Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur have made some incredible additions over the last few years, with such talents undoubtedly helping the side beat Leeds United over the weekend.

Thomas Frank’s side secured a 2-1 win over the newly-promoted outfit, helping claim the side’s fourth Premier League win of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Dane has already impressed since taking the reins, with the Lilywhites only suffering one defeat in ten outings across all competitions after his appointment during the summer.

Numerous players have impressed in North London, whether that be players already on the books or ones brought in to make an impact after the manager’s arrival.

One of the players has made an immediate impact in North London over recent weeks, with his showing against Daniel Farke’s side one of his best for his new club.

Mohammed Kudus’ start to life at Spurs

During the summer transfer window, the Spurs hierarchy decided to fork out a whopping £55m for the signature of Mohammed Kudus to help bolster the options within the final third.

The Ghanaian caused a fair amount of controversy with his move, subsequently leaving rivals West Ham United to join the Lilywhites - even stating it was always going to be Spurs after leaving the Hammers.

On the pitch, the 25-year-old has already made an immediate impact, registering one goal and four assists within his first ten outings across all competitions.

His latest contributions came in Saturday’s triumph, scoring his first goal for the club, whilst also teeing up Mathys Tel for his first strike of the new campaign.

Kudus is now sitting at the top of the club’s list for combined goals and assists in the Premier League, with his tally of five now higher than Richarlison, who sits one behind in second.

However, despite the immediate impact he’s made in attacking areas, one other talent is rapidly becoming one of the club’s best additions over the last handful of years.

The Spurs star who is becoming their best signing

Micky van de Ven has been a crucial cog in Spurs’ defensive department over the last couple of years, with his £40m transfer in the summer of 2023 now looking like a bargain.

The Dutch international has racked up 61 appearances across all competitions, scoring six times - three of which have already come in the 2025/26 campaign.

His most recent effort came against Bodo Glimt in the Champions League, helping Frank’s side secure a 2-2 draw and maintain their unbeaten record in Europe.

The 24-year-old also registered the fastest sprint of any player in England’s top-flight last year, arguably being the perfect all-round option in the modern game.

However, summer addition Joao Palhinha may have been an addition many frowned upon at the time, but the midfielder is rapidly becoming one of the side’s most important players.

The Portuguese international joined on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich, with the deal including an option to buy, subsequently offering a needed ball-winning option at the heart of the side.

He’s started all but one game in the Premier League to date, once again getting the nod in the recent triumph against Leeds at Elland Road this weekend.

His stats from the encounter highlight how impressive he’s been of late, with his arrival massively solving the issue that has been plaguing the side in recent years.

Palhinha, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by one analyst, won 100% of the tackles he entered - now being the first player to win 25 tackles in the Premier League this campaign.

He also made three clearances, along with one interception and seven duels - further showcasing his sensational ability to regain possession without the ball at his feet.

However, in possession, he was just as impressive, making four passes into the final third, helping him complete 27 passes and dictate the play during the triumph.

Given his recent form, it would be a surprise to no one if the club decide to trigger the option to buy at the end of the current campaign and sign Palhinha on a permanent basis.

Such a deal would be an excellent one, allowing the former Fulham star to continue on his impressive start to life in North London, potentially helping the club win further silverware in the years ahead.

Tottenham Hotspur have come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, as seen by some of the achievements on the field under various managers.

Ange Postecoglou may have been handed his marching orders over the summer window, but he managed to achieve something which various managers have failed to do in North London.

The Aussie claimed the Europa League title with a victory over fellow Premier League side Manchester United in Bilbao, subsequently ending the 17-year trophy drought.

However, it wasn’t enough to keep his job, with the 60-year-old replaced by Thomas Frank, with the Dane tasked with the responsibility of taking the Lilywhites to the next level.

Their ability to win the Europa League has allowed the club to feature in the Champions League, whilst also recruiting some top-level talent in the process.

How Spurs struck gold in Daniel Levy's final window

During the recent summer window, Frank made a beeline to improve his forward line, subsequently making a move to land Mohammed Kudus from rivals West Ham United.

The Ghanaian cost a reported £55m during the off-season, but he’s already shown glimpses of being a shrewd addition for the Lilywhites in 2025/26 and beyond.

He’s registered five assists in his first ten outings in North London, as per Transfermarkt, with the forward also getting off the mark during the recent 2-1 win over Leeds United, lashing home from just outside the box.

