Sports Illustrated

The Premier League’s crisis clubs are back in action after a much-needed bumper international break, as Manchester United welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford.

Saturday’s clash sees the underwhelming Red Devils take on the Premier League’s basement dwellers, with Spurs notching just a couple of points through five matches. Their first league goals of the season didn’t arrive until Aston Villa rocked up in N17 before the break, but they found themselves 3–0 behind before their late surge.

The underlying numbers suggest Roberto De Zerbi isn’t far away from getting things to “click,” having overseen a major rebuild in the summer with a record amount splashed on 10 fresh faces.

The drastic overhaul after last season’s frightening relegation flirt heightened expectations heading into the campaign, and Spurs, like Saturday’s hosts, are yet to deliver.

No Premier League team earned more points than Manchester United after Michael Carrick arrived on an interim basis last term, with their ascent during the second half of the campaign earning them a return to the Champions League.

However, it’s been a struggle since Carrick took the job on full time. The Red Devils have already exited the Carabao Cup and earned just one league win—a 5–2 rout of the newly promoted Ipswich Town. Before the break, United lost to a 10-man Manchester City in the derby and needed a late deflected strike from Matheus Cunha to salvage a point at Fulham, who were then rooted to the foot of the table.

Man Utd vs. Tottenham Prediction

Pressure Eases on Carrick

The two managers’ jobs aren’t quite on the line yet, but both are certainly feeling the heat. Carrick laughed off sack talk before the break, while De Zerbi still has the goodwill of the Tottenham fanbase after saving the club from relegation last season.

Still, the malaise cannot persist. For United, Saturday’s clash is the start of a hectic run before the end of October, with five games scheduled in 18 days. Given their indifferent opening to the new campaign, it feels like a pivotal month for the Red Devils.

And this is a fixture that hasn’t been too kind to them as of late. There’s been a lack of “Lads, it’s Tottenham” talk in Manchester, with Spurs enjoying an eight-game unbeaten run before United claimed a 2–0 victory earlier this year.

The Lilywhites have no reason to fear a trip to the Theatre of Dreams, and victory here would surely ignite a season that’s yet to get off the ground.

Not-so-happy hunting ground: While Spurs have had recent success at Old Trafford, supporters have grown familiar with tasting defeat in this fixture. In fact, they have lost 25 Premier League away games against Man Utd; only Everton (26 at Arsenal) have lost more on the road against one opponent.

Bryan Mbeumo’s record: Benjamin Šeško’s absence means Mbeumo will likely be stationed out wide, which hasn’t exactly borne fruit this season. However, the Cameroonian international loves playing against Spurs. He’s scored six times in 10 outings against the Lilywhites—the joint-most against a single opponent.

Spurs‘ scoring woes: There’s reason to believe that Spurs will eventually improve under De Zerbi, but the Italian is still without a reliable goalscorer and is operating without a natural No. 10. According to Opta, their 2.82% shot conversion rate is the second-lowest in the division, and their xG (5.00) is the third-lowest. They’re enjoying bright bursts in games, particularly to start, but aren’t creating high-quality chances and cannot play from behind.

Prediction: Man Utd 3–1 Tottenham

Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham

There have been a couple of concerning injury updates out of Manchester after the three-week break.

Carrick has confirmed that Patrick Dorgu, who missed a sustained period due to a hamstring injury last season, will spend another spell on the sidelines this month. The Man Utd boss also revealed that Noussair Mazraoui and Benjamin Šeško won’t be ready for Saturday’s game.

Šeško was among those who withdrew from international duty, but there’s more hope surrounding England duo Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford. Amad Diallo is also closing in on a comeback, while Carlos Baleba is set to make his debut for the club.

With Šeško absent, Matheus Cunha will likely lead United’s attack.

Man Utd predicted lineup vs. Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw; Baleba, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Cunha.

Tottenham Predicted Lineup vs. Man Utd

Tottenham escaped the international break relatively unscathed on the injury front, with De Zerbi confirming that Dutch defensive duo Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven are available for the trip to Old Trafford.

Van Hecke withdrew from Xavi Hernández’s Oranje camp with a foot injury, while Van de Ven has been dealing with a hand problem.

Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski will travel with the group, but neither are playing a part. Porro sustained a hamstring injury before the break, and Kulusevski is edging closer to a long-awaited comeback. The Swede has been out of action since May 2025, yet remarkably, he’s still started a Premier League match more recently than James Maddison.

The English No. 10 missed the bulk of last season with an ACL tear, and is being carefully managed at the start of 2026–27. De Zerbi said he suffered another fitness setback during the break but is still expected to feature at the Theatre of Dreams.

Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Mykhailo Mudryk are sidelined for the visitors.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs. Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Udogie; Fernandes, Tonali; Sávio, Gallagher, Marmoush; Solanke.

