Football London

Ella Morris' first goal for Tottenham ended up as a bittersweet moment after Aston Villa scored late on to condemn Robert Vilahamn's side to another Women's Super League defeat.

Two goals in a five-minute spell at Brisbane Road on Sunday saw Spurs fight back from 2-0 down to get back on level terms as Jess Naz halved the deficit after Anna Patten and Ebony Salmon had put the visitors ahead. Then in the 70th minute, Morris grabbed the equaliser with her first Spurs and WSL goal as the 22-year-old rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home.

However, Villa grabbed all the three points when Kirsty Hanson netted in the first minute of stoppage time. It means that Tottenham have not won a game in three months, since January 19, in the league and currently sit ninth in the table with just five victories to their name and 11 defeats from 19 games.

"It was a disappointing outcome but there were a lot of positives to take from the game,” said Morris. "Going 2-0 down is never easy so to have fought back to get on level terms shows our resilience but now it’s just about working out how to maintain that draw or push for a win."

On her first goal in a Spurs shirt, the England youth international added: "It was obviously bittersweet to have not gone on to get the win from it, but I was just very grateful to have had the opportunity to be on the pitch and score my first goal for the club.

"As a defender, I have never been that goal-driven but it’s always nice to get that goal when those rare moments happen, but hopefully it will be the first of many."

Next up is a trip to Liverpool this coming Sunday with Spurs needing to get back to winning ways before the season comes to a close next month.

"It will be a really good game," said Morris. "Liverpool are a good side, they have a lot of great players, and I think transitionally they’re a really great team, so that’s something we will have to work on. But I definitely think we can go up there and push for a win at the weekend."

The end of the season is almost upon us. We are now just one month away from Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham wrapping up their campaign with a home encounter against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, May 25.

Spurs may have another month to go in their season but that is not the case for all clubs. In the EFL, the regular season draws to a conclusion on Saturday, May 3.

That will see a number of Tottenham's loan players play their final games for their current clubs before returning to Hotspur Way for pre-season training at the beginning of July. However, a few players may have another game or two to come after the regular league season has come to a close.

football.london takes a look at the players below who may be involved in play-off action very soon and also an academy star who could head back to N17 with a winners' medal in his possession.

Alfie Dorrington (Aberdeen)

Aberdeen have fine games remaining in the Scottish Premiership season as they look to finish third in the table behind Celtic and Rangers. The top flight in Scotland divides into two for the final five games, with Aberdeen playing fellow top-half sides Hibs, St Mirren, Rangers, Celtic and Dundee United in the run-in.

Alfie Dorrington and the Dons have a further game to look forward to after the regular season has come to a close after setting up a Scottish Cup final showdown against Celtic at Hampden Park on Saturday, May 24. The on-loan defender has been a regular in the team in recent weeks and he will be determined to cap off his time in Scotland by collecting a winners' medal against Scotland's best side.

Will Lankshear (West Brom)

Will Lankshear and West Brom can still mathematically achieve a place in the Championship play-offs but it looks extremely unlikely right now as they trail Coventry City in sixth by six points. Their 3-1 home defeat to Derby County on Monday evening looks to have cost them dearly as Bristol City, Coventry, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Blackburn Rovers fight it out for the final two places.

West Brom, who have now parted with manager Tony Mowbray, have matches against relegation-threatened Cardiff City and Luton Town to come in their final two games. They may look decent fixtures on paper but both clubs are fighting for their lives as they bid to avoid the trapdoor to League One.

You can never say never when it comes to the play-offs but it would be one huge surprise if West Brom manage to find a way in there.

Josh Keeley and Jamie Donley (Leyton Orient)

Leyton Orient lead the way when it comes to the fight for the final spot in the League One play-offs. Richie Wellens' side are level on points with Reading going into their final two games but their goal difference is better by nine.

What has helped Orient jump into the play-offs is a run of four successive league wins, with Josh Keeley and Jamie Donley more than playing their part in the promotion push. The London-based club have two very tough games to come as they host automatic promotion contenders Wycombe Wanderers this weekend and then they go to Huddersfield Town on the final day.

