Tottenham Hotspur

Ali Speechly
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Relegation Richarlison has been well and truly activated.

Before the Liverpool game, morale could not have been lower.

The sickening clash of heads between Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha last week was a perfect visual representation of everything that has plagued Spurs this season.

Even when the fight has made its way to the surface during this disastrous campaign, it has been so disorganised, poorly communicated and shambolically executed that, invariably, it has caused more damage than it has helped to avoid.

Increasingly, it has felt as though there is no-one in charge at this football club. Not on the pitch, not in the dugout, and not in the boardroom.

However, the team's gutsy performance against Liverpool on Sunday offered an important tonic to all concerned.

Here is the fight we have been waiting for. Here is the determination we have been lacking. Here is the passion we have been desperate to see.

Cast in the lead role? A man familiar with what it takes to survive. Richarlison has played this part before, successfully battling relegation with Everton, of course, but also overcoming his own personal demons to persevere in a sport that is not for the weak of spirit.

The battle on the pitch was enthusiastically supported in the stands. Listening on the radio, I felt so proud to hear the travelling Spurs fans roar the players on throughout the game.

Indeed, it's worth remembering that this is our fight, too. Managers will come and go. The boardroom faces can and do change. Owners may decide to sell. But this will always be our club - our one and only club.

Let Richarlison lead the charge. Let that performance against Liverpool be the beginning of a rallying cry that galvanises our team and stuns the opposition. Let us fans maintain this positive momentum so the players know we are behind them all the way.

So when the final whistle is blown on this wretched season, we will know we did everything we could to support our team.

Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane, external and on Instagram, external

It is the business end of the season and the race to stay in the Premier League is getting more tense.

With Opta giving Burnley and Wolves just a 0.35% and 0.07% chance of survival respectively and Crystal Palace a 0.08% chance of going down, it looks like it is a fight between four teams to avoid the remaining relegation spot.

Just three points separate West Ham in 18th and Leeds in 15th, with only goal difference currently keeping the Hammers in the drop zone.

Opta's supercomputer has been running the scenarios and providing the percentage chance of Leeds, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham finishing in 18th place.

At 6.36%, Leeds are currently predicted to have the best chance of staying in the top flight in their first season back, while bottom-of-the-form-table Tottenham - who are just one point ahead Forest and West Ham - have been given a 13.03% likelihood of being in that third relegation spot come the end of the campaign.

Things look a bit more worrying for Vitor Pereira's Forest and Nuno Espirito Santo's West Ham with a 32.85% and 45% chance respectively.

As Spurs and Forest face each other in a crucial match this Sunday, the picture could yet look a whole lot different heading into the international break next week.

Do you agree with the supercomputer? Who do you think of those four teams is most likely to go down?

Make your choice here

Image source, Getty Images

Richarlison's late strike at Anfield lifted the tiniest bit of gloom at Tottenham and offered hope that an unthinkable relegation could be avoided.

Key to Spurs' chances of building on their hard-earned point at the home of the champions will be the return of key faces to the starting 11.

At the time of writing, Igor Tudor has 13 important players out through injury.

So when can he expect some help from them?

The almost there group...

Micky van de Ven and Conor Gallagher will be available to face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. There's a great chance Destiny Udogie can play by this weekend when Spurs face a crunch fixture against Nottingham Forest, with Tudor stating he was "almost back" when asked last week.

So three big names could be in action by the weekend and both Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha may be in the squad by then too, with their return date slated for 22 March - the day of the fixture.

Last week Tudor explained: "I think they will be back for sure for Forest, maybe even for the Champions League. I don't know exactly."

There's a short wait on...

Tudor therefore could have five of his key figures available soon, which sounds hugely significant. The issue is the other eight names come back in April at the very earliest.

Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies and Mohammed Kudus all have a return date listed for 11 April, as per data provided by Premierinjuries.com., external

This would mean they could take part in Spurs' final seven league games, starting with a trip to Sunderland on 12 April.

Will we see them again this season?

Minutes this season for Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur could prove significant and the pair are slated to be back in early May. Spurs on paper have a tough finish to the campaign, facing Aston Villa away on 2 May, Leeds at home on 9 May, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 17 May and Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 24 May. The chance to pick Kulusevski or Bentancur for two or three of these games will surely do Tottenham's survival chances no harm.

Season over...

The likes of James Maddison and Wilson Odobert will not feature again this season, while Yves Bissouma is the only player listed as having an unknown return date.

Tottenham's unlucky 13 are being sorely missed at the moment. The reappearance of several of them might just be the difference between a close escape and complete disaster.

All data taken from Premierinjuries.com, external

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham's relegation battle is a result of poor recruitment after losing big figures at the club, says BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel.

