Football Italia

Italy international Guglielmo Vicario has revealed that he has returned to training at Tottenham and is ‘looking forward’ to playing a competitive game.

Vicario sustained an ankle injury during a 4-0 win over Manchester City in November and was forced to undergo surgery.

He has now returned to training on the pitch, but it will still take a few weeks to see him back to action in a competitive game for Spurs.

“Being on the sideline and not being able to help my teammates has been hard,” Vicario wrote on Instagram on Saturday.

“I’m happy to be back on the training pitch and looking forward to being back with the boys. Thank you for all the support.”

The Italian goalkeeper shared a few pictures from the Tottenham training centre showing him work on his recovery.

Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou said in November that Vicario would remain out of action “for months” rather than weeks.

A former Empoli and Cagliari goalkeeper, Vicario has kept four clean sheets in 15 appearances across all competitions this term.

He made his senior Italy debut last year, and he’s currently the Azzurri’s second-choice keeper behind Gigio Donnarumma.

Vicario has collected four international appearances.

Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou says Italy international Guglielmo Vicario remains a dressing room ‘leader’ despite an injury that will force him to the sidelines for months.

The Italian shot-stopper underwent ankle surgery in November and was expected to remain out of action for a few months.

Spurs coach Postecoglou provided an update on the Italian during a pre-match press conference before a Premier League clash against Liverpool.

“It’s going well. Typical Vic,” he said, as quoted by Football London.

Vicario injury: latest official update on Tottenham ‘leader’

“He’s pushing every boundary. He’s still a fair bit away, but he’ll make sure he’s back as soon as possible, whatever the timeline is. He’s still very much around the group. You saw him last night. He’s at training every day. He’s one of the leaders, and he’s progressing well.”

Vicario kept four clean sheets in 15 Tottenham appearances this season, conceding 15 goals.

It remains to be seen if he’ll return to action in time for Italy’s next competitive match against Germany in the Nations League quarter-finals in March 2025.

Vicario, a former Empoli and Cagliari goalkeeper in Serie A, made his senior Italy debut in March 2024 and has made four appearances for the Azzurri.

His contract in North London runs out in June 2028.

Liverpool will face one of their toughest tests of the season as they prepare to take on Tottenham away from home in their next Premier League clash.

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Spurs have had a bit of an up-and-down campaign so far, but they’re never pushovers against the big sides, having already won away to Manchester United and Manchester City in emphatic style.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have drawn two in a row in the Premier League as we perhaps start to see the first signs of a bit of a wobble from Arne Slot’s side.

Who will come out on top in this fixture? Read on for our look ahead to what is always a pretty entertaining game in the Premier League season…

How Tottenham could line up against Liverpool

Ange Postecoglou rotated his side a little in Tottenham’s impressive 5-0 win away to Southampton, but we imagine some of the more established first choice names will be coming back into the side for a big game like this.

Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson were dropped to the bench for the strip to the St Mary’s Stadium and seem like strong candidates to start against Liverpool, though you can never be too sure what injuries might pop up in training over the course of the next few days.

Tottenham predicted line up: Forster; Porro, Udogie, Van de Ven, Dragusin; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Johnson, Maddison, Son

Predicted Liverpool line up to take on Tottenham

Liverpool should have a mostly full squad to pick from against Tottenham, but have a few issues in defence, with the suspended Andrew Robertson set to be missing after his red card against Fulham.

BUY LAST-MINUTE TICKETS FOR TOTTENHAM VS LIVERPOOL

And judging by Arne Slot’s recent comments, Liverpool might also have problems elsewhere at the back as it’s not yet clear how close Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas are to returning.

That could mean a bit of a makeshift back four against Spurs, even if the team have been boosted by the returns of Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold…

Liverpool predicted line up: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Quansah; Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo

How to buy Tottenham tickets

For Tottenham’s official tickets page, click here, which will give you the option of becoming a member to unlock access for this game and other upcoming fixtures.

If you’re finding demand high for a big game like this, though, it’s also worth keeping livefootballtickets.com as a reliable alternative, with good prices and an easy-to-use site.

How to buy Liverpool tickets

Most fans will likely be aware that they can use Liverpool’s official channels to find out the availability of tickets on their website here, but it could also prove tricky, and not to mention expensive, getting to a big game like this.

With that in mind, we highly recommend livefootballtickets.com as an alternative to check out for good prices, reliability, and a 150% money back guarantee.

Tottenham vs Liverpool head-to-head record

Liverpool have the major upper hand in this fixture’s history, winning 90 games against Spurs in total, losing just 49, while there have been 44 draws.

