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Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend as they look to build momentum at home, with Sunderland arriving in north London for a crucial fixture. Here’s how to watch the clash between Tottenham and Sunderland.

Tottenham Hotspur will be taking to the pitch three days after their last Premier League game, where they managed to secure a 0-0 draw against Brentford.

It was a league fixture that was void of any sort of creativity, as Tottenham barely threatened Brentford’s defence at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Spurs still sit in the bottom half of the league table and remain four points off the top five, with the need to close that gap becoming increasingly pressing.

When and where Tottenham vs Sunderland takes place

Tottenham will host Sunderland at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, 4 January 2026, with kick-off set for 15:00 (UK time).

How to watch Tottenham vs Sunderland in the Premier League

Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.

Spurs and Sunderland team news

Spurs still have several players unavailable for this clash, with Xavi Simons suspended, while Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke remain sidelined with long-term injuries.

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Kota Takai is also unavailable for selection following his loan move to Borussia Monchengladbach, while Lucas Bergvall remains a doubt as he continues to nurse a knock.

Destiny Udogie is working his way back to full fitness and could feature, while Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are away on AFCON duty.

Sunderland also arrives with absentees, as Habib Diarra, Bertrand Traore, Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku and Reinildo are all unavailable due to international duty.

Ajibola Alese is sidelined with a shoulder injury, while Daniel Ballard remains a doubt as he continues to recover from an ankle problem.

Spurs Web prediction for Tottenham vs Sunderland

Tottenham need to secure a victory here if they are to keep pace with the top five in the league.

Chelsea face Manchester City later in the day and there could be dropped points there, and should that be the case, Frank’s side must be ready to capitalise, having failed to do so last gameweek when all of their top-five rivals dropped points.

Sunderland, however, is no pushover and has proven to be a tough test for many of the bigger sides, but Spurs must overcome Regis Le Bris’ side on Sunday to generate momentum for the year ahead.

Tottenham Hotspur have settled on two top targets to replace Brennan Johnson, one of whom is among the most sought-after wingers in European football.

Brennan Johnson is now officially a Crystal Palace player, with the winger leaving Tottenham just seven months after his Europa League final heroics.

Tottenham received £35m for Johnson, and that money is expected to be used to sign a replacement.

The Lilywhites have now been handed a major boost after learning that one of their top winger targets is open to a switch to N17.

Yan Diomande sees Tottenham as an attractive destination

TEAMtalk now claim that Yan Diomande has been identified by the Lilywhites as one of their top targets to replace the Wales international.

The 19-year-old, who has seven goals and four assists across 16 outings in all competitions this term, is said to be open to a switch to the Premier League this term.

Spurs have scouted Diomande extensively and have already held advanced talks with his representatives.

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Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and PSG are also monitoring the teenager’s situation, but the player sees Spurs as an ‘attractive destination’ for regular game time.

Man City’s Oscar Bobb seen as perfect fit for Tottenham

TEAMtalk also back up what we have heard from other sources by stating that Tottenham are keeping a very close eye on Man City’s Oscar Bobb.

The 22-year-old’s versatility and his defensive work rate are valued by Tottenham, who see him as a perfect fit for Frank’s system.

Bobb is expected to be open to a loan on a permanent switch, with Spurs facing competition from Crystal Palace, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund for the Norwegian.

Tottenham Hotspur have given hands-off warnings to Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig after they enquired about the availability of one of their starlets.

Spurs have a bloated squad, and it appears that they are determined to trim the fat in January.

Brennan Johnson has officially completed a move to Crystal Palace, while there have also been claims that Tottenham are ready to sell Yves Bissouma.

There continues to be speculation over Radu Dragusin’s Spurs future, while some outlets are also suggesting that Ben Davies could bring an end to his eleven-and-a-half-year stay at Tottenham this month.

Tottenham defender wanted by Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig

CaughtOffside has now claimed that another of Spurs’ young guns is now attracting keen interest in light of his impressive performances out on loan.

Luka Vuskovic’s authority in defence on loan at Hamburg has caught the attention of Bayern Munich, who have launched an enquiry about the 18-year-old.

They have been joined by RB Leipzig, with both German sides making informal approaches to Spurs about the Croat.

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However, Tottenham have given a firm response to the two Bundesliga sides, shutting down any suggestions of a January sale of Vuskovic.

Spurs contemplating Vuskovic decision after transfer interest

CaughtOffside explain that Tottenham regard Vuskovic as a potential ‘cornerstone’ of their future backline.

The Lilywhites have a carefully structured development plan for the centre-back, and they have been impressed by his maturity, aerial dominance and calm distribution

Tottenham Hotspur have recalled one of their brightest youngsters, only to send him back out on loan with a £4.5m purchase option.