Reading, on the other hand, have Bristol Rovers away and Barnsley at home to come. As four teams can still all finish third in League One, it would be one of Wrexham, Wycombe, Charlton Athletic or Stockport County for Leyton Orient providing they finish sixth and sew up a play-off berth.

George Abbott (Notts County)

George Abbott and Notts County are in the League Two play-off places as things stand and they crucially have a three-point advantage over Colchester United heading into their final two games. The Magpies' goal difference is better by ten and that could possibly make all the difference come the final day if they are to finish on the same points.

An away game against Harrogate Town, who currently sit 19th, is next up and then Notts County host current leaders Doncaster Rovers on the final day. Abbott has proved to be a key player for Stuart Maynard's side this season and that will be the case in the play-offs if they seal their spot in there as they bid to win promotion to League One.

Tottenham Hotspur finishing in the top half of the Premier League table this season would seem like a flight of fancy.

Spurs have been atrocious for much of the campaign, falling to 18 defeats in their 33 games so far. With just five games of the season to play, the Lilywhites are languishing in 16th place on just 37 points.

One more defeat and they will equal their worst-ever losing performance in a 38-game Premier League season - they lost 19 out of 38 in the 2003/04 campaign.

Given the positions and the form of the two teams, it is likely that 19th defeat will come at the weekend as Spurs make the trip to Anfield for a game that will see Liverpool crowned Premier League champions should the Reds secure anything from the game.

And another defeat would make finishing higher in the league particularly more difficult for Ange Postecoglou's Spurs.

However, there is a way Spurs can lose against Liverpool on Sunday and still get into the top half of the table come the end of the season, which would be something of an incredible feat given where they currently sit.

But that requires a lot of results to go in their favour.

The three teams directly above Spurs are just a point ahead of them. Wolves, Manchester United and Everton all sit on 38 points, meaning it would not be too difficult for Tottenham to move up to 13th place.

However, getting any higher does become tough.

Crystal Palace are 12th on 45 points - eight clear of Spurs currently. Brentford sit 11th on 48 points, with Brighton & Hove Albion in 10th, also on 48 points.

If Spurs are to lose to Liverpool, as expected, they could only get as many as 49 points this season, with four other matches left - against West Ham, Palace, Aston Villa and Brighton.

To overhaul those above them and finish 10th, Spurs would need to win their other four games, with Wolves, United and Everton only managing 11 points from their final five games - not unrealistic given the trio's form this season and Ruben Amorim's admission in particular that he will be prioritising the Europa League above domestic fixtures.

Palace would also need to only get a maximum of four points from their final four games - again not unrealistic given one is against Spurs and we need Tottenham to pick up all three points from that encounter.

What also needs to happen though, is perhaps more unrealistic. Or at least as unrealistic as Tottenham managing to string four straight wins together!

Brentford can only amass three points from their five games against Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, Ipswich Town, Fulham and Wolves, while Brighton or Fulham can only get one point from their final five games.

Brighton play West Ham, Newcastle, Wolves and Liverpool before Tottenham on the final day, while Fulham face Southampton, Aston Villa, Everton, Brentford and Manchester City.

It does not seem possible, particularly given Spurs need to win four of their last five games, but if it does happen, it would not be the worst season for Postecoglou after all.

There is the very real possibility of Tottenham finishing the 2024/25 Premier League season in 17th position. That is something that seemed unthinkable back in August but a run of 18 defeats in 33 league games has left Ange Postecoglou's side hovering above the drop zone.

Tottenham could in fact be in 17th come 4:30pm on Sunday when they visit Liverpool, with West Ham playing at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon. The north London club have five games remaining in the league season to try and avoid setting an unwanted record for their lowest ever Premier League points total, something Postecoglou and all connected with the club will be fearing and desperate to avoid.

Forty-four points in the 1997/98 campaign still remains their worst tally since the dawn of the Premier League back in 1992, and Tottenham's current class of 2024/25 have to obtain eight points from a possible 15 to avoid setting a new record. So who exactly do Tottenham and their rivals in the league table have to play in the final five games? football.london takes a look below.

