The Mirror

CRYSTAL PALACE 0-1 TOTTENHAM: Spurs won their first away game since October thanks to Archie Gray's first-half header, easing the pressure on under-fire Thomas Frank

This time Thomas Frank got a much-needed reward after being made to suffer on the touchline. In the grand scheme of things, it was hardly the most convincing win for Tottenham but you suspect that will not bother Frank in the slightest.

After a thoroughly dismal run of just one win in their previous eight Premier League games, the spotlight and pressure is on a manager struggling to convince the Spurs fan base that he is the right man for the job. Tottenham fans are crying out for free-flowing, entertaining and attacking football and all they got was a scrappy Archie Gray header from a set-piece.

Spurs striker Richarlison saw two efforts ruled out for offside after VAR checks - the second in particular was pretty unforgivable - which would have made it altogether more comfortable. How a player who has cost over £100million in combined transfer fees throughout his career and played for Brazil 54 times can drift offside so frequently is anyone's guess.

And, instead, Tottenham were left to hang on as Frank looked on nervously from the touchline as he will be well aware every game, result and performance is being scrutinised right now. Frank needs a break and finally got one against a Crystal Palace who wasted a string of big chances themselves as their marathon season threatens to catch up with them even before the turn of the year.

Incredibly, Palace are already up to 30 games played this season in all competitions and their finishing looked tired and lacking composure. They are in serious danger of burning out and Tottenham were grateful recipients as the away end celebrated wildly at the final whistle.

Frank ushered his players over to the away end and you have to respect the Tottenham fans who were loud, supportive and jubilant despite another season of small wins and bigger disappointments. In fairness, Gray, aged 19 years 291 days, was a big win this time as he became Tottenham's youngest English goalscorer since Dele Alli who was four days younger when he scored back in January 2016.

Remember that goal? It was Alli's wonder strike - the overhead flick and volley - also at Selhurst Park which put the former Spurs and England midfielder on the road to superstardom. That seems a long time ago now for Tottenham and indeed Alli.

Well, funnily enough it will be ten years ago next month and is a reminder how time flies. Tottenham also need an upturn in fortunes - and quick. Spurs looked nervous at the start and took a while to get going while Palace played some nice stuff.

But Richarlison had the ball in the net after 17 minutes only for VAR to disallow it for an offside against Lucas Bergvall in the build-up. Richarlison might also have drifted offside had they got that far with the VAR. The Brazilian's celebrations suddenly looked a bit daft.

Where will Tottenham finish this season? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

Palace played the better football - the sort of passing game Spurs fans want from their team - but just could not take advantage. Jean-Philppe Mateta headed over, Will Hughes fired over and Adam Wharton fired straight at Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario.

But when you do not take your chances, it generally comes back to bite you. Pedro Porro's deep corner was headed back across goal by Randal Kolo Muani, Richarlison's flick-on fell for Gray who nodded in from point blank range. Palace continued to waste big chances.

Justin Devenny hooked over the bar while defender Maxence Lacroix glanced just wide after Jefferson Lerma's header. Richarlison had the ball in the net a second time but had drifted offside again. Unforgivable.

Wilson Odobert also crashed a shot aghast the post. Tottenham made hard work of it - but ultimately got the job done.

Thomas Frank told to QUIT Tottenham by ex-star in furious social media rant

Thomas Frank is under massive pressure to improve results at Tottenham after his side slipped to 14th place in the Premier League table following successive defeats

Thomas Frank has run out of excuses and should resign as Tottenham manager because he’s failed to make any progress this season. Spurs go into Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace sitting 14th in the Premier League table and ex-player Ramon Vega has called for Frank’s head.

Tottenham have won just six of their 17 top-flight matches and Frank is under huge pressure following successive defeats against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The Danish manager was appointed to replace Ange Postecoglou in the summer yet has so far failed to improve results domestically.

Frank’s side have lost just once in six Champions League games, but have continued where they left off in the league, having finished 17th under Postecoglou before beating Manchester United in the Europa League final. Former Brentford boss Frank has argued that he should be given time to turn things around because the Europa League success masked deeper issues.

