Spurs Web

Xavi Simons is looking to make things right after letting Tottenham Hotspur down with his actions against Liverpool.

Tottenham Hotspur have slumped to another Premier League defeat, despite Liverpool’s lack of attacking threat throughout a large portion of the game.

Spurs were actually on top for much of the first half, but were unable to take advantage and open the scoring.

Things became more difficult shortly after the half-hour mark, as Xavi Simons was shown a red card for a bizarre foul on Virgil van Dijk.

Xavi Simons apologises to Tottenham for his red card

Simons had no reason to engage in his challenge on the Liverpool captain. However, the 22-year-old has insisted his action towards his fellow Dutchman was not deliberate.

Clearly regretting the incident, Simons has taken to Instagram to apologise to those who have been affected by his mistimed tackle.

MORE SPURS STORIES

He posted: “Mistakes happen. Virg is my captain, I would never intentionally hurt him or anyone. To my Spurs teammates, my manager and the fans, I take responsibility. I’m really sorry.”

Spurs fans are tired of apologies every week

Obviously, Simons is going to apologise for making a significant error which harmed his team. However, Tottenham supporters keep hearing the players say sorry, yet their actions fail to align with their words.

There was no reason for Simons to make such a rash challenge, and it is hard to keep forgiving and forgetting when Spurs are consistently so full of mistakes.

Both the midfielder and his teammates need to do a lot more than take responsibility for their errors. They must cut them out entirely and start winning matches. That is what a team like Tottenham should be doing.

Tottenham Hotspur almost rescued a point in stoppage time against Liverpool, but the game was ultimately lost due to the foolish actions of certain players.

Tottenham Hotspur have once again tasted the bitterness of defeat, but with more composure and common sense, the win was there for the taking.

Let’s take a look at the three winners and losers from the disappointing Premier League defeat, which should not have been the disaster it became.

Richarlison made an instant impact for Spurs

Richarlison has games when he does very little for Tottenham, but the game was crying out for something fresh when the hosts trailed by two goals. The Brazilian does have a history of scoring goals against Liverpool, so it was good to see him finally enter the field of play.

Indeed, Richarlison made his presence known, and it was he who gave Spurs a fighting chance in the game. The centre forward scored Tottenham’s only goal of the game and continued to be a threat.

Richarlison crafted his final opportunity all by himself and was unlucky not to level the score in the dying embers. He can certainly be pleased with a cameo, which was all too brief.

Djed Spence gave his all for Tottenham

Djed Spence dropped his best performance for a while on Saturday, and he did not deserve to be on the losing team.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The England international was constantly driving up the left wing, and some of his dribbling was highly impressive. Unfortunately, he often found himself without any options due to an ineffective formation and the fact that Xavi Simons got sent off.

Spence was guilty of letting Jeremie Frimpong’s cross make it into the box, which saw Liverpool score their second goal, but his overall display was encouraging.

Radu Dragusin was back in the Spurs squad

It has been a long road to recovery for Radu Dragusin, but he was finally named in a Tottenham matchday squad against Liverpool.

The Romanian was poor for Spurs last season, and things got even worse when he picked up an ACL injury, which has since kept him out for almost a year.

However, Dragusin will be able to undergo a fresh start with Thomas Frank and with Cristian Romero now suspended, he could get a taste of first-team football again pretty soon.

Now, let’s take a look at our three losers from Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool…

Xavi Simons was given his marching orders

Just when it looked like Xavi Simons was starting to prove he was not a Tottenham flop, he decided to engage in one of the stupidest challenges you will ever see.

Some Spurs fans can choose to remain in denial, but the 22-year-old’s foul on Virgil van Dijk was a red card every day of the week.

Simons was nowhere near the ball, and his studs were too high. It was a completely unnecessary tackle to commit to, and it leaves Tottenham short on midfield options.

Cristian Romero has embarrassed himself at Tottenham

There are no words to sum up Cristian Romero after his pathetic showing against Liverpool, which almost single-handedly caused the defeat.

