Football London

Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez for Saturday's showdown at Tottenham Hotspur, with manager Arne Slot providing the latest on his squad

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has delivered positive news regarding Dominik Szoboszlai's fitness ahead of Saturday's crucial clash at Tottenham Hotspur. The Reds will also welcome back two right-backs whilst receiving encouraging updates on Cody Gakpo's condition.

Both Szoboszlai and Joe Gomez sustained knocks during last Saturday's 2-0 triumph over Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield, a result that stretched Liverpool's undefeated streak across all competitions to five matches.

The Merseysiders will aim to extend that sequence to six when they travel to north London on Saturday, with Slot revealing at Friday's press conference that whilst Gomez remains unavailable, midfielder Szoboszlai appears likely to feature in the matchday squad and could start if deemed "completely fit".

The squad will benefit from the return of Conor Bradley, who was absent against Brighton due to suspension, alongside fellow right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who has been recovering from a muscle problem picked up during the emphatic 5-1 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on October 22, though he has now resumed full training.

This timing proves crucial with Gomez, who operated at right-back against the Seagulls, confirmed as missing for the trip to Spurs, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Slot explained: "Joe is not in the squad as well for the weekend and Dominik trained yesterday, parts of the training (session), for the first time, so let's see where he is today and how he is tomorrow. Jeremie is in the squad again as well."

When questioned about Szoboszlai's starting prospects, the Dutch tactician added: "That completely depends on how he does today. So if can fulfil the whole training session and then you speak to the player and the medical staff. If the player feels comfortable to play and he did all the things he had to do, then he will start.

"If he can fulfil the whole session or he fulfils it but he doesn't feel comfortable himself we will have a discussion. But Dom has been a starter for me in the one-and-a-half years I am here now and for the performances he's brought in, he would be a starter tomorrow if he is completely fit."

Slot also provided a positive update regarding Gakpo, who had medical scans conducted this week. Whilst the attacker will be absent for this weekend's fixture and the subsequent home match against Wolves, his return could come sooner than initially anticipated.

Slot explained: "He had a scan that looked promising so that means that we are not that worried anymore, as we were maybe one or two weeks ago. So that means he might come back a bit earlier than expected two weeks ago, but that's definitely not tomorrow and also not next week."

Vicario mistakes?

Frank: "It's two completely different situations, one is a missed clearance which happens, the other one is more on Archie, he knows it's one-touch bounce.

"It's a situation we've seen a thousand times in England and across Europe."

Questions from fans?

Frank: "There will always be fans questioning the coach wherever you are.

"Then there will be the loyal ones that can see the perspective.

"First of all, I'd say to Spurs fans it's a privilege to be part of this big club.

"To fulfil that, there's a lot of stages we need to go through."

On Liverpool

Frank: "They're an excellent team, they're the champions. They started very well. They signed fantastic players, Hugo Ekitike, what a season he's having.

"Isak is a top striker, he will come good and Wirtz is fantastic but still adapting to the league.

"Szoboszlai is a beast, he will play tomorrow of course."

On Gray's reaction after Forest opener

Frank: "He's been good. When I watched it back, he was the one who wanted the ball after the mistake.

"If you make a mistake in life, you have to get back on it again."

Feel supported by club?

Frank: "I feel support, I have done the whole time. After the game, I haven't changed my mind. This is not a quick fix. That's not to stay we aren't going to try and beat Liverpool and believe we have a good chance of doing that.

"First and foremost I am most critical of myself, we are a lot of people that need to perform well together."

Forest result

Frank: "It was a bad performance, no two ways about it. There were a couple of things about it, we lacked energy to produce again.

"It wasn't a particularly good football game until our mistake."

Frank's record vs Liverpool

Thomas Frank has won just one of his eight meetings against Liverpool as manager.

This will be the first time he's bossed against the Reds at Spurs, however.

His sole victory came in January 2022 with Brentford when the Bees ran out 3-1 winners.

Liverpool then won five straight matches against the Dane.

Welcome!

Hello everyone, Ryan Taylor here at Hotspur Way.

Thomas Frank is due to speak at 1:30pm, I'll provide some updates shortly after when we are free to publish the quotes.

It promising to be an interesting presser ahead of Liverpool, we'll aim to get an injury update and also ask about the futures of Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel, who have both been linked with January exits.

Antoine Semenyo has been linked with a move to Tottenham in the January transfer window after Thomas Frank's side tried to lure him to north London last summer.

Antoine Semenyo has a £65million release clause in his Bournemouth contract which can be activated during the first two weeks of the January transfer window. The 25-year-old has been in fine form for the Cherries this season, and Tottenham remain keen on a move, after trying to sign him last summer.