“Honestly, I think we are in a transition phase, because yes, we are a Champions League club, but are we a Champions League club? We only qualified because we won the Europa League,” he told Sky Sports before the trip to Palace.

“We didn’t qualify because we were one of the four or five best clubs in the Premier League last season. We finished 17th. And now we need to compete in the Champions League while we’re competing in the Premier League, which is the most difficult thing.”

Frank’s words have fallen on deaf ears, with ex-Spurs defender Vega taking to social media to make his feelings clear. “Frank, stop talking about last season,” he wrote on X. “They finished 17th. You now have more fit players than Ange had last season, yet you’re still not better off. In fact, it’s a shambles.

“At least Ange with no support made a miserable season into a wonderful ending for the fans by winning the European Cup and qualifying for the CL. You are now enjoying. So please do us a favour and resign, mate!”

Vega, who spent four years with Spurs as a player, has been hugely critical of Frank’s time in charge in north London, having won 10 of 26 in all competitions. “He needs to manage the dressing room. Here the football is a psychological side,” Vega previously told talkSPORT.

“If he doesn’t control he dressing room. He can be as good as he wants, as nice as he is. But he doesn’t have the balls. I don’t see Frank pretty much suitable for Spurs because he hasn’t got the balls, hasn’t got the character to do this.”

Thomas Frank has said Tottenham Hotspur will be active during the winter transfer window and seemingly have £150million to spend in January on several players

Tottenham Hotspur reportedly are armed with a £150million war chest for the winter transfer window and several targets in their sights. Spurs are understood to be keen on signing a left winger and bolstering their defensive ranks this January.

The Sun reports that Antoine Semenyo is high on their list, although they face stiff competition from Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United. The report suggests that City's prospective acquisition of the Bournemouth forward could pave the way for Tottenham to snap up Savinho, having missed out on him last August.

Persistent rumours linking them with Porto striker Samu Aghehowa are also mentioned. The one-time Chelsea target carries a £50million price tag.

A left-back, too, is reportedly a top priority to fill in for the injured Destiny Udogie. Doing so which would allow Djed Spence to revert to his preferred right-back position.

If that does not pan out, Spurs are said to be considering the addition of a left-sided centre-back. That would see Micky van der Ven shift to left-back.

Aghehowa could potentially set Spurs back by £50million, and it is assumed that any deal for Semenyo would trigger his £65million release clause. City reportedly turned down a £60million bid for Savinho over the summer.

Given Savinho's lacklustre form this season, it is unlikely his valuation has increased, hence Spurs' interest in the Ghanaian international. However, signing Aghehowa and either Savinho or Semenyo would leave approximately £30million for a defender.

Thomas Frank has confirmed that Spurs will be active in the winter transfer window. Earlier this month, Tottenham's coach said: "We will definitely be in the market, no doubt about that. We want them as early as possible, like every other time, and let's see if we can have them before 31 January."

Frank also addressed the future of Brennan Johnson amidst rumours linking him to Crystal Palace. He commented: "We haven't done too much in terms of [preparation for moving] players out. I think he's a big part of what we have when we're playing a lot of games."

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola, understandably, is also keen for Semenyo to stay put. He said: "Antoine Semenyo right now is with us. He has trained today (23 December) with us very well.

"I understand that there is a lot of noise around Antoine. But my concern is that it doesn't affect him, his performances, and we are seeing that it is not affecting his performances.

"He is very committed to the team, and I hope we can keep him there. There are situations that we cannot control, but right now, Antoine is our player, and he's going to continue playing for us."

Cristian Romero has been charged by the Football Association for his behaviour towards referee John Brooks in Tottenham's 2-1 defeat by Liverpool

The Football Association has hit Cristian Romero with charges for allegedly failing to exit the field swiftly and conducting himself inappropriately towards referee John Brooks following his dismissal during Tottenham's 2-1 loss to Liverpool.

An official FA statement declared: "Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero has been charged following their Premier League match against Liverpool on Saturday 20 December.

"It's alleged that he acted in an improper manner by failing to promptly leave the field of play and/or behaving in a confrontational and/or aggressive manner towards the match referee after being sent off in the 93rd minute. Cristian Romero has until Friday 2 January 2026 to respond."

