Daily Express

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Tottenham claimed a valuable point on the south coast on Saturday as they drew 2-2 with Brighton. The result saw Thomas Frank’s team pick up their 10th point of the season as they climbed to second place in the Premier League table.

Tottenham started well but fell behind just eight minutes into the match after Yankuba Minteh dispossessed Wilson Odobert close to the edge of his own penalty area before finishing off the move by rounding Guglielmo Vicario and firing the ball into the back of the net. And the hosts doubled their advantage after Yasin Ayari fired the ball past the Tottenham keeper from long-range after Lucas Bergvall had given the ball away in a dangerous area. Richarlison halved his team’s deficit before half time, with Spurs eventually getting their equaliser as Jan Paul van Hecke turned the ball into his own net late on. And Express Sport rates and slates the Tottenham players.

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Tottenham player ratings vs Brighton (4-3-3)

Guglielmo Vicario: 4

Made a couple of saves but was taken by surprise by the power of Ayari’s long-range effort and will be bitterly disappointed not to have kept it out. Was nearly caught out by an audacious free-kick from Lewis Dunk in the second half and failed to instil confidence.

Pedro Porro: 5

Attempted to join in with his team’s attacks but his crosses lacked direction as he failed to create opportunities for the forwards. Struggled defensively as well.

Cristian Romero: 7

Aggressive, assertive and offered a threat from set-pieces. But the Tottenham defence was exposed more than they had been in any other Premier League game this season.

Micky van de Ven: 7

Tried to use his speed to get Tottenham out of trouble but pressed in the lead up to the opening goal as Minteh took advantage of the extra space. Will need to stay fit if Tottenham are to enjoy a strong season.

Destiny Udogie: 6

Sparkled in the Brighton half as he tried to push forward and get involved in attacks. Covered plenty of ground but lacked an end product.

Joao Palhinha: 7

Made crucial interceptions and tackles as he displayed his talents at times. But needs to offer more on the ball in possession. Will be important for Spurs this season to protect their defence.

Rodrigo Bentancur: 6

Played a role in the lead up to Richarlison’s goal but was overrun in midfield as he failed to get a grip on the game. Too similar to Joao Palhinha sometimes and Spurs would benefit from more creativity in the middle of the pitch.

Lucas Bergvall: 4

Was pushed further forward but was sloppy at times. Gave the ball away ahead of Brighton’s second and then appeared to lose concentration later on.

Mohammed Kudus: 7

Clearly has plenty of talent and provided two assists but still needs to make better decisions around the penalty area.

Wilson Odobert: 4

Was dispossessed far too easily by Minteh and then failed to track the Gambia international later in the move as Brighton turned defence into attack to score the opening goal. Struggled to make an impact in the final third as Spurs were thwarted far too often.

Richarlison: 7

Carved out a decent chance for himself midway through the first half but fired his effort off target. Was down injured when Brighton netted their second goal but worked tirelessly to make something happen. And he was rewarded with a goal just before half time.

Substitutes

Xavi Simons: 6

Came on for Rodrigo Bentancur just after the hour mark as Frank attempted to spark his team into life. Had a decent chance after coming on but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Brennan Johnson: 6

Always impressed when called upon and will be disappointed that Wilson Odobert started ahead of him.

Archie Gray: 6

Came on for Bergvall just before the end of the match.

Djed Spence: 6

Replaced Pedro Porro with minutes remaining.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to face Brighton on Saturday, with manager Thomas Frank hoping to maintain Spurs' strong start to the season. The Danish manager's team has secured victories in three of their first four matches. However, after gaining six points from Burnley and Manchester City, they suffered a surprising home defeat to Bournemouth. Despite this setback, Spurs managed to bounce back after the international break.

