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Pundits leap to Micky van de Ven’s defence after ‘harsh’ Arne Slot claims over Alexander Isak

Micky van de Ven has been defended by multiple pundits against criticism from Arne Slot after Tottenham were beaten by Liverpool.

Alexander Isak suffered a broken leg while scoring as Van de Ven slid in to attempt a block at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend.

Liverpool won an incident-filled game 2-1 as Tottenham finished with nine men, having Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero sent off.

Since the extent of the injury became clear Anfield boss Slot has said publicly that it came as the result of a “reckless” challenge from Van de Ven which risks serious injury ten times out of ten.

Charlie Adam and Dean Saunder back Van de Ven

But discussing Slot’s comments live on talkSPORT former Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam and ex-Wales striker Dean Saunders both stood up for Tottenham‘s Van de Ven, claiming there was little else he could do in the circumstances.

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Adam said: “I think it was a harsh comment in terms of it was ‘reckless’. He’s put his body on the line to stop a goal for his team.

“I don’t think he’s intended to go and try to hurt Isak. Isak is obviously there and he shoots with this left foot and he catches him.

“But I don’t see it as like he’s gone to try and hurt him, he’s defending the goal for his team. Isak’s [got off] a wonderful strike and unfortunately for him it’s gone that way and he’s tangled his leg and yeah, it’s a huge blow for the player.”

Dean Saunders then added: “Charlie, I agree with you… If you look at it from the defender’s point of view, he’s trying to block the shot. It’s a last-ditch tackle and you’ve seen defenders get up off the floor and get everyone patting them on the back for what he’s done.

“Unfortunately, Isak’s not got his leg off the floor. He’s getting his shot, but as a striker that [happens] every week, you learn somehow how to get your feet off the floor and ride that tackle while you’re still looking at the ball. In training I might not even shoot if I knew the player who was coming across who might hurt me.

“So what would you say to Van de Ven there? His other option there was to just let him shoot, so he couldn’t do that, and by accident he’s broke his leg.”

Adam agreed. “Yeah if you’re the Tottenham manager you’d be disappointed in Van de Ven if he allowed the shot.”

Slot uses Tottenham indiscipline to shift heat off Liverpool

The result of Van de Ven’s challenge indicates it was clearly dangerous to an extent but was probably unfortunate as much as anything.

It is clearly a disaster for Slot and Liverpool, with the defending Premier League champions’ form so inconsistent, and Isak’s record transfer so far proving so disappointing.

In the circumstances it is probably not surprising that the Dutchman is trying to shift blame, to try to take some of the pressure off himself and his ailing striker.

Van de Ven revealed he has apologised direct to Isak via text and said he didn’t mean to hurt him, but the context of the game makes it easier for the Anfield hierarchy to point fingers at Spurs.

Simons saw red after a VAR review of a late challenge on Virgil van Dijk, and Romero was shown a second yellow for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate in added time.

The pressure may be on Slot and company, but not to the same extent as Thomas Frank, who can now add disciplinary concerns to the mounting list of problems he has to deal with at Spurs.

Thomas Frank days from sack as dreadful Tottenham stats emerge ahead of Crystal Palace clash

Thomas Frank can’t afford another slip-up when Tottenham face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Frank is under intense scrutiny as Spurs sit 14th in the Premier League table after 17 matches.

Defensive woes are at an all-time high, and the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium exposed Frank’s inability to get his side to play the ball out from the back.

Tottenham have been awful at home this season, and after showing signs of promise on their travels in the early parts of the season, it has completely unravelled in the last month.

Heavy defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have completely stunted their progression, and a visit to Selhurst Park could leave Frank creating history for all the wrong reasons.

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Tottenham have never lost consecutive away matches in the league to Crystal Palace

Tottenham lost this exact fixture 1-0 last season, and they’ve never lost consecutive away league games against Crystal Palace before.

Spurs have only lost their final league game in one of the last 16 calendar years, going down 3-1 at home to Wolves in 2018.

Should Frank’s side fall to a third consecutive league defeat, the Danish manager will have overseen another terrible record that he has broken since taking charge in the summer.

When facing opponents starting the day above them in the table, Tottenham have only won one of their last 19 London derbies away from home in the Premier League, with that lone victory coming against Brentford in February this year (2-0).