The Argentine was at fault for both goals scored by the visitors, as he showcased a combination of carelessness and shocking defending.

Romero had already looked unhinged for most of the night, and he then lashed out during an incident with Ibrahima Konate, which saw him sent off. This was a fitting conclusion to a generational stinker of a performance.

Mohammed Kudus failed to cause Liverpool any problems

It is worth studying Mohammed Kudus and looking at how well he plays against the top teams compared with those lower in the table.

The 25-year-old looks dangerous when he takes on less capable opponents, but he tends to struggle against the best teams in the Premier League, and Saturday was no different.

Groans sounded as Kudus continually looked to take the speed out of Tottenham’s attacks, and he caused Liverpool very few problems throughout a disappointing game.

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered another Premier League defeat and certain Spurs players were highly frustrating to watch.

Let’s take a look at the three things we learned from the game:

Xavi Simons made a ridiculous challenge

Tottenham Hotspur did not look like threatening Liverpool early into the match, but they were at least having plenty of the ball in the visitors’ half. That was until Xavi Simons got himself sent off with a needless challenge.

The Netherlands international launched into his fellow countryman with his studs raised and did not even come close to making contact with the ball.

Simons had already made a disappointing start to the game and his careless foul ultimately allowed Liverpool into the game.

Cristian Romero disgraced himself as Tottenham captain

Captaining a team like Spurs is a huge role and perhaps the manchild currently wearing the armband is no longer up to the task.

Cristian Romero cost Tottenham their first goal by attempting to play an impressive pass rather than keeping things simple. He proceeded to try and win the ball back, leaving a gaping hole behind him, leading to Alexander Isak’s goal.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The centre-back was largely responsible for the second goal too, being easily defeated by Hugo Ekitike in an aerial duel.

Later on Romero would make his biggest mistake yet by kicking out and causing Spurs to be reduced to nine men. It was an absolutely pathetic performance from the 27-year-old and he should hang his head in shame.

Mohammed Kudus refused to go forwards for Spurs

Mohammed Kudus found himself at the heart of Tottenham’s attack this evening, but the fans were left frustrated by his performance.

The right winger used his body well to fend off the opposition players and he looked comfortable in possession.

However, Kudus kept slowing the play down, often moving backwards instead of attempting to beat his man. It seems like the Ghanian often struggles when Spurs face the best teams in the Premier League.

Spurs are really poor in transition

One of the most frustrating aspects of Tottenham’s display against Liverpool was what they did when the ball was overturned and also what they failed to do.

Spurs were so slow to get the ball moving and showed little to no attacking urgency until the game was already into stoppage time.

Whenever Tottenham did try to play a bit quicker, passes were misplaced and individuals would make runs only to find themselves with no supporting players.

Tottenham looked predictable without a left winger

Thomas Frank opted to set his team up in a narrow formation, with the left wing once again disregarded. This often saw Djed Spence isolated and alone when he got forwards.

Tottenham might not have good options on the left wing, but they looked lop-sided against Liverpool and their attacking moves were easy to anticipate.

This has been yet another game which has highlighted the desperate need for a new left sided winger to join the club in January.

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 2-1 defeat against Liverpool in the Premier League in their final match before Christmas.

We’ve analysed the performance of the Spurs players throughout the ninety minutes and beyond at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

How the Spurs players rated against Liverpool

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.

Guglielmo Vicario – 3

Saved well from Wirtz down to his right to deny Liverpool an opening goal in the first half, but his positioning for Isak’s goal was questionable.

Pedro Porro – 3

Hardly tested defensively by Liverpool, his set pieces, especially corners need to improve.

Cristian Romero – 1

At fault for Liverpool’s opening goal with a very poor clearance, which gifted the visitors the ball for Isak to score. Hardly covered himself in glory for their second when Hugo Ekitike manhandled him to head home. Sent off for a second yellow card when his side were chasing an equaliser.

Micky van de Ven – 5

Harshly booked with six minutes to go. His pace was rarely tested by Liverpool.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Djed Spence – 6

Tottenham’s best player, tried to get the team forwards with some positive dribbles but unfortunately those around him were a million miles away with their performances.