What Time Does Man Utd vs. Tottenham Kick Off?

Location: Manchester, England

Stadium: Old Trafford

Date: Saturday, Oct. 10

Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. BST / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT

Referee: Stuart Attwell

VAR: Jarred Gillett

How to Watch Man Utd vs. Tottenham on TV

After an agonizing three-week hiatus, the Premier League is finally back—the first round of action since Manchester City were found guilty by an independent commission of severe financial rule breaches.

The punishment for the eight-time Premier League winners is not yet known, but what’s guaranteed is a hostile, box-office reception when table-topping City travel to former title rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

In case you’ve forgotten about how things have played out on the field so far, here’s a quick reminder: City are being closely pursued by Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are still finding their feet under new managers and Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are barreling toward crisis.

There have been plenty of upsets, too, with Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford and Hull City all punching above their weight, but fewer surprises when it comes to the likes of Fulham and Crystal Palace struggling under untested Premier League coaches.

With a full weekend of action to look forward to, here’s Sports Illustrated’s predictions for Gameweek 6.

Arsenal vs. Leeds Prediction

Prediction: Arsenal 2–0 Leeds

Location: London, England

Stadium: Emirates Stadium

Date: Saturday, Oct. 10

Kickoff Time: 12:30 p.m. BST / 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT

Referee: Paul Tierney

Arsenal re-emerge with an unfamiliar feeling in the pit of their stomach. It’s been quite some time since the reigning champions were humiliated, but there’s no other way to describe their dismal 3–0 defeat to Brighton before the international break.

The Gunners had enjoyed a perfect start to the season before being deservedly thrashed on the south coast, and it’s now up to Mikel Arteta, fresh from signing a new contract, to inspire a return to winning ways.

Leeds United will be an awkward visitor in Saturday’s early kickoff. Currently fifth in the table and unbeaten in the Premier League thus far, they journey to north London brimming with belief and ready to capitalize on any uncertainty in the Arsenal ranks.

Aston Villa vs. Brentford Prediction

Prediction: Aston Villa 1–1 Brentford

Location: Birmingham, England

Stadium: Villa Park

Date: Saturday, Oct. 10

Kickoff Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Referee: Craig Pawson

After being gutted during the summer transfer window, Aston Villa can be forgiven for taking time to adjust this season. Following three wins from their last four in all competitions, however, Unai Emery’s men appear to have hit their stride.

They’ve scored three times in each of those victories and will expect another triumph in front of the excited Villa Park faithful. It might not be forthcoming, though.

Keith Andrews continues to work miracles with Brentford, who have claimed nine points in the Premier League this season and hammered Chelsea 3–0 before the international period. They will set out to frustrate their hosts this weekend—and they might just succeed in doing so.

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Chelsea vs. Bournemouth Prediction

Prediction: Chelsea 3–2 Bournemouth

Location: London, England

Stadium: Stamford Bridge

Date: Saturday, Oct. 10

Kickoff Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Referee: Sam Barrott

Brentford’s joy was Chelsea’s misery during Gameweek 5.

A weakened midfield and the absence of João Pedro proved costly at the Gtech Community Stadium, where Xabi Alonso oversaw his third consecutive league match without victory.

Chelsea’s exceptional forward line continues to instil fear in opposition backlines, but the club’s woeful defensive record undermines their progress. It’s a problem Alonso must fix soon.

Luckily for the Spaniard, he faces one of three winless sides remaining in the Premier League. Bournemouth surrendered leads in all four of their opening matches, before their profligacy cost them in the 1–0 defeat to former manager Andoni Iraola and his Liverpool team before the break.

Their last two trips to Stamford Bridge have ended in 2–2 draws. They might just miss out on another stalemate this weekend.

Ipswich vs. Fulham Prediction

Prediction: Ipswich 1–1 Fulham

Location: Ipswich, England

Stadium: Portman Road

Date: Saturday, Oct. 10

Kickoff Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Referee: Lewis Smith

Gary O’Neil will be very content with six points on the board at this stage of the season, especially considering Ipswich Town have faced Manchester United and Liverpool already. The Tractor Boys have shown signs of life in chaotic wins over Sunderland and Crystal Palace.

Unlike Ipswich, Álvaro Arbeloa’s new-look Fulham have picked up points against Man Utd and Liverpool, but the problem is they suffered three straight defeats before those impressive stalemates.

That means they’re currently 19th in the standings and still desperately awaiting a first Premier League win under the Spaniard.

Sunderland vs. Brighton Prediction

Prediction: Sunderland 1–2 Brighton

Location: Sunderland, England

Stadium: Stadium of Light

Date: Saturday, Oct. 10

Kickoff Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Referee: Tom Bramall

Few expected 35-year-old Pascal Groß to be the joint-top provider of goals and assists come the first international break of the season, but the veteran midfielder has been unplayable during a dazzling period for Brighton.