Tottenham

Tottenham have a very tricky end to the season, which will only boost their league rivals, and they must achieve enough points to ensure they don't finish 17th. What could have an impact on their Premier League points is that their Europa League semi-final encounters against Bodo/Glimt come directly before the West Ham and Crystal Palace fixtures.

Spurs will not be expected to get anything at Anfield this weekend on a day where Liverpool can wrap up the league title. Their following match at West Ham could also prove problematic considering their recent record at the London Stadium and also because the Hammers will be doing everything in their power to finish above their London rivals come the end of May.

In the team's final two games, Aston Villa will need the points as they battle for a place in the Champions League and Brighton could also be in a similar boat as they look to secure a European finish.

Everton

Everton have performed very well since David Moyes returned to the club and they will be intent on ending the term on a positive note. The Toffees certainly have some winnable games in their final five fixtures, including the home games against Ipswich Town and Southampton as they bid a tearful farewell to their Goodison Park home.

Away trips to Chelsea, Fulham and Newcastle United will be tough but Everton have demonstrated recently that they can achieve maximum points on the road against the Premier League's best after winning at Champions League hopefuls Nottingham Forest.

Man Utd

Manchester United are in a similar position to Tottenham right now as both clubs are targeting a Europa League triumph come the end of May. The Red Devils could quite easily finish 17th in the table considering the games they still have to play and Ruben Amorim's admission about playing the youngsters in the league with Europe the priority.

The away fixtures at Bournemouth and Brentford will be tough over the next week or so, thus giving their rivals in the league table a chance to move ahead of them. Chelsea and Aston Villa are then not exactly ideal matches to end the league campaign.

Wolves

Wolves are bang in form at present after recording five straight Premier League wins to move clear of the relegation zone. Vitor Pereira's side will be expected to make it six on the bounce this weekend when they host relegated Leicester City at Molineux.

Their following game at Man City will certainly be a difficult one but they could quite easily pick up points in their last three matches considering their current momentum.

West Ham

West Ham are really struggling for Premier League wins at present and Graham Potter needs to find a way of putting things right. The head coach will return to his former club Brighton this weekend, with Tottenham and Man Utd, their current rivals in the league table, to come after that.

Their final home game of the season is against Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town, whose relegation could be confirmed this weekend, will be looking to end their year in the Premier League on a high by beating the east London club at Portman Road on the final day.

Tottenham legend Teddy Sheringham has sent Daniel Levy a clear message over Ange Postecoglou's potential sacking and bringing Mauricio Pochettino back to the club.

Speaking to CasinoHawks, Sheringham said that he still does not understand why Pochettino was sacked by Spurs in 2019 when asked who he thinks should replace Postecoglou if he is sacked.

The former Tottenham striker's mind went immediately to Pochettino when asked about replacing Postecoglou, and he bemoaned the fact that the Argentine was let go in 2019.

He said: "I still don't know why they got rid of Mauricio Pochettino in the first place. I think he was the right fit for Tottenham. I think back to the time when they played in the Champions League final against Liverpool and then after that there was no movement in the transfer market to really enhance the club.

"Sir Alex Ferguson always said if you stand still with the players you’ve got – you're falling behind. So you always need to keep striving to be better. That wasn't the case with Tottenham at that particular moment. They just didn't look to go further.

"Whether that was Pochettino's idea of not wanting to buy anyone or Daniel Levy's that he didn't want to spend any money on new players, who knows? But it's definitely a time when you need to enhance the squad, when you're doing well."

It is clear Sheringham would like to see Pochettino back in N17 to finish the job he started in 2014. Pochettino has gone on record on more than one occasion to say he would like to return to Spurs one day, claiming he has unfinished business at the club.

However, Sheringham also admitted his "love" for Postecoglou and that success in the Europa League this season is the only thing that will save him from the sack.

Sheringham added: "I love him. I love what he stands for. But he needs to win it. He needs to win it. He won’t deserve a statue, but it would make amends for a really tough season.

"Ange Postecoglou definitely needs to win the Europa League, the pressure is just piling up.

"They shouldn't be in the position that they're in in the league so anything other than winning the Europa League is not going to be good enough the way I see it for Ange Postecoglou."