Kudus wasn’t the only big-money addition during the off-season, with the hierarchy also forking out £52m for the signature of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

A new number ten was on the agenda all summer long, subsequently landing the Dutchman after missing out on the likes of Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White prior to his arrival.

The 22-year-old has so far made seven outings across all competitions, but unlike Kudus, he’s failed to find the net and has also only registered one assist in the process.

Despite the aforementioned additions, one other player in the first-team is rapidly becoming a better signing than the pair after establishing himself in Frank’s plans.

The Spurs star who’s becoming a better signing than Kudus & Simons

Over the last couple of years, Spurs haven’t been afraid to splash the cash to help them achieve their goals on the pitch, with the hierarchy spending well over £400m in the last three years.

Numerous areas of the pitch have been subject to investment, as seen by the additions within the final third, but the defensive unit has also been bolstered in recent years.

The partnership of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero at the heart of the backline has already contributed to Frank’s side keeping five clean sheets in 2025/26 to date.

However, the middle of the park is arguably one of the most important, with Lucas Bergvall already making huge strides after the Dane took the reins during the off-season.

The Swede was an unknown quantity to many a little over 12 months ago, when the hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £8.5m for his services from Djurgarden.

Yet, swiftly said to possess "a first touch like Modric" by the Athletic's JJ Bull, at the age of just 18 when he moved to England, the midfielder made an immediate impact during his debut campaign - racking up 45 appearances across all competitions.

Whilst he’s primarily a deep-lying option, he managed to net his first goal for the club in the Carabao Cup semi-final over Liverpool - but it was unable to catapult the side to the final.

The 2025/26 campaign has seen the youngster go from strength to strength, already featuring in ten outings under Frank and leading to Squawka describing him as “incredible”.

Bergvall has already added to his goalscoring tally, netting his first English top-flight effort in the recent 3-0 triumph over West Ham at the London Stadium.

His underlying stats this season are just as impressive, making 2.2 tackles per 90 and winning 5.2 duels per 90 - subsequently showcasing his excellent ability to regain possession for the side, before transferring the ball into attacking areas for the likes of Kudus and Simons.

The Swede has also achieved an 84% pass completion rate, whilst also completing 70% of the dribbles he’s attempted - arguably being the perfect box-to-box option at the heart of the team.

At just 19, it’s scary to think about how impressive Bergvall can become in the years ahead, especially if he continues on the trajectory he’s put himself on in recent months.

There’s no disputing that Kudus and Simons will be excellent additions in the near future, but the move for Bergvall was a bargain and one that could go down as one of the best in their history if he reaches his full potential.

Last season Tottenham Hotspur may have won the Europa League but there is no hiding behind the fact that domestically, things were a complete write-off.

Former boss Ange Postecoglou proclaimed that things are always better in season three, but sadly for the craggy-faced Aussie, he didn't see in his third campaign at the helm.

The writing had been on the wall for a while, really. Spurs were a mess at the back. It's "who we are, mate" Ange also exclaimed when asked about his philosophy and high line. Yet, those who fail to adapt and change...ahem, Ruben Amorim, often fail.

The truth is that Postecoglou did not change his ways, leading to the concession of 65 Premier League goals, the fifth-worst record in the division last term.

With Thomas Frank now at the helm, he made an immediate attempt to improve the backline before anything else and that decision has been vindicated.

Spurs look like a different outfit now. They are more organised, more structured, and the numbers showcase that. They have kept five clean sheets already in 2025/26 across all competitions and have shipped just five goals. Only Arsenal (3) have let in fewer.

While Frank will take a lot of the plaudits, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero's partnership has looked like one of the best in the division.

Why Van de Ven and Romero complement each other so well at Spurs

Since arriving in north London, Romero has attracted his fair share of criticism.

He's too hot-headed, too rash, too ill-disciplined to ever be a competent defender. Those were the cries from certain sections of the media and fanbase. Alas, there is a reason that he is captaining the side and there is a reason that Real Madrid have reportedly courted him.

The Argentine is a typical South American defender. He's brutish, has a never-say-die attitude and when faced with a striker, it's not often they get the better of him.

Indeed, he's only been dribbled past 0.3 times per match under Frank so far, winning 65% of his ground duels and another 65% of his aerial duels.

To put those numbers into context, he's winning more aerial battles than Arsenal's imperious Brazilian, Gabriel (60%) and a similar number of ground duels to William Saliba (66%).

Romero is the more aggressive of he and Van de Ven, but the Dutchman's recovery speed and ability to sweep in behind his defensive colleague is why they work so well.

Last term, no player was quicker in the English top-flight than Spurs' number 37.