Archie Gray – 3

A largely ineffective game for the teenager, but one that will hopefully build his confidence somewhat after the Forest error.

Rodrigo Bentancur – 4

Saw plenty of the ball during the game, dropped deep to help shield the back four after Simons’ red card. Booked.

Lucas Bergvall – 3

Asked to play in the number 10 role prior to Simons’ red card, had plenty of touches but nothing that influenced the game.

Xavi Simons – 2

Another disastrous outing for the Dutchman, who will now miss Tottenham’s next three matches after his red card.

Mohammed Kudus – 4

Looks short of ideas when in possession, which saw the home fans become frustrated when he kept playing the ball backwards. Replaced by Johnson early in the second half.

Randal Kolo Muani – 5

Came very close to an equaliser when his deflected shot clipped off the crossbar in the second half and should have done better with a header early on in the game. Replaced on 79 mins.

Subs

Brennan Johnson – 4

Linked with a move away from Tottenham earlier in the week, played Richarlison through for his late chance on goal.

Wilson Odobert – 4

A 70th-minute replacement for Bergvall. No impact.

Joao Palhinha – 4

Came on to replace Gray with 20 mins remaining at 2-0 down when the likes of Tel were on the bench.

Richarlison – 6

The Brazilian came on for the final ten minutes and made an instant impact when he scored from close range. Broke through with 5 minutes to go but was overcrowded by Liverpool players when he tried to get his shot away. Booked.

The first half of Premier League action has just come to a close between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in North London.

Both sides are now preparing to head back onto the pitch for the second half and we have analysed the performances of the Tottenham players who have featured in the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham came into the match on a back of the abysmal 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest last weekend, which has intensified the pressure on head coach Thomas Frank in what has been a disappointing campaign to date.

The score is level at 0-0, however, Spurs were down to ten men following Xavi Simons’ red card.

How the Spurs players rated in the first half vs Liverpool

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.

Guglielmo Vicario – 6

Saved well from Wirtz down to his right to deny Liverpool an opening goal.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Pedro Porro – 5

Played a good ball back across goal for Spence, not troubled too much defensively.

Cristian Romero – 6

The captain has cut a figure of frustration, the fact he’s had to carry the ball so high and wait for those ahead of him to try to move into attacking areas speaks volumes for the lack of creativity in this team.

Micky van de Ven – 6

Has made a couple of important clearances.

Djed Spence – 6

Has shown some nice touches on the ball and tried to get foeard

Archie Gray – 4

Thomas Frank kept faith with the teenager adfter his error against Forest, has had a steady but quiet half.

Rodrigo Bentancur – 4

Has had to drop a lot deeper since Xavi Simons was sent off.

Lucas Bergvall – 4

Playing as the most advanced of the three midfielders, needs to do more in attacking areas to act as the link.

Xavi Simons – 2

Booked for a challenge from behind on Van Dijk which was checked by VAR for serious foul play and upgraded to a red card. The Dutchman was not at his best before the incident.

Mohammed Kudus – 6

Looks short of ideas when he’s in possession in attacking areas, his pass to release Porro was better.

Randal Kolo Muani – 5

Had a decent chance before the half hour with a header, but it lacked power and was straight at Allison.

The Tottenham Hotspur starting line-up for the Premier League match against Liverpool has been announced.

The game against Liverpool has been dubbed a must-win for Spurs by some pundits, given the pressure that is mounting on Thomas Frank.

Many Spurs fans have already lost patience with the Tottenham boss, given the poor performances and results this season.

Frank desperately needs a better showing from his players than the one they have produced in big games so far this season, and he has now confirmed the line-up that he hopes will get a result this evening.

Thomas Frank names an attacking line-up against Liverpool

Tottenham are without both Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma, who have departed for AFCON duty with Senegal and Mali, respectively.

