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Tottenham Hotspur go into this January transfer window under more pressure than ever before.

It has been a difficult start for Thomas Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou in June. His team have struggled to convince fans, and have looked worryingly short of attacking quality. None of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke have started a competitive game for Frank yet.

There is pressure on the club hierarchy, too. This is the first window since Daniel Levy was removed as chairman in September, and fans will want to see something concrete this window, to show that the majority-shareholding Lewis family share the fans’ ambitions for the club.

Anyone who has watched Spurs this season knows that they need improvements, especially in midfield and up front. The question is whether, in the first window of this new era, they will be able to deliver.

The information found within this article has been gathered according to The Athletic’s sourcing guidelines. Sources with knowledge of transfer dealings, who asked to be kept anonymous to protect relationships, have been spoken to before offering the clubs involved the opportunity to comment.

What is the manager’s priority?

Thomas Frank has made very clear in public already that Spurs will be trying to bring in players during the January window.

“We will definitely be in the market, no doubt about that,” he said at a pre-match press conference on December 12. “We want them as early as possible, like every other time and let’s see if we can have them before January 31.”

And it has been very clear from watching Spurs this season — especially with Solanke, Kulusevski and Maddison out with long-term injuries — that this is a squad short on players who can make the difference.

Away from the window, Spurs want to tie Micky van de Ven to a new, improved long-term deal at the club, which, if they could do, would be more important than any new transfer.

What positions will they be looking at in January?

Frank has not openly disclosed precisely what sort of player he wants in the window. But most Spurs fans would say that they need another midfielder who can move the ball forward in the middle of the pitch.

Their play has been too stodgy too often this season, especially with Maddison and Kulusevski yet to play a single minute so far.

Then there is probably a need for another goal-scorer. Richarlison is their top scorer so far with seven in the league. Next is Micky van de Ven with just three. They have not truly replaced Son Heung-min and need someone else who can chip in with goals.

Which players do they want?

The precise identities of their January targets may change depending on what happens with Fabio Paratici. At the time of writing, Paratici, who only rejoined Spurs as a sporting director in October, is subject to an offer from Fiorentina to make a surprise return to Italy.

In theory, Paratici and his fellow sporting director Johan Lange are meant to work together on potential targets ahead of the window, but if Paratici does leave before the window opens, then it could mean a change of plans.

Tottenham did make a move for Antoine Semenyo, proposing a highly competitive salary, but he politely declined.

Who will they be looking to sell?

Yves Bissouma has not played one single minute for Thomas Frank’s side yet this season.

He was dropped at the start of the season for lateness, and Frank admitted earlier in December that the club was looking into reports of Bissouma inhaling nitrous oxide, something that Bissouma has been caught doing before. He nearly joined Fenerbahce at the end of last summer, and it would not be a surprise if Tottenham were open to offers for him again in January.

Brennan Johnson has been linked with a move away, and Frank said earlier in December that he was “happy” with Johnson, who is a “big part” of the squad.

Will anyone move out on loan?

Spurs already have some of their best young players out on loan this season, and so there are not too many opportunities within the current squad. But there could be opportunities for other youngsters to go and play.

Dane Scarlett, for example, has only made one 10-minute substitute appearance for the first team so far.

Mason Melia is due to join from St Patrick’s Athletic in January, and the 18-year-old Irish striker could be another player lined up for a potential loan if the club thought that was best for his development.

Do they need to sell to buy?

Not necessarily.

Everyone is waiting patiently to see what the budget will be in the January window, but it is unlikely that there will be big, lucrative sales to set up any buying they might want to do. Not least because their most sellable assets right now are not players they would want to part with.

What is their PSR position?

Spurs have traditionally had a strong PSR position. Their revenues are high, thanks in large part to their stadium, which opened in 2019 and brings in some of the biggest matchday revenues in the country.

Equally, the wage bill has always been very strictly controlled, which, in combination with the revenues, gave Spurs plenty of PSR headroom.

What sort of budget do they have?

This is the big question that so many Spurs fans have. This will be the first window of the post-Daniel Levy era, following his removal as chairman in September.

That means there is a new pressure on the majority-shareholding Lewis family to show that they can deliver the investment that the club so clearly needs. Fans will want to see more money committed to transfer fees and wages than Spurs have done in the recent past.

If they don’t make any signings, will they be able to achieve their goals this season?

The evidence of the first half of this season has not been promising.

Spurs’ results have been OK, but the performances have been unconvincing. The team has not shown much progress, leaving fans wondering if they are heading in the right direction. If the injured players can come back and make an impact — especially Kulusevski and Solanke — then there could be a quick uplift.

Otherwise, though, Spurs do not look like they have the quality and depth required to have a strong second half of the season.

For 60 years, footballers passed through Leeds United without threatening club icon Norman Hunter’s unbroken appearance streak. Between 1962 and 1965, defender Hunter racked up 113 consecutive league starts.

Now, 60 years later, Joe Rodon is closing in — with 103 appearances on the bounce.

Rodon is the first outfield Leeds player to hit an unbroken century since Hunter. Is it any wonder his team-mates are trying to emulate his recipe for success? Rodon has even clocked Sam Byram, a 32-year-old professional with more than 300 career appearances, copying his meal choices at the training ground’s canteen.

Not only has the quality of Rodon’s performances made him an integral part of Daniel Farke’s team, but his durability and knack for avoiding injuries are rare in the fixture-congested modern game. When he spoke to The Athletic ahead of Saturday’s 4-1 win over Crystal Palace, Rodon was asked what he puts it down to.

“My personal inner circle team in the background are unbelievable with me, but I’m also a bit of a freak when it comes to looking after my body,” he said. “You won’t see me change much.

“When I eat at home, it’s always the same routine and rhythm throughout the week, but credit goes to that behind-the-scenes (team) and everyone involved at the club. I’m just really obsessed with it, I guess.”

The 28-year-old mentions massage, stretching and nutrition when it comes to this inner circle, but he’s reluctant to be specific with names or processes. Rodon says he’s not superstitious, but he likes routine and very much feels that if something is not broken, do not try to fix it.

He has been ticking over like clockwork since he arrived at Elland Road, initially on loan, in August 2023. Palms are planted firmly on the wooden table between Rodon and The Athletic as we navigate the secrets to this longevity without cursing him.