Yet despite all of that, the club have a defender in their ranks who stands an excellent chance of disrupting this fine partnership. Step forward Spurs' new Mousa Dembele.

Spurs have found the defensive version of Dembele

What a player Dembele was in his prime. Part of a very special Spurs team including the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, the Belgian was the glue that held everything together.

In the words of Kyle Walker, "Dembele was probably the best player I’ve ever seen play football" while Eric Dier, now of Monaco, stated that he was "a freak of nature".

An all-action machine, it was nigh on impossible to get the ball off Dembele. He was a fine dribbler but he was also a duel monster.

From 2012 to 2019, no player in the Premier League had a better success rate for dribbles than Dembele's tally of 77.9%. The next best during that time frame was Nemanja Matic on 73.1%.

As for winning duels, during the 2015/16 season, only three players, of which one was N'Golo Kante, won more tackles per match. Dembele won 3.6 while Kante topped the charts with 4.7.

Why is this all relevant now? Well, it looks like Spurs have found another duel machine, someone capable of dominating play in a similar manner, albeit from defensive phases of play.

That player is Luka Vuskovic. Spurs first reached an agreement to sign the centre-back in 2023 for £12m from Hajduk Split when he was only 16.

They had to wait until 2025 for the young Croatian to finally arrive but it was worth the wait. Vuskovic scored in pre-season against Reading and more than looks the part.

Now 18, the teenager has already made a habit of scoring regular goals. At KVC Westerlo in the Belgian top-flight last season, he scored seven goals in 36 outings.

Now on loan at Hamburg in Germany, he's already showcasing why he's so highly rated. The youngster has featured on four occasions, scoring once and breaking a little bit of history along the way.

During Hamburg's clash against Union Berlin last weekend, he won a mind-blowing 18 aerial duels. To sum up just how incredible that statistic is, no player has won more aerial duels in a Bundesliga game across the last ten seasons and he is the first player to win 18 aerial duels in a single match in Europe's top five leagues over the last five seasons.

While Dembele may not have been as menacing in the air as that, it demonstrates Vuskovic's imperious duel-winning ability and his capability to overpower his opponents.

When asked what he thought of his teammate, Hamburg full-back Miro Muheim simply described him as a "monster" after the game. Rather apt if you ask us.

But, as the Athletic's German Football correspondent, Seb Stafford-Bloor, outlines, the Croat is also "good with the ball at his feet", emulating Dembele with that area of the game too.

Vuskovic has completed 85% of his passes in the Bundesliga so far and has also been successful with 100% of his dribble attempts, according to Sofascore.

Not just a beast physically, he's technically brilliant, just as Dembele was from further forward. An exciting player no doubt, and one who could well make this Spurs backline even better.

You bet Frank can't wait to get him back in the fold next season.

Premier League teams have been urged to exploit a weak link in Thomas Frank's starting eleven at Tottenham.

Tottenham edge out Leeds United in 2-1 win

The Lilywhites, once again, were forced to display real grit as Spurs battled their way to a 2-1 win away at Leeds United in today's early kick-off.

Goals from Mathys Tel, who was given the starting nod over Richarlison, and summer signing Mohammed Kudus edged Leeds out, despite Daniel Farke's side battling to the last second on a very rainy afternoon at Elland Road.

Noah Okafor did make the game level before half-time, but Kudus' deflected first ever goal for Tottenham gifted Frank's side a hard-fought three points.

The Ghanaian's Man of the Match display helped Spurs become the first team to beat Leeds on home turf in a league game for over a year — putting their disappointing draw against Bodo/Glimt in the Arctic Circle firmly behind them.

An ever-present in Spurs' team ever since his £17 million move from Empoli in 2023, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, also made crucial saves in Yorkshire.

Vicario thwarted Dominic Calvert-Lewin from making it 2-1 just after half-time with a left-footed stop before denying Leeds again in the very last minutes, but the shot-stopper was left in no-mans-land when ex-Spurs defender Joe Rodon missed a gaping chance early in the first half.

The Italy international started his Lilywhites career impressively under Ange Postecoglou, putting in some excellent performances and pulling off match-winning saves since then, but Vicario has attracted criticism for his handling of crosses into the box.

Premier League rivals urged to expose Guglielmo Vicario at Tottenham

Former Newcastle and Crystal Palace midfielder Darren Ambrose, speaking to talkSPORT earlier this week, is convinced that Vicario has been "found out" because of this and has urged Premier League rivals to take advantage.

