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Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend, and Thomas Frank faces a key decision over which players he must bring back into the fold if he is to take three points at Nottingham Forest.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action on Sunday, and it is Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest that stands in their way.

A victory at the City Ground will see Thomas Frank’s side make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League following their win last time out against Brentford in matchweek 15.

Forest did the double over Spurs last season, beating them home and away, and Frank will be hoping that his side can get one over the Tricky Trees.

The Dane has not been scared to shuffle his pack, but we believe that if he can make three changes to his squad ahead of this clash, Tottenham’s chances of a victory will greatly improve.

Here are the changes we believe Frank should be looking to make.

Tottenham need Mathys Tel on the left

The left side of Tottenham’s attack is perhaps the most underwhelming area in the squad right now, and that is because you never know who will be starting in that position.

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We have seen it all this season, with Xavi Simons, Brennan Johnson, Mathys Tel, Randal Kolo Muani, Richarlison and Wilson Odobert all getting a run in, but not one of them has impressed out wide on the left.

Thomas Frank has even hinted that he has had to rotate so much on that side because no player has held that spot and given him no reason to change with consistent top displays.

The Dane has also praised Tel’s effort in training while expressing belief that he can come good on the left for Spurs.

Tel received a major confidence boost as he was included in Tottenham’s Champions League team and got his first minutes against Slavia Prague.

His involvement in the league, though, has been scarce, and if he is included here, given that he will be looking to prove a point, he could very much be a game-changer for Tottenham.

Spurs should start Randal Kolo Muani up front

Richarlison is Tottenham’s top scorer in the league this season with six goals; however, when it comes to leading the line, the Brazil international often struggles as a lone forward.

Muani, however, is the exact opposite, as he gives Spurs a lot more, whether he is the lone forward or paired with Richarlison.

His hold-up play, link-up play, dribbling and out-of-possession work are at a level above Richarlison’s.

He missed out from the off during the midweek encounter against Slavia Prague, and we expect that Frank will call him back to the side this weekend as he chases all three points.

The forward could pretty much be the difference between an average performance and a top display from Tottenham and given that he is rested, he should bring much needed enegry and freshness to Spurs’ attack.

Tottenham midfield needs Lucas Bergvall alongside Archie Gray and Xavi Simons

Tottenham have looked very attacking in recent weeks, and one of the reasons for that is the freshening up in the middle of the park.

The double pivot pairing of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha, which was a main feature during the early parts of the season, has been used more sparingly in recent weeks.

Frank has instead turned to Archie Gray alongside one of his more defensive-minded midfielders, and that has helped keep the balance of the team.

Tottenham will have to take the game to Forest, and the way they set up could pretty much determine what their intent is from the off.

A midfield three of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Xavi Simons will send the message that Spurs are going for this and are desperate for all three points.

But Frank will be wary of Forest’s midfield as well, which could be very physical with Elliot Andersen in superb form.

Chris Sutton has made his prediction for Tottenham Hotspur’s visit to Nottinghan Forest and it should come as no surprise for anyone who has been following his weekly column.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to secure a third consecutive victory across all competitions after defeating Brentford and putting three goals past Slavia Prague in the Champions League.

However, Spurs will need to get the better of Nottingham Forest, a team who got the better of them on two occasions last season.

The hosts of Sunday’s game made a poor start to the season, but have been in much better form over the past month.

Chris Sutton logs his usual Tottenham prediction

Former Premier League forward Chris Sutton was a big fan of Ange Postecoglou and he kept his optimism towards Spurs last season. However, he has often been critical of the club since the arrival of Thomas Frank, predicting a high number of draws.

Sutton predicted Tottenham to draw 1-1 with Fulham last month and he made the same score prediction when Spurs played Brentford.

It will therefore come as no surprise that Sutton has once again gone for a 1-1 draw, as he lacks confidence in both teams.

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The ex-Chelsea star told BBC Sport: “Nottingham Forest’s Europa League campaign is a problem for their boss Sean Dyche, because it is a distraction from their relegation fight.

“Of course Forest want to do well in Europe but if you asked Dyche what his priority is then it has to be climbing the table.

“As for Tottenham, I still don’t know what we are going to get from them. Yes, they have won back-to-back home games against Brentford and Slavia Prague but that doesn’t mean they have turned the corner.

“A lot depends on what kind of team Dyche puts out on Thursday against Utrecht but if he focuses mostly on Spurs then I can see this being a very tight game.

“I have already gone for a lot of draws this week, but this is another one where I don’t feel confident backing either team to win it.”