Have the other players asked for advice?

“Some of the boys have seen it close up; the ones I’m really close with, they’ve seen it,” he said. “I’m always willing to give that kind of advice to them, but it is quite funny sometimes.

“I see Sam Byram, for example, copy my meal, and he thinks I’m not looking. He’s all of a sudden gone from that (meal) to that (meal). Little things, but I love it, and I would have been the same before I came here.

“I’m just really structured in my routine. That’s probably the biggest thing.”

Rodon has made 115 Leeds appearances in total. He has never played this frequently for any club before United. He is in uncharted territory.

There was a Cheltenham Town loan and Swansea City breakthrough at 20, but a broken metatarsal and ankle tendon surgery limited the appearances the Wales international hoped to make for his hometown club. Tottenham Hotspur had seen enough to sign him for £11million ($15m) in October 2020, but he would make just 15 league appearances over the next two terms before Rennes gave him 16 Ligue 1 outings on loan during the 2022-23 season.

Rodon feels his body is now benefiting from years of what he compares to a brand new car being left in the garage. United’s 28-year-old is more like a 24-year-old, in his eyes.

“I was very unfortunate (at Swansea),” he said. “Freak things. I don’t like talking about it, but just freak accidents, and I wasn’t used to that.

“Through my whole academy (years), I didn’t really have any issues, so, touch wood, that was new for me. Then going to Spurs, I look at it in the sense of… you buy a new car, and I felt like I was just in a garage for four years, where I wasn’t used.

“Now it’s like I’m fresh (and) with Leeds. The last three years have been non-stop, but I feel fresh. It’s like I’m catching up on things I missed through that period.”

Rodon started 45 of the 49 Championship games in that first season at Elland Road for him and Farke. Like everyone, he was bruised by the pain of the narrow Wembley loss to Southampton in the play-off final.

He was set to return to Tottenham after a year as one of the second-tier’s finest performers. Premier League interest in his services would predictably materialise, but Rodon felt there was unfinished business in West Yorkshire.

“There was a lot of (transfer) interest,” he said. “But from where I was before I came to Leeds and how that went… I loved it even though we failed. It was so important, and there was no other option.”

Not only did Rodon return to Elland Road, but he did so on a permanent transfer with no guarantee of promotion from the Championship. After watching so many players scramble to leave Leeds after relegation, it was jarring to see someone turn down top-flight interest for a second year in the second tier.

“It’s funny you say that because I had a chat with a player before I signed permanently,” he said. “He laid it all out for me and (said), ‘The Championship is very difficult to get out of. Mentally and physically, it’s a gruelling season, but (once) you’re in the Premier League, you’re in the Premier League’.

“I just believed in it. Of course, I really wanted to be in the Premier League, but I wanted to do it the right way.

“Leeds is such a big club and going to the Premier League with Leeds, that’s all it was for me. I said in an interview at the beginning of last season, Leeds took a chance on me when no one else did.”

Leeds achieved their goal and are in the Premier League. They have found a recent groove with a starting 5-3-2 shape. Rodon, a fixture as the right-sided centre-back in Farke’s back four since August 2023, has shifted across to the right of the central three and covers Jayden Bogle when he roams forward.

At the weekend, when Palace visited, Rodon was an out-and-out right-back, even venturing forward into a role on the wing when the team was upfield. He likes the freedom the back-five system has given him.

“The wide centre-halves have to be very adaptable in being able to step out and press,” he said. “We did kind of do it in training in pre-season, so we had a picture of it if we were going to do it in-season.

“It’s good for us to be adaptable. Against top teams, you’ve got to show respect. We have to earn our respect in this league, playing against the best.

“Me being on the right side allows me to show more of my ability to run and be in higher positions. If you watch the games, you see me more in the full-back position in the system.

“It allows me to show more things in my game. Being comfortable in wide areas, I love it.

“Some of the players we have here are so physical (and this allows them) to be dominant in this formation.”

The pivot in shape has precipitated a remarkable turnaround in results and confidence. Since half-time at Manchester City, Leeds have amassed an aggregate lead of 13 goals to seven against five opponents, including four of the current top eight.

The interval at Etihad Stadium may come to be seen as the turning point in their season. They went into the dressing room 2-0 down, bereft of confidence or any foothold in the game. They fought back to 2-2 and only a late Phil Foden goal saw them leave without any points.

“We were saying, ‘Listen, if we’re going to be like this, we’re going to be absolutely fine’,” said Rodon. “That’s what brought more confidence in, knowing then we had the back-to-back home games against two top opposition (Chelsea and Liverpool). We knew in ourselves, ‘We can win here, we can do this’.”

The festive period brings with it fixture congestion, but also one of the most important dates in the calendar for the players: their Christmas visit to Leeds Children’s Hospital. Rodon was among the squad as they visited patients, families and staff, sitting for conversations, pictures and presents.

“I’ve done a lot with Leeds over the last three years and, at Christmas, it’s important we give back to the community and the kids, the ones who are unfortunate not to be at home on Christmas,” he said.

“It’s important for us to go in and share some laughs, some joy for the families as well. It’s amazing what the club do and how we get involved with the community like that.”

Rodon does not have children of his own yet, but he acknowledges it can hit some of his older team-mates, who are fathers, harder. Even so, everyone, including the club staff, finds it a deeply emotional experience.

“The older ones especially,” he said. “It’s difficult, depending on the situation of what’s happening in the room, but it hits everyone. The staff as well.

“It’s important we, given how strong they’re being, stay strong for them as well and try to make it as happy and as comfortable as possible for the little ones.”

The visit to the hospital took place before Leeds’ win over Palace at Elland Road. At home, they have 15 points from their nine matches this season. There is a sense that matches on their own turf will be critical to the team’s success in 2025-26. For Rodon, the recent clash with Liverpool set new levels for noise.

“Last season, if I had to pick the best game, it’d probably be Stoke (City) at home,” he said. “Everyone was on edge, but when we scored four goals in the first 25 minutes, the place just exploded.

“I don’t think I’ve heard it louder than Liverpool. When that second goal went in, I was just like, ‘What is going on?!’.

“I started running off, but I was just like, ‘What is going on?!’ for the five minutes after that, until they scored the third.”