Meanwhile, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski all ruled out for this weekend’s clash through injury.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The Spurs head coach has decided to go with a brave team against the Reds as opposed to the conservative lineups he has named in other big games this season.

This is the Tottenham team which takes to the field at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon:

TOTTENHAM XI: Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Gray, Bergvall; Kudus, Xavi Simons, Kolo Muani.

Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Danso, Palhinha, Richarlison, Tel, Johnson, Odobert, Davies.

LIVERPOOL XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Jones, Wirtz; Ekitike.

Spurs need to show they can create chances

Frank is adamant that he will turn things around at Tottenham, but it is fair to say that many Spurs fans are finding it difficult to buy into the project.

The main reason for that is not just the results, but the team’s actual performances, with Tottenham registering some of the lowest xG scores across the Premier League this season.

The supporters want to see evidence that this team can prise open defences and create chances with regularity.

Liverpool, despite their star-studded line-up, have conceded chances in almost every game they have played this season, and the home fans will want to see Tottenham get balls into the box and put Arne Slot’s men under pressure.

Thomas Frank has defended his record at Tottenham, suggesting that it has been a long-term problem at the club.

Spurs are currently languishing in 11th place in the Premier League table, with 22 points after 16 league games.

The team’s results have deteriorated drastically over the last two months, and reports indicate that Tottenham are already making contingency plans in case Frank fails to turn things around.

Frank has already appealed for time to the Spurs board, admitting that it is not an easy fix, and he has now explained that the team’s issues are not new.

Thomas Frank points out Tottenham’s record over the past four years

The Dane has now made it clear that he wants to make Spurs regular title contenders, but admitted that they are a long way away from achieving that.

Frank pointed out that Tottenham Hotspur have struggled in the Premier League whenever they have had European football to contend with over recent years.

The 52-year-old explained (via The Guardian): “What is the potential of Tottenham? That is: I would like to win trophies. And we would like to compete with the best clubs in the country and hopefully win the championship one day. That’s what all Spurs fans are dreaming about. That’s what I’m dreaming about. But how do we get that?

MORE SPURS STORIES

“Reality is: we finished eighth [in 2022-23] with Champions League [participation], then we finished fifth with no European competition, then we finished 17th with the Europa League. Now we’re in the fourth season, and there have been some players through the systems and so on. That’s the reality.”

Spurs fans are concerned about the team’s lack of direction

It is not just the results that have frustrated the Tottenham fan base, but also the lack of adventure and attacking intent the side has shown.

Spurs have registered several of the worst xG scores across the Premier League this term, and there is little evidence to suggest that they can create chances consistently.

While Frank is right to point out that he took over a struggling side, what supporters want to see are some signs that the team is moving in the right direction, which have not been visible this term.

Former Tottenham midfielder Micky Hazard has suggested that Archie Gray’s howler against Nottingham Forest may not necessarily be a bad thing for the Lilywhites.

Gray has forced himself into Thomas Frank’s starting eleven since recovering from injury, and the youngster has been putting in some impressive performances in the middle of the park.

Frank has been very liberal with his praise for the Spurs teenager, but the former Leeds man had a setback during the club’s 3-0 defeat at the City Ground last weekend.

Gray took a touch from Guglielmo Vicario’s pass and saw the ball pinched off him in the lead-up to the home side’s first goal.

Micky Hazard claims Archie Gray’s mistake will benefit Tottenham

Frank defended Gray following his mistake, insisting that he liked the midfielder’s mentality of wanting the ball in that situation.

That opinion is shared by Hazard, who suggested that the youngster has to make these kinds of errors to get better and fulfil his potential at Spurs.

The 65-year-old told The Sun about Gray’s lapse against Forest: “People look at the negative side of him giving the goal away. Actually, it’s a positive for him, because for a young boy of 19 to be playing in the Premier League with experienced pros, and showing the confidence and belief in his own ability, going to the edge of his own box, I think that shows a confidence way beyond his years.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“I’m not sure when I was 19, I would show for the ball in areas where I wasn’t at risk to a goal. Yes, he lost the ball, and he learned from that. And the next time he gets in that situation, he’ll play the pass first time, because he’s a clever footballer.

