Tottenham Hotspur

Clare Hunt is aiming for a strong end to the Barclays Women’s Super League season as we prepare for our final two games of the campaign.

Returning to the starting XI away to Liverpool on Sunday, the defender marked her first appearance since February by slotting in only her second goal for the Club and turned the game around having trailed to Sophie Roman Haug’s early strike.

Despite responding brilliantly to going a goal behind with a quickfire double in the first half, with an own goal from Reds’ goalkeeper Rachael Laws getting us back on level terms just six minutes prior, we were unable to hold our lead as Haug doubled her tally shortly after the break to see the points shared at St Helens Stadium.

Watch | The highlights from our clash with the Reds

With just two games left to play this term, Clare is hoping to use the positives from the performance against the Reds to round off our sixth season in the WSL on a strong note.

“I think we played quite well in the first half,” she told us, reflecting on the game against Liverpool. “They got an early goal which was a bit frustrating but to then get two back in the first half shows good character from us.

“To then concede in the second half is a bit frustrating but I think we played some good football and there were steps forward in the way we are playing.

“It’s always nice to score and help the team so, for me, it was just an enjoyable performance but also frustrating to only get the draw. Two more games and I think we could get some solid points from those.

Watch | Hunt slots home

“I think, for us, it’s just about making the most of what we can. We did quite well in the build-up, particularly in the first half, so it’s just about working on that, breaking lines, getting players behind, having Bethany [England] back in the squad has added to our attack, so in the next two games, hopefully we get some points and push forward.

“We’ve got a big fixture against Chelsea at the Stadium, so it will be nice to play them and test ourselves. Liverpool have quite a good squad, so it’s nice to get a point from this and then move forward into Chelsea and try to get some points off them too. It will be lovely if everyone can get down there, I hope to see you there next Sunday.”

Liverpool vs Spurs | Full Match | 2024/25  Tottenham Hotspur

On-loan George Abbott has won the EFL Goal of the Season award for his fantastic strike for loan club Notts County against Accrington Stanley.

The young midfielder, who captained our Under-21s to the Premier League 2 title last season, picked out the top corner with a fine volley from a corner against Accrington back in January.

The goal also won the Sky Bet Goal of the Month accolade for January.

“It feels great to win it, especially during my first season on loan,” smiled George, who was also shortlisted for League Two Young Player of the Season.

“We worked on it in training so I always knew I was going to do it, but I didn’t think I’d hit it as cleanly as I did.”

Ange Postecoglou spoke to the media after our loss against Liverpool in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday.

Here's what he had to say...

Ange's thoughts on the performance...

"Credit to Liverpool, worthy champions and they have been the outstanding team all year, consistent and again today obviously. I thought we started the game well and sort of made things difficult for them. Even apart from the goal, I thought just in general we had decent territory but once they got in front with the atmosphere inside the stadium fair to say it was going to be difficult for us to claw them back and that's how it proved."

Ange on the balance between performances in the Premier League and Europa League...

"It's not easy, it's not easy on the players because if you sort of look at Liverpool's line up you can almost pick it on a weekly basis. I had made a lot of changes but I just felt it was necessary. A lot of our players have missed a lot of this season with injuries and it wasn't just about bringing them back but managing their minutes because obviously we want them ready. Guys like Micky and Romero today could have played but they've missed so much of the season that we've just got to be really careful about when we use them. Guys like Pedro and Bentancur have played a lot this year. It has been a juggling act for sure and that hasn't helped the team, hasn't helped the players and when you're facing the best you pay that price."

Ange's team news after today's game...

"Everyone is good. The ones who played all got through it ok. So, in terms of Thursday, everyone should be fine."

Ange on if he'll need to lift the squad before Thursday's UEL semi-final, first leg against FK Bodo/Glimt...