Rodon, like Leeds, is off and running in the Premier League — and closing in on a record run of his own.

Thomas Frank has made a point of encouraging his Tottenham Hotspur players to applaud the home support after the final whistle, but there have been few occasions in the Premier League when this gesture has been gratefully received.

Despite losing 2-1 to Liverpool on Saturday — their fifth home defeat of the league season and a record 11th this calendar year — large sections of the South Stand were on their feet to applaud the team, who fought to try to rescue an unlikely result. Even after going down to nine men, Tottenham pushed for an equaliser, with the defending Premier League champions buckling under their pressure and the noise coming from the stands.

Truthfully, however, the circumstances leading up to those final moments were ludicrous.

Spurs responded well to the first red card. Xavi Simons was dismissed in the 33rd minute after catching his Netherlands national-team captain Virgil van Dijk late and on his calf, with referee John Brooks upgrading an initial booking after VAR recommended he consult the pitchside monitor.

The 10 men rode out the first half, even offering a threat on the counter-attack, before their defence was breached just before the hour through substitute Alexander Isak. It was at this point in proceedings that Tottenham club captain Cristian Romero, so often the main character, thrust himself into the limelight again.

Unusually for a player who has achieved so much in the game, the general perception within the Spurs world is that the Argentina international centre-back is underrated within the English game. For every neutral Premier League follower on social media who describes two-time Copa America winner and 2022 World Cup champion Romero as hot-headed and unreliable, there will be countless Tottenham fans defending their skipper.

“He’s actually not a loose cannon.”

“He’s actually not been sent off since 2023.”

“He’s actually our most important player.”

Their backing of him is so robust because they know how important Romero is to the team’s success. When he plays well, Spurs tend to play well too.

Alongside the intensity and crunching tackles, Romero’s line-breaking passing is vital, with several successful instances in the first half on Saturday setting Tottenham away on attacking moves through the middle of the pitch — something they cannot do when he is not around. For that reason, the 27-year-old’s miscued pass leading to Isak’s goal can almost be excused. If Spurs are to be successful, Frank needs Romero to play those kinds of balls.

What Spurs could do without, however, was his reaction to that moment.

As he often does when Tottenham are chasing a result, Romero then vacated his position and went hunting for possession, finding himself anywhere from the right wing to being in advance of striker Randal Kolo Muani, breaking the team’s structural integrity. While the home side were searching for a goal, perhaps requiring a more urgent approach to their forward play, having a central defender in striker positions — particularly one who is so crucial to the team’s build-up — seems sub-optimal when a man down.

He was also on the scene for Liverpool’s second, a header from striker Hugo Ekitike in the 66th minute.

While the goal perhaps should have been ruled out, with Frank saying in his post-match press conference that it was “a mistake from the ref” as the France international had a “clear two hands on (Romero’s) back”, the counter-argument is the centre-back should have been stronger and more dominant in that situation. For protesting the referee’s decision to award the goal, Romero was shown his first yellow card of the evening.

While that reaction may have been justified, his second booking was entirely inexcusable.

With seven minutes to go in added time and Tottenham firmly in the ascendancy after Richarlison pulled a goal back on 83 minutes, Romero was fouled from behind by Ibrahima Konate, giving Spurs a free kick in a promising position.

As a player who thrives in chaos — see his game-saving two goals away at Newcastle United earlier this month — he is precisely the player you would want in the opposition box, trying to get on the end of that set piece. Instead, he was handed his marching orders by Brooks in the immediate aftermath of Konate’s challenge after mindlessly kicking out at the Liverpool centre-back, which should have virtually killed any hope of a comeback, if not for Liverpool’s incompetence.

“I think any player needs to control their emotions and be cool-headed,” Frank said in his post-match press conference. “It’s not only because you’re a captain that you need to be exceptionally cool-headed. That’s also always good, of course. We’re talking about a very passionate player that’s been very good for this club and team for many years.”

Former Manchester United and England full-back Gary Neville, commentating on the match for Sky Sports, was less diplomatic, calling Romero’s reaction “absolute madness”. Later, former Tottenham midfielder and now Sky analyst Jamie Redknapp added, “What Romero did is what Romero does.”

Even for the most ardent Romero advocate, it is difficult to label his conduct in that moment as anything less than petulant and selfish.

Now Frank has to prepare for a crucial game away to Crystal Palace on Sunday with one fewer leader in a side already short on big characters.

Liverpool fear striker Alexander Isak suffered a significant leg injury in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Isak, a half-time replacement for Conor Bradley, was injured in the act of opening the scoring in the 56th minute with a smart finish from Florian Wirtz’s pass. After striking the ball, he was brought down awkwardly by a sliding challenge from Spurs defender Micky van de Ven and was unable to celebrate with his teammates.

Isak, 26, received treatment and was helped off the pitch by two members of Liverpool’s medical staff, with Jeremie Frimpong replacing him.

Liver, which will reveal the full extent of the injury but Liverpool are concerned at the extent of the damage caused to the forward’s lower leg.

Isak being absent for a lengthy spell would be a huge blow to both Liverpool and the £125million signing, who scored for only the second time in the Premier League in north London since his record-breaking move from Newcastle United in the summer.

Isak has started six top flight games for Liverpool and three times in the Champions League, with fellow summer signing Hugo Ekitike – who scored the winner against nine-man Spurs – settling quicker at Anfield.

After the game, Arne Slot, the Liverpool head coach, was encouraged by the impact of Isak and Wirtz, another big money summer addition, and said he hoped the Sweden international would not be sidelined long-term.

“I haven’t spoken to him about it yet but it’s a good thing he scored, a good goal assisted by Florian Wirtz,” Slot said. “I said players are getting better, the team is getting better.

“It wasn’t perfect today, especially the last 10 minutes but we pick up points and are developing in a way I want to see.

“That’s what we’d like to see happening a lot. A good finish, a good pass. Let’s not be too negative yet. We don’t know yet, let’s hope he is back with us soon.”

Will Isak injury force Liverpool to be active in January?

Analysis by Liverpool reporter Andy Jones

Alexander Isak’s first few months at Liverpool have been forgettable but just when it looked like he had turned a corner, he has suffered another major setback.