In recent times, we’ve also seen far more Reds victories, with that 4-1 defeat for Jurgen Klopp’s side against Mauricio Pochettino’s team back in 2017 feeling like a very long time ago now.

Since then, Tottenham have won just once, and that was with the aid of a highly controversial VAR call last season that ruled out a perfectly good Luis Diaz goal for offside.

Emerson Royal reveals where his nickname comes from, the reason Milan is ‘iconic’ for Brazilians and why playing at San Siro with Tottenham made him realise he wanted to join the Rossoneri.

The right-back sat down with the official Lega Serie A YouTube channel for an in-depth interview about his childhood, career and why representing the Diavolo is so special for him.

They started right at the beginning with where he got his name.

“The nickname ‘Royal’ comes from a gelatine brand,” revealed the full-back.

“When I was little, I had a big mouth and my aunt says I used to cry a lot. She called me ‘Royal big mouth’ as I looked like the gelatine mascot.

“Everyone started calling me Royal to tease me when I was little. It caught on and now people call me Royal more than my actual name, which is Emerson.”

Like many Brazilian players, Emerson Royal grew up in the Favelas, the poorest areas in the country.

“I grew up in a favela and people consider those bad and dangerous places, but that’s true about many other places in the world.

“I learned a lot in the favela, because people are hungry for success, they want to grow and improve their lives. I was one of those people who heard that it was impossible to do that. But I believed it was possible, even though I was from a favela.

“I try to communicate that motivation whenever I am in Brazil. I try to go to favelas and talk to the children there. I believe they have to have that option and not just turn to drugs, alcohol and partying. They have to look at the world more broadly.”

Emerson Royal always dreamed of Milan move

Much like Milan teammate Rafael Leao, Emerson Royal plays with a smile on his face.

“I am always smiling because I’m a very happy person. I think smiling cures everything and I try to live each day with a smile to seek happiness.

“Of course, things aren’t always going great, but I try to live my life the best I can and with a smile on my face, whether at practice, playing a match, at home or anywhere else. I’ll be trying to spread happiness around me, because it’s contagious.”

Another former Rossoneri player who loved to smile was Marcos Cafu, whose role at right-back has been taken by Emerson Royal now.

“Milan is iconic for us Brazilians, I saw players like Ronaldinho play here, Kaka, Cafu, Alexandre Pato, Robinho. I think that’s a legacy they left behind at Milan, a joyful style of football, full of commitment and happiness on the pitch.

“Cafu is a player who inspired me a lot. Daniel Alves also inspires me with his style of play, he was a very aggressive player on the attack, while Cafu was very consistent. He was strong both defensively and offensively.

“Those are my two inspirations for my position. I have the versatility to stay back and defend, but also to push forward and attack. I don’t have a preference. It depends on the system the coach prefers.

“If he prefers that I build up play more from the back, I’ll do that. If he needs me to push further forward, I’m ready to do that as well. Whatever the coach asks, I am here to deliver.”

Antonio Conte worked with Emerson Royal at Tottenham Hotspur and his training regime is legendary all over the football world.

“Conte really conveyed his passion for football,” continued Emerson Royal.

“He helped me a lot by challenging my mental resilience with tough training sessions. He always demanded our best and that gave me a lot of mental strength.

“I’ve been doing a lot for my mental well-being and working on it myself too, so it is all helping.”

As for Paulo Fonseca, the current Milan coach has a different approach to his tactics.

“Fonseca is a coach who likes to play an attacking style and press high. He shares characteristics that align with my playing style. He enjoys coaching, explaining and helping players to learn.

“He’s been talking to me during training, explaining the positioning he prefers and what he wants me to do, my responsibilities during the match.”

Emerson Royal reveals the moment he realised he wanted to play for Milan was when facing them as an opponent with Spurs in 2023.

“When I came here and saw the stadium and the Milan fans, I got goosebumps. I was at Tottenham and we were playing in the Champions League at the time. The atmosphere was fantastic and I wanted to feel it from this side.

“San Siro is an incredible and iconic stadium known worldwide, not just in Brazil. I’m very happy to be here with that atmosphere on my side.”

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri notes that Tottenham, Napoli and Atalanta have one thing in common and explains that he must assess Paulo Dybala after every training session.

The Giallorossi host in-form Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday.

Ranieri previewed the game two days before kick-off and just two days after a 2-2 draw against Tottenham in the Europa League.

“For the third game in a row, we meet a team with the same philosophy: attack at all times,” the Italian tactician said at a press conference.