More clever business over the summer has helped propel Fabian Hürzeler’s side up the table early in the season, with only Man City and Arsenal currently ahead of the Seagulls. There is no more confident team in the Premier League right now.

They will need to use that self-belief to overcome Sunderland, who are never simple to beat on their own patch. The Black Cats have suffered just five losses at the Stadium of Light since their return to the top flight.

Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur Prediction

Prediction: Man Utd 3–1 Tottenham

Location: Manchester, England

Stadium: Old Trafford

Date: Saturday, Oct. 10

Kickoff Time: 5:30 p.m. BST / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur. Or in other words: ‘El Crisisco’.

It’s Spurs who certainly have the greater concerns heading into the weekend’s meeting. They are bottom of the Premier League table after two goalless draws and three losses from their opening matches and are showing few signs of turning a corner under Roberto De Zerbi.

An astronomical summer spend has failed to stop the rot and the club’s new acquisitions have underperformed to date. Spurs don’t have a dreadful record at Old Trafford in recent years, but one must be brave to bet in their favor this time around.

Michael Carrick is also feeling the pressure in the United dugout after collecting just four points from an appetizing run of league fixtures, and the momentum which underpinned the club’s resurgence during the second half of last season has been lost. Still, United enter the weekend as strong favorites.

Crystal Palace vs. Nottingham Forest Prediction

Prediction: Crystal Palace 0–1 Nottingham Forest

Location: London, England

Stadium: Selhurst Park

Date: Sunday, Oct. 11

Kickoff Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

Referee: Peter Bankes

The Oliver Glasner derby is unlikely to produce fireworks this Sunday.

The Austrian returns to Selhurst Park for the first time since his bitter summer exit for a battle between two of the Premier League’s least convincing performers this season.

Both clubs have picked up just one victory from their opening five as they adjust to new regimes and they will be determined to avoid defeat this weekend at all costs.

That pretty much guarantees a scrappy, stop-start affair. Forest might just shade it, though.

Hull City vs. Everton Prediction

Prediction: Hull 0–0 Everton

Location: Hull, England

Stadium: MKM Stadium

Date: Sunday, Oct. 11

Kickoff Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

Referee: Michael Salisbury

Hull and Everton have both enjoyed excellent starts to the campaign. The former have managed to stun Man Utd and Chelsea en route to eight points, while the latter remain unbeaten and have claimed two victories alongside three stalemates.

Impressive early runs have been built on sturdy defenses and cautious soccer, which means Sunday’s clash is unlikely to be particularly high-octane.

In fact, there’s a decent chance of a goalless draw being played out at the MKM Stadium, with a point acceptable for both Sergej Jakirović and David Moyes.

Liverpool vs. Manchester City Prediction

Prediction: Liverpool 2–2 Man City

Location: Liverpool, England

Stadium: Anfield

Date: Sunday, Oct. 11

Kickoff Time: 4:30 p.m. BST / 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT

Referee: Chris Kavanagh

Liverpool vs. Man City always delivers drama on the field, but the latest iteration of the fixture will be dominated by off-field discussions.

This is City’s first outing since they were found guilty of 115 breaches of Premier League financial regulations and while a final punishment remains some distance in the future, the discourse is bound to have a major impact on the mentality of the club’s players ahead of the trip to Liverpool.

Nobody knows how Erling Haaland and Co. will react once they step over the white line and Anfield is hardly a forgiving setting. Liverpool supporters will crank up the atmosphere on Sunday as they voice their grievances—the Reds have finished runner-up to title-winning City teams three times since 2009.

This is a must-watch fixture regardless of the outside noise and it’s the first time in over a decade that neither Jürgen Klopp nor Pep Guardiola will be on the touchline for it.

Enzo Maresca has won all five Premier League games since replacing Guardiola, but things have been trickier for Andoni Iraola at the beginning of his reign. Six points already separate the sides.

Coventry vs. Newcastle Prediction

Prediction: Coventry 0–1 Newcastle

Location: Coventry, England

Stadium: Coventry Building Society Arena

Date: Monday, Oct. 12

Kickoff Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

Referee: John Brooks

Coventry City finally got off the mark last time out, clinching a much-needed first victory away at Midlands foes Nottingham Forest. The timing of the international break was sub-optimal for the Sky Blues as they seek to build some momentum.

They will certainly fancy their chances of taking something from Monday’s match against an inconsistent Newcastle United still discovering itself under Matthias Jaissle.

The Magpies will still be considered the favorites heading to Coventry, however, especially considering the quality they possess in the final third. Yoane Wissa and Harvey Barnes have made bright starts to the season and could prove the difference-makers.

Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 6

The extended international break allowed Michael Carrick to breathe, reset and prepare for the hectic run of fixtures that lie ahead for his Manchester United team.