As he netted his second Premier League goal of the season to give Liverpool the lead against Tottenham he was unable to celebrate. The agonising look on his face told the story as he clutched his leg and he hobbled off soon after. Now, Liverpool fear he has suffered a significant injury.

After becoming a record-breaking signing in the summer when he arrived at Anfield for £125million from Newcastle United, fitness and form have both been issues.

But the prospect of being ruled out for a lengthy spell would be a huge blow for him as an individual, but also has knock-on effects for head coach Arne Slot and his depth in attack.

Slot is fortunate that he can turn to another elite No.9 in Hugo Ekitike. The 23-year-old is in excellent form, scoring five goals in his last three league games.

However, with Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations and his future up in the air and Cody Gakpo on his way back from a muscle injury, his attacking options in the short team include only Federico Chiesa and 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha. Neither have started a league game this season.

With Salah away, this had been earmarked as an opportunity for Isak and Ekitike to get a run in the team, potentially together. Those plans now lie in tatters and Slot will need to manage Ekitike carefully.

Further scans will reveal the full extent of Isak’s injury, but there has to be a chance that Liverpool may now be forced to move in the January transfer window. A versatile forward who can play as a No.9 and in wide areas would make more sense that a like-for-like replacement as attacking depth in wide areas is also low.

Finding a player of the required level and for a sensible fee will be the challenge. Antoine Semenyo, who has a £65million release clause, is admired by Liverpool and can operate on both flanks but has only played a handful of games as a No.9 for Bournemouth.

Fiorentina have approached Tottenham Hotspur’s co-sporting director Fabio Paratici about a surprise return to Italy, just over two months after his reappointment at the Premier League club.

Fiorentina are yet to approach Spurs directly about Paratici, according to sources briefed on the situation, but the Serie A club have made the 53-year-old an offer to run their football operation.

Paratici only officially resumed working for Spurs in October following the end of his 30-month ban from football activity, taking up a role alongside Johan Lange as co-sporting director. He was formerly Tottenham’s managing director of football from June 2021, having been appointed by former Executive Chairman Daniel Levy.

Paratici was one of 11 former Juventus executives banned from Italian football after being accused of financial malpractice, and this suspension was extended worldwide by FIFA in March 2023. The ban related to the inflation of transfer fees for accounting purposes during his time at Juventus.

The Italian officially resigned from his role at Tottenham in April 2023 following the rejection of his appeal against his worldwide ban, which was partially reduced, enabling him to work in football in a reduced capacity. During the interim period, he worked on a consultancy basis for Spurs, advising Levy and the club on transfers.

Earlier this year, Paratici held talks with AC Milan before they appointed Igli Tare as sporting director in May.

Fiorentina’s former sporting director Daniele Prade left by mutual agreement in November following a poor start to the season and they are yet to replace him. They are currently rock bottom of Serie A, winless in 15 games and eight points shy of 17th place.

Paratici’s return was the most recent high-profile development in a year of change at Tottenham, with Vinai Venkatesham appointed as CEO in April and Thomas Frank replacing Ange Postecoglou as head coach in the summer. The same month, long-serving Executive Director Donna-Maria Cullen stepped down from her position on the board, and in September, Levy was removed as Spurs chairman after 24 years at the helm of the club.

Paratici spent 11 years as Juventus’ sporting director prior to his first spell at Spurs, overseeing one of the most successful periods in the Italian club’s history, winning nine Serie A titles and reaching the Champions League final twice.

Analysis

The news that Fiorentina have approached Fabio Paratici about a big new job in Serie A is not something that many people saw coming less than two weeks before the opening of the transfer window.

Paratici only officially returned to Tottenham in October, announced as one of the club’s two Sporting Directors, working alongside Johan Lange.

He had previously been a consultant for Spurs since he was forced to resign as managing director of football in April 2023 following his ban from football.

But the plan was that Paratici would use his unrivalled network and his transfer market nous in January (and beyond) to help bring a higher quality of player to Spurs. Just like he did with Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski during his first spell at the club.

Clearly this is going to be an important window for Spurs, the first of the post-Daniel Levy era.

Thomas Frank’s team have struggled to convince so far this season – they are currently 13th in the Premier League table – and look in need of improvements in the window. Especially in central midfield and in the front line.

Now everyone has to wait and see what happens with this Fiorentina approach for Paratici. And whether one of their two Sporting Directors will be around for it or not.

Liverpool have come a long way in recent weeks.

A six-game unbeaten run in all competitions has silenced talk of a crisis at Anfield and eased the pressure on head coach Arne Slot. They have taken 11 points of the last 15 on offer in the Premier League and strengthened their position in the Champions League with an impressive away win against Serie A side Inter.

The mood has been transformed since that humiliating 4-1 European defeat at home to PSV in late November, which followed similarly chastening domestic setbacks at the hands of Nottingham Forest and Manchester City.

From the depths of despair, the Premier League champions now sit level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea. Those with short memories and little patience who were calling for change have been muted as Slot has breathed new life into a managerial reign which had veered so alarmingly off course.

The Dutchman deserves great credit for how he has dealt with the toughest period of his career. He has not shied away from the big calls, dropping Mohamed Salah to deal with the fallout after the Egypt forward’s public outburst about losing his place in the team, and changing Liverpool’s system to make them more compact.

But Saturday’s chaotic 2-1 away win against Tottenham Hotspur underlined how far they still have to travel if they are going to salvage something tangible from this turbulent season.

How they lost control playing against 10 men after Richarlison reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute was worrying. How blind panic set in after Cristian Romero’s dismissal in stoppage time left the hosts with nine players was just downright ridiculous.

“What hurt me the most was from the nine minutes of added time, which ended up being 10, I think they had 95 per cent of the ball,” Slot said. “Every time when we had the ball, we kicked it away or we threw it away. It was unbelievable that we couldn’t keep the ball a bit longer. It looked as if we were down to nine and they were with 11, because it was attack after attack after attack.”

Liverpool’s game management was non-existent, with composure conspicuous by its absence. Possession was repeatedly frittered away and needless free kicks were conceded as they invited pressure. Slot gestured wildly on the touchline about them dropping too deep but the message did not get through. A better team than Tottenham would have made them pay.