Sutton’s prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs must rediscover their form away from home

Much was being said of Tottenham’s superior performances on the road a few weeks ago, but a lot has changed since then.

Spurs have gone five consecutive away matches without a victory in all competitions, recording two draws and three defeats.

Despite this, Frank’s team can still reclaim their crown as the best performing away team in the Premier League with a win over Nottingham Forest. The question is, will Tottenham be able to get the result they need? Well according to Sutton, a victory is not on the cards.

Spurs are preparing for a return to Premier League action with a clash against Nottingham Forest next on the agenda, and we have now attempted to predict Thomas Frank’s Tottenham XI.

Attention turns swiftly to the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur following their emphatic 3-0 win over Slavia Prague in the Champions League.

Thomas Frank and his side will be hoping to make it three victories on the bounce as they continue their resurgence, having gone the whole of November without a league victory.

A stern test awaits as Spurs travel to the City Ground to take on a Nottingham Forest team that has picked up nine points from their last five games, the sixth-best return in the division during that spell.

Frank has decisions to make regarding personnel, and we have predicted his likely XI for Sunday’s clash.

Tottenham predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario: After keeping back-to-back clean sheets, we do not expect Frank to change things in goal. We expect Vicario to continue between the sticks.

Right-back – Pedro Porro: The full-back has looked more positive for Tottenham in the last two weeks as he has been eager to join attacks. Spurs will need more of that forward thinking on Sunday.

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Centre-back – Cristian Romero: It is a big away game for Tottenham, and we do not expect Frank to alter his back line, so Romero should start.

Centre-back – Micky van de Ven: Picked up a yellow card last time out against Prague and is set to miss Spurs’ next Champions League fixture, but that has no bearing here. The Dutchman should continue in the Premier League.

Left-back – Djed Spence: Destiny Udogie is set to miss out until January, and that should allow Spence to have more game time on the left.

Pivot midfielder – Rodrigo Bentancur: Joao Palhinha was the one who received minutes against Prague, and we expect Frank to recall Bentancur to his midfield in place of the Portuguese.

Pivot midfielder – Archie Gray: The youngster is slowly becoming a reliable figure in the middle of the pitch, and after starting in back-to-back games, we expect him to continue once more.

Centre midfielder – Xavi Simons: The Dutchman scored two goals in his last two starts with a well-taken penalty against Prague. His confidence is high; we expect Frank to stick with him.

Right winger – Mohammed Kudus: Scored his second Tottenham goal from the spot on Tuesday. He remains a bright spark for Tottenham. We expect him to feature again against Forest.

Striker – Randal Kolo Muani: The forward was rested in midweek with Richarlison leading the line instead. We do expect Muani to return, which could see Richarlison move to the bench.

Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend as Thomas Frank’s side travel to face Nottingham Forest in what promises to be a tense meeting at the City Ground. Here’s how to watch the clash between Spurs and Forest.

Tottenham Hotspur’s attention is set to turn to the Premier League following a successful Champions League outing on Tuesday, where they beat Slavia Prague 3-0.

Nottingham Forest is up next, and it will mark the first time the two sides meet this season following the summer transfer saga involving Morgan Gibbs-White.

Spurs, 11th, will be hoping to secure all three points against Sean Dyche’s side, who are hovering above the relegation places in 17th.

When and where Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham takes place

Tottenham will travel to the City Ground Stadium on Sunday, 14 December 2025, with kick-off set for 14:00 (UK time).

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham in the Premier League

Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.

Spurs and Nottingham Forest team news

Tottenham still have injuries to contend with as Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai remain out of action despite both featuring for 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly.

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Destiny Udogie is also unavailable due to a hamstring problem and is expected to return in January.

Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski remain sidelined, while James Maddison is not expected back until next year. Yves Bissouma is also out with no confirmed return date.

Nottingham Forest currently has several key players injured. Murillo is nursing a calf issue and is considered a doubt, Ryan Yates has a hamstring concern, and Angus Gunn continues to recover from a ligament problem.

Ola Aina is dealing with a hamstring issue, Oleksandr Zinchenko has a hip injury, and Dilane Bakwa joins Douglas Luiz on the hamstring treatment table.

Chris Wood has a knee problem, and Taiwo Awoniyi is currently out with a muscle concern.

Spurs Web prediction for Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest

Spurs come into this encounter in good form, having won their last two matches in all competitions.

The Lilywhites are away from home, and that should serve as a boost given their record away from their own turf this campaign.

Forest are also on a high as they are one of the sides with the best points return in their last five matches, picking up three wins in that time, the sixth most in the division.

Frank’s side will need to dig deep to secure a win here, and they could manage to nick a victory.