They triumphed over West Ham 3-0 and beat Villarreal 1-0 in their Champions League return midweek, marking Frank's team's first appearance in Europe's top competition since the 2022-23 season. On the other hand, Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton were defeated 2-1 by Bournemouth in their last game, despite having previously stunned Man City. The Seagulls did manage to thrash Championship side Oxford United 6-0 in the League Cup, but this followed a 2-0 loss at Everton and a last-minute draw against Fulham on the opening day.

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Last season, Spurs were defeated twice by the Seagulls. Hurzeler's team also trounced them 4-1 in the final game of last season when Spurs were under the management of Ange Postecoglou, before he was sacked by the club.

When does Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur kick-off?

Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur is scheduled for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday, September 20. It will take place at the Amex Stadium.

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Is Brighton vs Tottenham on TV?

No, the game will not be televised due to the traditional 3pm blackout rules in the UK. However, fans can catch highlights on Match of the Day, which will start at 10:50pm on Saturday evening.

You can view highlights of the game on the BBC Sport website from 8pm. Sky Sports will also release highlights of the game on their app and website following the final whistle.

Highlights will also be available on the BBC Sport website from 8pm. Sky Sports will likewise post highlights on their app and website after the final whistle.

Team News

Franks' major concern is Dominic Solanke. The striker missed out on the win against Villarreal in midweek with an ankle injury and Randal Kolo Muani is now pushing for his first start, battling Richarlison for a place in the first team.

Spurs have been riddled with a series of long-term injuries already this season. James Maddison, Radu Draugsin, Dejan Kulusevsi are all out. Kota Takai looks set to return to training after returning from injury but will most likely miss out.

For Brighton, Adam Webster and Solly March are sidelined with knee injuries. Mats Wieffer could also miss out with his own knee problem. Left-back Maxim de Cuyper was brought off with an injury concern against Bournemouth. Diego Gomez missed the Oxford clash through sickness while Jack Hinshelwood could also be set for a lengthy spell out due to an ankle concern.

Thomas Frank insists he harbours 'no resentment' towards Yves Bissouma after the Tottenham midfielder broke his rules and couldn't secure a transfer this summer. Spurs make the trip to Bissouma's former club Brighton on Saturday afternoon hoping to continue their impressive beginning under the Dane, which has delivered four victories in five fixtures with four clean sheets and just one goal conceded. Bissouma has played no role in that run following a knee setback during a summer where Tottenham attempted to offload him with his deal expiring next year.

The 29-year-old has clocked up 100 appearances for the north London outfit since his £25million arrival from Brighton in 2022, but the Mali international has never reliably delivered and has battled with conduct problems both on and off the field. Bissouma was captured on camera using nitrous oxide last summer and the social media footage resulted in a one-match Spurs ban for the season curtain-raiser and he fell foul of Frank after repeatedly arriving late.

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The new head coach consequently excluded him from his UEFA Super Cup selection and then his Champions League roster for the forthcoming months. A knee problem thwarted the midfielder's opportunity for a departure and left Spurs facing the prospect of him seeing out his contract.

Frank stated that regardless of all that has transpired, Bissouma will not be discarded when he regains fitness. "There are no hard feelings at all. Not before, not now, not at all. Train well and everyone has an opportunity," said Frank.

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"He has just started to run outside, so he is not part of the group but everything I've seen when I’ve said hello to him and every day with the players, he seems good."

Bissouma has already been surpassed in the pecking order by 19-year-old Lucas Bergvall, who Frank acknowledged ahead of the match at the Amex Stadium is "going from strength to strength".

Frank added: "The coaches and I have been working with him on a couple of things. He's got so much energy that sometimes you need to say, pause, stop, don't run when we have the ball and find the higher, more dangerous positions.

"For example, the deep run where he scored against West Ham was a big thing. The deep run where he was involved in the own goal against Villarreal. Those deep runs and arriving in a higher position up the pitch are key."

Spurs continue to be without the injured Dominic Solanke, who has now returned to training on the grass alongside Japanese summer signing Kota Takai.