While there has been speculation aplenty about Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham future with plenty of reports suggesting that his time could be up even with a Europa League trophy to his name, one man from his past has pushed in the opposite direction for him to stay.

It has been a difficult campaign for Postecoglou and Spurs with an injury crisis ripping the squad apart through the winter months meaning the same 11 to 13 players were having to be wheeled out every three to four days to play through the huge schedule of fixtures. Results naturally suffered and are yet to recover despite players coming back with Tottenham sitting 16th in the Premier League table.

However, the north London club reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and are now in the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they will face Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt over two legs next month with the aim of reaching the showpiece final in Bilbao against either Manchester United or Athletic Club.

Many have suggested that Postecoglou could still leave Spurs even if the 59-year-old were to bring the club its first trophy in 17 years and first European silverware in 41 years. There is a certain irony that the last time Spurs won in Europe, lifting the UEFA Cup, they finished the season in 16th place under Keith Burkinshaw, scoring plenty of goals but conceding too many and losing 18 times in a 33-game season. It was Burkinshaw's final game for the club following a disagreement with the board.

One face from Postecoglou's past believes that history repeating itself would be a major mistake. Former Australian international Craig Foster had a major bust-up on air with Postecoglou in 2006 when the now Tottenham boss was in charge of the country's youth sides.

Foster had called on him to resign after his U20s missed out on World Cup qualification. The heated exchange went viral and Postecoglou has always felt that much-publicised moment caused him to struggle to work for some time afterwards. Foster has interviewed Postecoglou in the years since and the duo have put the incident behind them. Foster now believes that the problems at Spurs lie within their culture rather than with Postecoglou.

"Whether Ange wins the Europa League or otherwise should not necessarily be the determinant," Foster told Australian media outlet Wide World of Sports. "When injuries are taken into account, the team is operating at a top-five or six position in the Premier League in his second season, similar to his first.

"On that view alone, Ange should certainly be given a third season, irrespective of results in the Europa League, although a semi-final and likely final only adds weight to that view.

"The noise around the club is of course reaching fever pitch because of the Premier League results, however rather than change between coaches and philosophies, at some point the club will need to decide how it wants to approach the game of football, and give trust over more than one or two seasons to someone to create consistency. Otherwise, placing all faith in another saviour is hardly the answer.

"The question is whether Spurs believes that Ange is working in the right way towards a future where the football matches the expectations of club and fans, and is capable of winning the Premier League and competing in the Champions League, as was the case in 2019."

He added: "It is clear that Tottenham is a graveyard for coaches. Some of the world's best and most successful, such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, both of whom talked about a club culture of failure and that this should be addressed before another coach is replaced.

"Some, like Nuno Espirito Santo, are proving their quality at other clubs such as Nottingham Forest while Spurs vacillate from one choice to another.

"Spurs are not alone. Manchester United are similar... there is little evidence that constant change of philosophy bears results over time. In order to change this, Spurs will need to avoid the constant cycle of sackings and place trust in someone they believe has the ability to take the club to the next level. As Australians, we would like to believe that is Ange Postecoglou.

"He has certainly earned the right to a third season and to demonstrate what a fully fit squad is able to achieve. He has also worked in the interests of the club, which is not always the case. Many coaches will spend exorbitant amounts of money on short term player solutions that buttress today but do nothing to build the future.

"Ange has mostly invested in young talent which will emerge in coming seasons, rather than to save his job this year. This should be taken into account and respected by the club's fanbase."

Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham future is the hot topic right now. The Spurs boss is unfortunately dominating the headlines for all the wrong reasons with his team currently 16th in the Premier League table after 33 games.

There is even a possibility that the Lilywhites go into Sunday's game at Liverpool one place above the drop zone as West Ham, who sit 17th at present, are in action the previous day. Tottenham need to achieve eight points from a possible 15 to avoid setting a new record for their worst points tally in a Premier League season.

Achieving those eight points may be quite the challenge when you take a glance at the team's remaining five games. Tottenham do have a further two games to come in the Europa League, with the possibility of an extra fixture on top of that providing that they beat Bodo/Glimt in their semi-final double-header to secure a place in the showpiece finale.