Semenyo, 25, has scored seven goals and provided three assists in 15 Premier League matches for Andoni Iraola's side - a return that has seen transfer speculation increase. Indeed, according to The Telegraph, Spurs are now in a four-way tussle with Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool for the Ghana international.

Tottenham and United both wanted to sign Semenyo last summer, but he ended up staying at the Vitality Stadium after Bournemouth demanded £80m for the coveted forward. Semenyo then signed a new five-year contract with a £65m release clause - which can be activated between January 1 and January 15 - inserted.

Thomas Frank's side may need to move fast if they want to lure Semenyo to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, however, as United are planning to go "all-out" on a move in January. The Reds are hoping that the uncertainty around Pep Guardiola's future at neighbours City is going to boost their hand in a potential deal.

United head coach Ruben Amorim described Semenyo as a "special player" ahead of Monday's 4-4 draw against Bournemouth, which the forward scored a fine goal in. Amorim said: "They have a special player. They have many good players, but they have a special player in Semenyo. [He] can play both sides with both feet."

Meanwhile, Tottenham's head coach Frank has also been full of praise for Semenyo in the past. During his time at Brentford and before a game against Bournemouth last December, the Dane said: "Semenyo can play wherever he wants to play. He's a fantastic player.

"I think he's been the best individual player for Bournemouth this season.

"He is definitely a player we need to look out for and do our best to close down."

Frank's assessment was spot on, as Semenyo went on to record 13 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances last season - the best return of his senior career to date.

The former Brentford head coach has hinted Tottenham need to strengthen on the left side of the front three.

Speaking earlier this month, Frank went on: "There's competition for that left side role. We are playing games every third or fourth day so we need rotation, but also someone has not put their foot down on the left position."

He has used a number of different players in that role so far this term, with Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons, Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel all getting minutes there. But none have rubberstamped a regular starting spot, prompting Spurs to look in the market and at Semenyo.

Both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are expected to have players on the sidelines when they meet in the Premier League this weekend.

Spurs will host the reigning Premier League champions at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening as they look to bounce back after their 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Thomas Frank's future as Tottenham manager has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks, particularly after the loss to Forest last week.

The Spurs boss has been dealing with several injury concerns ever since he was appointed as Ange Postecoglou's successor in the summer.

Liverpool are also dealing with several players being on the sidelines due to injury, while both clubs also have some members of their squad unavailable due to participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.

With the January transfer window just around the corner, Tottenham could be set for a busy market, with a few possible incomings and outgoings on the cards

Tottenham are facing a potentially busy January transfer window, as the prospect of some sales and signings are on the cards in the next month. Among those who could make a move away from north London includes Brennan Johnson, who has struggled for minutes under Thomas Frank.

According to BBC Sport, Spurs are not actively looking to sell the Welsh international, but they are open to an exit if they receive the right offer. The report adds that Crystal Palace are among those with the most advanced interest in the 24-year-old, which may see a move made in January.

It comes just over two years on from Tottenham signing Johnson from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £47.5m, where he quickly became a key player for Ange Postecoglou. The winger found ways to arrive in the right area at the right time, popping up to score plenty of important goals.

Perhaps none will match the importance of the one he bagged for Spurs in the Europa League final, as he scored the winner in their match against Manchester United - ending the club's long wait for a trophy. Since Postecoglou's exit, it has been tough for Johnson to get back into the side.

Thomas Frank has only handed six Premier League starts to him so far this season, favouring other options ahead of him in the team. As a result, an exit could now follow, depending on the type of offer that Tottenham are holding out for in the market.

"I'm very aware that Brennan's got some very good qualities. One of them is scoring goals and running in behind and arriving in the box," said Frank last month. "I really like everything about him. He also scored goals this year as well. Four, I think, in total. So I'm very aware of them.

"So it's all about how you create that team, where we perform, how we get the best players in, where do we play them. Is it Mo [Kudus] to the right, is it Brennan? Who plays the 10? What kind of player do we play in a different position to make it click?

"And then we also need a little bit of depth, because we play every third or fourth day, to keep the freshness, the energy. So that's a challenge."

While Johnson's future is up in the air, Tottenham themselves face some challenges in the market. The winger's own transfer value has fallen to a new low since joining the club, dipping to €35m (£30m) on transfermarkt's valuation tool.

It means there is a potential challenge in getting a deal over the line that is suitable for all parties and helps to find some value for the 24-year-old. If he were to move on, Tottenham will face some questions over the strength of their attacking ranks.