Just how fraught it got late on was underlined by the sight of Slot taking off Jeremie Frimpong, who had stayed down for treatment after taking a blow to the mouth. The former Bayer Leverkusen man was fine to continue on his comeback after two months out, but Slot was not prepared to run the risk of waiting for him to come back on, so introduced Federico Chiesa instead.

“I didn’t want to go down to 10 men for 30 seconds,” he explained. “I think this is the only country where if players are injured they need to go off for 30 seconds, with a head injury it’s even 45, so I adapted to that. There wasn’t long to go and we were struggling even with plus one (player).”

Frimpong had come on for the injured Alexander Isak, who himself had replaced the injured Conor Bradley. It was that kind of night.

Despite having 65 per cent possession and an extra man from the 33rd minute onwards, when Xavi Simons was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool struggled to make their advantage count.

Remarkably, when Alisson denied Pedro Porro an equaliser at the death, Tottenham had attempted the previous six shots in the contest. The home side created as many big chances as Liverpool as defined by Opta (two apiece) and edged it on expected goals (xG) 1.07 to 0.66.

“The immediate reaction coming off was that it was a chaotic last five to 10 minutes,” Van Dijk told reporters post-match. “It wasn’t great, but to get the three points is massive. There was nothing wrong up to us conceding a goal. We need to analyse the last part.

“When you concede a goal and their fans get behind them like they did, it’s never easy to make the right decisions and find the right solutions. That’s something we can improve, but I don’t think it’s worrying. It’s a transition, and we need to keep getting better.”

On Dutch countryman Simons’ red card, Van Dijk added: “I don’t think there was any intention to hurt me but obviously he did hurt me, and then the referee and the VAR made the decision to send him off. I spoke to him after but it’s a chat that no one needs to know about.”

There were positives for Liverpool.

Not least the sight of the £241million ($320m at current exchange rates) double act of Florian Wirtz and Isak combining for a Premier League goal for the first time to break the deadlock early in the second half.

It was cruel that Isak’s joy proved to be so short-lived, as he was clattered by Micky van de Ven after firing beyond goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. The Sweden striker had to be helped from the field by medical staff and Liverpool are anxiously awaiting scan results.

Hugo Ekitike, who nodded home the second goal from Frimpong’s deflected cross — much to Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank’s irritation — has been integral to the recent resurgence and the France striker’s importance will only grow if Isak is facing an extended spell on the sidelines. With Salah now away at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and Cody Gakpo still out with a muscle injury, Slot’s attacking options have dwindled.

The hope is that Wirtz was only suffering from cramp when he pulled up holding his hamstring late on. With Dominik Szoboszlai banned for the visit of bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to Anfield next Saturday, Liverpool cannot afford to lose anyone else.

“Injuries unfortunately are part of football, and hopefully they’re not too bad,” added Van Dijk. “Alex scored a great goal. It’s too soon after the game to know (the full extent of it). Now we have a couple of days off. We will recover and then we will focus on Wolves. First we have Christmas. Being with your family and being healthy are the most important things in life.”

There will be no training on Christmas Day this year, with Slot having given his squad the day off. The players headed straight out for a festive team meal following this win in north London.

Relief was the overwhelming emotion after coming so close to throwing away two points. There has been much to admire about Liverpool’s recent resurgence, but if it is going to be extended into the new year and beyond, the bar simply has to be raised in terms of performances.

Alexander Isak is set to undergo a scan to determine the extent of the injury he suffered in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Isak, 26, made a significant impact off the bench as he broke the deadlock just 11 minutes after being brought on at the start of the second half.

However, the £125million summer signing was unable to celebrate his second Premier League goal for the club after being caught by a sliding challenge from defender Micky van de Ven.

Isak had to be helped from the field by medical staff with head coach Arne Slot admitting they face an anxious wait to discover how long he will be sidelined with a suspected lower leg injury.

“I don’t have any news on him but if a player scores, gets injured and doesn’t come back on the pitch or doesn’t try to come back, it’s usually not a good thing,” Slot said. “I cannot say anything more than that. That is just a gut feeling and nothing more than that. Nothing medical to say about it.

“I haven’t spoken to him about it yet but it’s a good thing he scored — a good goal assisted by Florian Wirtz.

“Let’s not be too negative yet. We don’t know yet. Let’s hope Alex is back with us soon but it is difficult to say.”

Victory came at a cost with right-back Conor Bradley taken off at half-time after being hurt in a collision with Djed Spence during the opening 45 minutes.

Florian Wirtz limped off late on but Liverpool are hopeful the Germany international was only suffering from cramp.

Dominik Szoboszlai collected a fifth yellow card of the season which means he will be suspended for the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers to Anfield on December 27.

Having come off the bench to replace Isak as he made his comeback from injury after two months out, Jeremie Frimpong was subsequently subbed off in stoppage time.

Slot explained that was a tactical switch with Federico Chiesa introduced as Liverpool clung on to win against nine men following red cards for Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero.

“With Jeremie there is no problem at all,” Slot added. “I didn’t want to go down to 10 men for 30 seconds. This is the only country where players have to go off for 30 seconds if they’re injured. I adapted to that.

“I knew there wasn’t long to play and thought we struggled a lot. Playing 10 v 10 for half a minute with him being on the floor, I just went with Federico so no problem with him.

“With Alex and Conor, we have to wait. You could see our bench today but we are not the only team in this period picking up injuries because we play so many games.”

Liverpool appeared comfortable when Hugo Ekitike headed them 2-0 up but after Richarlison pulled one back in the 83rd minute panic set in. Even after Romero’s red card in stoppage time, the visitors failed to control proceedings and endured a nervy finale.

Slot said: “It wasn’t perfect, especially the last 10 minutes, but we pick up points and are developing in a way I want to see.

”I thought against nine men we would be able to keep them away from our goal but it looked as though we were down to nine and they had 11, which led to attack, after attack, after attack.“

Record-breaking centre-forward Alexander Isak came on to put his team ahead and then Huge Ekitike scored a proper centre-forward’s header to secure victory for Liverpool against Tottenham Hotspur.

But this was far from a straightforward three points for Arne Slot’s side.

Hosts Tottenham saw Xavi Simons sent off in the 33rd minute after a VAR review for a challenge on Virgil van Dijk and Cristian Romero followed suit after receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time to leave the hosts with nine men.