This deadline comes just one day after Spurs' New Year's Day clash with Brentford and two days prior to their home encounter with Sunderland. Romero is already guaranteed to sit out Tottenham's fixture against Crystal Palace on 28 December due to the standard one-match suspension for receiving two yellow cards in a single match.

Spurs manager Thomas Frank expressed his displeasure with Romero's red card when addressing the media post-match. He remarked: "You can see there's probably a reason why the whole team reacted as they do. I think that's probably a good indicator.

"Normally, if it's one player reacting, if it's the whole team, probably because there's something about it. I think we all played football enough and seen enough football that there's something probably around that.

"So, I can't see if it's right or wrong that he gives the first yellow. The second yellow, I see two big boys competing; Konate absolutely smashing through Cuti [Romero]. It's a foul, I'm not saying more.

"His foot landed on Cuti's head. Not a yellow, I'm not saying that. Cuti makes a reaction. I think I guess it can be given, but also I guess it can be not given."

Frank also had more to say about Romero on Tuesday. He stated: "We're talking about a player, a very passionate player, that, when he is at his absolute top, he carries the team on his back, like he did in the Europa League final. Without him, we wouldn't have won the trophy, like he did away to Newcastle, like he's done many times.

"When you're very passionate, sometimes you can maybe, in a few moments, lack the extra coolness. Sometimes, maybe. Something he's working on.

"I think you have a player where the second goal for me still is a clear, clear, clear foul. And, OK, I haven't played on the highest level.

"Everyone who played on the highest level, if they know there's a foul, they know it's a foul. And they're very, very reactive. It's a clear foul. So he felt hard done by.

"So the mistake he did there was he was running, unfortunately, touching John Brooks. That means he, when he touched the ref, you know, unfortunately, you need to have a yellow. But let's say it was a foul given, don't give the first yellow. You don't get the second yellow.

"The second yellow is a mistake, obviously, from Cuti, which he's agreeing on. But before that, he was the one that competed, like, very passionate for the first corner, competed on that duel, and the second duel, when we scored to make it 2-1. So you need to accept if you have passionate players that, you know, it's part of it."

The challenge that led to Alexander Isak's broken leg has sparked debate and Thomas Frank has launched a strong defence after Arne Slot's criticism

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has hit back at Arne Slot and launched a stirring defence of Spurs star Micky van de Ven, after the Liverpool coach claimed that the Dutchman's challenge on Alexander Isak would always result in injury.

Isak broke his leg due to a challenge by Van de Ven, which left the Sweden international in a heap moments after slotting the ball into the net in north London. The striker was immediately replaced and is now set for a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery.

And speaking in his press conference on Wednesday, Slot called out Van de Ven's challenge and claimed it was worse than Xavi Simons' red card foul in the same game. Frank has a different view on Van de Ven's efforts.

“Obviously I am disagreeing," said the Lilywhite head coach. "In many ways, we are talking about a defender that will do everything to avoid (conceding) the goal.

"It’s a transition so he is sprinting back in. There’s a ball slid down in the side and he does everything he can to block that shot.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Who has been Liverpool’s best player over the course of 2025? Vote in our official Mirror Liverpool WhatsApp channel

"Unfortunately, Isak has planted his foot straight there which makes it look worse than it is. That would be a natural reaction for any defender. Or, put it this way, if my defender doesn’t do that, I don’t think they are true defenders.

"I don’t see that at all. I think reckless challenges, normally, you haven’t seen any from Micky, as I remember it. I see him as a very fair and competitive player. That’s one thing. I also know the two players have sorted it out so that’s a good sign.”

Slot was less forgiving. "It was for me a reckless challenge," he said.

"Xavi Simons [tackle on Virgil van Dijk] was completely unintentional. I don't think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.

"The tackle of Van de Ven, if you make that tackle 10 times then 10 times there's a serious chance a player could get a serious injury."

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher does not believe Van de Ven's tackle on Isak was ever deserving of a red card. "I can't see that he's done anything that a footballer wouldn't," Gallagher said on Sky Sports Ref Watch.