The heavily scrutinized Red Devils boss can feel his seat starting to warm at Old Trafford, even if he rightfully laughed off sack talk before the break.

Carrick inspired Man Utd to a third-place finish and a return to the Champions League last season, and his first full campaign at the helm was always going to bring about stiffer challenges. He hasn’t coped particularly well thus far, but the first block of five league outings was merely the opening act in a long 2026–27 season.

Still, he’ll be feeling the pressure when a worse-off Tottenham Hotspur visit the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday. For many, this is a contest Carrick simply cannot lose.

Here’s how Man Utd could line up against bottom-of-the-table Spurs this weekend.

Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham

GK: Senne Lammens—It was a busy break for Lammens in Thibaut Courtois’s absence, and the Belgian goalkeeper returns to Manchester keen to quieten the likes of Paul Scholes.

RB: Diogo Dalot—Dalot looks set to be Man Utd’s steady and unspectacular right back option for another season. The versatile Noussair Mazraoui is operating in reserve.

CB: Harry Maguire—While Leny Yoro impressed on the international stage for France, he’s unlikely to work his way into Carrick’s plans for Spurs’ visit.

CB: Lisandro Martínez—Martínez saw compatriot Cristian Romero pick up his fourth Premier League red card in this fixture last season, and he heads into this contest having said a tearful goodbye to Lionel Messi in Buenos Aires.

LB: Luke Shaw—After an injury-free 2025–26, Shaw dealt with a fitness setback during the first month of the new season, and it cost Man Utd. Possession dynamics just aren’t as smooth when he’s out of the team, with Carrick forced to fit a square peg in a round hole. The position will be addressed in January.

CM: Carlos Baleba—The signs are pointing toward the third of Man Utd’s midfield arrivals making his debut this weekend. Baleba has impressed in training and was involved in a friendly against Lausanne-Sport over the break. He’ll be up against a Spurs midfield tandem that set the Lilywhites back almost $250 million.

Pick Your Man Utd XI!

CM: Kobbie Mainoo—While Mainoo withdrew from international duty, the dynamic young midfielder is expected to be fit for Spurs’ visit. There’s potential for him to develop a stellar relationship with the physically impressive Baleba in midfield.

RW: Bryan Mbeumo—With Amad Diallo out of action, we’ll likely see Mbeumo start down the right again. The role doesn’t get the best out of him, but he loves playing against Spurs. In 10 meetings, Mbeumo’s scored six times.

AM: Bruno Fernandes—The reigning PFA Player of the Year is waiting for his season to ignite, and you get the feeling that a vulnerable Spurs outfit could allow Fernandes to flourish at Old Trafford.

LW: Marcus Rashford—Rashford is an injury concern after pulling out of the England camp. Like Mainoo, though, there’s an expectation that he won’t miss any time for the Red Devils. The winger is still waiting for his first goal since Carrick brought him back into the fold.

The Washington Commanders have already had to deal with plenty of things outside the norm this week as they prepare to face the Indianapolis Colts in London on Sunday.

There was the long flight across the pond, a five-hour time difference from the East Coast, and now a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff for everyone watching back home. As if that wasn't enough, anyone waking up early in London Sunday morning could also be greeted by fog around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Fortunately, that part of the forecast doesn't look like it will hang around long.

According to the Met Office forecast for the area around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, mist and fog are expected through the early morning hours before conditions begin clearing around 8 a.m. Sunny intervals are expected by 9 a.m., with sunshine taking over beginning around 10 and continuing through the afternoon.

That timing is obviously important, considering Washington and Indianapolis aren't scheduled to kick off until 2:30 p.m. local time.

Commanders Should Get Much Different Weather by Kickoff

The Met Office currently has the temperature at around 20 degrees Celsius at 2 p.m., or roughly 68 degrees Fahrenheit, before climbing to about 70 degrees by 3. Sunday's high is expected to reach around 72 degrees. There is also less than a five percent chance of precipitation throughout the day.

The wind shouldn't be much of an issue either.

Around kickoff, sustained winds are expected to sit at roughly three miles per hour, with gusts around 13. That's enough to remind you the game is still being played outside, but nowhere near the type of conditions that should force either offense to change what it wants to do.

Even with the early fog and mist, field conditions shouldn't become much of an issue either, as Tottenham Hotspur Stadium uses a dedicated artificial surface for NFL games rather than the retractable grass pitch used by Tottenham.

For Marcus Mariota, that means he shouldn't have to worry about throwing a wet football or dealing with heavy winds in his second straight start in place of the injured Jayden Daniels. It also shouldn't create much of a problem for Drew Stevens if Dan Quinn has to send his kicker onto the field in an important spot.

Of course, Indianapolis gets the same advantage.