European success is undoubtedly the club's main priority in what remains of the season and there is a chance that Postecoglou guides Tottenham to their fourth European trophy come the end of May. That in turn would end the club's 17-year wait for a piece of silverware and also help him achieve one of the aims that was set upon his arrival at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June 2023.

Even if he does manage to lead Spurs to Europa League glory on Wednesday, May 21, his future may lie elsewhere going on Tottenham's Premier League campaign to date. As ever, the big call will come down to chairman Daniel Levy.

If Postecoglou is to exit come the end of the campaign then he may do so having achieved all three of his Tottenham goals. He spoke about them recently when asked if the Europa League has kept him going amid all the speculation surrounding his job as there's a chance no matter what happens to leave his mark on the club.

"Again, you know the only reason I mention John’s article, is because I think that is the general sentiment," said the Australian ahead of the first leg Europa League game against Eintracht Frankfurt. "I have said before, that is not what drives me.

"I came to this club with a clear purpose and vision of what the club needed and what I could offer. That is to change the way the team plays, to obviously rejuvenate the squad because it was a squad that was coming towards the end of a cycle and to bring success.

"As long as I’m in this position, that’s always my focus irrespective of whatever noise there is or what there may or not been in the future. I don’t see that, that should diminish my burning ambition, my desire and my determination to make that happen.

"Anything you achieve in life usually comes with a struggle. Certainly everything I have achieved in my life has come with a struggle from a professional perspective. This is just another struggle, but never through this struggle have I lost the will to fight for what I think is the right thing to do and I’ll continue to do that."

Given Tottenham's extremely long wait for a trophy, bringing success to the football club was always going to be top of Postecoglou's list after taking on the hotseat. It is something that has unfortunately alluded the north London club since 2008, and that's even after turning to top managers such as Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho following the decision to part with Mauricio Pochettino in November 2019.

Postecoglou may not have had much luck in regards to domestic cup draws at Tottenham, most notably the FA Cup, but the Europa League could be the trophy he brings home. Another item that featured highly on his to-do list was to change the way the team plays and give fans their Tottenham Hotspur back after a succession of defensively-minded managers.

Postecoglou's approach was a breath of fresh air immediately after his appointment and supporters were treated to a number of eye-catching, attacking performances. A number of showings early in the season whetted the appetite and it resulted in Levy claiming "we've got our Tottenham back" in a Spurs fan forum in September 2023.

Those all-out attacking displays have been few and far between this season, with a 4-0 triumph at Manchester City in November the main highlight. Injuries have played their part in Tottenham's league woes but there have been plenty of occasions when things just haven't clicked in the final third even when having the vast majority of players available and time on the training ground.

Tottenham are a joy to watch when at the top of their game and 'Angeball' is in full flow. It is a far cry from the approach of Spurs' previous managers and the attacking brand of football needs to remain next season whether it is Postecoglou at the helm or someone else.

Finally, the Australian arrived at the club needing to lower the age of the Tottenham squad and form a group who can play together for years to come. The squad he inherited had reached the end of a cycle and it presented him with the chance of stamping his own mark and giving his team a more youthful look about it.

Micky van de Ven was the standout signing from his first summer in charge, with Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison and Brennan Johnson also going on to make their mark for the club. In terms of those arriving last summer, 19-year-old Lucas Bergvall is now a first-team regular after making the move from Swedish club Djurgarden for £8.5million, Dominic Solanke has given the team a focal point up front and youngsters Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert have caught the eye in their game time.

Throw Mikey Moore into the mix after stepping up from academy to first-team football on a number of occasions, and with Luka Vuskovic finally set to move to N17 this summer, Spurs have some very talented players at their disposal who can feature alongside each other for years to come. Given three challenges upon joining Tottenham, Postecoglou will have completed all three if he manages to win the Europa League but that may still not be enough to keep his job in the capital.

What comes next for the Australian will all become clear in the weeks ahead.

Tottenham have been told to re-sign Harry Kane next year.

Kane is Tottenham's all-time top goalscorer, having netted 280 goals during his 19-year association with the Lilywhites. But, having not won anything during his time with Spurs, he made the decision to move on in 2023, with Bayern Munich completing a deal worth around £100million for the England captain.

