Sports Mole

Tottenham Hotspur attacker Xavi Simons will soon find himself on the naughty step following his red card against Liverpool in Saturday's Premier League clash.

The Netherlands international was unsurprisingly named in Thomas Frank's starting XI for the battle with the Reds, having shown signs of improvement in recent weeks following a slow start to life in England.

Simons carried the fight to the champions in the opening 30 minutes, but the former RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain attacker was then given his marching orders midway through the first half.

Simons was penalised for a mistimed challenge on Liverpool captain and international teammate Virgil van Dijk, raking his studs down the back of the defender's Achilles, although referee John Brooks did not brandish the red card straight away.

However, the official was then sent to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, and following a closer look, he brandished the red card for the playmaker.

Tottenham games Xavi Simons will miss after Liverpool red card

Brooks explained to the crowd that Simons caught Van Dijk on the calf with his studs, a tackle that amounted to serious foul play and a straight red card.

Unlike sending-offs for two bookable offences or denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, serious foul play carries a three-game ban, so Simons will be unavailable to Tottenham until January 7.

The Dutchman begins his three-match suspension against Crystal Palace in next Sunday's London derby, before also sitting out the all-capital clash with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on New Year's Day.

Simons will then complete his suspension against Sunderland on January 4, before making his return to action in Spurs' trip to Bournemouth three days later.

The 22-year-old was making his 22nd appearance for Tottenham in all competitions on Sunday, but he has only managed two goals and three assists for the Europa League winners since his big-money switch in the summer.

How can Tottenham replace suspended Xavi Simons?

Tottenham were already in a creative crisis with Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison sidelined with knee injuries, and Simons's absence deprives the Lilywhites of yet another inventive and versatile option.

The Netherlands international was shifted across to the left-hand side on Saturday after featuring in a central attacking role against Nottingham Forest, but Frank still has a handful of alternatives in attack.

All of Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel can function on the left flank for Tottenham, while Lucas Bergvall is the next best thing in the number 10 position while Kulusevski and Maddison are missing.

Pape Sarr representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations complicates central matters further for Tottenham, who were already struggling to generate clear-cut chances before losing yet another playmaker, so the festive period is unlikely to be a fun one for an already under-pressure Frank.

Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have confirmed their starting lineups for Saturday's Premier League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The evening showdown in North London marks the Reds' first game since Mohamed Salah departed for the Africa Cup of Nations, and his recent replacement - Dominik Szoboszlai - was a doubt before kickoff due to an ankle injury.

The Hungary international sustained the issue in last weekend's 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, but he has been passed fit to take his place in Arne Slot's starting lineup.

The Liverpool head coach is therefore able to put out a near-identical XI from the victory over Brighton, as Hugo Ekitike continues up front over Alexander Isak following his brace against the Seagulls.

Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch continue in the central areas once more, and the visitors' only change comes at right-back, as Conor Bradley returns from suspension to replace the injured Joe Gomez.

Jeremie Frimpong is back on the bench after spending over two months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, but Federico Chiesa is kept waiting for a starting slot.

Spurs vs. Liverpool: Thomas Frank makes one change as defender returns

Likewise, Spurs boss Thomas Frank has also made just the one change to the team that were decimated 3-0 by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last weekend.

The Lilywhites came into Saturday's game with an identical squad from their trip to Nottinghamshire, and despite the manner of that alarming performance, Frank has kept faith with 10 starters from that game.

The solitary change sees Lucas Bergvall come into the XI in place of Richarlison, who drops to the bench as Randal Kolo Muani shifts to a central striking role.

Richarlison's demotion also means that Xavi Simons will seemingly occupy the left-wing position, with Bergvall operating ahead of Rodrigo Bentancur and Archie Gray, who is retained after his fatal mistake against Forest.

There is also a notable name on the bench for Tottenham, as centre-back Radu Dragusin makes his return to the matchday squad for the first time since suffering an ACL injury in January.

