1 draw: “It’s a great point. They were on a run of five defeats. Coming here today I didn’t give them a hope. I looked at the team and thought ‘how can this team get a result?’. If they lost today they would have had to get rid of Igor Tudor.”