That in itself doesn’t make for good reading, and Frank is coming up against a side that has performed well above expectations under Oliver Glasner.

Despite the fact that Palace have lost their last two league games, they possess a huge threat in attack and have been difficult to break down throughout the season.

Mohammed Kudus and Pedro Porro have been impressive for Tottenham this season, and if anyone is going to break the Crystal Palace defence, it will likely be one of these two.

Tottenham’s right-hand side will be key vs Crystal Palace

Porro leads all Tottenham players for line-breaking passes (133) and passes breaking the opposition’s defensive line (13) in the Premier League this season.

Additionally, only Kudus (22) has created more chances for them than Porro (20).

Crystal Palace’s left centre-back Chris Richards was stretchered off in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat to Arsenal, and Spurs’ dangermen will relish playing against a weakened defence.

If Frank is to stop the rot, his two Tottenham stars will have to be on top form, and if they do turn up, then Tottenham should get back to winning ways on the road.

If not, it could be days away from another sacking.

Thomas Frank is in desperate need of a positive result as Tottenham travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The North London side have dropped to 14th in the Premier League after two defeats on the bounce, against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

Frank already has large parts of the Tottenham fanbase against him, with supporters furious at the lack of improvement since his arrival at the Lilywhites.

Palace are winless in their last four games across all competitions, but Spurs could face yet more misery at Selhurst Park.

Jeff Stelling tips Tottenham to struggle against Crystal Palace

Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool was their fifth loss in eight games, highlighting just how serious Frank’s problem is in North London.

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Spurs have struggled for an attacking spark in recent outings, with the likes of Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski still no closer to a return.

Kulusevski went off injured when the North London side last faced Palace back in May, and hasn’t been seen since, with fans now questioning the medical department.

Crystal Palace come into the game against Tottenham as big favourites, and Jeff Stelling believes that they will live up to the tag and take all three points.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “Domestically it’s been a miserable 2025 for Spurs, can they end it on a high? I’m not so sure, Palace 1-0 Tottenham.”

Read More: Tottenham January transfer window guide: Who Thomas Frank could sign, who could be sold and deadline day explained

Tottenham predicted to suffer historical defeat

Last season, in this exact same fixture, Spurs were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park under Ange Postecoglou.

Jean-Phillipe Mateta scored a first-half winner for Oliver Glasner’s side against a Tottenham team that included the likes of Timo Werner and Mikey Moore.

Spurs have never lost two consecutive away league games to Crystal Palace, but if Stelling’s prediction comes true, then they will suffer that fate for the first time in their history.

Frank cannot afford to let that happen, as his already precarious position in North London will be made even worse by a third defeat on the spin.

Guglielmo Vicario wants to leave Tottenham as early transfer contact starts already

Guglielmo Vicario’s future at Tottenham appears to be in complete doubt.

Vicario’s awful run of form leaves him at a crossroads in his career, and the 29-year-old’s three-year spell in North London could come to an end.

Thomas Frank is eyeing up another goalkeeper after Vicario’s mistakes against Fulham and Nottingham Forest, and he desperately needs a shot-stopper that he can trust.

Bart Verbruggen is linked with Tottenham from Brighton, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen is another name being touted with a surprise move to North London.

Tottenham have a busy January transfer window ahead, and Vicario’s future in N17 could be over after his desire to leave has been made clear.

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Inter interested in Guglielmo Vicario transfer

Vicario has faced scrutiny several times during his time at Tottenham, as concerns have been raised about his ability when playing out from the back.

After recent performances, a move back to Italy might be the best thing for his career.

According to reports via Calciomercato, Inter Milan have already made initial contacts for Vicario with a move in mind for the next summer transfer window.

The Italian giants will be called upon to replace Yann Sommer by that time, a player whose contract expires on June 30th.

It is stated that Vicario would also like to return to Italy, but negotiations for his return home are unlikely to be easy.

If the Italian shot-stopper wishes to leave, Spurs must do everything that they can to get rid of him in January, and Frank can’t afford to keep playing him when speculation continues to rumble on.

Bart Verbruggen is a huge upgrade on Guglielmo Vicario

Since joining the Lilywhites from Empoli in 2023-24, the 29-year-old has had a mixed spell at Spurs.

Despite winning the Europa League last season, Vicario has looked shaky for a long time, and it has been obvious that Tottenham need an upgrade if they want to progress as a team.