The team have struggled to put in many positive attacking displays in the Frank era, which isn't helped by the current key absences in the squad. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke have all been missing for the campaign so far, coming as quite a blow.

Without them, there have been some new arrivals, but it means the team are far from full strength as it stands. It leave a conundrum for the hierarchy as to whether they find some other replacements, but risk having a bloated squad, or ride out the difficulties during those injuries.

Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank is under increasing pressure after an inconsistent start at the club, with fans questioning the style of play during his tenure.

Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has claimed that the clash with Liverpool this weekend is "must-win" for Thomas Frank. It comes as the manager is under growing scrutiny from the fanbase, with inconsistent results a clear factor, alongside the lack of attacking threat.

The latest 3-0 drubbing away at Nottingham Forest added further pressure on the Danish coach, as the fanbase grows restless. The clash with Liverpool this weekend could provide an opportunity to land another three points, given the way the Reds have struggled this season.

However, a defeat for Spurs would come as a huge blow to their European qualification ambitions, while only asking more questions of Frank and his future. On the game and the manager's future, Jenas told 10bet: "I think it's going to be huge.

"I think this is a manager that could be under pressure. I think when there has been no real consistency with the line-ups and the tactics, it’s difficult to predict how players are going to perform. I want to see a bit of an improvement in the forward areas too.

"Yes, there are injuries at the football club but they've still got decent players there."

When asked about the weekend's future, the ex-Spurs midfielder replied with a simple five-word message: "This is a must-win," before insisting that Frank needs a result to avoid more pressure.

While Jenas believes that it's a huge game for Frank this weekend, some of the Tottenham fanbase have already made their mind up on the manager. Some supporters were calling for Frank to be sacked after the weekend's defeat, with many growing increasingly frustrated with the team's performances and expressing their fury.

Given the relatively short tenure that some Tottenham managers have faced over recent seasons, it's clear that things could take time to resolve. The current head coach made that clear himself when he recently said: "It's pretty evident if no one gets the time, no one can turn it around. This is not a quick fix."

As a result, some have questioned whether the Spurs fans need to be more patient or if they have unrealistic demands for the side. This was something put to Jenas, but he flatly rejected that suggestion.

"No, I don't think the Tottenham fans are unrealistic. They went and built this magnificent stadium, this magnificent training ground, where you can expect success," he said.

"If you ask if Tottenham fans are going around saying they want to win the Premier League, then yeah, that would be unrealistic, but I don't think that's what they're saying. I've obviously been a part of that football club for a long period of time, and this club wants to be challenging for cups.

"It wants to be in the Champions League, or at least challenging for Champions League positions. I don't think they're - especially now that the Europa League trophy is in the bag - demanding too much right now. They're still going to want to consistently win, but I think that demand of, ‘We must win a trophy,’ has died off a little bit.

"That thirst has been quenched now. But it's about consistency, and there's not been any consistency at that football club for at least three years."

Tottenham will be desperate to get themselves back on track with a win over Liverpool that would send out a statement of intent. Above all, fans want something that shows the direction they are going in, even if the results aren't going their way.

If they fall to defeat in a way that doesn't show the fight that fans want, then there will only be more questions for Frank to answer in the coming weeks.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been informed many of their Premier League matches have been rescheduled.

The three London's members of the so-called 'Big Six' have endured contrasting campaigns this season. While they are all competing in the Premier League and the Champions League, there have been varying levels of success to say the least.

Tottenham started well under Thomas Frank but the ex-Brentford manager has struggled to bring consistent results, although Spurs are only one point away from the top eight of the Champions League. Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca has enjoyed some fantastic results this season, but the Blues' recent patchiness in December has seen them lose ground in the title chase.

However, Arsenal top the Champions League and the Premier League table, even if they let some of their lead at the summit of the latter slip. All three clubs will now have to contend with some schedule changes on the horizon - football.london talks you through what they are.

Arsenal

As a result of being selected for live UK television coverage, three of Arsenal's fixtures have been re-arranged. Their February fixture against Brentford has been moved back a day to Thursday February 12 and will be broadcast on TNT Sports.

Should one of the Gunners or the Bees reach the FA Cup fourth-round, the game will be moved back another day to February 11, with an 8.15pm kick off. The second match to be re-arranged is the north London derby against Tottenham, which has been selected as a Sky Sports Super Sunday fixture on February 22, kicking off at 4.30pm.

At the end of the month for the Gunners is another London derby, this time against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. This has been selected as a Sky Sports Super Sunday clash again, kicking off at 4.30pm on March 1.

Chelsea

As already mentioned, Chelsea's trip to the Emirates Stadium will take place on Sunday March 1 at 4.30pm and will be live on Sky Sports. However, their home clash against Leeds United also has a new date.

Maresca's side, who lost 3-1 at Elland Road at the start of the month, will play host to Daniel Farke's men on Tuesday February 10 at 7.30pm and will be broadcast on TNT Sports.

Tottenham

As well as the aforementioned re-scheduling of the North London Derby, Spurs have seen three other matches be re-scheduled. The away trip to Old Trafford will now take place on Saturday February 7, kicking off at 12.30pm.

Three days later, Spurs will be back at home to host Newcastle United, with the Tuesday February 10 fixture kicking off at 7.30pm. After the re-scheduled North London Derby, Spurs will move west of the capital to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage.

This fixture has since been re-scheduled to Sunday March 1, where it will now kick off at 2pm.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to see a major boost in their upcoming clashes with Liverpool and Crystal Palace, as a number of first-team stars jet off to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations

Tottenham Hotspur head into clashes against Liverpool and Crystal Palace with a major boost, considering both teams will be missing a major player, respectively, due to AFCON commitments.

The Lilywhites are set to face Liverpool on home turf on Saturday, December 20, with Arne Slot travelling to the capital without one of the Reds' most prolific talismans in Mohamed Salah. The 33-year-old recently made his way to Morocco to link up with his Egyptian national team-mates and will be out of Premier League action until the new year as a result.

Despite the forward recently finding himself benched by Slot, Salah proved his worth during Liverpool's most recent outing against Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend. Replacing Joe Gomez midway through the first half, Salah rolled back the years on the right-hand side, setting up Hugo Ekitike for his second goal in the 2-0 win.

His absence this weekend will come as positive news for Djed Spence, who will not have to worry about coming up against the 'Egyptian King' against Liverpool, instead, likely battling Dominik Szoboszlai, who has shown adaptability by featuring on the right flank this season.

Thomas Frank will also feel slightly more at ease when he comes up against the defending Premier League champions, given Salah's track record against the manager's tactics at Brentford. In six of the last eight matches between Liverpool and Brentford which Frank was at the helm for, Salah found the back of the net a staggering six times.

Elsewhere, Spurs will not have to worry about tracking Ismaila Sarr when they make the short trip to Selhurst Park next Sunday (December 28). The attacking midfielder has also recently jetted off to AFCON to team up with the Senegalese national side, and will miss the fixture as a result.

However, the Lilywhites will also lose two players to AFCON this month in Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr. Bissouma hasn't featured for his club this season as a result of a knee injury, but has been called up by Mali for the tournament.

Pape Matar, meanwhile, will link up with Ismaila with Senegal - a team which have a great track record at the tournament. Senegal won AFCON for the first time back in 2022, thanks to a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Egypt and will hope to see further success when the new instalment comes to a close on January 18.

It's been a topsy-turvy season for Spurs in 2025/26 so far, with the Lilywhites currently sitting 11th in the Premier League standings. Under Frank's stewardship, the club have achieved six wins, as many losses and four draws as the halfway mark fast approaches.

Spurs also occupy the same position in the Champions League as a result of three wins, one loss and two draws, qualifying as a result of winning the Europa League title back in May, having finished 17th in the Premier League for 2024/25 under Ange Postecoglou.

As a result of little progress made in the league, Frank currently sees his future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium cast into speculation, with the Dane speaking about issues after Sunday's 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.

He explained: "It's very simple. If you don't perform, you can say all the right things, if you're a little bit out of sync, then you see things like this.

"When you are on track and in sync, you see the last three performances. That's very simple. If you perform, you keep doing the right thing, then it makes it easier of course and then I just think the little small thing that is difficult.

"We win together, we lose together, but I can't pass the ball on the pitch. So, if we lose the ball 25 times, I think it's fair to say that it's pretty difficult to create something."

When asked whether he believes he will be afforded time to successfully implement his style of play, he added: "I can't see why not. I think it's pretty evident that if no-one gets the time, no-one can turn this around. This is not a quick fix."

Spurs are reported to be closing in on the appointment of the Man City man as director of football operations.

Here is everything you need to know about Carlos Moersen amid links to Tottenham Hotspur.

Advanced Talks with Tottenham Hotspur: Carlos Moersen is currently in advanced talks to leave City Football Group and join Tottenham Hotspur's executive team. The deal is expected to be finalised soon, signaling a major move between rival Premier League clubs.

Proposed Role at Spurs: His planned position at Tottenham is to become the club's new Director of Football Operations or Head of Football Operations. This appointment is part of ongoing significant changes to the North London club's board-level management structure.

Extensive Experience at City Football Group (CFG): Carlos Raphael Moersen has spent the last ten years working for clubs within the City Football Group hierarchy. This long tenure shows his commitment and experience within a highly successful, multi-club football organisation.

Director of Football Transactions: His current role at CFG is the director of football transactions, a very senior operational position. In this capacity, he is responsible for negotiating contracts with both current players and prospective new signings for Manchester City.

Highly-Rated Executive: Moersen, also known as 'Rafi', is considered a highly-rated executive who has quickly risen through the ranks at CFG. His rise and level of responsibility are a testament to his high value within the football operations industry.

Negotiating High-Profile Deals: A major part of his experience includes handling key player contract negotiations for Manchester City, which is CFG's flagship club. This indicates a wealth of experience in the high-stakes financial and legal aspects of top-tier football transfers and retention.

Impact on Spurs' Hierarchy: Moersen's arrival would be a key post-Daniel Levy era appointment for Tottenham, who are currently reorganizing their executive structure. This move demonstrates the club's intent to continue transforming the hierarchy above the team and coaching staff.

Filling an Operational Gap: The move is seen as an attempt to staff up the football executive group at Spurs, which is currently considered very thin. His extensive experience in contract negotiation could fill a gap, as the previous chairman, Daniel Levy, often handled those negotiations himself.

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Tottenham are set for more changes behind the scenes, following a year of shuffling around the in the hierarchy, as a new director of football operations is set to be poached from Manchester City.

The post-Levy era continues to shake things up at Tottenham, as the club are set to hire Carlos Raphael Moersen as the director of football operations. That's according to The Athletic, which reports that he is in "advanced talks" over a move to north London from the City Football Group.

Moersen, who is better known as just "Rafi", has made his way through the ranks with the City Football Group, where he is currently the director of football transactions. That role relates to the negotiation of contracts with players, both current and possible future stars in the transfer window.

In 10 years with the group, Moersen has risen through the ranks to become a highly-rated operator, with the report claiming that he has stepped up in sharing responsibilities since Omar Berrada left to join Manchester United. While the deal isn't signed yet, it is another signal of intent from Tottenham to keep transforming the hierarchy above the squad and the coaching staff.

The Lewis Family, who are the current majority shareholders of the club, have seemingly taken a more hands-on role in the running of the club. Daniel Levy's exit in September caused plenty of eyebrows to be raised, as his 24-year spell as executive chairman came to an abrupt end.

Modern-day Tottenham had been largely shaped by Levy's actions on and off the pitch, for both better and worse. While the new stadium will likely be his crowning achievement, questions over transfer strategy and sporting success on the pitch will always be around.

It remains to be seen what his legacy will be as time goes on, but for now, the immediate change is still having some impact on the wider scope of changes at the club. Vinai Venkatesham is among the other changes at the top, joining as CEO back in April 2024 from local rivals Arsenal.

Johan Lange, the technical director at Spurs, was another recent change, while the return of Fabio Paratici signalled a new approach from the boardroom. The Italian director was banned from participating in football activities for 30 months after accusations surrounding finances at Juventus, which ended his initial stint with the club.

After a mixed record on the transfer front, the return of Paratici brought back a sense that Tottenham would push for a recruitment drive in the transfer market once again. Over the summer, Spurs spent roughly £180m on new signings, with eight deals being completed over that time.

So far, the changes off the pitch haven't quite shown up as results on it, as a long-term approach to stability is being taken from those above. While sweeping moves above have brought about new ways of working, there was also a key change in the dugout over the summer.

Ange Postecoglou's exit was confirmed after a season in which the club ended their wait for a trophy by winning the Europa League, but managed a lowly 17th-placed finish. Thomas Frank's arrival has been another adjustment for the club to make, trading the swashbuckling style of football for pragmatism.

While Tottenham are in the conversation for a European place this season, the results and performances haven't given the fans much hope so far. There has been a sense of disconnect between the fans in the stands and what they are witnessing on the pitch, not least in an attacking sense.

Frank is already under pressure from some to pick up results while changing the mentality of the side, though Gary Lineker has claimed he should be given more time to settle in. "I can't see why not," the Spurs boss responded when asked if he will be given time at the helm.

"I think it's pretty evident that if no-one gets the time, no-one can turn this around. This is not a quick fix," he added. It all still shows a club in flux, trying to find their identity again while catching up with the modern structure expected of a team battling for the biggest trophies on the pitch, with the right foundation off of it.

With plenty of moving parts, it remains to be seen exactly how long those changes across the club could take to have an impact. However, there is some hope that it can return Spurs back among the very top of the elite in global football.