Liverpool can move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table with a win, but a victory for Spurs will take them to within just one point of the holders.

Spurs XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Gray, Bentancur; Kudus, Bergvall, Simons; Kolo Muani

Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Danso, Palhinha, Richarlison, Tel, Johnson, Odobert, Davies

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekitike

Subs: Mamardashvili, Isak, Chiesa, Robertson, Frimpong, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Lucky

AFC Bournemouth have reportedly earmarked Tottenham Hotspur attacker Brennan Johnson as an ideal candidate to replace Antoine Semenyo, who is likely to leave in January.

The Lilywhites are expected to be one of three main contenders, along with Manchester clubs and Liverpool, to sign Semenyo in the January transfer window.

Due to a £65m release clause in Semenyo's Bournemouth contract, the Cherries are powerless to prevent him from leaving if any potential suitor triggers the release clause.

Spurs are reportedly ready to shatter their wage structure to sign Semenyo, who has scored seven goals and provided three assists in 15 appearances for Bournemouth this season.

Bournemouth eye move for Johnson?

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Bournemouth sources have confirmed that Semenyo will leave the club in January, and Johnson has emerged as a potential replacement.

The Cherries reportedly have a list of around half a dozen options they are actively considering to replace Semenyo, and Johnson is among them.

The South Coast Club have reportedly discussed signing Johnson internally, who is now deemed surplus to requirements by Thomas Frank at the north London club.

Bournemouth, however, could reportedly face competition from Premier League rival Crystal Palace, which are also eyeing a move for Johnson.

Curious case of Johnson at Spurs

The 24-year-old was the club's top scorer last season and netted in the Europa League final, but he has struggled to cement his position under Frank.

The likes of Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert, Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison are all ahead of Johnson in the pecking order at Spurs, and therefore, the north London club might be tempted to cash in on him at the right price.

The Wales attacker is also likely to further lose his place in the side when Dejan Kulusevski returns after a long-term injury in the new year.

Tottenham paid £47.5m to sign Johnson from Nottingham Forest in 2023, and Spurs should be aiming to recoup the money they spent on him.

If Bournemouth are genuinely interested in Johnson, it could work perfectly for them to secure a swap deal agreement to bring Semenyo to the north London club.

Liverpool will only be able to catch Arsenal in the Premier League title race if they start to play consistently at their highest level, starting against Tottenham Hotspur, Reds expert David Lynch has insisted.

Arne Slot's side are set to travel to London, where they will face Tottenham on Saturday, and a win could see them end the afternoon in the top four.

The Merseysiders are currently two points from fourth-placed Chelsea, but while the gap to first-placed Arsenal stands at 10 points, fans have started to look up the table now that the club are unbeaten in their past five games.

Lynch was sceptical about the Reds' ability to find the consistency needed to mount a title charge, but argued that Arsenal are flawed enough to be caught, when he told Sports Mole: "That gap is closeable, and it's not completely crazy to say that it's possible to overtake them.

"The reason Liverpool are out of the title race at the moment is their performances, as while we have seen a slight uptick, there's a lot of dour football. They were a bit miserable to watch, and yet still threw the game against Leeds, and Sunderland wasn't a great point at home.

"If they suddenly started playing to their potential then maybe. Arsenal are catchable because what you're seeing at the moment is them going through a period where their difficulties creating from open play are starting to bite them. If I was an Arsenal supporter, I'd be looking over my shoulder at Manchester City."

Arsenal have drawn two, lost one and won three of their past six matches in the Premier League, and any dropped points on Saturday against Everton could open up the possibility of Liverpool getting a foothold in the title race.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool preview: Why Slot has to win

Spurs come into the weekend's clash having suffered four defeats in their seven most recent top-flight fixtures, claiming victory just once in that period.

Boss Thomas Frank is under sever pressure, especially as his relationship with fans has become increasingly strained.

Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch labelled Liverpool as strong favourites, saying: "Spurs have been particularly bad at home, so even if it's an away game for Liverpool, there's no real excuse despite it looking like a tough one on paper.

"Tottenham away in any season would typically be a difficult game, but it just isn't at the moment, and the form that they're showing means there's real pressure on the manager. If they can get an early goal, things could turn toxic in the stadium.

"Liverpool have corrected their own form a little bit as well, and while they shouldn't be going there confident and flying, they should certainly feel like they're the better side of the two."

Spurs only produced one shot on target when they lost 3-0 against Nottingham Forest last weekend, and a similar performance in the final third on Saturday would boost Liverpool's chances of victory.

Liverpool team news: Will Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike start?

Now that Mohamed Salah is no longer part of the Liverpool squad due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, Slot's options up front are limited.

Cody Gakpo is unavailable because of injury, and his absence means the club only have three senior forwards to choose from up front.

Lynch was in favour of starting both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike together in a front two, telling Sports Mole: "I'd like to see two up top as a minimum against Spurs.

"Sticking with that diamond midfield, or a flat 4-4-2 which we have seen from time to time, is the way to go. It makes Liverpool solid and it gets your best attackers on the pitch, with Isak and Ekitike alongside each other if possible.

"I love the idea of Wirtz at the tip of a diamond. He seems to be a really good fit for that role, and he is really starting to come into form. With Salah away and Gakpo injured, you're not necessarily tied to a system with wingers, so get your best players out there."

Slot has experimented with a diamond midfield in recent matches, with a combination of forwards playing together in the frontline, and he is likely to deploy a similar system on Saturday.

Thomas Frank has denied that he has lost the dressing room despite the turbulence that has marred the club's recent results.

The Lilywhites sit 11th in the Premier League table after 16 matches, having registered just one victory in their previous seven outings.

Following a successful tenure at Brentford, Frank was appointed as Ange Postecoglou's replacement to build on the club's Europa League triumph, but the transition has been far from seamless.

The North London side recently suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, heightening the pressure ahead of a daunting clash against defending champions Liverpool.

Frank insists Tottenham players are "still with me"

Ahead of Liverpool's visit, Frank has dismissed suggestions that he is losing the dressing room, insisting that the squad remains fully committed to his tactical vision despite facing setbacks.

"No, I think it has been a good buy-in," said Frank via BBC Sport. "You could say that from the beginning of the season we started quite well without being sensational.

"I thought we were very good in some games and good in other games. Like in every season, you have some setbacks and spells where it is maybe not going the right way, but I don't see anything that they're not with me or going in the same direction."

Frank emphasised that his project is not a "quick fix" and requires long-term alignment to achieve sustained success.

"This is not a quick fix. This will take time," continued the Spurs boss. "That's not to say that we're not going to do everything we can to beat Liverpool.

"I'm very comfortable and confident that I will, how can I say, fix it, but just to make sure it's not me. When this club comes out on top, there will be a lot of good people working together, aligned at the same time through the years."

Reported tactical friction and managerial pressure at Spurs

Frank's defiant stance comes in the wake of candid comments from Micky van de Ven, who recently praised former boss Postecoglou.

"He was a really good manager. I still really like him," Van de Ven told The Overlap podcast via BBC Sport.

"I liked the offensive play [under Postecoglou]. At the beginning [under Postecoglou], no team was used to playing against our system. We were playing unbelievable football."

Yet, the Dutch defender lauded Frank's approach, noting that the backline is less exposed.

"I like what we have now with Thomas Frank," he said. "We are more secure at the back. I don't like getting exposed every game on the counter-attack."

The Dane has won six, drawn four and lost six of his Premier League matches since arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, illustrating the inconsistency that has plagued his early tenure.

The highest-scoring fixture in Premier League history takes centre stage this weekend, as Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool lock horns in North London on Saturday evening.

The champions lead the Lilywhites by four points and four places in the top-flight rankings, and here Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest injury and suspension news for both clubs.