For the second season running, Spurs have found themselves down the wrong end of the Premier League table, with this campaign seeing them in a genuine fight for top-flight survival as they sit just one point above West Ham in the relegation zone.

"Quality counts at the end of the day," Mokbel told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"What has happened at Tottenham over the course of the past three or four years is that squad has been allowed to decay maybe. They lost Harry Kane, and any club in the world would suffer if they were to lose Harry Kane.

"So they lost Kane, they lost Son Heung-min, the two who have been their main source of goals over the years. And I have some sympathy with the club and the recruitment staff there because trying to replace those to players is nigh-on impossible. I don't know how you do it.

"But regardless, they have had to replace them and unfortunately for them, the players they have been replaced with just haven't been up to scratch."

Despite their form seeing them slide towards those danger places, there were some positives for fans to take from a hard-earned point away at Liverpool on Sunday.

"We need to be careful to not over egg the pudding. It is still just a point, albeit a very good one at Anfield," Mokbel added. "But also, my understanding going into Sunday's game was that a defeat, certainly a heavy defeat and poor performance, would have cost Igor Tudor his job.

"There is some room for optimism if you are a Tottenham fan, but we still have to point out that he is very much not out of the woods. He is on the cusp of a very big week.

"The game against Nottingham Forest on Sunday is probably the biggest game of Tottenham's season."

Listen back from 2:26:00 on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Ben: I think Slot has to go sadly, it's been dire football since being knocked out the Champions League last season. Even before that the football was turgid but the results were good. The slow predictable football has been there since slot took over, winning the league last season was much to do with Man City's deficiencies rather than Liverpool brilliance - much like this season's probable winners.

Jack: I don't know what Slot has done to this team, but they genuinely look cowardly. Terrified to attack, terrified to defend, and even terrified to play a risky pass more than 5 yards away. We made Tottenham look like a Champions League winning team, not a side fighting a relegation battle. If we play like this on Wednesday against Galatasaray we can say goodbye to the Champions League for a couple of years, and probably by to Slot for good.

Paul: I've had enough of this - no drive, no desire and no passion. Slot has ripped the heart and soul of this team. He has to go and needs to be sacked now. Unacceptable.

Alan: Absolutely shocking yet again. This MUST change and change very quickly. Starting to think Slot is not the answer, same answers to same questions and nothing changes. We will not win a trophy this year.

Spurs fans

Pat: Players showed lot of heart and courage, at times though making very basic mistakes. A better Liverpool side would have punished them. Nonetheless, a great point. Have to now stick with Tudor. Keep taking each match at a time, and keep fighting for each other.

Richard: At last a performance of which Spurs fans can feel proud - full of effort and determination, and richly deserving of a point, and heads didn't drop even when going behind. Maybe the team have finally got the meaning of playing for the shirt - more of the same, please!

Dave: A terrific unexpected vital point gained and well deserved. We showed some resilience and everyone put a shift in with no sign of the farcicle unravelling we've seen recently. Particular praise for Richarlison and Tel. Is the Tudor effect kicking in? The attitude shown at Anfield must continue in order to stay up. Same goes for our fans. No eerie atmosphere at home please, the anxiety is palpable and is not helping the team. COYS.

Kevin: Best team performance for ages. Dragusin and Danso don't give you pace or finesse, but they get their heads on everything and put their bodies in the way. Leave Micky Van de Ven and Romero on the bench and play the youngsters. Hope at last?!

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Igor Tudor delivered a message of defiance amid Tottenham Hotspur's deepening crisis when he told his players before their visit to Liverpool: "You can stay and cry or you can fight."

The smart money was on more tears after four straight losses under the Croat saw an alarming drop towards relegation, along with a loss at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16 first leg that was nothing short of a fiasco.

And yet here, against all odds and without 13 players because of suspension and injuries, Spurs stood and fought every inch of the way at Anfield to earn a fully deserved point with a performance that may yet prove to be of wider significance as they fight against the drop into the Championship.

Will it be enough to buy Tudor more time? We shall see.

The sense is he is not out of the woods yet, but at least Tudor can have the satisfaction of demonstrating he can get a reaction, at least once, from Spurs players who had previously looked down and out.

Image source, Mirror and Express

Monday's newspaper back pages are about Richarlison's all-important 90th minute equaliser against Liverpool on Sunday that could prove vital in Tottenham's attempt to pull away from the relegation zone.

It's left the media and pundits wondering whether a point at Anfield could be the turning point that Igor Tudor and Spurs need.

"The whole season has been very poor by their standards and the pressure was mounting on the new manager after another heavy defeat midweek," says former Premier League footballer Charlie Adam.