“Napoli just started under Conte, while Tottenham has been playing with the same system for two or three years. Atalanta is a perfect machine.”

It will be Ranieri’s third Roma game since replacing Ivan Juric during the November break.

Ranieri on what Tottenham, Napoli and Atalanta have in common and Dybala management

“Our target is to make the fans proud. We are still not as in shape as I would like, but it’s tricky after just one week of work,” continued Ranieri.

“The English say: ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ We are from Rome, so give us some time.

“We’ll face a team that has won 10 games since September 10 and has scoredscored 35 goals, nearly three per game. They have the best attack and are the first team for goal-scoring opportunities. They are third for vertical passes, first for shots on target, and second for crosses. They eat the opponents, but I don’t want to see my players being eaten.”

Ranieri, a Premier League winner with Leicester City, was asked whether he and Gian Piero Gasperini have something in common and if they should have won more trophies in their careers.

“I look like a gentleman, but you don’t see me inside the dressing room,” said Ranieri.

“There are many ‘sons’ of Gasperini who adopt his playing style. On the contrary, I try to give my best to the players I have. I don’t have a defined system. My players are defined, and I must put them in the most suitable positions. I think I am a coach who takes the best out of his players in all situations. When I was sacked, my replacement never did better than me.”

Read more – Ranieri opens up about Roma sacking De Rossi: ‘Fans must know the truth’

Atlanta used to be Serie A strugglers fighting for survival, but Family Percassi changed the club’s history as Lea Dea have often qualified for the Champions League over the last few years and won the Europa League last term.

“The credit goes to the President who, in the first four years, used to say: ‘Our target is to avoid relegation,’ but Atalanta climbed in the meantime,” noted Ranieri.

“We’ll face a practically perfect team, even if perfection doesn’t exist. [Against Tottenham] I saw a spark, I saw the players striving for something positive.”

Ranieri also spoke about Dybala’s management, especially since the Argentinean has a clause to extend until 2026, but it depends on how many appearances he makes this season.

“I assess Dybala after every training session,” argued Ranieri.

“We know he may have a few issues, and I must be able to understand them. I replaced him in London because I needed a player who pressed the opponents and pushed them inside their box. When turned on, he did extraordinary things, like the assist for El Shaarawy or a great shot. Soulé didn’t do the exceptional things Dybala can offer, but he’s given me run and pressure.”

Corriere dello Sport writes that Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham in North London allowed Claudio Ranieri to ‘rediscover’ three Roma players who seemed lost: Alexis Saelemaekers, Mats Hummels, and Leandro Paredes.

Roma’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Thursday was a massive boost for the Giallorossi, who had appointed Claudio Ranieri during the November break.

The ex-Leicester City boss lost on his debut against Napoli last week, but the Giallorossi bounced back against Spurs in the following game, managing a 2-2 draw thanks to a late Hummels equaliser.

The German centre-back is one of those players ‘rediscovered’ by Ranieri in London, writes Corriere dello Sport.

A former Borussia Dortmund defender, Hummels had only made one appearance as a substitute before Ranieri’s appointment, scoring an own goal against Fiorentina.

Tottenham draw gave Ranieri and Roma 3 reinforcements

In the Tottenham game, he started and played for 90 minutes for the first time at Roma, and even if he caused an early penalty kick, Hummels’ late goal was fundamental to avoiding defeat and keeping qualification hopes alive.

Paredes, 30 is another Roma player who impressed the media and fans against Spurs.

The Argentinean had made just six appearances – five as a substitute – under Juric, but played 90 minutes in London and is expected to get more playing time under Ranieri.

According to Corriere dello Sport, if Juric had stayed, Paredes would have left Roma in January, probably returning to Boca Juniors.

Last but not least is Belgian winger Saelemaekers, who returned to the pitch against Tottenham after over two months on the sidelines.

The Milan loanee was unavailable during the Juric era after ankle surgery but returned against Tottenham, playing 21 minutes as a substitute in North London.

The positive Europa League performance means that even Saelemaekers will contribute to boosting Ranieri’s options in the second part of the campaign, becoming an actual reinforcement for the Giallorossi, like Hummels and Paredes.

Antonio Conte has claimed that his former side Tottenham Hotspur are among the ‘favourites’ to fight for the Premier League table, despite the North Londoners currently sitting 12 points off Liverpool at the top of the standings.

The current Napoli head coach was full of praise for a number of his Italian rivals and former clubs during his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, when he explained why Serie A has become such a competitive division.

The 55-year-old made reference to the fact that seven out of eight Italian teams competing in UEFA competitions went unbeaten over the midweek fixtures, including Roma, who held Tottenham to a 2-2 draw away from home on Thursday night.