The UEFA Champions League is back, and Tottenham are ready for their next European adventure with new boss Thomas Frank at the helm. The Lilywhites will take on Villarreal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night, with a kick off of 8pm scheduled alongside five other European fixtures that evening.

Spurs will host the La Liga side in the first of six games across 18 days, in an already-congested fixture list for the Premier League team. Manager Frank will be aiming for a positive start in Europe after making it three wins out of four in the league so far, placing them second in the table early on. The new Champions League format is very similar to the Premier League, with points tallied up across a league phase of 36 teams. The first eight teams will automatically qualify for the knockout stages, with the next 16 sides heading into a play-off round.

Spurs will be heading into this game with some swagger following their Europa League final win last season, and their 3-0 drubbing of West Ham United in Saturday's London derby. Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven were all on target for the Lilywhites, continuing their impressive start to the 2025/26 season.

Villarreal will be hoping for better success in Europe after a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid at the weekend, which saw them fall to sixth in the La Liga table. Marcelino's side has won two, drawn won and lost one game so far in the league.

The Spanish side will hope to go on a similar run in Europe like they did in 2022, after making it to the Champions League semi-finals during that season. Ahead of kick-off, here is all you need to know about following the first of many European games on Tuesday evening.

When does Tottenham vs Villarreal kick off?

Tottenham will take on Villarreal on Tuesday, 16 September 2025 with a kick-off time of 8pm. The game will be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham vs Villarreal TV channel

The Champions League fixture will be shown live in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, with coverage starting from 7pm ahead of the 8pm kick-off. Fans can sign up for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, meaning you won't need to spend a single penny to take in the action.

Follow the link here to find out more and sign up before kick-off. BBC Radio 5 Live will also provide live commentary for UK listeners.

Watch Spurs vs Villarreal for free

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Tottenham Hotspur get their UEFA Champions League campaign underway as they host Villarreal on September 16.

Fans can watch the game for free by signing up for an Amazon Prime 30-day trial.

How can I watch the Tottenham vs Villarreal highlights?

Highlights of the game will be available on BBC Sport by 17 September 2025.

Tottenham team news

Dominic Solanke remains unavailable for Spurs alongside long-term absentees Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Radu Dragusin and Yves Bissouma. Summer recruit Randal Kolo Muani could make his debut for the Lilywhites on Tuesday night, after remaining on the bench against West Ham on Saturday.

Kota Takai and Mathys Tel are both ineligible to play in the Champions League fixture, but Richarlison and Xavi Simons are available to front Spurs' forward line.

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for a much-anticipated return to the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, with Thomas Frank facing a significant task in selecting his starting XI. Spurs are set to face Villarreal at 8pm on Tuesday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, following their Europa League victory last season, as they aim to secure four wins from five under Frank's early leadership.

The Lilywhites triumphed over Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final earlier in May, securing their first trophy in 17 years. Now, new manager Frank aims to surpass Ange Postecoglou and propel Spurs to the peak of European glory in the Champions League. However, the Danish boss faces a selection dilemma ahead of the campaign's opening game, with several key players absent. Spurs defeated London rivals West Ham United 3-0 at the weekend, courtesy of second-half goals from Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven.

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A Tomas Soucek red card in the 54th minute aided the visitors' quest for victory, but Frank had issues to address even before the match started. During Spurs' 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth prior to the international break, Dominic Solanke was omitted from the matchday squad due to an ankle problem, as confirmed by the manager.

It appears he was unable to recover from the issue, as Frank informed the media ahead of the trip to the London Stadium that he would not be available. He said: "Everyone returned from international duty well. Always positive, very happy about that. Dom will not be available still, I don't expect it to be too long but he will not be available for this game.

"I think right now we are doing everything we can – the medical team - to get on top of it and that's what we're focusing on. I get a feeling he is not too far away, but he's just fallen short for this week."

This means Solanke will now be racing against time to feature in his debut Champions League appearance for Tottenham, but whilst Frank believes he isn't "too far away," Villarreal may prove too early for the English forward.

Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, and James Maddison remain sidelined for the foreseeable future with serious injuries, leaving Frank with limited attacking choices. Xavi Simons was handed his debut for the Lilywhites on Saturday and impressed, delivering the cross for the side's opening goal before being subbed on the 71st minute for Richarlison.

He was positioned on the left wing to make room for 19-year-old Bergvall, who justified his manager's faith in selecting him for the match by scoring and creating a goal to guide the team to triumph. Whilst Simons is better suited to a central attacking midfield role, Bergvall excelled in this position on Saturday and appears to have done sufficient to earn the starting berth on Tuesday evening.

Richarlison and Mathys Tel appear to be Frank's current striking options - with Solanke sidelined for now - and both were given game time against West Ham, with Tel being preferred over the Brazilian. However, the Frenchman isn't in Spurs' squad for the Champions League, so it is likely Richarlison will reclaim this starting spot without much of a struggle.

Sarr and Mohamed Kudus seem to be managing the right-hand side well, with Pedro Porro taking care of the defensive duties at right-back, while new England international Djed Spence is handling the left full-back role with ease.

Guglielmo Vicario is one Spurs star who seems to have secured his starting spot between the posts, alongside captain Cristian Romero and his centre-back partner Van de Ven. With some decisions to be made in midfield and up front, Frank may well see the confidence growing in his squad from their victory over West Ham and choose to stick with this plan for their next match.

However, some impressive players remained on the bench during the Premier League win - including Rodrigo Bentancur and Randal Kolo Muani - with Brennan Johnson and Destiny Udogie making substitute appearances to gain minutes. Speaking after the match, Frank was open about resting some key players ahead of the Champions League opener, but admitted rotation will be crucial to success for Spurs this season.

Praising his squad's depth and ability to rotate whilst maintaining standards, the 51-year-old said: "I think it's extremely important. It's important that I trust my players. Of course, they need to perform and train well and show the right attitude and all that, but they do and they train well. So, I have the privilege to, for example, rest Rodri [Bentancur].

"Of course, he could have played today, but he played two 90 minutes, he landed [from South America] Thursday morning. So, I'm not too worried about this, but what about Tuesday? What about the next one? And they can't play 70 games, all of them, all the time. Rodri is a key player for us. Richy is the same.

"He could have started but also played in 4,000m height against Bolivia and so on, and then others have done well. Lucas, look how he came on the pitch, and how he performed as well. I think Mathys, very impressive, the performance was maybe not through the roof, but it was very solid, I would say 7/10, worked hard, pressing, constant pressing, and that's very good also. You know he's not in the Champions League squad. I'm very happy with the squad."

The majority of Frank's starting eleven selects itself, though the midfield presents the biggest selection dilemmas. Bergvall's impressive displays ensure he retains his spot in our predicted lineup, with Sarr the unlucky man to miss out.

Tottenham predicted XI vs Villarreal

(4-2-3-1) Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bentancur; Kudus, Bergvall, Simons; Richarlison.

Jamie Redknapp has been slammed as a “double-barrel idiot” after making controversial claims about Sir Alan Sugar’s time at Tottenham Hotspur. The former England and Liverpool midfielder sparked fury when he suggested that Spurs were left “in a right mess” following Lord Sugar’s departure, claiming Daniel Levy inherited chaos when he took control of the North London club.

But the comments haven’t gone down well with the Apprentice star, who accused Redknapp of “talking a load of rubbish” and showing a lack of respect for the ex-chairman’s tenure. Sir Alan tore into the Sky Sports pundit, firing: “Jamie Redknapp is a double-barrel idiot. He talks a load of rubbish. He said when Daniel Levy took over Spurs, Alan Sugar left the club in a right mess.”

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The outrage didn’t stop there. The fiery critic warned both Redknapp and his employers at Sky Sports that legal action was on the way, adding: “He and Sky will be hearing from my lawyers on Monday.”