"To go to Anfield and get a point will look to kick-start the season for them because they are in the mix [of the relegation scrap]. They need to start getting results so that will hopefully give them some confidence going into the final run-in.

"They were well-organised, well-drilled and more competitive than they have been.

"They now just need to keep going so that Tottenham are in the Premier League next season."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 0-0 Leeds

• Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa

• Nottingham Forest 0-0 Fulham

• Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham

Tottenham are considering up to eight candidates to replace under-pressure manager Igor Tudor, with Sean Dyche, Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto de Zerbi among them. (Talksport), external

Manchester City could also sign Spain defender Pedro Porro, 26, for significantly less than his £80m valuation because of Tottenham's financial situation if they are relegated. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Spurs and interim head coach Igor Tudor – however long he may last – can take huge encouragement from both the performance and result at Anfield.

Tudor arrived at Anfield surrounded by speculation about his future after four dismal losses, the last little short of a fiasco at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

But missing 13 players, they fully merited the draw as they were spirited and dangerous throughout.

Richarlison led the line superbly, giving Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez a torrid time in tandem with Dominic Solanke.

He had tested Liverpool keeper Alisson several times before finally beating his Brazil colleague with a scuffed finish after Randal Kolo Muani had outmuscled Van Dijk in the final minute of normal time.

The big question is whether Spurs can now build on the platform this fine display has provided.

They face a mammoth task to over-turn a 5-2 deficit from the Champions League last-16 first leg against Atletico Madrid before a vital game at home to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.

Spurs have reached the stage where every point is priceless – and no-one could possibly begrudge them this one.

Tottenham manager Igor Tudor speaking to BBC Match of the Day after their draw with Liverpool: "A lot of hard work, will to do right things and be a team. We can say it was deserved. It was not easy so I am happy, happy for the players. I'm happy. It is never easy to come here."

On what he wants from his players: "There was progress in terms of mentality and will to stay and suffer. That for sure is progress. I cannot speak about progress because we know what happened in the last two games. Today is a game where we came here with 12 players. This is something big for our fans, for the players. This is really something big.

On his celebrations for Richarlison's goal: "It's nice. All the games are important because there are not too many until the end. Every point counts. We need to get players back and choose the right players. We have a game on Wednesday [against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League] and then we play an important game against Nottingham Forest."

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

What did you make of Tottenham's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Liverpool make five changes from the side that lost away to Galatasaray in the Champions League - but the stand out selection is Mohamed Salah, substituted in Turkey, being dropped to the bench.

Rio Ngumoah, just 17, starts his first Premier League game, while Alisson is back in goal in place of Giorgi Mamardashvili after missing out in midweek through injury.

Ibramhima Konate is also left out after a poor performance in midweek, while Andrew Robertson comes in for Milos Kerkez.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Robertson, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Ngumoha.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Konate, Kerkez, Salah, Chiesa, Jones, Ekitike, Nyoni, Ramsay.

Spurs interim head coach Igor Tudor is without 13 players through injury and suspension as he tries to ease growing relegation worries at Liverpool.

The Croatian makes four changes from the side thrashed 5-2 away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, but is only able to name seven substitutes, including two keepers.

Guglielmo Vicario returns in goal for Antonin Kinsky, substituted after only 17 minutes in the Madrid debacle.

Captain Cristian Romero is out with concussion suffered in Madrid, while Micky van de Ven is out suspended after his sending off against Crystal Palace.

Radu Dragusin and Souza come in, while Dominic Solanke replaced Randal Kolo Muani.

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Dragusin, Danso; Spence, Gray, Sarr, Souza; Richarlison, Solanke, Tel.

Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Simons, Kolo Muani, Olusesi, Roswell, Wilson.

There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Crystal Palace v Leeds - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Man Utd v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Liverpool v Tottenham (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-offs 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Crystal Palace v Leeds" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Spurs", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

How on earth can anyone back Spurs to get anything at the moment?

Igor Tudor is making me look like I was a competent manager when I was in charge of Lincoln.

The Spurs fans in Madrid were singing about playing Lincoln away next season - the Imps are top of League One - can you imagine me up against Tudor in the dugout?

He has taken over a difficult situation but he has gone about things in a very odd way.

It might be the done thing in Croatia or Italy to go into a club and tell the players some truths and say they are rubbish, but it is one thing doing it behind closed doors, and another to do it publicly.

There just seems to be so many things wrong at Spurs. They sacked Thomas Frank, thinking they were going to get this short-term fix from Tudor, but they have got a guy who has had a short-term shocker.

Liverpool are far from convincing either, mind you. It's not impossible that Spurs scramble a win here because Arne Slot's side were lousy in Turkey on Tuesday.

Slot has got the second leg against Galatasaray to think about, and they will make changes - but they surely can't lose to Tottenham, can they?