"I would be astonished if that was given as a red card anywhere on the field. Players mistime challenges all the time. He's slightly late... it's not a red card. Whether it be in the penalty area, in the D, the centre circle or the other half."

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak faces months out with a fractured fibula, but Arne Slot already has Hugo Ekitike ready to lead the line for his side.

Liverpool already have a clear-cut replacement for Alexander Isak following confirmation of his injury severity on Monday evening. The Sweden striker, 26, was caught by a robust challenge from Micky van de Ven whilst netting against Tottenham on Saturday night, forcing his withdrawal after merely 11 minutes on the pitch.

Isak instantly grabbed his lower leg and limped off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The injury appeared severe, with Liverpool confirming that was the case in an official statement.

Their medical update stated: "Alexander Isak has today successfully underwent surgery on the injury he sustained on Saturday. The Liverpool striker was injured in a challenge in the process of scoring the opening goal against Tottenham Hotspur and had to be substituted.

"After diagnosis, an operation was completed today on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture. Isak's rehabilitation will now continue at the AXA Training Centre, with no timeframe yet placed on his return."

After Isak's opening goal, Hugo Ekitike extended the visitors' lead soon after with a brilliantly placed header past Guglielmo Vicario. That marked his fifth strike in three Premier League outings, as well, making it crystal clear he's equipped to shoulder the responsibility of being Liverpool's frontman.

Slot appears satisfied with his displays, though he still expects even greater things from the French forward. The Liverpool manager commented: "He still needs to get stronger, but he's already become stronger. He can score a goal, he has great footwork, dribbling skills, he has so much in his locker.

"He's adjusted to the Premier League now, the biggest thing is how he can become physically outstanding, that's what he's working on really hard.

"In the last two, three, four minutes he was very, very, very tired at Tottenham. I see this often.

"But there's hardly any rest for these players, I have to give them a lot of compliments. Every time they fight, fight and fight from first second to the last."

With Isak sidelined for the coming months, Slot's closing remarks may raise alarm bells considering Liverpool face four fixtures in just 12 days. That's beginning with their encounter against Wolves.

Slot is grappling with multiple fitness concerns after both Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley left the Spurs match with suspected issues. This adds to the existing unavailability of Cody Gakpo, Wataru Endo and Joe Gomez.

Discussing the injury situation, Slot revealed: "Conor will be 50/50. He's not training with us today or tomorrow.

"Friday we will see exactly where he is if he can be in squad. Joe won't be available, Wata won't be, Cody is a bit similar to Conor.

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak is set for a lengthy spell of the sidelines, with the Premier League club confirming he has undergone surgery on a leg fracture.

The Sweden striker was injured during the Reds' win at Tottenham on Saturday, and it quickly emerged that there were concerns the issue was serious. Isak, who was injured scoring Liverpool's opener in their 2-1 win, was injured in the process. He looked in immediate pain after a challenge from Spurs defender Micky van de Ven, who was trying in vain to stop his opponent from scoring.

While an ACL injury was quickly ruled out, indications on Sunday suggested Isak's club still feared a 'significant' issue. And after an MRI scan confirmed the former Newcastle man had broken his leg, Isak underwent surgery on Monday.

Liverpool have not set a timeline on his return to action but Isak - the Reds' record signing- is now set to miss months of action.

“I don’t have any news on him. But if a player scores and then gets injured, and doesn’t come back on the pitch, doesn’t try to come back - which is what Conor Bradley tried to do for example but I had to take him off as well because he couldn’t go on," Liverpool manager Arne Slot told reporters on Saturday.

“But if a player doesn’t even try to come back, that is usually not a good thing. But I cannot say anything more than that, it is just a gut feeling. Nothing medical to say about it. I haven’t spoken to him about it yet."

Liverpool's opponents finished Saturday's game with nine men, with Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero both sent off. Van de Ven wasn't carded for his challenge which led to Isak's injury, but former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd saw things differently to the referee.

"Van de Ven has not intentionally tried to hurt Isak. Obviously, he is desperate to stop a goal and he's coming across to stop the shot," Bothroyd said on Sky Sports' Ref Watch.