“Obviously, I didn’t play in defence, but I know, I’ve been in changing rooms, I know what gets spoken about," Ambrose said.

“He’s been found out in terms of his crossing, his dictating abilities, in terms of the set plays. I was a set play taker when I played, and I know my management team would have said, ‘Put it right on him.‘”

There were flashes of this issue from Vicario against Leeds, especially with Rodon's opportunity as a result of the 28-year-old's failure to deal with an incoming ball.

However, Tottenham's goalkeeping coaches can always work on the keeper's lack of confidence right now when it comes to claims.

The former Serie A keeper is still quite young in goalkeeping terms, and while there is still room for improvement, ex-teammate Fraser Forster piled praise on Vicario's work ethic to get better behind-the-scenes.

After going unbeaten in their last two matches, Leeds United suffered a home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. The Whites were beaten 2-1 by the North London outfit, and despite creating some good opportunities, they couldn’t capitalise and ended up losing at Elland Road for the first time this season.

It was the visitors who took the lead in West Yorkshire, through Frenchman Mathys Tel. The former Bayern Munich prodigy got slightly fortunate with his effort from outside of the area, after a deflection took it over Karl Darlow into the back of the net.

Daniel Farke’s side hit back soon after, with new signing Noah Okafor once again getting on the scoresheet. Quick reactions meant the Swiss attacker could get on the end of a parry from Spurs’ goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who deflected Brenden Aaronson’s effort into his path.

Just before the hour mark, Spurs scored their second through one of their summer signings, Mohammed Kudus. The Ghanaian forward pounced on a loose ball, driving inside and firing a shot goalwards. Again, it took a deflection, leaving Darlow for dead and nestling into the bottom corner.

Kudus’ goal proved to be the difference-maker in a game where a few Leeds players struggled. One of those was Gabriel Gudmundsson.

Gudmundsson’s stats vs. Spurs

It has, generally speaking, been a good start to the season for Gudmundsson. The new Leeds left-back, who is a full international with Sweden, has started every game under Farke so far this season.

Whilst he has been impressive for the most part, as he was against the Lilywhites, Gudmundsson made an error which allowed Kudus the opportunity to score.

He got in a tangle looking to clear the ball, instead letting it bounce awkwardly off his torso and into the path of Kudus.

The stats from Gudmundsson’s efforts against the North London giants don’t cover him in glory. He made one error, which led to a goal, and he only won three out of five tackles. On the ball, he had 46 touches and lost possession 12 times.

Indeed, Graham Smyth, journalist for The Yorkshire Evening Post, gave him a 6/10 for his efforts at Elland Road. He said Gudmundsson had a 'couple of nice moments' on and off the ball, but did criticise him for a lack of contact on the ball, which led to Spurs’ winner.

It was certainly a tough day at the office for the left-back, but there was a fellow defender who struggled even more.

The Leeds player who was worse than Gudmundsson

It was certainly not the result Leeds would have wanted at Elland Road, given the fortress they have turned it into under Farke. They had more shots and possession than the visitors on Saturday lunchtime, but a couple of moments meant they didn’t even earn a point.

One of the players who struggled was 26-year-old centre-back Pascal Struijk. The former Ajax youth defender has been crucial for Leeds this season, playing 90 minutes in every Premier League game and skippering the side twice.

Yet, his efforts against Spurs were underwhelming.

There were two "unfortunate" deflections off the Leeds number five for each of the goals, as per The Athletic's Beren Cross, which took the ball past Darlow to see his side go behind on both occasions.

He received a 5/10 rating for his performances by Smyth. The journalist said Struijk had 'ropey moments at the back' and pointed out the fact that he was 'beaten in the air' when Spurs struck the woodwork themselves.

The stats reflect how poor the 26-year-old was against the Lilywhites. He had 74 touches and, on the ball, was generally quite good. He completed 94% of his passes. Yet, he only won 40% of his duels and didn’t attempt a tackle.

With summer addition Jaka Bijol knocking on the door for a spot in the starting lineup, perhaps Farke will decide to drop Struijk.

It is certainly disappointing that he struggled, especially in the air, against Spurs, and he certainly could have done more to prevent the goals.

Bijol has been an unused substitute in the Premier League this season, but perhaps this poor performance from Struijk will be enough to convince Farke to rotate the side ahead of the clash with Burnley.

Seven games, four wins, two draws and just a solitary defeat. Tottenham Hotspur's start to the 2025/26 Premier League season has been a far cry from last term, with Thomas Frank certainly getting a tune out of this talented crop of players.