Isak came off the bench at half-time and put Liverpool in front 11 minutes later, only to suffer an injury and leave the pitch. Ekitike made it 2-0 but then Richarlison came off the bench to pull one back for Tottenham, profiting from a scramble in the penalty box after Van Dijk failed to clear the ball.

An underwhelming first half was followed by a frantic second 45 minutes in north London. Andy Jones, Jay Harris and Elias Burke take a breath and discuss the key talking points…

What did this result mean for Liverpool?

This victory extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run to six games in all competitions and was another step in the right direction.

Slot has said he has felt there has been progress in performances in recent weeks and, while they were helped by the two red cards, Liverpool were professional and controlled the game — until Richarlison came on and caused chaos, at least. Then, the same familiar defensive frailties came back in abundance.

While Liverpool may be about to receive some bad news about Isak after he went off injured, the good news is they still have Ekitike.

The 23-year-old had scored four goals in his previous two Premier League starts, and he made it five in three with a thumping header to double the away side’s advantage.

What has been so impressive about the France international is his range of attributes. He can drop deep and link play, he can run the channels and carry the ball, and when he is in the box he is such a threat and can score a variety of goals.

His latest goal was classic big centre-forward play. He bullied Romero and towered above him to direct Jeremie Frimpong’s cross into the top corner. There was only one player getting to that ball.

Stability has been restored — even with a few nervy moments late on after Richarlison got a goal back and then ran at Liverpool again — and the three points moved Liverpool to level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.

After Dominik Szoboszlai picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, the midfielder is suspended for their next match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 27.

The league title looks beyond reach for the reigning champions this season, but retaining their Champions League place was crucial and that looks a lot more likely than it did only a few weeks ago.

Andy Jones

Did Xavi Simons deserve a red card?

In a first half that lacked cutting edge in the final third from both sides, Tottenham were going well and looking fairly comfortable.

Thomas Frank’s team effectively pressed Liverpool’s defence with intensity and coordination, slowing their attempts to build out from the back with pace. But with Van Dijk on the ball in his half, Simons — who has a tendency to arrive into tackles late — took it a touch too far.

After Van Dijk had released the ball back to Alisson in the Liverpool net, Simons left his left leg out, scraping his foot down the back of the Liverpool defender’s calf. Referee John Brooks initially awarded Liverpool a free-kick and gave Simons a yellow card, but after it was referred to the VAR and the referee had an opportunity to watch a slow-motion replay, his final decision was barely in question.

Brooks showed a protesting Simons his first red card for Spurs, reducing the home side to 10 men. Before leaving the field, Simons was embraced by his international captain, Van Dijk.

Following the game, Simons apologised on Instagram, saying: “Mistakes happen. Virg is my captain, I would never intentionally hurt him or anyone. To my Spurs team-mates, my manager and the fans, I take responsibility, I’m really sorry.”

On the pitch, Frank responded by keeping the system largely the same, with striker Randal Kolo Muani dropping back into the No 10 role and connecting the midfield and attack.

Elias Burke

Where does this result leave Thomas Frank?

Tottenham’s performance in the first 30 minutes against Liverpool was encouraging. Apart from their 2-0 victory against Manchester City in August, they produced their best spell of football against a top Premier League side this season.

There has been a lot of frustration from the fans about their home form but Simons’ dismissal and Romero’s late moment of madness will protect Frank from a lot of criticism — all of the boos at half-time appeared to be directed at the referee.

Frank resisted taking off a forward for an extra defender after 45 minutes and the team morphed into a 4-4-1 system. It took Liverpool nearly half an hour to break Tottenham’s resistance with an extra man and it came from Romero making a sloppy pass, but they did not collapse.

Kolo Muani’s strike deflected off Milos Kerkez onto the bar at 1-0. The fans started chanting and singing in response. It was a rare occasion when the entire stadium felt connected, even if they were only united by their anger towards the officials.

Frank refused to give up after Ekitike doubled Liverpool’s lead. He brought on Richarlison, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert. Richarlison scored and then had a great chance to equalise, but was squeezed off the ball by Ibrahima Konate and Van Dijk.

This was a valiant defeat instead of the brutal mauling many people were expecting. Spurs showed enough fight and resilience for a little bit of faith to be restored in Frank.

Romero took it to an extreme by getting himself sent off in stoppage time, but he was applauded by some of the supporters. Even with nine men, Spurs still tried to equalise and the fans will take pride in that.

Jay Harris

A big moment in Isak’s Liverpool career?

When Liverpool have been chasing a goal in games this season, their head coach has come in for criticism on occasion for his use of the bench.

Slot never wants to leave an attacking stone unturned and has a tendency to bring on more attacking players while sacrificing team shape. It has had limited success, and even when it did, Liverpool were then vulnerable to conceding.

With Tottenham down to 10 men, this was a different scenario to navigate and Slot wasted little time in tweaking his approach. The set-up in recent weeks has focused on control and stability, but his introduction of striker Isak for right-back Conor Bradley at half-time added an extra forward.

Liverpool had been pedestrian going forward in the first half. With the exception of a handful of bright Florian Wirtz moments, they were too slow and lacked quality around the Tottenham penalty area.

Little changed in the opening 10 minutes of the second half but, when the ball deflected into the path of Isak, he and his fellow two attacking summer signings burst into life.

Isak fed Ekitike who shifted the ball to Wirtz. He slipped a ball into the path of Isak, who fired home.

Liverpool had the lead and, although Isak was taken off after colliding with Micky van de Ven while shooting, Slot had got the impact he needed from his record-breaking signing.

The hope is the Sweden international’s injury is not serious, because this felt like a big moment in his Liverpool career.

Andy Jones

How did Djed Spence react after his conduct against Nottingham Forest?

There was a lot of attention on Djed Spence before this game after his negative reaction to being substituted in last weekend’s 3-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest. It was the second public display of dissent from the England international this season after he ignored Frank, along with Van de Ven, at full-time in November’s 1-0 defeat by Chelsea. Spence’s place in the starting XI was secure because Destiny Udogie is recovering from a muscle injury.