Weather Should Be One Less Thing for Washington to Worry About

Roberto De Zerbi’s spat with Richarlison has emerged as an unwanted distraction for Tottenham Hotspur, who are still scoreless in the Premier League through four matches in 2026–27.

The Lilywhites entered De Zerbi’s first full season in charge with lofty expectations off the back of a summer transfer window in which they spent more than $423.9 million (£302 million) on 10 new signings, including a club-record $133 million (£100 million) purchase of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United.

While a ’gelling-in’ process is necessary, Spurs’ incompetence in the final third, despite the additions of Omar Marmoush and Sávio from Manchester City, has emerged as a serious area of concern for De Zerbi. Spurs haven’t merely failed to score, but they also rank 19th in the division with 3.45 expected goals, per Opta.

They’re struggling to generate high-quality chances and failing to seize the few opportunities that have come their way, with their collective confidence in front of goal on the floor. The absence of a natural goal-getter, especially given Dominic Solanke’s form this calendar year, is hurting them, which makes De Zerbi’s feud with Richarlison all the more curious.

Richarlison Offers Social Media Response to Latest De Zerbi Jibe

De Zerbi’s relationship with Richarlison has drastically deteriorated over the past couple of weeks. The Brazilian hasn’t been used by the Tottenham manager since he started at Brentford on the opening weekend of the season, which De Zerbi attributes to the striker wanting to leave the club.

"Richarlison decided everything alone," De Zerbi said on Sept. 4, after the Premier League’s transfer deadline. "I want to keep only the players who want to stay with pride and the right passion to stay here."

Richarlison was close to returning to Everton late in the summer window, then Spurs rejected offers from Trabzonspor before the Turkish Süper Lig deadline. A move to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama also fell through, and the situation could yet turn even messier, with the player threatening legal action in a bid to cancel his contract.

De Zerbi left him off of Spurs’ Premier League roster, submitted just after the summer transfer window closed, and it seems as if there’s no way back for the Brazilian in north London.

The 29-year-old is eligible to feature in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup third-round tie at Liverpool, but De Zerbi asserted that Richarlison won’t play even if he’s available. Responding to a Fabrizio Romano post reporting his manager’s comments, Richarlison wrote: "Why?" on his Instagram story, accompanied by a rather despondent emoji.

While the Brazilian’s Spurs career has ultimately been underwhelming since joining in an $81 million (£60 million) deal from Everton in the summer of 2022, Richarlison’s 11 Premier League goals helped the Lilywhites preserve their top-flight status last season.

It’s a sorry way for Richarlison to bow out.

De Zerbi’s History With Player Fallouts

De Zerbi publicly manifested his frustrations with one of Spurs’ goal-shy forwards immediately after Saturday’s goalless draw with Everton. He took to the field to offer Mathys Tel some coaching points about his body position, which the Frenchman seemingly didn’t take too kindly to.

The Italian downplayed the sequence, saying postmatch that he “loves” Tel, insisting there was “no problem” with their public discussion.

While a broken Spurs roster bought into De Zerbi’s hands-on approach during the back end of last season, it’s no coincidence that the 47-year-old hasn’t held down a single managerial role for more than three years throughout his career. He’s a combustible figure, and the very worst of De Zerbi was laid bare in Marseille.

There, he was accused of being “a real ass----” to Canadian international Ismaël Koné by national team manager Jesse Marsch, and a viral clip of De Zerbi berating the young midfielder certainly didn’t reflect well on the Italian.

Spurs’ current woes are bringing De Zerbi’s potential man-management failings to light, but there are two sides to the same coin. Others have spoken glowingly of De Zerbi, namely Kevin Prince-Boateng, who spent six months with him at Sassuolo and said of his former manager: “He’s like a real, real best friend, like a father to young players and he’s just the best on the field.”

An uptick in results will doubtless see the heat on De Zerbi cool, but Spurs desperately need a goalscorer to emerge from the abyss with Richarlison out of the picture.

“The Chelsea fans will be upset with me because I’m saying this,” Mauricio Pochettino admitted before stating his belief that his former employers should be stripped of their 2016–17 Premier League title win because of breaching financial rules.

Pochettino is of the opinion that the Tottenham Hotspur side he was managing should be named as winners instead, having finished that season as runners-up. Chelsea were fined £10 million ($13.6 million at current market rate) and given a suspended transfer ban after breaching 74 rules relating to agent regulations between 2011 and 2018, but crucially received no on-field sanctions.

“I’ve said that we should win one title, one Premier League,” Pochettino said to reporters. “We should have been awarded it. If that was true, and that happened, for sure we deserve to be champions for that year. Because we were the second best.”

Tottenham lost just four games that season, picking up 86 points to finish comfortably ahead of Manchester City and Liverpool in third and fourth. Harry Kane and Dele Alli held the keys to Spurs’ success, scoring 47 goals between them as Kane picked up the Golden Boot award.