A number of clubs are now plotting moves for a young Tottenham starlet, and the Lilywhites are ready to give a firm response.

One on-loan Spurs teenager has been statistically one of the best players across Europe this season, surprising everyone with how easily he has taken to football at the highest level.

We are, of course, talking about Luka Vuskovic, who has won back-to-back Bundesliga Rookie of the Month awards since his temporary switch to Hamburg.

The 18-year-old’s displays have not gone unnoticed across Europe, with reports indicating that Vuskovic is attracting interest from the likes of Barcelona, but Spurs’ stance on the youngster is clear.

Tottenham want to hand Luka Vuskovic a new contract

It is now being reported by TEAMtalk that Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also circling the teenager on the back of his impressive start to life in German football.

However, the report reveals that Tottenham Hotspur are ‘adamant’ that Vuskovic will not be sold, with the player in the North London club’s long-term plans.

The Lilywhites will hold a discussion with the centre-back over his future at the end of the season, and it is asserted that Thomas Frank’s men want to hand the Croat a new contract.

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German sources reject Vuskovic contract rumours

Interestingly, a report from Hamburger Morgenpost a couple of weeks ago dismissed the idea that the centre-back could be set to sign a new contract at N17.

The outlet claimed that Tottenham are happy with Vuskovic’s current contract, which runs until 2030, and they are in constant touch with the defender over their future plans.

A centre-forward, who has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, could soon be on the market, according to a transfer expert.

Over the past few weeks, a number of experienced strikers have been linked with a move to N17. One of those is a player that the Lilywhites tried to sign during the January window.

Tottenham reportedly pushed hard for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta on summer deadline day, and it has emerged over recent weeks that Spurs could try again to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta in January.

The 28-year-old, who has seven goals in 15 Premier League outings this term, has forced his way into the France squad, and Spurs have now received a positive update in their pursuit of the centre-forward.

Journalists says door could open for Tottenham to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta

Two weeks ago, it emerged that Palace are worried about losing Mateta after failing to tie him down to a new contract.

Now, journalist Pete O’Rourke has suggested that the Lilywhites will be keeping a close eye on the 28-year-old’s situation and may be primed to pounce on him next summer.

O’Rourke told Football Insider about Mateta: “I’m sure Tottenham Hotspur will be keeping tabs on the situation with Mateta. They made a cheeky offer for him right at the end of the last summer transfer window, which Palace batted away.

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“He’s under contract until 2027, but if he’s not going to sign a new deal by next summer, you would imagine Palace would be more increasingly open to selling Mateta to get a fee for him, rather than potentially letting him run down his contract.

“So, that could open the door for Spurs to make a move for the Frenchman. He’s a proven striker in the Premier League now over the last couple of seasons so be a really good fit for Spurs. There’s also reported interest from Italy, from AC Milan as well, in Mateta.”

Is a January deal for Mateta on the cards for Spurs?

It continues to be reported by some sources that signing a centre-forward is a priority for Thomas Frank’s men in January.

While Tottenham may be encouraged by the developments over Mateta’s contract talks, he is not expected to leave Selhurst Park in January.

Carlo Ancelotti has explained why he wants Tottenham Hotspur to succeed this season while answering a question about Arsenal.

Much to the consternation of Tottenham fans, Arsenal are currently sitting at the summit of the Premier League.

Spurs fans will be hoping that their fierce North London rivals slip up this term too, as they have done in previous seasons.

There is no doubt that Emi Buendia’s winner at Villa Park on Saturday would have been as passionately celebrated in the white half of North London as it was in parts of Birmingham.

Carlo Ancelotti reveals why he supports Tottenham for now

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti was in conversation with Ally McCoist on TNT Sports’ TikTok channel, and he was glowing in his praise for Arsenal.

He said: “I think Arsenal started really well, they built a fantastic team, a really solid team.”

When the former Everton boss was pushed on whether he is a fan of the Gunners, he made it clear that he supports any team where his Brazilian players play, including Spurs.

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Ancelotti said: “Of course, I am a supporter of Arsenal because I have Gabriel, but I am a supporter of Tottenham too because we have Richarlison. I support the Brazilian players.”

Ancelotti will be delighted with Richarlison’s turnaround in form

After a strong start to the season, Richarlison went quiet for a couple of months, but he has rediscovered his mojo in front of goal again over recent weeks.

In fact, Richarlison is the second-best across the Premier League in outperforming his xG so far this term.