TOTTENHAM vs. LIVERPOOL

TOTTENHAM

Out: Pape Sarr (AFCON), Yves Bissouma (AFCON), Dominic Solanke (ankle), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Destiny Udogie (thigh), James Maddison (ACL)

Doubtful: Radu Dragusin (fitness), Kota Takai (thigh)

Sports Mole's predicted XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bergvall; Kudus, Simons, Kolo Muani; Richarlison

LIVERPOOL

Out: Joe Gomez (muscle), Mohamed Salah (AFCON), Wataru Endo (ankle), Cody Gakpo (muscle), Giovanni Leoni (ACL)

Doubtful: Dominik Szoboszlai (ankle)

Liverpool are confirmed to be receiving a double selection boost for Saturday's tantalising Premier League battle with Tottenham Hotspur in North London.

The Reds endeavour to extend their unbeaten sequence to six games in all competitions at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where they will be without Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah due to his involvement in Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

The 33-year-old came off the bench to set up Hugo Ekitike's second goal in last weekend's 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, a result that took Liverpool to within just two points of fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table.

Right-back Conor Bradley was suspended for that game on account of picking up five yellow cards, but the Northern Ireland international will be one of two returning defenders for the Reds on Saturday evening.

Delivering a quadruple fitness update in his pre-match press conference, Arne Slot also confirmed that Jeremie Frimpong - who has missed the last 12 matches with a hamstring injury - will also be back in the squad in North London.

Liverpool in double boost as Arne Slot gives Tottenham team news update

Frimpong was one of four players whose conditions were discussed on Friday, the others being Dominik Szoboszlai (ankle), Joe Gomez (hamstring) and Cody Gakpo (muscle), the former two of whom came off against Brighton.

Neither Gakpo nor Gomez will be involved, although the former's scan results were pleasing, and Slot refused to rule Szoboszlai out of contention for the showdown with the Lilywhites.

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

“Joe is not in the squad as well for the weekend and Dominik trained yesterday, parts of the training [session], for the first time so let’s see where he is today and how he is tomorrow. Jeremie is in the squad again as well."

Slot was also quizzed on whether Szoboszlai will be fit to start in Salah's place tomorrow, but he insisted that he would not know the answer until the Reds have had their final training session.

How could Liverpool line up without Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai?

If Szoboszlai is not given the green light to make the first XI at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Slot will face an unenviable dilemma on the right-hand side, especially with Frimpong only just back from a serious injury.

The ex-Bayer Leverkusen man did feature in an advanced right-sided role against Galatasaray in the Champions League earlier this season, but he is likely to be named on the bench this weekend, having not made a single appearance since October 22.

Fans will likely cry out for Slot to finally give Federico Chiesa a chance from the first whistle, but if Bradley and Milos Kerkez are to bomb down the flanks, perhaps inverted attacking options would work better.

As a result, the Dutchman could field both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike up front together, with Curtis Jones, Florian Wirtz, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch occupying central positions further back.

Teenage starlet Rio Ngumoha is another option, but the 17-year-old is more accustomed to playing on the left-hand side and will likely be kept in reserve again.

Brennan Johnson's future at Tottenham Hotspur has been thrown into fresh doubt after reports indicate that the London club are open to listening to offers for Welsh forward.

Johnson, 24, moved to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2023 from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth around £47.5m, scoring 27 times in 105 appearances.

One of his strikes was in the 2025 Europa League final against Manchester United, which secured Champions League football for Spurs, as both clubs disappointingly finished in the bottom half of the Premier League in 2024-25.

However, the Wales international has made only six league starts under Thomas Frank this season, leading to doubts about his Spurs future beyond the January window.

Tottenham 'open to offers' for Europa League hero Johnson

According to BBC Sport, Tottenham are open to listening to offers for Brennan Johnson ahead of the January transfer window, despite his heroics last season.

The Wales international has seemingly fallen down the pecking order under the new management, leading to increased speculation about a possible departure.