Spence responded by producing his best performance of the season. The 25-year-old was Tottenham’s most consistent attacking threat and he defended superbly. Before Simons’ dismissal, Spence had a crucial role to play. Lucas Bergvall started on the left but he moved into central positions, which meant Spence needed to provide an option on the overlap.

In the 19th minute, he went on a marauding run which started in his own half and he tried to shimmy past Bradley in the box. Liverpool’s full-back went down and the referee awarded a soft free-kick. There was another similar occasion where he dragged Spurs up the pitch and nearly slipped in between Bradley and Curtis Jones.

Spurs’ best chance in the first half came from Spence attacking the back post and nodding Pedro Porro’s cross towards Kolo Muani. After Spurs were reduced to 10 men, Spence continued to push forward and handle his defensive duties. He barged Ekitike off the ball when the striker tried to run through for a one-vs-one with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Substitute Frimpong set-up Ekitike’s goal by running past Spence but Tottenham’s full-back did the right thing by forcing his opponent onto his weaker left foot. It was a bad result overall for Spurs, but Frank should be happy with Spence’s reaction.

Jay Harris

What did Slot say?

Asked about Isak’s injury in his post-match press conference, the Liverpool head coach said: “I don’t have any news on him but if a player scores, gets injured and doesn’t come back on the pitch or doesn’t try to come back, which Conor Bradley, for example did but I had to take him off and couldn’t come on.

“But if a player doesn’t try to come back it is usually not a good thing but I cannot say anything more than that. That is just a gut feeling and nothing more than that, nothing medical to say about it.”

“I haven’t spoken to him about it yet but it’s a good thing he scored, a good goal assisted by Florian Wirtz. I said players are getting better, the team is getting better. It wasn’t perfect today, especially the last 10 minutes but we pick up points and are developing in a way I want to see.”

On Wirtz and Isak combining for the opening goal, Slot added: “That’s what we’d like to see happening a lot. A good finish, a good pass. Let’s not be too negative yet. We don’t know yet, let’s hope he is back with us soon but it is difficult to say to you.”

What did Frank say?

Asked about Simons’ red card, Frank said in his post-match press conference: “I don’t like this as a red card. I think the game is, probably too big to say gone, but for me it’s not reckless and it’s not exceptional force. He is chasing Van Dijk. He is trying to put pressure and then he changes direction. Unfortunately his foot is on (Van Dijk’s) Achilles. You can say ‘Ah, you need to be smarter, don’t do it and all that’ but so are we not allowed to have physical contact anymore? The next thing on that is if he gets three games, which I don’t understand, how can he get three games for something which is not reckless? That is absolutely wrong and we probably can’t appeal it.”

On Ekitike’s goal, he added: “I think the second goal is a mistake from the ref. I think there are two hands in the back. Clear two hands in the back. I don’t understand how you can do that. Everywhere else you have seen that a thousand times out there on the pitch, someone will go up for a header, a goalkick into the centre-back, two hands in the back ‘boom’ foul. But apparently not in the penalty box. I think that was the biggest mistake in my opinion and from VAR but apparently that was not enough. We kept going.“

“I think overall it was a good performance tonight. Proud of the players and the team and how they responded. I actually think the first 30 (minutes) was also good from us and how we responded to setbacks through the game.

“There was great personality and character in the team.”

What next for Spurs?

Sunday, December 28: Crystal Palace (Away), Premier League, 4.30pm UK, 11.30am ET

What next for Liverpool?

The Athletic has live coverage of Tottenham vs Liverpool in Premier League matchplay today.

Thomas Frank is experiencing his first period of sustained instability as Tottenham Hotspur head coach, and lingering questions about his suitability are turning into doubts within sections of the fanbase.

After improved performances in early December, Tottenham were handed a reality check by Nottingham Forest last weekend, losing 3-0 at The City Ground. Frank’s side registered just one shot on target as they were bettered in every department by a side who started the weekend in 17th place. In his post-match press conference, the 52-year-old said it will “take some time” to change performances and turn their fortunes around, with no “quick fix” to many of the club’s issues on and off the pitch.

Spurs’ inconsistent league form has resulted in mounting pressure on their head coach’s position. As he and the players applauded the travelling fans in Nottingham on Sunday, they were met by boos from sections of their support. Inside the club, Frank is supported by the hierarchy, who recognise that his efforts to change the culture will take time.

Part of Frank’s mission is connecting with his players. At previous club Brentford, he developed and recruited most of his squad. On joining Spurs in the summer, he’s inherited a group of established internationals and Premier League regulars who present different challenges.

Here, The Athletic reports on the early impressions Frank has made on the players and staff as Tottenham head coach.

Ask any staff member at Spurs’ training ground about Frank, and they will tell you that he was a breath of fresh air upon his arrival.

In the early days of his tenure, the club called an introductory meeting between the Dane and the various department heads, allowing the recently appointed head coach to meet the people he would be working alongside.

Frank, who developed a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most insightful and magnetic coaches at Brentford, asked to amend the plan to extend the invitation to the entire staff, where he would introduce himself to the full complement. It was a gesture gratefully received by his less-senior colleagues, who rarely interacted with predecessor Ange Postecoglou.

More recently, Frank crossed from the senior squad’s part of the training ground to the academy area, where he watched from the sidelines as Tottenham’s youth sides played at Hotspur Way. True to form, he introduced himself to the parents and made a point of remembering their names. Frank is the club’s de facto public face and the most influential figure at the training ground, and he’s made an effort to carry over Brentford’s family feel to north London.

As part of this, he makes a point of inviting members of staff with him on his morning jogs when he arrives at the training ground.

In his previous role, Frank benefited from being part of one of the best-run clubs in the country. He presided over the most successful period in Brentford’s post-war history, taking them from the Championship as play-off final winners in 2021 to establishing them as a Premier League outfit — a remarkable rise given the west London side were in League Two, England’s fourth tier, as recently as the 2008-09 season.

Aside from full-back Rico Henry, every player in Frank’s final 18-man squad at Brentford was signed by the now 52-year-old, often picked up from England’s lower divisions or from smaller clubs in less-heralded leagues abroad.

With that dynamic came a natural authority. Frank was the figure who delivered the club’s best years, and his status reflected that. Players arriving from lower down the footballing food chain bought into the promising project at Brentford, knowing that countless predecessors had previously passed through the doors there and gone on to become Premier League and international stars.

In that comparatively quiet and less pressurised environment, Frank was given the time to improve players, such as converting Ollie Watkins from a winger into a striker.

Unlike Spurs, Brentford are not sold as a destination club. Players such as Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo, now at Newcastle and Manchester United respectively, have used the club as a springboard for better sporting and financial opportunities elsewhere.

Tottenham’s predicament presents another dynamic.

This summer, Frank took over a club in unusual circumstances. While they had suffered the ignominy of finishing 17th in the 2024-25 Premier League — the club’s worst final league position since they were relegated to the old Second Division in 1976-77 — they also became the Europa League champions, ending their 17-year wait for a trophy. Inheriting a group that had simultaneously fluctuated between both sides of history brings challenges. It’s something Frank is adjusting to.

Frank is respected in the game as an excellent man-manager. He had a close bond with most of the players he worked with at Brentford, including former Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen, who spent the second half of the 2021-22 season with them after recovering from a cardiac arrest suffered mid-game at Euro 2020. He had worked with Frank in Denmark’s youth teams years before signing for him.

“(Frank) comes into rooms and gives people energy,” the former Brentford defender Pontus Jansson, who they bought under Frank from Leeds United in 2019, told The Athletic last year. “I came to Brentford as a guy who wanted to show off and shine. I became a leader, and people remember me as a good captain and a good person. The way he changed me, I will never forget. He is a friend for life, the best coach I ever worked with.”

Appreciation for his style of man-management has translated to Spurs. According to multiple sources close to Tottenham players — who, like all those referred to in this piece, are kept anonymous to protect relationships — Frank has made a positive impression on many of the squad.

In contrast to Postecoglou, who did not interact as frequently with the players, Frank speaks to them individually on and off the training pitch. His attempts to build a positive culture will take time, but those efforts are respected by the club’s hierarchy, with recognition that the environment and recent poor results won’t change overnight.

One source close to Frank indicated his repeated references to Arsenal, Spurs’ neighbours and biggest rivals, in press conferences may be related to his desire to follow a similar path to their manager Mikel Arteta, who took several transfer windows to craft the squad in his image. While results occasionally suffered, Arteta was given time to build a squad ready to compete for the biggest prizes — and just as importantly, create the right culture.

However, in the meantime, sources have indicated that Frank’s friendly style may encounter challenges in an environment with established international players. One source close to the Spurs coach suggested he could struggle managing higher-profile players with bigger egos, noting that he sometimes found it difficult at Brentford to exclude even lesser-known, inexperienced players from matchday squads.

There have been moments this season when his authority has been questioned, particularly after the 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea in early November, as vice-captain Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence disregarded his instructions to applaud the Spurs fans at full time. Frank described it as “not a big problem” in his post-match press conference, and later said both players visited him at the training ground the following day to apologise.

In the aftermath of the defeat to Forest on Sunday, Spence’s conduct was again highlighted, with the full-back appearing to throw his jacket in frustration after being replaced with Ben Davies in the second half — a not entirely uncommon reaction for substituted players. In his post-match press conference, Frank said he didn’t see the incident, before adding: “I think there can be three reasons. He can be disappointed with his own performance, the team’s performance, he can be disappointed with being subbed off. I’ll ask him about that.”

At Brentford, Frank was assisted until 2022 by Brian Riemer, who is now the Denmark national team’s head coach. To counteract Frank’s more personable style, Riemer had a reputation for being highly demanding with players on and off the pitch. As the staff’s defensive lead, Riemer would maintain frequent contact with Brentford’s defenders away from the training ground via text, intruding on their home lives by asking whether they were watching Champions League games and learning from those elite performers at their positions.

With first-team assistant coach Matt Wells now set to leave Tottenham and become head coach of MLS side Colorado Rapids, one source close to the dressing room suggested Frank may benefit from replacing him with somebody who has a similar persona to Riemer.

Some issues, however, go beyond Frank and his coaching staff and what they can address on the training pitch. This includes squad construction, which has left some players frustrated at getting a lack of game time this season.

Tottenham have a wealth of options at left wing, including Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel, plus makeshift option Randal Kolo Muani, who started in that role last weekend. Frank has frequently rotated the cast, with no player standing out at the position, potentially slowing the development of Johnson, Odobert and Tel, who are all 24 or under.

A similar situation applies in midfield, where youngsters Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr have come in and out of the team alongside the more experienced pair of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur. Continuing to develop young players is high on Frank’s priorities, but addressing these imbalances — not helped by Yves Bissouma, who has been unavailable for most of the season due to injuries and persistent conduct issues — is the responsibility of the recruitment staff, beginning in January.

Despite the poor performance at the City Ground — one of four league games this term in which Spurs have failed to exceed 0.4 expected goals — the club’s hierarchy is behind Frank heading into this crucial winter window.

It will take more than a couple of signings to turn things around, but they may prove essential in the short term as Frank builds towards long-term success.

Additional reporting: Jay Harris

Tottenham Hotspur host Liverpool in the Premier League today as both sides aim to climb up the league table.

After tricky starts to the season and pressure on both managers, Arne Slot’s Liverpool go in search of a place in the top six.

Meanwhile things look more difficult for Spurs boss Thomas Frank as his team look to escape mid-table mediocrity.

Kick-off: 5.30pm GMT, 12.30pm ET, 9.30am PT

Watch: Sky Sports (UK); NBC (U.S.)

Get in touch: live@theathletic.com

Chelsea took on Newcastle United in the lunchtime kick-off earlier and it was a thriller.

Hosts Newcastle took a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals from Nick Woltemade but Chelsea fought back to earn a draw.

Second half strikes from Reece James and Joao Pedro ensured another point on the board for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Here’s a look at the Premier League table after matchday 16 concluded.

It will all be changing again pretty soon but it is not a very satisfying picture for Spurs fans with their team sitting in 11th.

Likewise for reigning champions Liverpool, their current position in seventh is pretty underwhelming considering they are the defending champions.

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Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Lauded as one of the best stadia in Europe since its completion in 2019, the stadium has a capacity of 62,850.

Also a home for NFL games in the UK, Spurs’ stadium has also been used as a concert venue as well as hosting all of their home matches.