"No, I don't think so, I think they are well aware of it. Like I said, we had some key players missing today who I think will come in and sort of make sure there isn't any hangover from today. Look, we knew the challenge today was going to be a big one. We had a really young midfield with Lucas and Archie and you're asking a massive task of them. Change three of the back four, all of these kind of things logically tell you it's going to be a tough day, but when you're facing the best team, and on such a massive occasion, it was always going to be a huge ask for us and it proved too much."

Ange gives his assessment on loss at Liverpool

Maddison on unity needed to respond from Liverpool defeat ahead of Thursday night

Ange Postecoglou told us his ‘ultimate goal’ was ‘being ready for Thursday night’ as he reflected on eight changes to the team and a 5-1 loss against Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday.

Ange rested Rodrigo Bentancur from the matchday squad and left Cuti Romero, Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven on the bench against a Reds side needing a point to secure the title.

We started brightly and shocked the Kop with the opening goal of the game as Dominic Solanke rose highest to power home James Maddison’s corner on 12 minutes.

That was just about that for our highlights though as Luis Diaz levelled four minutes later and Arne Slot’s team went into overdrive, forging ahead 3-1 by half-time (Alexis Mac Allister 24, Cody Gakpo 34) before further goals from Mo Salah (63) and a Destiny Udogie own goal (69) completed the job.

As the celebrations continued outside, Ange told our Review Show: “First of all, credit to Liverpool, they are worthy champions, they’ve been consistent all year. We started the game well today, but once they got ahead, with the atmosphere in the stadium, it was going to be really hard for us to claw them back, and that’s how it proved.”

Asked about his eight changes to the team that started against Forest last week, and the tricky balancing act of Premier League/Europa League, with the first leg of our semi-final against FK Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night, Ange added: “It’s tough - tough on the players when I’m making that many changes.

“For us, it's been important... a lot of our players have missed a lot of this season with injuries, and we're just trying to manage them so everyone's in great condition going into Thursday night.

"Guys like Micky, Cuti, they could have played today, but they’ve missed so much of the season, I didn’t want to risk them. Bentancur and Pedro, they’ve played so much. We made those decisions with that in mind, and that’s obviously affecting the team and the team’s performance, and I take responsibility for that, but, with the ultimate goal being ready for Thursday night.”

A tough afternoon at Anfield ended in a heavy 5-1 defeat on Sunday, a result which ensured Liverpool secured the Premier League title.

The home side just needed a draw to clinch the championship but we threatened to spoil the party when former Liverpool forward Dominic Solanke headed home a fine goal in the 12th minute.

That was the highlight of the day for us though as the Reds swiftly levelled through Luis Diaz and then led at the interval as Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo also found the target. Mo Salah added a fourth before the unfortunate Destiny Udogie put through his own net to round off a disappointing day.

We fielded a much-changed side, Ange Postecoglou making eight changes from the team that started against Nottingham Forest last Monday, with Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso both back at the venue on which they made their Spurs debuts in the Carabao Cup semi-final in January.

With so much at stake for the hosts, the atmosphere inside Anfield was raucous as you’d expect and the home side started on the front foot. Salah curled high and wide early on while Gakpo went close with an acrobatic bicycle kick in the 10th minute but a couple of minutes later we were in front, James Maddison clipping over a deep corner and Solanke got up superbly well to send his header past Alisson.

The lead didn’t last long though as the home side levelled on 16 minutes, Salah sliding a ball down the channel for Dominik Szoboszlai and his low cross was turned in by Diaz. There was a brief VAR check for offside but the goal stood. And the champions-elect moved ahead in the 23rd minute as the ball fell to Mac Allister on the edge of the area and he hit a thumping left-foot drive into the net. Another Solanke header from a Maddison free-kick needed tipping over by Alisson shortly after, however we fell further behind on 34 minutes when Gakpo collected the loose ball from a corner and drilled through a sea of legs into the far corner, leaving us 3-1 down at the break.