Having slipped to 22 top-flight defeats last season under Ange Postecoglou, the Europa League winners look like a different prospect this time around, with Saturday's trip to Elland Road once again highlighting their newfound resilience this season.

With Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven holding the fort defensively in that 2-1 win over Leeds United, the Lilywhites can also now rely on the likes of Mohammed Kudus to make the difference in attack, with the Ghanaian notching a goal and assist to maintain his red-hot form this term.

Eyebrows may have been raised following his £55m switch from London rivals West Ham United, although Kudus is quickly proving value for money, having fired home from just outside the box to secure the win in Yorkshire.

Elegant and electric down that right flank, the 25-year-old is swiftly taking on talismanic status in his new surroundings, carrying the mantle even when those around him aren't exactly at their free-flowing best.

Kudus' game in numbers vs Leeds

Having teed up Mathys Tel for the game's opener, before getting in on the act with his first goal for the club, Kudus now has six goals and assists to his name in just seven league outings in 2025/26.

Up against Daniel Farke's stubborn side, the one-time Ajax man was a constant menace from his right wing berth, having also popped up centrally to convert what proved to be the decisive goal on the day.

The man of the moment could and should well have netted earlier following impressive work from Xavi Simons down the left, albeit with Kudus unable to direct his attempt goalwards after lashing over the bar from the Dutchman's pullback.

That was a rare blot on the copybook on anotherwise eye-catching day for Spurs' number 20, a fact that was also evidenced as he successfully completed all six of his attempted dribbles at Elland Road, as per Sofascore.

With an 88% pass accuracy rate to boot, the 51-touch playmaker also chipped in defensively for his side, winning ten duels in total - the most of any player for either side on the day.

That influence both in and out of possession was crucial in clinching the away side's fourth league win of the campaign, with such a showing perhaps helping to mask the struggles of the man behind.

Why Frank may need to bench errant Spurs star

Battling. Hard-fought. Resilient. All words that could describe the visitors' performance amid stormy conditions away in Yorkshire.

This wasn't vintage Spurs, but a resolute defence - combined with fleeting moments of quality in attack - ultimately proved enough up against their newly-promoted hosts.

When reflecting back on Saturday's win, Frank may also need to consider how his side can truly begin to kick on and thrive in the weeks ahead, with questions likely to be asked regarding Pedro Porro's regular role at right-back.

With Destiny Udogie returning to his rightful place at left-back, there is now a straight fight between Porro and Djed Spence on the opposite flank, ensuring Frank could well make that change next time around following the international break.

While the typically influential Porro wasn't a notable villain on Saturday afternoon, he was also far from his best, having been rather erratic in possession after losing the ball on 26 occasions - more than any player for either side.

That may have come amid his desire to create for his side, having teed up Kudus for the winner with a dinked pass in behind, although his 62% pass accuracy rate does make for grim reading.

Wasteful and erratic in possession, the Spaniard was also found wanting defensively at times, having struggled to contain the lively Noah Okafor down the Leeds left.

Indeed, the former Sporting CP defender ultimately won just four of his ten ground duels, while being dribbled past one two occasions, with football.london's Alasdair Gold noting that it 'wasn't one of his best games', despite showcasing his usual endeavour and commitment.

While Frank may be wary of changing a winning side, the presence of Spence waiting in the wings ensures that the Dane could make the change against Aston Villa in two weeks time.

There's certainly no harm in keeping Porro on his toes.

Former Aston Villa striker and pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor has doubted whether Tottenham manager Thomas Frank can truly rely on one Spurs star this season.

Tottenham battle to 2-1 victory at Leeds United

On a rainy afternoon in Yorkshire, Frank's side battled to a 2-1 win at Leeds United in the early kick-off, becoming the first team to beat Daniel Farke's side at Elland Road in the league for over a year.

The match began with Leeds on the front foot, but it was Tottenham who opened the scoring midway through the first half. Mathys Tel broke the deadlock, his shot taking a deflection on its way past the Leeds goalkeeper after being set up by man of the match Mohammed Kudus.

The home side responded well — grabbing an equalizer before the break through Noah Okafor — and supporters would've been forgiven for thinking Tottenham may well capitulate.

After half-time, both teams pressed for a winner in a lively contest, but the decisive moment arrived in the 64th minute when Kudus capped off a strong display by cutting inside and firing a low shot that deflected off a Pascal Struijk and into the net.

Leeds pushed for another equalizer, but Spurs’ defense held firm, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made crucial second-half saves.