Crystal Palace are believed to be leading the race for the attacker, though several other Premier League clubs are closely monitoring his situation.

While Spurs are not actively trying to force the 24-year-old out, they are reportedly willing to sanction a move if a suitable bid emerges next month.

World Cup prospects could make Johnson push for January move

Despite etching his name into the history books at the club in Bilbao, Johnson's diminished influence in North London was perhaps unforeseen.

Nevertheless, the source mentioned above suggests that the forward could ultimately demand a move due to concerns about missing out on a World Cup spot with Wales.

Spurs would likely aim to recover a substantial part of their initial investment if they were to part ways with a player who has scored 27 goals during his time at the club.

With just over two years remaining on his contract, which expires in 2028, the Lilywhites still hold leverage in the transfer market if a deal is to be made in the upcoming window.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen as a potential replacement for Guglielmo Vicario.

Since moving to North London from Empoli in the summer of 2023, Vicario has made a total of 97 appearances for Spurs in all competitions and has established himself as the club’s first-choice shot-stopper.

However, the 29-year-old has come under fire for a series of weak displays this season and was the subject of boos from supporters after his costly error led to a goal in Tottenham’s 2-1 home defeat to Fulham in the Premier League last month.

After the match, Frank said that those who booed Vicario "can't be true Tottenham fans" and labelled their actions "completely unacceptable".

Nevertheless, Vicario’s inconstant performances between the sticks have led to speculation over his long-term future as Frank’s No.1 goalkeeper heading into the January transfer window.

Spurs keeping tabs on Ter Stegen amid Vicario uncertainty

According to TEAMtalk, Frank is now prioritising an upgrade in the goalkeeping department amid growing concerns over Vicario, with Spurs preparing for a ‘potentially transformative’ January transfer window.

The report adds that Barcelona’s Ter Stegen is being monitored by Spurs, as they weigh up mid-season moves for a number of transfer targets.

Barca claimed a 2-0 win over Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey round of 32 and Ter Stegen kept a clean sheet in his first appearances in 212 days following a lengthy spell on the sidelined through injury.

The 33-year-old still has more than two years remaining on his contract at Camp Nou, but it is understood that Barca are open to offers for the German to ease their wage burden.

However, it remains to be seen whether Ter Stegen would entertain a switch to a Spurs side currently languishing in 11th place in the Premier League table and six points behind the top four.

Trafford, Verbruggen also on Spurs’ shortlist

Ter Stegen is not the only name believed to be on Tottenham’s shortlist, as they have also been credited with an interest in Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford.

A January deal is considered highly unlikely, though, after manager Pep Guardiola insisted that the 23-year-old will not be leaving the Etihad Stadium in the New Year.

Brighton & Hove Albion's Bart Verbruggen has also been identified by Spurs as a potential target, but they may face stern competition from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich for his signature.

In a pre-cursor for future years, Liverpool will temporarily begin life without Mohamed Salah in Saturday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur in North London.

The 33-year-old made Premier League history in last weekend's 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion but has now jetted off to represent Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.

To make matters worse for Arne Slot, Dominik Szoboszlai was forced off with an ankle problem against the Seagulls, and the Liverpool boss conceded that the Dutchman's issue "didn't look great" at full time.

Should Szoboszlai be forced to take his seat on the sidelines for this one, Federico Chiesa will surely be considered for a long-awaited start on the right-hand side, likely as part of an otherwise unaltered attack.

Hugo Ekitike is in no position to be dropped after his brace last weekend, so Alexander Isak may have to make do with another substitute cameo if Florian Wirtz is retained on the left-hand side.

Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are expected to reprise their roles too, and the same goes for most of the Reds' backline, but not the unfortunate Joe Gomez.

The Englishman sustained yet another injury against Brighton - this one to his hamstring - but Conor Bradley is back from suspension to take his place.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:

Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Chiesa, Jones, Wirtz; Ekitike