Kane is still yet to win a trophy, despite Bayern Munich's previous dominance in the Bundesliga, however. Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title last season following an invincible season.

Xabi Alonso's side also won the German Cup, while Bayern were knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage, losing to Real Madrid.

Bayern have missed out on the Champions League and the German Cup again this time around, but they do look set to win the Bundesliga title, leading Leverkusen by six points with four games to go.

Kane is understood to be happy in Germany, but there is a 'secret' clause in his contract that allows him to agree a move away in the January transfer window to be completed the following summer.

That clause was not activated in the January just gone, but is available once more in January 2026 for a transfer in the summer of 2026, thought to be in the region of £54million, according to SportBild.

And former Spurs boss Martin Jol has told Tottenham to strike a deal.

He said: "It goes without saying, it would've worked better having Harry Kane starting and having the option of [Dominic] Solanke coming on from the bench, like every good club has, they should have at least two high quality options at No.9.

"I would buy Harry Kane back if the clause in his contract for £50million or £60million is true, and of course he wanted to come back. He's a proven goalscorer in the Premier League and a Tottenham legend.

"I really like Dominic Solanke; I remember seeing him on loan from Chelsea at Vitesse in Holland and liking him then. He's a very good player but, with no disrespect, he's not at the level of a top, top striker.

"When Solanke was at Bournemouth, he did very well in that position, but for Tottenham it's different – you have to make an impact, make a difference up front all the time. With all due respect to Bournemouth, it's one of the smallest clubs in the Premier League, so to go from there to Spurs is a big ask to really do the business.

"Tottenham have still been scoring goals – they've got good attacking players, the likes of Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, and of course they still have Son Heung-min. Son had one of the best partnerships alongside Harry Kane in the history of the Premier League. He looks a bit lost without Kane now."

Ask any Tottenham Hotspur supporter to tell you their player of the season and you're unlikely to find a clear consensus of opinion.

The reason is because not only has Spurs' Premier League season been so poor, but very few players have been able to sustain a long enough run of form within that to be head and shoulders above their team-mates, whether through injury, confidence or not being a regular starter at times.

The Europa League has provided some respite for Tottenham with their run to the semi-finals where they will face Bodo/Glimt in the coming weeks across two legs, while Ange Postecoglou's side also reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals following wins against Manchester City and Manchester United.

There have been some highlights for the team and for the players, but who has stood out across the season through thick and thin? Some players who would normally come into consideration like Micky van de Ven or Cristian Romero have barely played this season, with their minutes far less than their team-mates.

Yes we know there is still more to come from this season and someone might push themselves to the fore in the final weeks, especially in Europe, but football.london has put forward some of the potential candidates at this stage with our thoughts on their suitability as the chosen one.

Dejan Kulusevski

Had the season ended a couple of months ago then there would have been little doubt over the direction of this award. In the first half of the season, Dejan Kulusevski was not only Tottenham's player of the season but for a period he was one of the best players in the Premier League.

He was creating chances galore in matches, topping the polls for that in the top flight, and was driving Spurs on when they needed him to inspire them. In all the Swede has 20 goal involvements this campaign, with 10 goals and 10 assists.

The problem for Kulusevski came when the injuries arrived for the north London club and he was played into the ground due to the lack of options. He has played the second most minutes in the team this season with 3,181 and in some games he could visibly not run up the pitch as he would have wanted to in second halves because his body had given everything. Then came a stress fracture in his foot and he missed almost two months of football.

All but four of his goal involvements so far came in 2024, so much will depend on whether you look at his season as a whole or recent months and his absence have robbed him of the prize.

Brennan Johnson

This might not be a popular choice for some because Brennan Johnson has had his critics this season. However, there is one inescapable fact about the Wales international and it's that he is Spurs' top scorer with 16 goals and with seven assists as well, the 23-year-old has popped up in some important moments and has more goal involvements than anyone else with 23.

The former Nottingham Forest man was on fire earlier in the season with a long streak of scoring for Tottenham when he just couldn't stop hitting the back of the net, including goals for his country.