Young goalkeepers are hard to come by in this generation, but 23-year-old Verbruggen is one of the few who have already adapted well to Premier League football.

Although they have near-identical records this season, the Dutch goalkeeper has performed much better, and is playing for a Brighton team that prides itself on playing attacking football, which leaves him exposed at the back.

Vicario’s days are numbered, and if they are going to replace him with someone, Verbruggen is a solid replacement who can develop into a world-class goalkeeper.

Tottenham are in desperate need of new players as they continue to struggle under Thomas Frank.

Frank is under intense scrutiny as Tottenham sit 13th in the Premier League table after 17 matches.

Micky van de Ven has been the shining light, while Mohammed Kudus has been the best of this summer’s new arrivals.

On the other end of the scale, Spurs are struggling to create chances from midfield, and there is a lack of creativity on the left-hand side, which may need addressing.

Tottenham News brings you everything you need to know about the January transfer window, and who Spurs may sign or sell under Frank.

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When the January transfer window opens and closes

Tottenham made eight signings in the summer, and they’ll certainly be looking to add even more players to their ranks at the start of 2026.

The window opens on 1 January, and English teams will have 32 days to conduct their business as the second half of the campaign gets underway.

With 31 January falling on a Saturday, the transfer deadline is on Monday, 2 February, with the window for English clubs closing at 7:00pm GMT.

Frank will have his eye on several players, and a goalkeeper could come in for the struggling Guglielmo Vicario.

Tottenham’s January transfer targets

Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen has been linked with a move to Tottenham, although the Dutch shot-stopper could command a high fee.

The Seagulls are after Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser, and have been watching the 21-year-old intensely in the last month.

This could pave the way for Verbruggen to make the move to N17, and the Dutch shot-stopper would certainly be an improvement in goal.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen is an alternative option for Tottenham after falling out of favour at Barcelona, although signing a goalkeeper who isn’t regularly playing won’t be something Frank is too keen on.

As for other positions in the team, Alessandro Bastoni has been touted with a move to Spurs, and the Italian centre-back would be a great addition to the struggling defence.

In attack, Brentford striker Igor Thiago, AC Milan winger Rafael Leao, and Man City’s Omar Marmoush are among the names linked, although it would take a lot for the respective clubs to sanction those deals mid-season.

Who Thomas Frank could sell before deadline day

Vicario’s awful run of form leaves him at a crossroads, and the 29-year-old’s three-year spell in North London could come to an end.

This window will likely see more players leave than join, and Yves Bissouma’s Tottenham career has inevitably come to an end.

The Mali international is away on AFCON duty, and he may have already played his last game for Spurs, with Frank not trusting him in the centre of the park.

Brennan Johnson thrived under Ange Postecoglou, but he is yet to hit the heights he is capable of under the Dane’s tutelage.

Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are among the clubs reportedly interested, and if Johnson were to leave, it could lead to Tottenham making a marquee signing in attack.

Van de Ven is linked with a move to Real Madrid, and although his departure seems implausible, it could be a deal to watch as the month progresses.

It will definitely be interesting to see how Frank views certain players in his squad, and how different transfers will play out by 2 February.

Micky van de Ven has faced scrutiny after going unpunished for breaking Alexander Isak’s leg.

Tottenham’s 2-1 loss to Liverpool on Saturday has left them 13th in the table, and supporters have turned on Thomas Frank as performances aren’t showing any signs of improving.

The game itself was chaotic, with goals from Isak and Hugo Ekitike giving the Reds a 2-0 lead before Richarlison scored a consolation goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero were both sent off, and the bad-tempered affair summed up the fans’ mood in N17.

It was confirmed on Monday that Isak had suffered a broken leg after Van de Ven attempted to block his goal-bound shot.

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However, former Premier League referee Mark Halsey believes that referee John Brooks made the right decision not to show him a red card.

Micky van de Ven unfortunate to break Alexander Isak’s leg

Thankfully for Tottenham, Brooks didn’t award Van de Ven another red card during a game in which several other players lost their heads.

Speaking to The Sun Football on 24 December, Halsey backed the on-field decision.

He said: “He’s got to make that challenge, he has to make that block. It’s just an unfortunate coming together, and it’s not serious foul play.

“It is subjective whether it’s careless or reckless, and it’s just unfortunate that Isak was then diagnosed with a broken leg. I agree with Frank, it’s not a red card.”

Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett believes Van de Ven should have been dismissed, and he isn’t the only one to think so.

Frank slammed Brooks for how he officiated the match, which led to Liverpool boss Arne Slot retaliating by bringing up Van de Ven’s challenge.

With Romero now suspended for the trip to Crystal Palace on 28 December, Frank will be grateful that he can count on his Dutch centre-back at Selhurst Park.

Isak is now injured for the next few months, and while Van de Ven had no intention of breaking his leg, it does highlight a wider problem at Spurs.

Tottenham’s players continue to behave appallingly

Romero and Richarlison are the main culprits, but Tottenham have a problem when it comes to their discipline as a whole.

The Argentina international was sent off for kicking out at Konate, while Richarlison gets into an argument virtually every time he steps on the pitch.

With their home form at an all-time low, it is understandable to see some players getting frustrated.

However, it has proved too costly in recent seasons, and when it’s the same players that continue to misbehave, it says a lot about them.

Spurs need to get rid of these liabilities, or they’ll never progress as a team under Frank.

Supercomputer predicts outcome of Crystal Palace vs Tottenham in Premier League

Thomas Frank will hope to avoid three consecutive losses when Tottenham play Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Tottenham will travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace in a festive Premier League match that has so much importance for the Lilywhites.

Spurs were beaten 2-1 by Liverpool last time out, which added even more pressure onto Frank‘s shoulders.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been tipped to replace Frank at Spurs, and the Austrian may see the game as an opportunity to show off to the Tottenham board.

Opta’s supercomputer have now given its predictions ahead of the encounter.

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Crystal Palace heavy favourites to beat Tottenham

Tottenham are currently sitting in 14th place ahead of game week 18, with Glasner‘s Palace four points clear of the Lilywhites.

Frank has received plenty of criticism for tactics and poor results in recent weeks, but things don’t look to be getting any better for Spurs.

Opta’s supercomputer has predicted Crystal Palace as the favourites to win the match with a 49 per cent chance of victory

Tottenham have been given a 25.4 per cent possibility of winning, with a remaining 25.6 per cent suggesting a draw could be on the cards.

Anything other than a win for Spurs will be seen as a disappointment, and Frank could be heading into the new year with egg on his face.

Tottenham have mixed experiences at Selhurst Park

Odds aside, Frank has a massive chance to restore faith from the fanbase with a win over Glasner’s side.

But his players won’t take loads of confidence in the fact that they were beaten last time out at Selhurst Park, courtesy of a Jean-Philippe Mateta first-half finish.

Palace have seven goals in their last five games, and need to be wary of Adam Wharton, who is Glasner’s best playmaker, as the midfielder has created the most big chances for the Eagles this season with seven.

Tottenham’s last 5 results at Selhusrt Park:

Frank is going to have to rotate in this busy winter period, which may give some underused Spurs players a chance to impress, and he could shake things up against the Eagles.

This could be a saving grace for the Dane, who needs to find his preferred starting eleven, before it’s too late.

Orlando City have expressed their interest in signing Tottenham striker Richarlison in the upcoming transfer windows.

The 28-year-old has been a key player for the North London outfit this season, scoring seven goals in 17 Premier League appearances.

Richarlison was linked with an exit from Spurs in the summer, but fans in N17 will surely be glad they didn’t sell him.

As Thomas Frank copes with Dominic Solanke’s injury, the Brazil international has become more important than ever, but his representatives have been offered a way out of the Lilywhites.

Richarlison wants Tottenham stay despite Orlando City talks

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Orlando held a face-to-face meeting with Richarlison’s agents regarding their proposal not so long ago.

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However, the journalist revealed that the striker is happy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for now and isn’t looking to leave.

The MLS outfit are pushing to sign the centre-forward whenever possible and are ready to welcome him when the time is right.

Speaking on Men in Blazers on 23 December, Romano said, “A few months ago, what I can tell you is that a few officials from Orlando decided to travel to London and meet with Richarlison’s agents. There was a meeting in October to tell Richarlison that if you want to come to the MLS at some point, we are ready.”

Richarlison seems back to his best for Spurs, and Frank certainly wouldn’t want to lose him midway through the season.