Gakpo should have added a fourth in the early moments of the second period but elected to pass instead of shoot when played in by Mac Allister and Liverpool continued to have the upper hand as the half progressed. Ryan Gravenberch brought a save out of Guglielmo Vicario with another opportunity they created before they did add to their tally, Salah receiving Szoboszlai’s pass and producing a trademark finish, cutting onto his left foot and driving home from 15 yards out.

A rare attack at the other end saw substitute Pape Matar Sarr fire a low shot which was easy for Alisson while Vicario made a good stop from Szoboszlai before it was 5-1, Udogie getting the final touch on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low ball to the back post with Salah waiting to pounce. The closing stages were fairly uneventful and the whistle blew to start the party for the home supporters, while our focus quickly turned to Thursday’s big Europa League semi-final.

Robert Vilahamn highlighted the need to improve from defending set-pieces, but he was left overly pleased with the performance in our 2-2 draw at Liverpool in Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday.

Having fallen behind on 12 minutes at St Helens Stadium after Sophie Roman Haug converted from close range, we fought back once again and turned the game into our favour just after the half-hour mark.

An own goal from Rachael Laws got us on level terms before Clare Hunt, who was one of three changes to the starting XI, forced home Maite Oroz’ corner to put us ahead in the contest. However, six minutes into the second period, the Reds got back onto level terms when Haug grabbed her second of the game with a header.

Both sides pushed for a winner on Merseyside and, although the home side put the pressure on in stoppage time, we came the closest to the winning goal but Martha Thomas could only guide her point-blank header wide of the target.

“A tough game, but a good game,” Robert told us. “I think both teams were pushing to win the game, we had some brilliant attacks and we scored some good goals, but we also need to defend parts of the game better because they’re strong and the set-pieces was a highlight in the game.”

Robert on the response after conceding early…

“We need to get better at not conceding the first goal in the early stages of the game, it was too easy for them to score from that corner. But I’m happy that we continued to play and scored those two goals in the first half. In the second half, we wanted to make sure that we managed the game a little bit better, but they had a good corner kick routine to make it 2-2 and then it’s an even game where they tried to push with a lot of crosses and corners, then we had a really good chance at the end. But, overall, it’s still a decent performance I would say.”

Robert on improving from defensive set-pieces…

“We’re defending with everything we can, we’re really tight when defending but those set-pieces, the first one wasn’t good enough, the second one was good from them, but we need to improve them because set plays can actually win games for you and we could have won this game. But, overall, we take a draw as it’s away to Liverpool and we’re coming in from a bad run of games, so it’s about looking at it in a positive way as well.”

Robert on our two goals in the first half…

“If you look at the first goal, it comes from the build-up with the goalkeeper, how we want to play through lines, how we want to attack, the one-on-one for Jess [Naz] and she has shown some good form now. It was good determination from Bethany [England] and, although it’s an own goal, she’s there to make it happen. It was a good delivery from Maite [Oroz] and it was nice to see Clare [Hunt] there, good to have her back.”

Robert on returning to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next weekend…

“I love our stadium, I love our fans, so I’m really looking forward to that game. Even if it has been a tough run where we haven’t won for a while, I hope we can go there and get the win for them, and make sure we become the first team to beat Chelsea this season because we want to finish on a high.”

We can confirm the starting line-ups and substitutes for today’s Premier League match at Liverpool (kick-off 4.30pm UK).

Ange Postecoglou has made eight changes from the team that started against Nottingham Forest on Monday.

Kevin Danso, Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie come into the back four in place of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro.

It’s a completely different midfield with Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and James Maddison replacing Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, while Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke are restored to the attack in place of Wilson Odobert and Richarlison.

Maddison captains the team today.

Here’s our team in full...

Starting XI: Vicario, Spence, Danso, Davies, Udogie, Bergvall, Gray, Maddison (c), Johnson, Solanke, Tel.

Substitutes: Kinsky, Pedro Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Sarr, Bissouma, Kulusevski, Odobert, Richarlison.

Liverpool line up as follows...

Starting XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk (c), Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Luis Diaz, Gakpo.

Substitutes: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah.