NBC Sports

Postecoglou's future at Spurs 'in serious doubt'  NBC Sports

An always-fierce London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur hits Stamford Bridge on Thursday, as both Enzo Maresca and Ange Postecoglou seek morale-boosting wins.

The two sides staged an engaging seven-goal thriller on Dec. 8, as Chelsea erased a 2-nil halftime lead with a four-goal second half that included a pair of Cole Palmer penalties.

WATCH – Chelsea vs Spurs

Both teams have seen better days, with once title-fighting Chelsea in fourth place and without a win over a current top-half side since toppling Aston Villa on December 1 in the middle of a five-match Premier League winning streak.

For Postecoglou, Spurs have lost all the good vibes from a three-match winning streak that coincided with a return of several long-injured players.

They’ve taken just one point from their last nine in the Premier League and have only one win in five matches across all competitions — a home defeat of AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League Round of 16.

How to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 3pm ET Thursday

Venue: Stamford Bridge — West London

TV Channel: Peacock

Streaming: Stream live on Peacock

Chelsea team news, focus

OUT: Nicolas Jackson (thigh), Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Omari Kellyman (hamstring - out for season) | QUESTIONABLE: Cole Palmer (thigh), Noni Madueke (thigh), Marc Guiu (groin)

Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus

OUT: Dejan Kulusevski (foot), Richarlison (lower leg), Radu Dragusin (torn ACL - out for season), Kevin Danso (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Lucas Bergvall (illness)

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur prediction

Previewing Chelsea's showdown with Spurs  NBC Sports

Extended HLs: Fulham v. Tottenham Hotspur MWK 29  NBC Sports

Postecoglou disappointed in Spurs' loss to Fulham  NBC Sports

Muniz slots home Fulham's opener against Spurs  NBC Sports

Tottenham Hotspur achieved their main objective for the week as they advanced the Europa League quarterfinals on Thursday, but Ange Postecoglou’s side still has yeoman’s work to do to get their domestic standing back in order, beginning with Sunday’s short trip across London to face Fulham (9:30 am ET).

WATCH LIVE – Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs (34 points) were a goal down to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar after the first leg but a rousing second-leg performance that saw Wilson Odobert (twice) and James Maddison score the goals gave the north London side a much-needed boost of confidence. All of that said, they still sit 13th in the Premier League, eight points behind Fulham and the top half of the table. Returning stars Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Dominic Solanke all came through Thursday unscathed as they work their way back to full fitness and sharpness for the run-in. Due to injuries, none of the three were available when Spurs hosted Fulham and settled for a 1-1 draw back on Dec. 1.

As for the Cottagers (42 points - 10th place), a top-half finish is very realistic (three points between them and Crystal Palace in 11th) and European qualification is hardly a pipe dream with 10 games left to play (five points between them and Manchester City in 5th). Marco Silva’s side has been incredibly steady of late (and most of the season), having conceded three goals just once in their last 16 PL games. On the flip side, they have scored three goals just once in 23 outings in the league. Silva is set to manage his 200th PL game on Sunday and has the highest win percentage of Fulham manager in the league (37.5 percent, in 104 games).

How to watch Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 9:30am ET Sunday

Venue: Craven Cottage — London

TV Channel: USA

Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com

Fulham team news

OUT: Harry Wilson (foot), Kenny Tete (knee), Reiss Nelson (hamstring), Sasa Lukic (suspension) | QUESTIONABLE: Adama Traore (ankle)

Tottenham Hotspur team news

OUT: Richarlison (lower leg), Radu Dragusin (torn ACL - out for season), Dejan Kulusevski (foot), Kevin Danso (hamstring)

Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur prediction

With all of Tottenham Hotspur’s eggs now resting in the Europa League basket, everything is riding on their round-of-16 second-leg clash with Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in north London on Thursday.