While the attacker’s exit in the winter transfer window doesn’t seem likely, it remains to be seen how his situation develops next summer.

Thomas Frank to demand two new January transfers at Spurs

Yves Bissouma is expected to leave Tottenham soon, with the midfielder not necessarily featuring in Frank’s plans.

At the moment, the 29-year-old is with Mali for the Africa Cup of Nations, but he may not stay at Spurs for long after returning from the tournament.

Pape Matar Sarr is also part of the Senegal squad, making midfield reinforcements an evident priority for the North London outfit.

Tottenham should also look to end Randal Kolo Muani’s loan spell and invest in a reliable goalscorer in January who can lead them further up the table.

Tottenham have been named as the perfect club for Antoine Semenyo this January.

Thomas Frank is already under immense pressure at Tottenham, though any sack decision is unlikely to come until the end of January at the very earliest.

However, the former Brentford boss will need backing in the transfer market, having seen Semenyo linked with a move to Tottenham.

The Bournemouth superstar has a £65million release clause that is active from January 1, and Tottenham have been named as the ideal destination for him, should he depart the Cherries.

Paul Merson urges Spurs to do business quietly

Tottenham have scored 26 goals from 17 games so far this season, which, in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t seem to be anything of concern.

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However, out of the sides who are expected to compete for a Champions League spot, it is among the fewest number of goals scored in the Premier League.

Semenyo would rectify that attacking concern for Tottenham, and they were the side named when Merson was asked which club would be the best fit for the Bournemouth winger.

“I think Tottenham need to make a real key signing,” he said via Sky Sports.

“I think this could kickstart them. They would have to do this all behind the scenes because they don’t want to keep getting caught on the hop. They’re going for a player, and then the player jumps and goes somewhere else because someone else is coming for him.

“I think Tottenham would be the one.”

Mohammed Kudus has already been teased by Semenyo this season.

Having featured for Ghana alongside each other over the last few years, Mohammed Kudus and Semenyo know each other very well, and that could be one factor that decides where the latter moves in January.

However, Semenyo was eager to get one over his international teammate when Tottenham suffered a 1-0 defeat against Bournemouth earlier in the campaign.

With Kudus on Tottenham’s right-wing, and Semenyo on Bournemouth’s left, the two quite literally faced off against each other.

After the game, when on international duty, Semenyo was captured bantering Kudus about the defeat, saying to the Tottenham star: “How was the game on Saturday? How was the game on Saturday? Let me go ask him. Let me go ask him how the game was on Saturday. How was the game on Saturday, bro?”

“We’ll be back,” responded Kudus, with the two sides set to face off against each other again on 7 January, but whether Semenyo features remains to be seen.

Tottenham fans may see Ange Postecoglou in a new dugout in the near future.

Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham despite winning the Europa League, after Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League.

He was quick to return to management, with the ex-Tottenham boss taking the Nottingham Forest role in September.

However, Postecoglou was dismissed from that job in October, after just 39 days in the role, and is currently out of work.

Postecoglou new role tipped after Tottenham heroics

Postecoglou’s Europa League-winning exploits with Tottenham could land him another job within European football, according to John Wenham.

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The Lilywhites insider believes that he has enough credit in the bank to land a big role, lauding the previous vacancy at Bayer Leverkusen as a perfect example.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “I think Ange’s best bet is probably waiting for a big European job, he is still the current Europa League-winning manager.

“I was surprised he took the Forest job when he did, it didn’t seem necessary; his stock was still high, if I was him, I would have waited for a European job.

“They pop up a lot, we saw earlier this season, the Bayer Leverkusen job came up, I think he would be wise to just wait there and start fresh, out of the limelight of the English media, and some of the difficulties that he had here with them sometimes.“

Postecoglou’s Tottenham record explained

Postecoglou had a mixed time with Spurs, of course, he brought a trophy for the first time in 17 years and achieved his promise of winning a trophy in his second season.

However, the league form was not good enough, and he was given the boot after losing 22 matches last season, which is simply not good enough.

The Lilywhites won just 11 games, and secured five draws, and finished the campaign with just 38 points, which was ultimately the Australians’ undoing.

That followed an encouraging first season, in which he notched 20 victories, six draws and 12 losses, finishing fifth in the division.

Any club that decides to hire him, will need to be aware of his record, and take caution, but Wenham is probably correct; he may well land another big job.