Before what was a hard-fought contest, where the Leeds faithful were in full voice and Spurs made to work hard for their win, Frank axed struggling striker Richarlison in favour of Tel.

His decision was justly rewarded by the Frenchman's opening goal, and while Richarlison did replace Tel late in the second half, he once again failed to make an impact when Frank's side were under the cosh.

Gabriel Agbonlahor says Thomas Frank should be worried about Richarlison

The Brazil international started 2025/2026 in fine form, scoring a brace against Burnley, which included a stunning bicycle kick in what was an early goal of the season contender.

He also notched an assist during Tottenham's superb 2-0 win away to Man City, but apart from a tap-in against Brighton thereafter, Richarlison has largely struggled to make a serious impact in place of Dominic Solanke.

While Spurs hope that Solanke will return soon after the international break, following the Englishman's minor ankle surgery, Frank has just Tel and Richarlison to choose from in the number nine role.

Tel's strike against Leeds this afternoon was perhaps the beginning of the end of Richarlison's run in the starting eleven, and Agbonlahor said earlier this week that Tottenham cannot rely on the 28-year-old who cost £60 million to sign from Everton in 2022.

“Richarlison for me, big money, £60 million he cost. He started the season on fire, two goals against Burnley, then scored a tap-in against Brighton,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT.

“Then you’re like, this could be the season Richarlison kicks on and becomes the main man, but the same thing happens season after season with Richarlison.

“He will have a couple of good games, he’ll have three or four games where he will give absolutely zero, and if he’s leading your line, with Solanke’s injury problems, that’s a scare for me for Spurs.”

The former Toffees star, despite flashes of true brilliance at times, has largely failed to justify his price tag — with Richarlison also suffering lengthy injury lay-offs during Ange Postecoglou's final campaign in charge.

His contract expires in 2027, and some reports suggest that Richarlison could join Crystal Palace for around £20-25 million next year.

CEO Vinai Venkatesham and the Lilywhites hierarchy have a key decision to make on the attacker's future, and it will be interesting to see whether suitors could come forward in January.

The Thomas Frank revolution continues at Tottenham Hotspur. Gone are the days of chaos and confusion under Ange Postecoglou. There is an evident fight and spirit about the Lilywhites in 2025/26.

While the north Londoners were far from their free-flowing best away to Leeds United on Saturday afternoon - nor have they been yet under the Danish coach - once again they found a way to win, having run out deserved 2-1 victors at Elland Road.

In what was a hard-fought contest in Yorkshire, the visitors surged ahead following Mathys Tel's deflected strike, before Noah Okafor levelled things up just nine minutes later, prodding home at the backpost after Guglielmo Vicario's initial save.

With the game finely poised, up stepped summer signing Mohammed Kudus to nudge Spurs into the lead with his own deflected effort from range, with the Ghanaian's 57th minute effort ultimately proving the difference as the away side held on for a fourth Premier League win of the campaign.

Spurs' key performers vs Leeds

In wet and windy conditions, the performance from those in black was hardly perfect, yet there was plenty to be encouraged by all across the park, with the defensive duo of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven again looking rather imperious - the latter man notably winning all of his contested duels, as per Sofascore.

Perhaps the most notable place for positivity was in the forward line, however, with Frank unleashing marquee addition Xavi Simons in his preferred number ten berth. The Dutchman didn't disappoint.

While there was perhaps the odd trick too many, including his attempted rabona pass after the break, the ex-RB Leipzig playmaker showcased glimpses of his sky-high potential, picking out the advancing Pedro Porro late on with a deft dink over the Leeds defence.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, the decision to give young Tel the nod in attack over man of the moment Richarlison certainly paid off, with the lively Frenchman netting his fourth goal since initially joining the club on loan back in January.

Equally, there were also signs of life from Wilson Odobert down the left flank, with the former Burnley starlet beginning to find his feet following what's been a muted first year or so in Lilywhite.

There may not have been much end product, but a 95% pass accuracy rate highlights the Frenchman's promising outing.

Rounding off that dynamic quartet was, of course, that man Kudus, with the £55m man continuing his stunning start to life at Spurs with another electric performance off the right flank.

The Spurs star who looked like prime Gareth Bale

Comparisons, particularly at such an early juncture in the season, can appear somewhat over the top, although there truly was something Gareth Bale-esque about Kudus' performance on Saturday, with the 25-year-old already taking on talismanic status in his new surroundings.

Bale at his best, like in 2012/13 when he plundered 25 goals and assists in the Premier League, was a vision of speed and power, along with an end product to match, with the Welshman regularly wreaking havoc off the left or when cutting in centrally.

