The Times

James Maddison left on Saturday with a face like thunder and came back on Monday right as rain.

It was just over a month ago when Maddison had been taken off at half-time against West Ham United, with the game in the balance at 1-1, despite Tottenham Hotspur controlling the match and monopolising the chances. Without Maddison, the floodgates flew open. Spurs scored three in the second half and romped to a 4-1 win.

Ange Postecoglou’s big call came off but that doesn’t mean Maddison had to feel happy about it. A half-time substitution is high on the list of worst offences for any elite footballer and Maddison is no exception. On Monday morning, staff at Hotspur Way suspected, expected even, that Maddison would be

Rodrigo Bentancur has been given a seven-match ban and fined £100,000 for using a racial slur about his Tottenham Hotspur team-mate Son Heung-min.

Benctancur’s ban applies to domestic games, which means he will miss Tottenham’s next six Premier League fixtures against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Southampton and Liverpool, as well as the Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Manchester United on December 19. Bentancur can play in the two Europa League matches that fall in that period, which are at home to Roma on November 28 and away to Rangers on December 12.

As well as a suspension and fine, Bentancur has been ordered to attend a mandatory face-to-face education programme provided by the FA before March 11. Tottenham are considering whether to appeal.

Rodrigo Bentancur is set to receive a lengthy FA ban for the comments he made about his Tottenham Hotspur team-mate Son Heung-min.

The FA has made its decision about the Uruguay midfielder’s punishment, with Spurs expecting a suspension of between six and 12 matches after he used a racial stereotype when referring to the 32-year-old South Korean, his club captain, in June.

That would mean Bentancur missing most of the next month at least while the upper end of that window would also include the Christmas period. Tottenham face Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Southampton in their next five domestic games, all in the Premier League, before the sixth comes against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on December 19 and the seventh

Ange Postecoglou does not believe that winning a cup competition will necessarily secure his future at Tottenham Hotspur, saying that consistency in the league is more important than winning a trophy.

The Spurs head coach referenced the sacking of Erik ten Hag, who won two domestic cups with Manchester United but was sacked on Monday, to illustrate how league position can be a better indicator of a team’s progress than success in knockout competitions.

Postecoglou has come under pressure from some supporters after the defeats by Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace. He knows that some fans will not want him to rest his first-team players against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, given that Spurs have not won a trophy

The Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach Ryan Mason has held talks with Anderlecht about taking charge at the Belgian club.

Spurs have given Mason permission to speak to Anderlecht about the vacant head coach position, with the 33-year-old thought to be a leading contender for the role. Mason is under contract at Tottenham, which means Anderlecht would have to pay compensation.

Ange Postecoglou has given Mason the green light to explore the move, which would be a huge opportunity for him. Anderlecht are fourth in the Belgian Pro League and have won both of their opening games in this season’s Europa League, beating Ferencvaros and Real Sociedad. Mason would also be reunited with the former Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen, who joined Anderlecht in 2022.

Mason played

Not many teams can match Tottenham Hotspur for their ability to create dramas and mishaps from ascendancy. This was one of those matches in which Ange Postecoglou’s team showed their two sides: one that is capable of some terrific slick attacking to create numerous opportunities, and the other where lapses in concentration at the back and flimsy finishing undo all the good work.

In short, Tottenham started exceptionally and should have led by more than two goals at the break when strutting against Brighton & Hove Albion. Then, with Kaoru Mitoma buzzing on the wing for Brighton and Rodrigo Bentancur and Destiny Udogie losing their heads and control, Spurs conceded three times in 18 minutes.

Bentancur and Udogie were guilty of weak tackles in the

Erik ten Hag’s position as Manchester United manager is not under immediate threat despite the club’s poor start to the season.

The Dutchman is expected to remain in charge for their games against Porto and Aston Villa this week despite the dreadful performance in the 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur but finds himself under increasing pressure after only two league wins from six matches this season.

While there is no suggestion from those inside the club that the next two games are pivotal for him to keep his job, there is an acceptance that results and performances need to improve.

The defeat by Spurs left United 12th with a goal difference of minus three after the first six games. While there was disappointment at

It took about an hour for the first ­Manchester United fans to call it a day and head for the exits, chuntering as they went.

Some of those who saw it out until the bitter end booed and they had every right to. Few would have criticised them if they had left earlier, much earlier in fact, given the rubbish that their team had served up.

The first-half performance at Old Trafford was the worst of Erik ten Hag’s reign, one in which Tottenham ­Hotspur racked up 12 shots. That Spurs beat André Onana only once before the half time whistle was a testament to the goalkeeper’s performance.

The rest of the United team lacked composure, fight, alertness and ultimately, skill. Save for a decent

Arsenal are closing in on a £29.8million deal to sign Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad, the Spain midfielder who has entered the final year of his contract.

The 28-year-old, who was part of his country’s Euro 2024-winning squad, can play as a holding midfielder or No8 on the left of midfield, where he spent the majority of his time at Sociedad.

Merino, who is 6ft 2in, joined Newcastle United in 2017, initially on loan from Borussia Dortmund, but a year later joined Sociedad. He has agreed personal terms to move to north London.

This summer Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, has signed Riccardo Calafiori for up to £42million, joining David Raya, whose move from Brentford was made permanent for £27million. Arteta also wants an attacking

Richarlison has said that he does not want to leave Tottenham Hotspur to move to a club in Saudi Arabia because his “dreams are bigger” than his desire for a huge salary.

Tottenham want to offload the Brazil forward, who cost about £50million from Everton in July 2022 and has three years left on his contract. He was on Tottenham’s pre-season tour to South Korea but has been recovering from a hamstring injury since May.

Richarlison, who is wanted by Al-Ahli, told ESPN Brasil that he had already made his decision and that moving to Saudi could affect his chances of playing for Brazil at the World Cup in 2026. “There has been an offer but my dream of playing for the Brazilian Seleção and