The 29-year-old has now scored seven times and provided two assists across all competitions, and the striker will be hoping that he can have a strong second half of the season, so that he can lead the line for Selecao in next summer’s World Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur may be struggling to pick up wins at home in the Premier League, but they have been invincible at home in Europe for a long time.

Spurs’ home record in the Premier League across 2025 has been shocking, with the Lilywhites breaking some undesirable records.

Thomas Frank has spoken about making the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a fortress, and he will hope that his side has turned a corner after two back-to-back wins against Brentford and Slavia Prague.

However, it turns out that Spurs’ home stadium has been a fortress in Europe for a long time.

Tottenham have not lost a home game in Europe since 2021

Tottenham have confirmed on their official website that the win over Slavia Prague means that they have extended their unbeaten home run in European competitions to 23 matches.

The last time the Spurs lost at home in Europe was in a Champions League round of 16 tie in 2020 against RB Leipzig when Jose Mourinho was still in charge.

In fact, not only have the Lilywhites been invincible at home since then, but they have won 19 of those 23 games, which gives them an 82 per cent win record.

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Only Sporting Lisbon, AC Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt and AS Roma have taken a draw away from N17 in that period.

Spurs will fancy their chances of a top-eight finish in the Champions League

Tottenham continue to be prolific at home in Europe while being extremely solid at the back, with Thomas Frank’s men yet to concede a goal this season at home in the Champions League.

In fact, since the loss to Leipzig nearly five years ago, Tottenham have scored an astounding 63 goals at home in Europe in 23 matches while conceding just 13, giving them a goal difference of +50.

Given their formidable record at home, they would fancy their chances of beating Eintracht Frankfurt on January 28 in their final game of the league phase.

That means that should Spurs avoid defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund, they would fancy their chances of finishing in the top eight and securing direct passage to the round of 16.

Glenn Hoddle has made an exciting prediction about two of Tottenham Hotspur’s young prospects after another positive week on the pitch.

Archie Gray has had a place in Thomas Frank’s side for their last two outings against Slavia Prague and Brentford.

In those two encounters, Tottenham put in some of their best attacking displays under the Dane so far, while also keeping a clean sheet.

Frank has been quick to hand out praise to Gray, who does the simple things well, helping Spurs in both the defensive and offensive sides of things.

Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle praises Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall

Glenn Hoddle spoke on TNT Sport and shared an exciting verdict on teenage duo Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, with the former midfielder highlighting their potential and long-term ceiling.

Hoddle believes both youngsters are already showing signs of maturity and composure, particularly Gray, who has impressed in a deeper midfield role.

He told TNT Sport: “I think he [Gray] is going to grow. Imagine him in two or three years’ time and Bergvall. You have got two really good players on your hands, they are just going to get better and better, and he [Gray] looks more and more comfortable in that midfield position on the ball.”

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Spurs midfield dynamic under Thomas Frank

Spurs fans are not fans of the pairing of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha in the centre of the park, as both players tend to hinder the side’s attacking play.

Frank has had to adjust his tactical setup, and it looks to be working a treat, and the expectation is that he continues to stick with this.

The equation is now straightforward for Tottenham to secure a straight passage into the round of 16 stage of the Champions League.

While Spurs have been struggling at home in the Premier League across 2025, it has been smooth sailing for Thomas Frank’s men at home in the Champions League.

They have now won all three of their home matches, scoring eight times in those matches while not conceding a single goal.

Their latest win against Slavia Prague has taken Tottenham Hotspur to 11th place in the table, with the Lilywhites sitting just one point behind eighth place.

A top-eight finish brings direct qualification to the round of 16 stage, while clubs finishing between eighth and 24th will play an additional two-legged knockout round.

How Spurs can secure automatic Champions League qualification?

Spurs Web has previously pointed out that 16 points were enough for a top-eight finish in last season’s Champions League, which is five more than Tottenham’s current points tally. However, that tally may not be enough this time as the top end of the table is much tighter.

As a result, Spurs will likely need two wins from their remaining two matches to have a fighting chance of finishing in the automatic spots.

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Given that Tottenham have a decent goal difference of +6, getting four points from the remaining two games may also give them a chance of getting into the top eight.

Spurs’ chances may rest on the clash against Frankfurt

Tottenham have a formidable record at home in Europe over the last five years, and one would fancy the Lilywhites to overcome Borussia Dortmund at home in their penultimate league phase fixture.

The Lilywhites’ chances of progressing may depend on them avoiding defeat in their trip to Eintracht Frankfurt on January 28th.

Tottenham have drawn two and lost one of their away fixtures so far this season, and Eintracht Frankfurt will be a very difficult challenge, given how well the German club are doing in the Bundesliga and the Champions League this term.