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• 2 Minute Quiz: Name the 10 Most Expensive Premier League Summer Signings of 2026

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Chelsea, meanwhile, finished seven points ahead on 93, winning the title in Antonio Conte’s first season in charge after the Italian switched to a back three after a desperately disappointing defeat at rivals Arsenal.

“They were punished, they admitted (it), so that’s it,” Pochettino continued of the charges Chelsea admitted to. “The title should be for the team that was second. We didn’t compete with the same rules. OK, now we can say that they scored goals, they won games. But it’s completely fair to say that we didn’t compete before the start of the season with the same card.

“Maybe with the same rules, if we apply the same things, maybe we could have signed some players that would have made the team better, or scored more goals. It’s not me complaining. It’s the truth.”

Pochettino’s View if Tottenham Had Been the Rule Breakers

Pochettino made clear that his viewpoint was in no way intended to take anything away from Chelsea’s performances on the pitch, nor Conte, who he proclaimed a “great coach”. But he added that “if you don’t punish the way that you need to punish” then “what is being promoted and incentivized is to break the rules.”

“If we were at Tottenham and broke the rules, I would admit the same and say, ‘Look, we don’t deserve the title because we broke the rules’.” he added. “It’s impossible if only some clubs play with offside and another plays with no offside. Or one plays with VAR and another plays with no VAR. No. For everyone, it needs to be the same rules, and the capacity to create the best team.”

Pochettino would not a win trophy with Tottenham before being sacked in November 2019, though he did reach the final of the Champions League with the Lilywhites—a competition the club have failed to qualify for regularly since his departure from north London.

‘It’s Different’—Return to Tottenham Not Out of the Question

Pochettino would go on to manage Chelsea for a season before parting ways—the move was poorly received by both sets of supporters—but did admit that Tottenham had been in contact over a potential return in the summer, though nothing came to pass because of his commitments with the United States men’s national team.

“They called all the coaches! Free and not free!” Pochettino said. “The problem was that the timings were never the best. When I was free, I never received a contact and then when I was working, I received a contact, but I cannot make the decision to come back. It was a little bit unlucky. But maybe one day the stars will align and it can happen. If I was free, of course, I would come. But I wasn’t free. I was preparing for the World Cup.”

The transfer merry-go-round has landed Iliman Ndiaye at Manchester City after a blur of deals, counter-agreements and failed approaches.

Ndiaye has put pen to paper on a deal thought to be worth an initial $81.3 million (£60 million) with a further $6.8 million (£5 million) available in add-ons. In a market which has seen fees specifically for Premier League wingers skyrocket, City have managed to extract some semblance of value for the former Everton star, even if he isn’t a guaranteed star.

The 26-year-old, who signed at the Etihad Stadium until 2031, lies in the nebulous region of a player who passes the eye test with flying colors while delivering underwhelming numbers. Ndiaye is an infectious player to watch, all rubbery limbs and impish nutmegs as he singlehandedly drags Everton up the pitch. Yet, tangible output has been hard to come by.

A tally of six goals and three Premier League assists last season is underwhelming. While the context of playing for a demonstrably restrained David Moyes team must be considered, three Everton players outscored Ndiaye in 2025–26 and another three created more goals.

However, given the chaos which had come before Ndiaye’s Etihad arrival, City may be satisfied with this Plan B.

“I’ve worked my whole life for an opportunity like this,” the player himself said, adding that he sees City as the “perfect fit” for his skillset and style. “I love to play with the ball on the floor in an attacking team that wants to score as many goals as possible.”

How Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton Merry-Go-Round Ended With Ndiaye at Man City

To unravel this web, we must wind it back to Cody Gakpo. The Liverpool winger had been City’s preferred target for much of the window, with Enzo Maresca seemingly willing to sanction an $108.3 million (£80 million) bid for a player who endured a desperately underwhelming campaign last term.

Tottenham Hotspur had also been tracking the bizarrely in-demand Dutchman and were forced to pivot to Ndiaye when Gakpo’s preference for City emerged. Spurs have had an extravagant transfer window, but rather than more swollen sums, the trump card on this occasion took the form of Richarlison.

The former Everton striker was expected to be offered up in return for Ndiaye, completing a reunion which seemingly suited all parties. However, as Richarlison explained in a series of sharp-tongued social media posts, those talks broke down.

“My intention was to go back to the place where I was very happy, yes, but the negotiations happened only in the way certain people wanted, and it will no longer be like that,” the Brazilian wrote on Monday night. “Despite all this turmoil, I am under contract at Spurs and will remain at the club's disposal.”

City spotted the opportunity and swooped to snap up a player who, after rejecting multiple contract offers, was clearly eyeing up an Everton exit. Thanks to a series of events largely unrelated to his situation, Ndiaye is now part of the most successful English club of the last decade rather than the team that finished 17th in the past two season.