It comes as Lord Sugar has signed a new three-year deal with the BBC to stay on The Apprentice. The billionaire was already contracted to do the 20th series of the show next year, but says he has signed to do three more series, taking him into his 80s.

Lord Sugar, 77, revealed the deal in an interview with the BBC's Amol Rajan. Now in its 19th series, criticism of The Apprentice falls "like water off a duck's back" these days, he said.

He invests £250,000 in the winner's business, receiving half of the company in return. And he says he's "absolutely" proud of the programme's legacy.

"Listen, when I took the job of The Apprentice, I was already a multi-millionaire. I didn't do it for the money."

Known for his no-nonsense business dealings and his "you're fired/hired" catchphrase, Lord Sugar insists his on-screen persona is how he is in real life. "That is me mate, I'm promising you," he told Rajan in the BBC Two interview.

"I have sat on the production line, I've made stuff, I've packed boxes, I've loaded lorries, I've delivered, I've collected money. Every single facet of business, I have done all of it. So when I got that Apprentice gig, sitting there listening to these budding entrepreneurs, I was able to interrogate them properly."

West Ham are slumped 18th in the Premier League relegation zone after another humiliating London derby saw them convincingly beaten by Tottenham. The 10-man Hammers lost 3-0 to Spurs courtesy of goals from Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven and Graham Potter's side have now lost three of their first four league matches in 2025-26, and all have come by three-plus goal margins.

West Ham had already lost 5-1 to Chelsea at the London Stadium just 22 days earlier and this latest hammering means Potter is under massive pressure. He could very soon lose his job with the east London outfit staring at the possibility of a Premier League relegation scrap. Express Sport looks at who chairman David Sullivan could turn to if he axes Potter...

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Jose Mourinho

The glamorous option is three-time Premier League winner Jose Mourinho. He was sacked by Fenerbahce last month as a result of the Turkish giants losing in the Champions League play-offs to Benfica. The Portuguese coach, 62, has already managed three Premier League clubs - Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham - and back in October teased a return to England's top flight.

He said: "I think the best thing I have to do is when I leave Fenerbahce I go to a club that doesn't play UEFA competitions. If any club in England from the bottom of the table needs a coach in two years, I'm ready to go." While that was only 10 months ago, West Ham meet the requirements for Mourinho. Whether the Special One still has the quality to save the Hammers is a matter of debate but he is a big name with a CV bursting with trophies.

Frank Lampard

Another option could be Frank Lampard, the former West Ham midfielder. The 47-year-old did a commendable job in the Premier League with the Blues before eventually being sacked. Though his Everton tenure ended in the same fate, he did prevent them from being relegated in 2021-22 with his decision-making crucial in a vital win over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park.

Lampard is now in charge of Championship promotion hopefuls Coventry who have started the season unbeaten and scored 15 goals in five games. He has a connection with the Hammers having come through the club's academy and made 187 first-team appearances before an £11million move to Chelsea.

Gareth Southgate

Another free agent like Mourinho, Gareth Southgate would be a gamble having not managed in the Premier League since 2009. Yet he turned an England team who were laughed at after Euro 2016 and took them to the World Cup semi-finals and back-to-back Euros finals.

The 55-year-old faced a lot of criticism for his tactics while England manager but that was in a team expected to win trophies. With West Ham, that would not be the first requirement and a calming personality could be what the Londoners need. However, one problem is that the jobless Southgate said last month when asked if he has plans to return to football any time soon: "Not at the moment, I'm very much enjoying my life."

Sean Dyche

Appointing Sean Dyche, given his tactical approach might feel like a backwards step given David Moyes' departure was partly because of West Ham's desire to play more progressive football. But Dyche would feel like a solid bet to keep West Ham up if the club's board are genuinely fearful of relegation.

The 54-year-old has been without a job since leaving Everton back in January. And after a summer off, he might relish an opportunity to return to the widely-renowned best league in the world. It's unclear how West Ham fans would react to his appointment though and it might only solve short-term problems rather than long-term issues.