With blistering pace and the ability to weave his way past defenders with ease, a prime Bale truly was a sight to behold, with few figures in Lilywhite having ever come close to reaching such lofty heights.

There's been Harry Kane and Heung-min Son since those times, and now Kudus is the latest to join the party, with the former West Ham United maverick taking his tally to one goal and five assists in just seven Premier League games under Frank's watch.

Having been booked early on for a late challenge on Gabriel Gudmundsson, the fleet-footed forward subsequently slid in Tel for the game's opener, before getting in on the act himself just before the hour mark.

Cutting in from the right in trademark Bale fashion, Spurs' number 20 may have enjoyed a fair bit of luck with his eventual strike, although that goal was just reward for what was an all-round stellar performance in attack.

As noted by Sofascore, he successfully completed all six of his attempted dribbles, having also won ten of his attempted duels, showcasing his ability to impact the game both in and out of possession.

As already stated, this wasn't Spurs at their most potent, yet once again Saturday's win highlighted the growing importance of and reliance on Kudus to steal the show for Frank's side.

Like football.london's Alasdair Gold put it at full time, when handing the winger a 9/10 match rating, he 'gave Leeds' defenders nightmares throughout'.

Long may it continue.

Tottenham Hotspur travel to face Leeds United in the Premier League this afternoon, looking to return to winning ways after their draw in the Champions League in midweek.

Thomas Frank will no doubt want to return to league action with a bang, after only managing to secure a 1-1 draw against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers last week.

However, on the whole, it’s been an impressive start to life in North London for the Dane, only suffering one defeat in his first nine matches after taking the reins in the summer.

Whilst Daniel Farke’s side are a newly-promoted outfit, they are still a side to be feared, with the Whites unbeaten in each of their last two top-flight outings.

If the Lilywhites are to have the best chance of avoiding a shock defeat at Elland Road, the manager desperately needs to drop one player who’s been extremely poor as of late.

Richarlison’s poor form in recent weeks

After scoring twice in the Premier League opener of 2025/26, there was a sense of excitement building at Spurs that Richarlison could be the man to lead the line under Frank.

While he’s managed to find the back of the net three times in his first six outings, the Brazilian has become a scapegoat in recent outings, given his lack of impact in the final third.

His recent showing against Bodo Glimt in the Champions League was arguably one of his worst of the campaign, only achieving a total of ten touches in his 90-minute performance.

Richarlison also only managed to complete two passes, whilst also losing possession five times - an average of once every two times he made contact with the ball.

The 28-year-old may have had limited opportunities, but he was also wasteful when the ball fell his way, subsequently missing one big chance and costing the Lilywhites a chance of claiming all three points.

The injury situation in attacking areas has been less than ideal for Frank, but he desperately needs to drop the Brazilian and hand one player the chance to flourish this afternoon in Yorkshire.

The player who needs to replace Richarlison against Leeds

Dominic Solanke has been Spurs’ main talisman over the last 12 months, often providing the goods within the final third before Frank’s arrival during the off-season.

The Englishman cost a club-record £65m last summer from Bournemouth and subsequently endured a solid first campaign in North London - scoring 16 goals across all competitions.

However, he’d found minutes hard to come by, only featuring for a total of 31 minutes in the Premier League, with an ankle injury preventing him from putting a consistent run together.

Another option that Frank must consider against Farke’s men is French star Mathys Tel, with the youngster needing a run of games to showcase his talents in North London.

The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan with the Lilywhites, scoring three goals in his 20 appearances - but often struggled for consistency under Ange Postecoglou.

However, the hierarchy decided to fork out £30m for his signature during the off-season, with the board putting trust in the youngster to thrive in the years ahead.

Tel has only made four appearances in the Premier League this season, only one of which was from a starting position, with added minutes desperately needed to allow him to reach his full potential.

Despite his lack of action, he’s been labelled “Thierry Henry-like” by former fan-favourite Jermaine Defoe, further highlighting the talent he currently possesses.

The Englishman stated about his unbelievable ability to glide past his opponent, something which has been reflected in his tally of 67% dribble success rate in 2025/26.

He’s also averaged 0.9 crosses per 90, along with 6.9 duels per 90 won - further highlighting his impressive all-round nature within attacking areas in North London.

It may be an unpopular call, but it’s one that needs to be done to give Frank the best chance of finding out his best eleven after taking the reins a few months ago.