While many Spurs youngsters are impressing out on loan this term, two players have been recalled after struggling to get game time.

Winger Damola Ajayi was recalled from Doncaster Rovers after making just one start for the League One side during the first half of the campaign.

Subsequently, Jamie Donley’s loan spell at Stoke City was cut short, with the attacking midfielder playing just 77 minutes of Championship football for the Potters this term.

Jamie Donley joins Oxford United on loan

Just days after being recalled by Spurs, it has now emerged that Donley has already sealed another loan move for the next six months – and maybe longer.

Tottenham officially announced on Friday evening that the attacking midfielder is set to join Championship strugglers, Oxford United, on loan until the end of the season.

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Spurs want the 20-year-old to get regular football under his belt for the next five months, but they have also given Oxford the chance to sign Donley permanently.

That is because the Championship side have a £4.5m option-to-buy clause in their loan for the Tottenham forward (Paul O’Keefe). Although Oxford seem unlikely to have the funds to pull off such a deal, it seems strange for Spurs to risk parting with one of their brightest talents for such a low fee.

Donley will join Tottenham U21 teammate at Oxford United

Donley will find a familiar face at Oxford as his Tottenham U21 teammate, Will Lankshear, is currently on loan at the club.

Lankshear has scored six goals and provided one assist so far for the Yellows, who are currently languishing just one spot off the bottom of the table.

Lankshear and Donley have combined impressively at the youth level for the Lilywhites many a time, and the pair will be hoping to do the same at the Kassam Stadium.

Fiorentina are on the verge of giving up their pursuit of a Tottenham Hotspur man despite being optimistic about the deal earlier.

Fabio Paratici is expected to be appointed as Fiorentina’s head of football by the end of this week.

The Italian is set to resign just two and a half months after taking over as the North London club’s sporting director, and Paratici’s exit is expected to leave a vacuum at Spurs during the January window.

It was reported last week that Fiorentina were hopeful Paratici could help them sign Radu Dragusin from Tottenham, but it appears that the Italian club are no longer so sure.

Fiorentina ready to give up on Tottenham centre-back Radu Dragusin

A report in La Nazione has now claimed that the optimism is now fading at the Artemio Franchi Stadium about a possible deal for the Spurs star.

The report explained that Fiorentina’s advances for Dragusin had previously been knocked back by Tottenham, but the Italian club were of the belief that Paratici’s arrival could be a turning point in their pursuit.

However, a deal for the 23-year-old is now ‘getting complex’ despite the Spurs sporting director’s impending arrival. As a result, La Viola are now ready to turn their attention to Brighton defender Diego Coppola instead.

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Spurs are insisting on a specific formula for Dragusin

Meanwhile, a different report from Il Messaggero says that AS Roma’s hopes of landing the Romanian are also fading.

The outlet claims that Roma wanted to sign Dragusin on an initial loan deal, but Spurs are only willing to accept a permanent sale of Dragusin, with the Lilywhites proving a tough nut to crack for the Giallorossi.

Thomas Frank has now made a promise to Tottenham Hotspur supporters, claiming he will deliver attacking football.

Thomas Frank has often struggled to get his side to play on the front foot since joining Tottenham Hotspur back in the summer.

Thursday’s game against Brentford might have been the most boring of games for Tottenham, who barely threatened the Bees as they managed to create zero big chances.

The away fans on the night were equally as bored by Spurs’ display, and they made that very clear, with chants of boring, boring Tottenham being sung at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Thomas Frank promises to deliver goals at Tottenham

Speaking after the Brentford clash, with pressure from the Tottenham fans mounting on Frank, the Dane has now gone on to make a promise to the Lilywhite faithful.

He addressed the team’s attacking output, the impact of injuries and his belief that performances will improve, as he explained his outlook to Football.London.

He said: “I think what will 100% happen is that we will score a lot of goals and be much more dominant in a lot of games, but in the current situation with a lot of players out, it makes it more tricky with a lot of games.

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“It is about small steps, going in the right direction and then get the wins and it will all be forgotten. Right now it is the talk of the town, fair enough, but we need to focus behind the scenes.”

He added (Tottenham): “Yeah, it’s not perfect. We want us to be free-flowing. I think, a couple of things I want to reinforce positively is the last two away performances. To stand on the foundation we are building was very strong against Crystal Palace and Brentford.

“I think we were very good defensively, actually fantastic defensively last night, gave them more or less nothing. I think that’s hugely important. I think we understood how to close down their transitions. Then we’re working very hard and understand frustration, I share them too, very hard on the offensive part of the game.

“There’s a few things in that we need to do our best to improve. One of them is, for example, yesterday we lost the ball on unforced errors 25 times. I showed those 25 clips to the players today, just short, just like a reminder, that’s focus, that’s concentration, all that. Of course, football is a game of mistakes, you lose the ball, so that can happen because of bad decisions, bad touch, whatever, or concentration.

“So could just half of them be better? That will provide us more attacks, and there was definitely maybe five, at least, good counter-attacks, where a better touch, then you’re suddenly 3v3. Then it looks a little bit more lively, a little bit more open, a little bit better. So that’s the one level we need to do.

“Then the next bit is the patterns and the structure and getting in the right position. We didn’t get that right last night, I showed that again to the players today. That is my responsibility together with the coaches, I always take that.

“And then the third thing, I think it’s also okay to mention that we still lack some very important offensive players that’s been out for a while, I don’t want to mention them again. I get 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. So the ones on the pitch, always trust them, always believe in them.

“I think Wilson, I’ve said it many times, is a very promising player that I believe a lot in. Looks so lively against Crystal Palace, but also natural, very young player, then he was a little bit up and down yesterday. I’m convinced he’ll be very good for us.

“And then on top of that, you play every game, every third and fourth game. And when you do that, the ability with the concentration level and the physical level to be at the top to keep producing is what, how can you say, split the good players from the very best to do that. And sometimes you can be a good player to coach the very best, but you also learn along the way.

“So that’s where we are right now. It’s unfortunately very boring, but that’s the fact. 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 – so seven from three (games), which is very good, which would be a very good output. So that’s the aim.

“By the way, against a Sunderland team, that’s done unbelievably well. And I know for a fact, because, when I say attitude, I’m confident in my own skill set. I’m also very humble about who I am, where we are, and what we need to do. And I know what we’re facing tomorrow against Sunderland, because I’ve been there myself. That’s going to be tough, but we need to be on it. That’s a long answer, actually.”

External pressure grows on Frank at Spurs

Indeed, Frank needs to focus on getting things right at Tottenham, as he appears to be losing the fans who remain largely dissatisfied.

The Dane was booed by his own supporters when he made his way over to applaud them after the Brentford clash.

While Frank will be hoping for patience and the return of his injured players, the Tottenham faithful do not look convinced that the 52-year-old is the man for the job or the right fit.

Thomas Frank has reacted to the frustration of the Tottenham Hotspur fans surrounding his team’s style of defensive play.

Tottenham have posted some of the worst xG scores across the Premier League this season, and they are continuing to struggle to create chances consistently.

It was the same old story during their 0-0 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium on Thursday, with the game being devoid of chances for either side.

The team’s style of play is as far opposed to the club’s ‘To Dare is To Do’ motto as one can get, but Frank insisted that there are mitigating factors.

Thomas Frank says Tottenham have to prioritise defensive solidity first

The travelling Spurs fans to West London certainly made their feelings known after the final whistle, and the Tottenham boss admits that he is aware that the team needs to create more chances.

He confessed that his side made too many unforced errors in possession on Thursday and pointed out that they were without their most creative players.

When asked how conscious he is of wanting to be entertaining for the fans, Frank told Football.London: “Yeah, but I think there are two things in it. I think if you, as a team, are not strong defensively – that’s not the same as you can’t play offensive football – It’s just impossible to compete over a long season. Impossible. If you want to end in the nice, good position you’d like to end in.

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“Then, of course, the offensive part of it, you need to open up enough and do that. I think we still do that. Then there’s another element, no matter what shape, offensive or defensive you are, you can’t make the amount of unforced errors we do today. For example, in our last game against Crystal Palace, that’s the bit we need to definitely see if we can improve.

“Then the next bit is you need to work on the offensive patterns and the structure and keep working very hard on that. Then the final bit is probably a little bit some key offensive players out for a game like this, for example. The ones we talked about a lot and then on top of that Xavi and Lucas. So probably that didn’t help as well.”

Frank explains why Spurs ‘cannot open up too much’

The 52-year-old conceded that his side are not clicking as they would want in attack at the moment.

He stressed that while they are working hard to fix that, it makes it even more important for the team to retain its defensive shape.

When asked if he is worried about losing the faith of the fans if the team does not play more offensive football, the Dane responded: “Of course, we need to play, it’s not that we don’t want to play offensive or attacking football.

“I just think when we’re not, how can you say, on the top of the game we would like to be, we work very, very hard on that, but while you work hard on that you can’t, if you struggle scoring goals, let’s say that, or create enough chances, you can’t open up too much because then you need to score too many goals. So it’s a fine balance.”

Tottenham’s Cristian Romero returned from his one-match suspension on Thursday night and he has already done something to face the wrath of yet another opposition manager.

Cristian Romero is having a season of ups and downs as the Tottenham Hotspur captain. He was the hero against Newcastle a month ago, scoring two late goals, but a moment of madness against Liverpool later in December saw the Argentine sent off.

Romero returned to the Spurs first team on Thursday, and his performance was far more convincing than when he faced the Premier League title holders.

However, the 27-year-old has once again failed to avoid controversy after committing a clumsy challenge, which could have seen him given his marching orders.

Keith Andrews claims Cristian Romero deserved to be sent off

According to Brentford manager Keith Andrews, Romero should have been shown another red card.

This is due to a foul the Spurs skipper committed against Thiago which saw him completely miss the ball and make contact with the Brentford forward’s knee.

Andrews was especially frustrated because he believes Romero also got away with an offence when the teams met in December. Along with his red card against Liverpool, that would have made for three reds in three games for the Spurs skipper. Thankfully, Andrews is not in charge of the referee’s whistle.

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He said in his post-match press conference (Football London): “It should have been a red card and he [Romero] should have had a red card in the first game 26 days ago for a scissors tackle.”

Romero needs to be more careful when he plays for Tottenham

It is understandable that Romero was not sent off in the most recent game against Brentford because there was not much force in his challenge. However, he did make contact with Thiago’s knee after missing the ball, so another referee might have taken a harsher approach.

Romero has already served two suspensions this season, and he cannot continue to be unavailable as a result of his own unavoidable actions.

The club captain should be trustworthy and reliable, but every time Romero plays, it feels like there will be a moment when he loses the plot.

After weeks of refusing to speak about Dominic Solanke’s recovery, Thomas Frank has finally provided an update on the Tottenham striker’s fitness.

The England international cannot return fast enough for Tottenham Hotspur, who are struggling to create chances and score goals.

Frank is convinced that Solanke will score a lot of goals in his system once the striker is back, but there has been no official communication from the club on when he is expected to return.

Earlier this week, the Tottenham striker posted a positive update on social media, which showed that he is back in training.

Thomas Frank reveals when Dominic Solanke could be back for Tottenham

Over the last few weeks, Frank has refused to put a timeline on Solanke’s return, simply stating that he will provide an update on the striker when he is fit to return.

However, the club’s recent training video shows the striker back among the squad, and the Tottenham boss has confirmed that the 28-year-old is indeed training with the team.

When asked about the video showing Solanke training, Frank responded (via Football.London): “So that is positive, no doubt of that. He is out there on the pitch, and part of training with the group.”

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When asked if the former Bournemouth man could be back this month, the Dane said: “It feels that there could be a possibility for that, yeah.”

Solanke’s return will boost Spurs’ attack

Frank’s system relies on transitions to create chances, which is why Solanke is a much better fit for the system than the likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison.

The 28-year-old is a tireless presser off the ball and has pace to burn, and his return will undoubtedly make the Spurs much more effective on the counter-attack.

However, the centre-forward’s return will certainly not transform the side, with the Lilywhites struggling to progress the ball at the moment.

Thomas Frank will be hoping for a more positive response from his Tottenham Hotspur side this weekend, with the Spurs boss now offering an update on the fitness of his squad ahead of their next Premier League test against Sunderland.

Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur side kicked off 2026 with a dull goalless draw against Brentford when they visited the Gtech Stadium.

Tottenham barely created any chances and failed to take advantage of dropped points from elsewhere, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea all failing to secure victories in their own matches.

That draw means Spurs remain in the bottom half of the Premier League table, still four points off the top five, but Frank will be hoping for a more positive outcome on Sunday, when Tottenham take on Sunderland at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The newly promoted side is above Spurs in the Premier League table following a strong start to life in the Premier League, but a victory here would see Tottenham leapfrog over them, making this a crucial encounter.

Frank, however, will head into the game short of options, particularly in the number ten position, given the number of absentees he is dealing with.

Against Brentford, the Dane reverted to his sixth-choice option in the creative midfield role, with Archie Gray filling in for the injured Lucas Bergvall, who did not make the matchday squad.

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Xavi Simons remains suspended with a game still to serve, while James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski remain sidelined through injury.

Destiny Udogie is working his way back to full fitness, while Dominic Solanke remains unavailable for this encounter.

Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are also absent as they are away at AFCON, and Thomas Frank has now provided an injury update on the fitness of his Tottenham squad.

On Lucas Bergvall’s availability, Thomas Frank said (Tottenham Official): “Lucas Bergvall is a doubt, but we hope he’ll be ready.”

On Dominic Solanke’s return date, he added: “To say mid-Jan, end of Jan or 5 Jan, I won’t do that.”