“That’s part of a learning process. And sometimes the learning process is quite punishing. It can quite hurt you when you’re learning. And it takes a big mistake like that to maybe make the learning so much quicker. I like him. He’s going to be a very, very good player. One day he could be one of our leaders.”

Hazard urges Spurs fans to give Thomas Frank time

Based on the reaction on social media and at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it appears that Frank has already lost a big section of the Spurs fans.

In fact, many Tottenham supporters are unhappy that the club are being patient with Frank as they are convinced he is not the right fit.

However, Hazard suggested that the 52-year-old needs time as he is not just implementing a new tactical system but also attempting to change the club’s culture.

The former Tottenham midfielder said about Frank’s struggles: “You can’t expect the manager to come in and change things to perfection overnight. Unless the process is given time, then it won’t work.

“He’s not just coming in to implement his own style. He’s coming in to play to our traditions, our philosophies, our style, while also adding his things to what needs to change. And when the two eventually settle in together and combine, that’s when we’ll see the success.”

A Tottenham Hotspur defender has managed to more than double his transfer market value due to his performances this season.

It will come as no surprise to Spurs fans that the two most valuable players currently in their squad, as per Transfermarkt, are Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

It can be argued that they are the only two world-class players in the Spurs squad at present, and even Jamie Carragher has admitted that he would love to have Tottenham’s centre-backs at Liverpool.

However, another Lilywhite defender has seen his value shoot up this season courtesy of his performances out on loan.

Luka Vuskovic is among Tottenham’s most valuable players

Luka Vuskovic is being tipped to become one of the best centre-backs in the world over the coming years, and one certainly would not bet against that, based on his growth at Hamburg.

As per Transfermarkt, the 18-year-old has seen his value shoot from €18m up to €40m (£35m), which is the fourth-highest upgrade of any player across the world this cycle.

Only Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl, Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande have seen their value rise by higher figures this season.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The website calculates that Vuskovic is now the sixth most valuable player in the Tottenham squad, even though he has not yet played a game for the Lilywhites.

Spurs have plans for Vuskovic amidst transfer interest

Given this data, it comes as no surprise that some of the biggest clubs in Europe are now reportedly after Vuskovic.

However, the Lilywhites have no plans on cashing in on the youngster and are coming up with a plan to secure his future.

Antonin Kinsky has only made two starts for Tottenham Hotspur this season, but he appears to have caught the eye of a team who desperately need added quality in January.

Tottenham Hotspur had a host of goalkeeping options last season, but Fraser Forester and Alfie Whiteman were moved on in the summer, leaving Thomas Frank with just three options.

Guglielmo Vicario has started all of his team’s Premier League matches this season and remains first choice, despite a number of error ridden performances.

Brandon Austin is yet to make an appearance since pre-season, while Antonin Kinsky has made just two starts which both came in the Carabao Cup.

Besiktas want to sign Antonin Kinsky from Tottenham

Sporx, as relayed by Sport Witness, report that Besiktas have asked for clarification towards where Tottenham stand on Kinsky.

The Czechian shot-stopper could be loaned to another team to continue his development and Besiktas would be keen to explore a deal if that happens to be the case.

They have also shown interest in Chelsea’s Filip Jörgensen, who is the club’s number one target. However, there is a disagreement between the Blues and Besiktas over the type of deal which would be agreed, which has led to their interest in Kinsky.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Kinsky could leave Tottenham if a new goalkeeper is signed

It would make little sense for Kinsky to leave Spurs on loan if that means Frank only has two remaining options. This might not be the case though, as Tottenham have been linked with Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

If Spurs sign the Barcelona goalkeeper or an alternative option, this would open the door for Kinsky to depart on a short-term basis. Guglielmo Vicario looks set to remain in North London until at least the end of the season, so this move has a chance of succeeding.

Besiktas certainly need all the help they can get, having been knocked out of Conference League qualifying and now sitting fifth in the Super Lig.