Timeline of Transfer Chaos

Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United clash in North London on Saturday evening, with both aiming to secure their first Premier League victories of the new season.

While Spurs looked woefully undercooked in their opening weekend defeat at Brentford, Matthias Jaissle’s Magpies performed with verve at home to Liverpool and were seconds away from earning a 2–1 victory. Lewis Hall’s collision with Víctor Muñoz earned the Reds a penalty, though, and Dominik Szoboszlai scored superbly from 12 yards.

Still, it was a performance that drew great encouragement, and that positive momentum carried into Newcastle’s Carabao Cup second round tie against West Bromwich Albion. They won a topsy-turvy tie 3–2 on Wednesday, joining Spurs, who thrashed Charlton Athletic 5–1, in the third round.

The Lilywhites desperately needed a convincing performance after last Saturday’s chastening loss in West London, and they will continue to come under heavy scrutiny, despite back-to-back 17th-place finishes, given how much they’ve spent this summer.

Tottenham vs. Newcastle Score Prediction

Fresh-Faced Lilywhites Win at Home

Sandro Tonali comes up against familiar faces on Saturday afternoon, having completed a $133 million transfer from Newcastle in July. The Italian takes on a Magpies outfit that is much-changed under new manager Matthias Jaissle, one that’ll continue to get in your face and aim to get back-to-front as quickly as possible in possession.

The visitors will be encouraged by how Brentford completely overwhelmed De Zerbi’s side last week, with the Italian’s build-up completely smothered and the Lilywhites battered physically. There’s scope for this Newcastle team to pose similar problems, but Spurs already have more solutions in attack and are less likely to be penned in, given the players coming back.

Still, a fiercely competitive fixture is expected in N17, with those in attendance so familiar with seeing their side succumb on home soil. De Zerbi helped ditch that habit at the back end of last season, and he can‘t allow such doubt to foster at the start of his first full season.

Goals inevitable: This is the most-played fixture in Premier League history that’s never finished 0–0. There’s been at least one goal scored in each of the 62 meetings between Tottenham and Newcastle.

New signings impact: Sure, it was only second-tier Charlton, but Sávio didn’t take very long to announce himself to the N17 faithful. His electric cameo off the bench on Wednesday highlighted the quality jump Spurs will receive in attack with the Brazilian in the side. Mateus Fernandes was also superb in the week and is set for his first Premier League start with the club. Newcastle, too, have newbies to call upon, including $70 million midfield signing Nico González.

Spurs’ strong openings: Newcastle have an excellent record away at Spurs and lost on just one of their last four visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, the Lilywhites have been strong starters at home in recent years, winning their five previous Premier League home openers by a 14–1 aggregate score.

Prediction: Tottenham 2–1 Newcastle

Tottenham Predicted Lineup vs. Newcastle

De Zerbi will hope to hand Sávio and Mateus Fernandes their first Premier League starts for the club on Saturday. The former scored on debut against Charlton during the week, while Fernandes was fit enough to play just 45 minutes at Brentford last weekend.

Latest arrival Omar Marmoush is eligible to feature, but the Egyptian is more likely to come off the bench. Dominic Solanke should lead the line after his midweek strike.

Mohammed Kudus’s return from a thigh injury is imminent, and there’s even talk of the Ghanaian making De Zerbi’s matchday roster. Wilson Odobert reportedly isn’t too far away from returning, too, having torn his ACL in February.

Micky van de Ven is getting up to speed and could be chucked in from the outset here. Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke struggled mightily as a duo at Brentford, and De Zerbi is unlikely to use the pair again on Saturday, given Newcastle’s speed in transition.

James Maddisons is out with a shoulder injury.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs. Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Udogie; Tonali, Bentancur; Sávio, Fernandes, Tel; Solanke.

Newcastle Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham

Newcastle have been dealt a blow ahead of Saturday’s visit to north London. Striker William Osula picked up an undisclosed injury in the draw with Liverpool, which is set to sideline him for the next couple of weeks at least.

Instead of utilizing Nick Woltemade up top, Jaissle will likely move Yoane Wissa from a No. 10 role. Wissa was superb last Sunday.

Dan Burn is working his way back to full fitness after the World Cup, while Tino Livramento is still out with the calf injury that saw him miss this summer’s tournament.

New signing Amar Dedić was one of several Newcastle players to make his Premier League debut last weekend, and there could be a couple more on Saturday. Bazoumana Touré is in contention, and Nico González should make his bow for the club after his arrival from Man City.

Newcastle predicted lineup vs. Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Horníček; Dedić, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Miley, Steuer; Elanga, Willock, Barnes; Wissa.

What Time Does Tottenham vs. Newcastle Kick Off?