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

After a shambolic defeat by Atletico Madrid, under-pressure Tottenham boss Igor Tudor must steady the ship against inconsistent Liverpool. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Sunday's match (16:30 GMT).

Familiar failings for Reds

Liverpool boss Arne Slot complained that his side's league loss to Wolves on 3 March was the "same old story", with his side dominating possession but struggling to create clear-cut chances from open play.

Tuesday's Champions League defeat at Galatasaray was more end-to-end but also had a distinct air of deja vu. Just like in October's 1-0 loss to the Turkish club, the Merseysiders were unconvincing at the back and wasteful in attack, losing by the same score in Slot's 100th match in charge.

While the Reds may fancy their chances of overturning a one-goal deficit in next week's second leg, they have struggled when forced on to the back foot this season, losing 12 times after conceding the opening goal.

On league duty, they have been beaten in eight of 11 games when their opponents scored first and have lost nine times in total – more top-flight defeats than in their previous two seasons combined.

A visit from 'Doctor Tottenham' could be just the tonic they need, though. Spurs have won just one Premier League game at Anfield in 33 years and have conceded 17 goals in their past four games there.

Pressure mounts on Tudor

Time is running out for relegation-threatened Tottenham and their beleaguered head coach Igor Tudor. Spurs have lurched from one disaster to another since his appointment a month ago and have looked ill-suited to the Croat's 3-4-2-1 system, losing all four games and conceding 14 goals.

Tuesday's mauling in Madrid, in which they were four goals down inside 22 minutes, has left Tudor's man-management under increased scrutiny.

The decision to hand Antonin Kinsky his debut in the Champions League proper backfired horribly, with the goalkeeper gifting the opposition two goals before being humiliatingly substituted after 17 minutes. Tudor failed to acknowledge the Czech as he came off but insisted he was protecting the youngster.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust has called for "emergency" action in the wake of the midweek debacle, warning the club "are sleepwalking off the edge of a cliff".

Spurs' problems clearly run deeper than Tudor. They have the worst points-per-game average over any 38-game period in their Premier League history, taking just 0.87 points per match during this period.

If they extend their dismal record at Anfield it will mean they have failed to win any of their 12 top-flight games in 2026. Only three teams have waited longer for their first Premier League victory in a calendar year - Derby County (2008), Sunderland (2003) and Middlesbrough (2017) - and all three were relegated.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

In the battle at the bottom, Wolves and Burnley are all but down barring a footballing miracle, which leaves one spot that is likely to be filled by one of Leeds, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham.

With the most points on the board already, Leeds have the kindest run-in on paper, with just one game against a side from the top six (Manchester United on 13 April) and home games against both of the bottom two.

Meanwhile, it would seem like West Ham are the most likely to be relegated as not only do they currently sit in the bottom three, they also have the toughest run-in of the four sides.

However, the reason why Tottenham and Nottingham Forest fans have reason to be nervous is that the Hammers' performances have improved considerably under Nuno Espirito Santo's guidance in recent weeks.

Only four Premier League teams have taken more points from their past eight games than the east Londoners (14) and only four teams have a higher expected goal difference in that time, suggesting the upturn has not been down to luck.

Read more here

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Igor Tudor has come out fighting at Tottenham's training ground.

The Croat is facing the sack after four defeats from his four matches in charge but he isn't feeling sorry for himself and has urged his players to follow suit.

He has told his players not to think the world is against them - nor to believe that they are somehow cursed by "black magic".

"Don't act like the victim" was the overriding message.

But that is easier said than done, of course, particularly considering their extensive injury list that has worsened now with Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha to miss the game with concussion.

That, coupled with the absence of Micky van de Ven through suspension, means Tottenham are likely to have Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin at the heart of their defence at Liverpool on Sunday.

So if the Tottenham players are feeling down in the dumps, then it is understandable.

Regardless, Tudor isn't standing for it and has challenged his players to stand up and be counted in their fight against relegation.

BBC Radio 5 Live's senior football reporter Ian Dennis says he is surprised Igor Tudor hasn't been replaced by Tottenham on the latest episode of The Commentators' View: "They are imploding. And I'll be honest with you, I'm surprised he's still in the job. I know a number of Tottenham supporters, and for a long time they've been saying, 'oh, we're in a relegation dogfight'. And I thought, 'oh, no, they'll be all right. They'll be all right'.

"I think the alarm bells now are ringing for everybody for what's going on there."

"I would question their decision-making as to now, can they get the next appointment right? Because it was such a gamble for Tudor to come in. And I actually thought, 'ooh, that's very, very bold'.

"It hasn't clearly worked. And the longer they leave it, they place Tottenham's place in the top flight more at risk, more jeopardy."

Listen to the full episode here