Thomas Frank's Tottenham Hotspur side landed a major blow on Graham Potter's West Ham United with a thumping 3-0 victory at the London Stadium. It's a return to winning ways following the Bournemouth defeat and a positive start to life in the post-Daniel Levy era for the Europa League winners.

Tottenham had thought they'd taken the lead midway through the first half when Christian Romero headed home from a corner kick. The referee had a different view of things though, as the goal was chalked off for a foul from Micky van de Ven in the build-up.

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Spurs eventually took the lead early in the second period, with Pape Matar Sarr netting from another set-piece and following a red card to Thomas Soucek, the floodgates opened. Lucas Bergvall scored next, while Van de Ven made up for his involvement in the disallowed goal to make it three. Express Sport hands out player ratings from the London derby.

Guglielmo Vicario - 6

Could've brought a deck chair for the 90 minutes. Only really called into action on one proper occasion, and even then Guglielmo Vicario didn't have to break stride with his save.

Pedro Porro - 7

Industrious up and down the right-hand side and didn't have too many problems with the West Ham attackers. Pedro Porro is unlikely to have many outings as comfortable as that this season.

Christian Romero - 8

Plenty of Spurs fans might've been expecting Romero to depart the club in the summer window, but the Argentine remained at the club and how they are thankful for that. A classy operator and the key to any success Tottenham will have this season.

Micky van de Ven - 8

In truth, he didn't do much wrong in the build-up to the disallowed goal, but that didn't take away from a great performance all around. Van de Ven remains elegant in defence and is almost equally important to Spurs' forward play.

Djed Spence - 7

Kept his cool after a monumental week on a personal level. The Djed Spence redemption tour continues and while he might not be a natural left-back, the England international looks as if he's played there his entire career.

Joao Palhinha - 7

Has been a welcome addition to a Spurs midfield that got overrun too many times last season. Perhaps his involvement will be less important when Spurs are chasing matches like they were vs Bournemouth, but even still, Joao Palhinha has taken to Frank's system well.

Lucas Bergvall - 8

A delight to watch on an afternoon which felt like Bergvall popped up on every blade of grass in the London Stadium. Marked his 50th appearance for Spurs with a deserved goal, and didn't he just take it well?

Pape Matar Sarr - 7

Enjoyed a high-scoring week on international duty and picked up where he left off for Spurs. Granted, the lackadaisical efforts from the West Ham defenders made it easy for him to ghost in behind at the back post and nod home the simplest of headers.

Xavi Simons - 7

Looked off the pace at times in the first half, but that's to be expected on his first start in a new league. Xavi Simons did show some bright sparks as the match went on and should prove a strong signing for the capital club. Also put in a wicked ball for the Saar opener and could prove a threat from set-pieces this season.

Mohammed Kudus - 7

Booed every time he touched the ball, but that didn't stop Mohammed Kudus from dazzling whenever he got on the ball. Showed exactly why he was revered by the West Ham faithful (as well as why they were so disappointed to see him leave for a rival).

Mathys Tel - 6

Had a thankless task leading the line on his own and went missing at times throughout the match. That being said, Mathys Tel was happy to do the dirty work at the tip of the Tottenham attack and would've probably been asking for better service from his team-mates.

Substitutes:

Brennan Johnson - 6

Missed a sitter from six yards out but had his blushes spared by a late offside flag.

Richarlison - 6

Looked more comfortable than Tel when leading the line.

Wilson Odobert - N/A

Kevin Danso - N/A

Destiny Udogie - N/A

James Maddison could be at risk of a punishment from the FA after taking to social media to blast referee Jarred Gillett following a controversial decision during Tottenham's clash with West Ham United on Saturday evening. Spurs thought they'd taken the lead midway through the first half when Christian Romero nodded home from a corner kick.

Gillett immediately ruled the goal out, and while it was checked by VAR, Stockley Park opted to stick with the referee's original decision. However, the Tottenham players and fans alike were enraged by the decision, with plenty taking to social media to criticise the call.

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Chief amongst them being Maddison, who is currently watching from home after suffering a long-term injury earlier this year. Writing on X, the Englishman said: "Honestly the referees & VAR have had an absolute shocker of a start to the season. If that goal is disallowed for a foul you will never ever see a corner be taken without referee blowing for something ever again."

A post from the Premier League Match Centre explained why the goal was chalked off, with it reading: "The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that van de Ven pushed Walker-Peters in the back and impacted his ability to play the ball."

Former Premier League defender Ashley Williams wasn't convinced though, telling BBC Sport: "Cristian Romero’s goal should have stood. West Ham’s goalkeeper pushes his own player into Micky Van der Ven, who then collides with Kyle Walker-Peters but the Tottenham player didn’t initiate that contact. We’ve watched it back numerous times and you can see he doesn’t push Walker-Peters over.

"The referee has given the decision on the field and because of that VAR is reluctant to intervene but that’s what they’re there for. We’d like to see more goals given and it’s the wrong decision, which is frustrating."

After a goalless first half, Tottenham did eventually take the lead early in the second period, with corners once again proving problematic for West Ham. This time the goal did stand, with Pape Matar Sarr lurking at the back post to head home the opener.

Spurs added a further two before full-time, on what was another chastening night for the Hammers. Lucas Bergvall added a second, before Van de Ven made up for his involvement in the disallowed goal with a third.

Dele Alli has been dealt a harsh reality check regarding his future career prospects following his latest setback. The ex-Tottenham ace had his contract terminated by Serie A side Como in early September after making only one appearance.

The 29-year-old joined Cesc Fabregas' team in January on an 18-month contract, following lacklustre spells at Everton and Besiktas. However, he was shown a red card less than 10 minutes into his debut, having come on as a substitute during Como's defeat to AC Milan in March. The former England international is now on the hunt for a new challenge, despite once being hailed as one of the Premier League's brightest young stars. Following his unsuccessful stint in Italy, Dele was linked with three Championship sides. Wrexham, Birmingham and West Brom were among those reportedly interested in signing him as a free agent.

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However, Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson later revealed plans to give his final squad spot to midfielder Ollie Rathbone, who is nearing a return from an ankle injury. Sky Sports analyst Don Goodman has backed the decision, suggesting that any club taking on Dele would be taking a huge gamble.

The ex-Bradford and Sunderland striker believes he may need to demonstrate his value during a trial period before another team takes a chance on him. "It hasn't really worked out since he left Spurs," Goodman told Betway. "He hasn't shown the same quality at Everton, Besiktas, and Como.

"He only played eight minutes for Como last season in Serie A, so it just hasn't happened for him. For me, it's a massive gamble for any club to take on a 29-year-old who has barely played in the past three or four seasons. I think it's a tragic story because he's such a talent, and I think the onus is solely on Dele Alli to find himself a club.

"Whether that means going on trial and taking your chance should it come your way. If I were Dele Alli, I would be happy to do that."

He added: "It's a tricky situation, but if you can get anything like the player that burst on the scene for MK Dons and then Spurs, where he excelled really, I think it's a gamble worth taking. The problem for the clubs linked with him is, you just don't know what he'll be like until he walks through the door."

Swansea were another Championship side also rumoured to be interested in signing Dele. However, the speculation was quickly quashed by manager Alan Sheehan. "I can rule that out," he said this week.

"I haven't heard that one at all right now. We've done our business unless something dramatically changes. Obviously Dele Alli is a wonderful player, so I don't want to comment anything on him or where he is, or how he's playing etc. But look, for Swansea City, I would say no right now."

Despite earlier speculation about his potential retirement, Alli is understood to be actively seeking a new club. However, his dream of earning a place in England's squad for the upcoming World Cup appear to be fading as his options decrease.