"This is an example where, yes, Isak has scored, but it should still be a red card. He's lunging, he's going into him. Every explanation you want to give for a red-card challenge is there. Because he's scored, they've let it go.

"He's lunged, he's out of control. He's trying to make a block but he's never going to get there. If that's in the middle of the park, that's a red card."

Jamie Carragher has given his verdict after Xavi Simons' tackle on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, which saw the Tottenham player sent-off during their Premier League showdown.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has claimed it's hard to argue against Xavi Simons receiving a red card for his challenge on Virgil van Dijk. However, the Sky Sports pundit believes there was a different challenge that should have seen another Tottenham player sent-off this weekend.

Analysing Simons' tackle on Liverpool's captain, van Dijk, Carragher told Monday Night Football: "When I saw it at normal speed I didn't think it was a red card, but then you slow it down and it looks horrific, but I think everything does slowed down.

"But I've got a little bit of sympathy for Simons. And the reason I say this, and we are going to slow it down a lot now, and maybe that makes the tackle look a lot worse, but when I've been a player, the only thing I can think he's trying to do is, Virgil van Dijk's maybe going to go back to his goalkeeper, and you know sometimes when there's such a big difference in the size and power and you're trying to leave one on somebody, almost knock them off the ball.

"I just want to really look at his eyes - look at the way his arms are going. He's looking at the top of Virgil van Dijk; I actually think he's just clumsy and he doesn't realise where his feet are going.

"I think he thinks; 'I'm gonna leave one on him.' We've all done that and give him a bit of a whack, maybe knock him over and give a foul. And look at his arms the way they come up now, to almost give a shove to him.

"Now I know the tackle will look horrific because it's really slowed down, but his arms are there to go; 'I'm gonna give van Dijk a bit of a knock on the back'. And I almost think he's not even aware of where his foot is going, and he's just caught him on the back.

"When you see it there, it looks horrific and you can't almost say it's not a red card when you look at it like that - but I'm trying to put myself in his head and think what he was thinking and that thing of like, we've all done it as players where you think; 'I'll just give someone a shoulder barge'.

"But because of the difference in size is so big, he's almost overdone it and he's just got clumsy where his foot has gone. But when you look at that as a still [image], it looks horrific."

When asked if VAR should have stuck with the referee's original call of a yellow card, Carragher added: "Listen, I can't say it's not a red card, but if you're asking me would I rather that be a red card or [Rodrigo] Bentancur's challenge on [Milos] Kerkez, it would be Bentancur's challenge on Kerkez in the second-half every day of the week."

Although Arne Slot will be happy with three points away from home, the Dutchman won't be impressed with injury concerns surrounding Alexander Isak. The £125m signing was unable to celebrate after scoring following a rough challenge by Micky van de Ven. The Spurs defender was not shown a card for his tackle, which forced Isak off the pitch, but ex-pro Jay Bothroyd believes there should have been harsher punishment.

He explained on Sky Sports show Ref Watch: "Van de Ven has not intentionally tried to hurt Isak. Obviously, he's desperate to stop a goal and he's coming across to stop the shot.

"This is an example where, yes, Isak has scored, but this should still be a red card. He's lunging, he's going into him. Every explanation you want to give for a red-card challenge is there. Because he's scored, they've let it go.

"He's lunged, he's out of control. He's trying to make a block, but he's never going to get there. If that happened in the middle of the park, that's a red card."

Gary Lineker's fury after Tottenham vs Liverpool red card - 'It's absolutely nothing'

Xavi Simons was shown a red card for a late challenge on Virgil van Dijk during Tottenham's 2-1 Premier League defeat against Liverpool on Saturday but Lineker disagrees with the call

Gary Lineker believes Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons shouldn't have received a red card during Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Spurs on Saturday. The Netherlands international was dismissed in the 33rd minute after a contentious tackle on Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijk had played the ball back to Alisson Becker when Simons seemed to make contact with the Liverpool skipper's Achilles. Referee John Brooks initially brandished a yellow card, but VAR prompted him to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor.