What Conte said about former club Tottenham

While discussing the Giallorossi and their game against his former club, Conte said that Spurs are ‘favourites’ to fight for the Premier League, along with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.

Dejan Kulusevski was among the best Tottenham players in a 2-2 draw against Roma, and Tuttosport suggests the ex-Juventus winger would suit Thiago Motta’s playing style.

Tottenham star Kulusevski impressed fans and Italian media on Thursday, although a solid performance against Claudio Ranieri’s Roma was not enough to help Spurs win the game.

Tottenham star Kulusevski would suit Motta’s Juventus

‘Kulusevski provided one assist for Johnson, hit the woodwork and made many excellent moves. Today, he’d surely be a good fit for Motta’s Juventus,’ wrote Tuttosport newspaper in its pagelle (player ratings).

According to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Kulusevski was Tottenham’s best performer against Roma on Thursday.

Kulusevski, 24, has seven assists and two goals in 19 appearances with Spurs this term.

He moved to North London from Juventus in the 2022 January transfer window.

During his one-and-a-half-year spell in Turin, Kulusevski provided ten assists and scored nine goals in 73 appearances.

A product of the Atalanta academy, Kulusevski also played with La Dea and Parma in Serie A, grabbing 15 goals and 15 assist in 94 matches in Italy’s top flight.

The final transfer fee for Tottenham was circa €40m, including add-ons.

Kulusevski’s contract in North London expires in June 2028.

Roma players received high ratings from Italian sports papers after a 2-2 Europa League draw against Tottenham, but the media could not agree on the most disappointing players for the Giallorossi and Spurs.

Ranieri’s Roma secured an away 2-2 draw at Tottenham on Thursday, arguably a positive result for the Giallorossi, who have already changed three coaches this season and find themselves just three points above the relegation zone in Serie A.

Italian newspapers hailed last night’s result in North London as a success and gave many Giallorossi players high ratings.

Italian media split on most disappointing Tottenham vs Roma players

According to Gazzetta, Angelino was the best Roma player in North London on Thursday, rated 7/10. The Spaniard provided the assist for Mats Hummels’ late goal.

Corriere dello Sport also rated Angelino highly (6.5), but according to the Rome-based paper, Mile Svilar, Hummels, Evan N’dicka Manu Koné, and Paulo Dybala deserved a higher mark (7). According to CorSport, N’dicka was the MOTM last night.

At the same time, Italian newspapers split over the most disappointing players in North London.

Rodrigo Bentancur was rated 5.5/10 by Gazzetta but received 6.5 on Corriere dello Sport.

The same is true of Roma’ Zeki Celik, rated 5 by Gazzetta and 6.5 by Corriere dello Sport.

Ange Postecoglou admits it is ‘frustrating’ for Tottenham Hotspur after Roma snatched a last-gasp 2-2 Europa League draw in London, but Claudio Ranieri has ‘a good side.’

It was a hugely entertaining match in London that went down to the wire with chances at both ends, specifically 24 for the hosts and 18 for the Giallorossi.

Spurs had taken the lead twice, through a Son Heung-min penalty and Brennan Johnson strike, but Evan N’Dicka’s header and a last-gasp Mats Hummels tap-in allowed Roma to snatch a point.

“It’s frustrating, particularly when they score so late in the game. But it was a good game. We should have put it to bed early and it’s disappointing not to see it through,” Postecoglou told TNT Sports.

“We should have shown a bit more composure. We had a couple of chances cleared off the line. We sort of kept them in the game.”

Postecoglou gives credit to Ranieri’s Roma

It was wide open, as while Angelino performed a goal-line clearance and Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke hit the woodwork, so did Roma and they had three goals narrowly ruled offside.

The Giallorossi were in crisis and making only their second appearance under Claudio Ranieri, who is their fourth coach of 2024.

“They are a good side. There is a reason why they are in the Europa League,” assured Postecoglou.

“They had a great season last time, but they have had some tough time this year. They had quality players, but we had the chance to win the game.”

Italy international Guglielmo Vicario is out for several months with a fractured ankle, so Fraser Forster took over in goal and had to make some big saves.

“He did well. We expect that from him. He is a very experienced goalkeeper and he did his part,” concluded Postecoglou.

“We created a lot of chances. We should have been clinical and won the game.”

Tottenham have shown themselves to be remarkably unpredictable in true ‘Spursy’ tradition, going from defeats to Galatasaray and Ipswich Town to beating Manchester City 4-0 in the Premier League at the weekend.