Location: London, England

Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Date: Saturday, Aug. 29

Kick-off Time: 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT / 5:30 p.m. BST

Referee: Peter Bankes

VAR: Darren England

How to Watch Tottenham vs. Newcastle on TV, Live Stream

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the permanent capture of Sávio, the winger formerly known as Savinho, in an eye-watering deal worth a total of $116 million (£85 million at the time of agreement).

The Brazilian forward showed flashes of his potential at Manchester City without ever quite catching light. Across 53 Premier League appearances, Sávio was able to muster just two goals.

However, at 22 years old, there is hope that the Brazil international can blossom in a Spurs frontline which is primed for an injection of inspiration. “Sávio is a player who brings energy, imagination and quality in wide positions,” Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi said at the player’s unveiling on Tuesday. “He has the courage to attack defenders and the ability to change a game with his creativity.

“We’re very pleased to have him with us, and I’m looking forward to working with him, helping him continue to grow and seeing him bring his personality to the team.”

Sávio had kind words for De Zerbi as well. “It's a wonderful opportunity at a brilliant club with one of the best managers in the world,” he said. “As soon as I spoke to the head coach I knew I had to come. He told me he wants to help me reach the highest level, and I believe we can do that together, as a team.”

That team has been assembled at a staggering expense; following this latest arrival, its spending stretches beyond $420 million, making it one of the most extravagant outlays in a single window ever.

Tottenham Transfers Summer 2026

Sandro Tonali (Newcastle): $126 million

Sávio (Man City): $116 million

Mateus Fernandes (West Ham): $116 million

Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton): $70 million

Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth): Free

Andy Robertson (Liverpool): Free

Martin Dúbravka (Burnley): Free

The Most Expensive Transfer Windows in Soccer History

While Tottenham do hold the distinction of becoming just the fourth club to ever surpass a total spend of $400 million in the same summer, they can’t quite match the outlay of some Premier League rivals—just yet.

Liverpool’s staggering splurge last year stands out on its own in terms of expense and lack of value. One year on, the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are still yet to settle, while one of the few success stories, Hugo Ekitiké, is sidelined with a serious Achilles injury.

“My fear is this window of 12 months ago could set Liverpool back a year or two, to fix it,” former Reds center back Jamie Carragher recently said. “I think we’re going to be looking at that as arguably the worst transfer window we’ve probably seen in Premier League history, when you consider the fees for these players, and what it’s going to do for Liverpool.”

When Liverpool spent in excess of £400 million ($545 million) last summer—including club records one after the other for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, it was the first that a team had ever broken that barrier in the space of one single transfer window.

The nature of the modern transfer market, where soccer has money on a scale like never before, means that all 10 of the most expensive windows by individual clubs have come since 2019. As many of nine of them have happened just since 2022.

It was therefore always likely that Liverpool’s record spend wouldn’t last long, although few might have expected Tottenham Hotspur to be the club to potentially break it.

Spurs are going very big in the market as a direct response to successive 17th-place finishes. Last season, their Premier League status wasn’t guaranteed until the final match, taking the club alarmingly close to a first relegation in 48 years.

In addition to smart free-agent signings of Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dúbravka, £237 million ($323 million) has gone on midfielders Matheus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, and center back Jan Paul van Hecke.

That spend alone doesn’t quite crack the top 10 most expensive transfer windows, falling £13 million short of the £250 million that Newcastle United unloaded this time last year. But, even with less than two weeks of the summer to go, Spurs also aren’t done quite yet.

Spurs Targeting Three New Forwards

According to The Athletic, Spurs are “working on” deals for Manchester City forwards Omar Marmoush and Savinho. The latter remains a target from last summer, despite a change in manager from Thomas Frank to Roberto De Zerbi. Marmoush, meanwhile, is second fiddle to Erling Haaland and struggled to produce last season.

There is not yet an agreement, but talks are “advancing.”

Fabrizio Romano reports that should a deal for Savinho not happen, Spurs would target Chelsea’s Pedro Neto instead. The Portuguese is already linked with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and carries a price tag thought to be around £100 million.

Spurs do, however, have plans to sign two wingers and are eyeing Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo on the left side of attack, with a view to building an entirely new forward line.

De Zerbi’s side currently trail Liverpool’s £415 million world-record spend by £178 million. To commit to spending at least that on just three Premier League players in today’s market is wholly plausible and perhaps even certain if Marmoush, Savinho and Gakpo are the targets in mind.

Even though Savinho and Marmoush have significantly underwhelmed over the past 12 months, City are expert sellers and have a habit of extracting big bucks for players they don’t need—see this week’s example of Tijjani Reijnders joining Al Qadsiah for a profit.

The club paid £59 million for Marmoush in January 2024. Savinho set City back just under £31 million a few months prior. Even though neither is a starter in City’s strongest team, both have proven ability in top European leagues. Marmoush was starring for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, while Savinho was crucial to Girona’s fairytale ascent into La Liga’s top three.