In most seasons, the club's top scorer would be a strong candidate to be player of the season and with 16 goals involvements in his 30 Premier League games, there's been plenty of matches in which Johnson has played his part. It's not like he's scored against just anyone either with goals or assists against Newcastle, Brentford, Manchester United, Brighton, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Roma, Liverpool and away in Galatasaray, as well as some crucial goals at the time such as the last-gasp one at Coventry.

Lucas Bergvall

In the first half of the season, the teenage Swede probably wouldn't have come into the equation for this but Lucas Bergvall has become one of the first names on the team-sheet at Tottenham.

There were little signs of his promise before a tough night in Turkey as he struggled in the noise at Galatasaray. However, that proved to be the making of the now 19-year-old and he hasn't looked back as a shining light through an often dark time in Postecoglou's side.

That the senior Spurs players look to give him the ball as much as possible says it all. There has been the odd low as he continues to learn, like the recent mistake at Wolves, but there have been some big moments as well with the goal against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg and a trio of assists in the Europa League.

Mostly though it's been about Bergvall's industry in the centre of the park, his willingness to take the ball and get it moving up the pitch, either through spins, dribbles or passes and there's a little bit of the Mousa Dembele way about how he pirouettes out of trouble sometimes. He's only going to get better as well.

Djed Spence

Another latecomer to the party somewhat, even more so that Bergvall, as he had to patiently wait for his chance and when it finally came midway through the season, Djed Spence grabbed it.

The 24-year-old has turned his Spurs career around, become a fans' favourite and has been one of the most in-form players in an out of form side.

It began with a key goal at Coventry and an assist in the next round against United. Spence has proved to be a menace for opposition defences along with a string of strong performances at the other end of the pitch.

There's a clear growing maturity to the full-back's game and his ability on either flank has been a huge asset for Postecoglou in the past four months and he should have been used far sooner.

Son Heung-min

It says plenty about the Tottenham captain's ability to impact matches even when out of form that he's still on this list even in a season when he will admit he hasn't reached his usual levels.

Son Heung-min, currently out with a foot injury, has still bagged a remarkable 23 goal involvements in 43 matches, with goals in big games against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham, Manchester United, Roma and at Hoffenheim.

Realistically, the South Korean star probably isn't in the running this season for the award but it just shows how much he can still contribute even when he's not at his best.

Archie Gray

Another teenager who is certainly worth a mention for his contribution this season. The 19-year-old midfielder has been thrown in at the deep end since joining from Leeds last summer, he's either played as a centre-back or as a full-back, and during the injury crisis he showed remarkable maturity and a battling spirit in the centre of defence, learning a role he'd never played before in any senior capacity.

It might not feel like it, especially with him returning to the bench in recent weeks, but Archie Gray has played the sixth-most minutes in the Tottenham squad this season with 2,838 to his name.

He's going to be some player in the future and this season, while it was not what he or anyone envisioned, will have been a huge one of learning for him.

James Maddison

Another who might not seem like he's contributed regularly, but James Maddison has produced plenty this season with 11 goals and 10 assists across the campaign.

The 28-year-old has got Spurs out of some sticky spots and come up trumps in big European games with goals against Hoffenheim and Alkmaar and assists in both Frankfurt legs if we're counting getting battered for the penalty in Germany.

His contributions in the Premier League around his injury have been pretty consistent with the two goals at Manchester City a highlight and the winner against United.

Maddison doesn't always get his credit but he's played his part in the successful moments of this season for Spurs.

Honourable mentions

Pedro Porro gets a nod as the player with the most minutes this season with a whopping 3,712 to his name - almost 600 more than the next player Kulusevski. The Spaniard has been there for Spurs when they've needed him this season, not yet succumbing to injury, and he's provided eight assists and three goals as well from right-back.

Dominic Solanke has had to battle away with very little service and spent two months out with a knee injury but has still managed 20 goal involvements so deserves an honourable mention.

Which player gets the prize for you?

We are now one week away from the first leg of Tottenham's Europa League semi-final encounter against Bodo/Glimt. Before the game against the Norwegian side comes around, Ange Postecoglou's Spurs team have a showdown with Liverpool to contend with.

Tottenham do not fare well at Anfield, with the team shipping four goals in each of their last three fixtures at Liverpool's home. The last of those came back in February as Arne Slot's team ran riot in a 4-0 win to secure a place in the Carabao Cup final after losing the first leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 1-0.

Supporters always fear games at Anfield and this one will certainly be no different with the Lilywhites currently languishing 16th in the Premier League table. Tottenham could potentially be in 17th position come Sunday's 4:30pm kick-off as West Ham, who are one place behind them right now, take on Brighton & Hove Albion away 24 hours earlier.

After the disappointment of losing 2-1 against Nottingham Forest on Monday, Spurs will be looking to put things right and restore some confidence prior to their Europa League return. So what will be on Postecoglou's to-do list leading up to the trip to Anfield? football.london takes a look below.

Sort out defensive issues

Tottenham have been conceding goals far too easily this season, with the last two Premier League fixtures against Wolves and Nottingham Forest prime examples. Forest found themselves 2-0 to the good after 16 minutes on Monday night and Spurs were incredibly lucky it wasn't actually 3-0 as Chris Wood had a goal chalked off for offside moments earlier.

The second goal on the night was so bad from a Tottenham perspective as Wood just eased between Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven to get to his head to the ball and Guglielmo Vicario was then caught in no man's land after coming out for the ball and getting nowhere near it.

Liverpool are the Premier League top goalscorers this season and they will be licking their lips at the prospect of adding to the 75 goals they have already netted. Spurs can shut teams out, as was the case in last Thursday's 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, and they will have to be at the top of their game to keep Mohamed Salah and Co. quiet.

Defensive pairing

All the talk of Tottenham's defensive frailties leads us on to Postecoglou's backline of choice for the game on Merseyside. Romero and Van de Ven started and played 45 minutes in the Nottingham Forest defeat at the beginning of the week as their half-time substitution was pre-planned with the Bodo/Glimt fixture in mind.

Given the importance of both players to the team and their injury issues over the course of the season, Postecoglou could choose to do exactly the same or even drop the duo to the bench for the game. Kevin Danso could certainly do with more minutes after only recently returning from injury, meaning he could be a contender to start from the off against Liverpool.

Approach vs Liverpool

The main priority for Tottenham in what remains of the season is undoubtedly winning the Europa League. Tottenham's Premier League campaign has been a complete disaster and there's a possibility they could even finish one place above the drop zone considering their final five fixtures.

While of course all eyes are on a place in the Europa League, Spurs still have to focus on the Premier League as they cannot really afford another embarrassing result going into their match against Bodo/Glimt. It remains to be seen if Postecoglou will rest his main players for the game at Anfield, mix and match or go full strength.

The boss has a big decision to make over the course of the next few days and all eyes will most definitely be on the teamsheet come 3:15pm on Sunday.

Attacking trio

Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert made their case for a starting spot in Postecoglou's first-choice Tottenham XI with bright showings against Nottingham Forest. Tel followed up a strong performance at Eintracht Frankfurt and he was involved in eight of Tottenham's ten attempts on goal in the first half.

The Frenchman certainly looks better for starting the last three games and he is putting himself in a really good position for the left-wing spot for the Bodo/Glimt double-header. Postecoglou certainly has choice out wide at present and the same goes for through the middle after Richarlison's goal on Monday.

The ex-Everton man did miss a handful of chances on goal prior to netting a late header but his strike and first 90 minutes of the season will give him a lift ahead of his return to Merseyside. Postecoglou recently mentioned that Tottenham's No.9 will be given pitch time in the next couple of games and he may have done enough to start again.

The boss will have to weigh up whether he starts main striker Dominic Solanke at his former home or he gives him limited minutes once again to ensure he is fit and firing for Bodo/Glimt. A positive showing from the attackers at Liverpool this weekend could possibly make all the difference come the first leg of the Europa League semi-final.

Son fitness update

Postecoglou will provide an update on the injury front when he previews the Liverpool game in his pre-match press conference at the end of the week. Son Heung-min's fitness will be at the top of the agenda as the Spurs captain has missed the past two outings.