Brooks then decided to upgrade the caution to a dismissal, leaving Tottenham with ten players. Spurs boss Thomas Frank was incensed by the verdict in his post-match interview, declaring the "game is gone", whilst Arne Slot felt Simons hadn't deliberately tried to harm Van Dijk.

The former Everton and Tottenham striker has now weighed in with his thoughts on the sending-off. "I'm going to have a little but of a rant myself here," he said on the Rest Is Football podcast.

"I know in slow motion you can pick it apart, his [Xavi Simons] studs may have caught the back of his [Virgil van Dijk] calf, but the fella is just trying to put his foot on the ground I mean there's absolutely zero intent.

"I mean yes, Virg might have got hurt, that happens in football, it happens all the time, doesn't mean to say it's a vicious foul. I just can't stand red cards for things like that, it was nothing. It's another one of those that looks in slow motion, you go 'ooh, blimey, he's raked down the back of his calf'.

"In normal speed it wasn't that, it's not like that at all. It's not like that at all. And I know they all thought it was a red card and you two may think it's a red card, and I understand now that when they look at things, they might go and break it down so slowly, but when you see it in normal speed, it's just his foot landing, he flicks him.

"It's nothing, it's absolutely nothing." Alan Shearer added: "It's totally accidental, totally accidental, yeah."

Lineker went on: "Yellow card would've sufficed." Meanwhile, Simons issued an apology following the match. He posted on social media: "Mistakes happen. Virg is my captain, I would never intentionally hurt him or anyone.

"To my Spurs teammates, my manager and the fans, I take responsibility. I'm really sorry."

Van Dijk then offered his own assessment, saying: "I don't think there was any intention to hurt me but obviously he hurt me and then the referee and the VAR made the decision to send him off.

"I spoke to him. It's a chat that no-one needs to know."

The Swedish international suffered a suspected broken leg in Liverpool's 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday

Liverpool fear record signing Alexander Isak is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a suspected broken leg in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur. The 26-year-old was injured as he scored the game’s opening goal, landing awkwardly after a late sliding challenge from Spurs defender Micky van de Ven.

The tackle left the Swede clutching his leg in pain and unable to celebrate with his team-mates. He was treated by medical staff before hobbling off to be replaced by Jeremie Frimpong, who himself was later substituted after being caught by a stray arm from Richarlison.

Reports suggest an MRI scan will confirm Liverpool’s worst fears that their £125m summer signing has broken his leg. Speaking immediately after the game, Refs boss Arne Slot said: “It’s difficult to know what he exactly has. But it’s never a nice thing that after the goal he collided with their defender. Hopefully he’s fine, but we have to wait and see.”

The injury is a crushing blow for Liverpool, leaving the club with just Hugo Ekitike as a fit, recognised striker with, Cody Gakpo out until the New Year and Mohamed Salah away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Isak has endured a difficult start to life at Anfield with just three goals across 16 appearances in all competitions but appeared to be finally finding form after rifling a composed finish past Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario.

The British transfer fee record-holder will lean on experience gained at Tyneside, where a string of injuries also threatened to derail life at a new club.

After joining Newcastle from La Liga outfit Real Sociedad, Isak managed just three appearances before picking up a thigh injury while on international duty. The forward would go on to score 54 Premier League goals for the Magpies in just three seasons, but later said Newcastle’s patient response to his knock was crucial in allowing him to return firing on all cylinders.

In an interview with Swedish media outfit Fotbollskanalen, Isak said: “I got a thigh injury. The first six months at the club were tough and it took some time to come back from the injury, but it was still okay because I still got to play three games and show a bit.

“Then the team did so well that it took the pressure off me and I could focus on my rehab instead of thinking the team needed me. It helped a bit, but it’s clear it wasn’t easy.”

The Swedish international missed four matches at the end of October and start of November with a groin injury and could now face up to six months out of action if scans confirm that he has broken his leg.

The onus is now on his team-mates to keep the good results coming and ease the intense spotlight Isak was already under as a result of his price tag. Otherwise the frustrations surrounding his tricky start to life on Merseyside will only grow bigger.