MORE – Latest Champions League scores, knockout stage bracket

Spurs were not only beaten 1-0 in last week’s away leg, but they were (un)comfortably second-best on the night and lucky to escape with just a one-goal deficit. It was an alarming performance from a side that desperately needs to impress in a competition that they are widely expected to contest, if not win. As their season spiraled out of control due to a months-long injury crisis, Ange Postecoglou always had the cup competitions to point to as a reason for optimism. Then, they went out of the League Cup in the semifinals and the FA Cup just days later. Now, Spurs sit 13th in the Premier League table (eight points off the top half) and on the brink of going out of the Europa League in their first round of the knockouts.

If you’re searching for a hopeful Spurs angle, look no further than the recent returns of Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Dominic Solanke, all of whom should reasonably be expected to start the second leg after playing 30, 60 and 90 minutes, respectively, in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth over the weekend. The center backs are undeniably most important for Postecoglou’s side, as they provide not only the best cover at the back but a greater ability to play the ball out of the back in possession. Spurs had a nightmare of a time against AZ Almkaar’s press in the first leg and found passing the ball into the final third, let alone scoring a goal, an impossible task.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 4pm ET Thursday (March 13)

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — London

TV/Streaming: Paramount+

Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus

OUT: Dejan Kulusevski (foot), Kevin Danso (hamstring), Rodrigo Bentancur (suspension), Richarlison (calf), Radu Dragusin (torn ACL)

AZ Alkmaar team news, focus

OUT: Sven Mijnans (achilles), Mayckel Lahdo (foot) | QUESTIONABLE: Ruben van Bommel (leg), Denso Kasius (fitness), Mexx Meerdink (hamstring), Jayden Addai (ankle)

Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar prediction

Extended HLs: Spurs v. Bournemouth Matchweek 28  NBC Sports

This one wasn’t the injuries, so you can check one item off Ange Postecoglou’s possible reasons for Tottenham Hotspur’s poor start in a draw with Bournemouth in North London on Sunday.

But Postecoglou may be more interested in the Kepa Arrizabalaga-fueled comeback to get a point, as Pape Sarr caught the Bournemouth keeper off his line before the out-of-control keeper allowed Heung-min Son to win a penalty off of him in the final 10 minutes.

RECAP, HIGHLIGHTS — Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Bournemouth

Spurs gave up goals to Justin Kluivert and Evanilson, and could’ve allowed a few more on another day as Guglielmo Vicario was called upon early and often.

Bournemouth were a better team than their hosts on the day, as the Cherries overran the midfield and did not make it easy for the returning Cristian Romero to get rid of rust.

Postecoglou also kept James Maddison and Heung-min Son on the bench to start this one, and both players combined on the play that won Son’s equalizing penalty.

And he’ll be hoping this can be a boost as the club looks to overcome the 1-0 Europa League deficit they face after Thursday’s first-leg at AZ Alkmaar.

Ange Postecoglou reaction — Spurs boss reacts to comeback in home draw with Bournemouth

“Obviously at 2-nil we had a bit of a mountain to climb. It was a chaotic game today, fair to say, but the boys showed a real mentality. It would’ve been easy at 2-nil to let it slip away from us but they fought hard and got us back in the game.”

Good to comeback after Thursday struggle at AZ Alkmaar? “It was a different kind of struggle for us today. Thursday was nothing like us. Today it was different. Bournemouth pressed really well and we were really sloppy with the ball at times which allowed them to pin us back.”

Players not at top confidence? “There’s obviously a sense of nervousness there and we’re getting players back who have been out for quite a while. It’s good to get Romero out there but his first pass shows he hasn’t played in three months. We have to bear that in mind. Some of that is anxiety but they persevered and it shows that they’ve got belief in what we’re doing.”

Returning players help boost spirits? “Van de Ven, Romero, and Dom, those kind of players are quality players. It gives the whole team a bit of a boost to see them out there.”

“It would’ve been a fairly deflating feeling if we didn’t [fight]. That gives us the players some understanding to stay strong, that whatever struggle we might have, we can overcome, keep that in mind for Thursday night.”