Such a decision could give Richarlison the time he needs to recapture his form, which in time could create healthy competition for the Lilywhites within attacking areas.

Leeds United are back in action in the Premier League for the final time before the international break when they face Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road this afternoon.

The Whites welcome Thomas Frank's team to West Yorkshire in the early kick-off in the top-flight, as they look to head into the break off the back of another positive result.

Daniel Farke's side have made a respectable start to life in the Premier League after they won the Championship title with a club-record 100-point haul in the 2024/25 campaign.

Leeds have eight points on the board after six matches and were seconds away from having another two points to their name in their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, as they conceded in stoppage time.

The Championship champions have scored five goals in their last two matches in the Premier League, having beaten Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 in the game before that draw with the Cherries.

Despite that impressive goal return in the last two outings in the top-flight, finishing chances has been an issue for Farke's side throughout the season so far.

Why Leeds need more from their attackers

Leeds need to get more out of their attackers at the top end of the pitch because some of them have missed too many big chances, and others have not gotten into dangerous enough positions in front of goal.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who arrived on a free transfer from Everton in the summer, scored his first goal for the club with an excellent header against Wolves last month.

However, the former England international has lacked a ruthless edge in front of goal with his performances for the club so far, which is a slight cause for concern moving forward.

Tottenham have only conceded four goals in six games in the Premier League under Frank, which suggests that chances will be few and far between and that Leeds will need to be clinical with what they are able to create.

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin has missed eight 'big chances' and scored one goal in five appearances for the Whites so far, which shows that he has been incredibly wasteful in front of goal.

His hold-up play, winning 5.3 duels per game (Sofascore), will be important against the Europa League champions to alleviate pressure, though, which is why he should keep his place in the team.

It is, therefore, Brenden Aaronson who should be taken out of the starting line-up for this clash with Spurs because he lacks the clinical edge that the Whites will need given how strong their opponents are at the defensive side of the game.

The USA international has failed to score in six league games so far this season and scored one goal from 3.86 xG in 36 appearances in the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign, per Sofascore.

This means that Aaronson cannot be relied upon to finish a chance if it comes his way against the Lilywhites, which is why he should be ruthlessly dropped from the starting line-up to provide another player with an opportunity to shine.

In his place, Farke could add the clinical edge that his team will need against Spurs by unleashing Joel Piroe in a brand-new role on the right flank this afternoon at Elland Road.

Why Joel Piroe should be unleashed against Spurs

The Dutchman has fallen down the pecking order in the number nine position in West Yorkshire this season, as evidenced by the fact that he has been an unused substitute in his last three appearances in the matchday squad.

It has been a disappointing start to life in the Premier League for last season's Championship top scorer, who caught the eye of fans and pundits with his clinical finishing.

In fact, former Spurs star Chris Waddle compared him to Harry Kane, saying: "He reminds me of how Harry Kane plays. He comes off and drags the centre halves out, which is great for Dan James and their other wingers. If you have got wingers with a bit of pace, they can exploit the space that has been created for him and I think that works very well."

Piroe scored 19 goals in the Championship to fire Leeds to promotion and win the Golden Boot, which earned him that comparison to the Tottenham icon, who now plays for Bayern Munich.

However, instead of unleashing him as their own version of Kane, who scored 280 goals for Spurs as a number nine, Farke should look to unleash the left-footed star in a brand-new role on the right.

All 78 of his starts for Leeds have come in central positions, as a striker or as an attacking midfielder, but he has scored 13 goals in 28 matches as a right-winger for the other clubs in his career combined, per Transfermarkt.

This suggests that he does have the potential to be effective in that position, even if his lack of mobility and natural physicality mean that he does not look like a natural pick in that area of the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, Piroe was undoubtedly an immense finisher for the Whites in his two seasons in the Championship with the club, outperforming his xG in both campaigns.

That is why it was not a surprise to read that Beren Cross quoted Farke as saying that the Dutch striker is "the best finisher he has ever worked with" in his pre-match press conference for the Spurs match.

Given that the German head coach has worked with players like Teemu Pukki, Mario Gotze, and Marcus Thuram, that is incredibly high praise from the manager.

Aaronson, as aforementioned, has not offered enough of a threat as a goalscorer throughout his Premier League career and Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto are both injured, which is why unleashing Piroe on the right flank could be an inventive solution to the team's lack of ruthless finishing.

The Whites would then have Calvert-Lewin as the number nine to provide physicality and hold-up play, Noah Okafor on the left to provide pace and dynamism down the left, and Piroe on the right to offer a clinical edge in front of goal.