The Independent

Roberto De Zerbi light-heartedly confronted a “negative” journalist after Tottenham secured Premier League survival on the season’s final day.

Spurs beat Everton 1-0 thanks to Joao Palhinha’s first-half goal, to stay up and condemn West Ham to the Championship with Burnley and Wolves.

Fans, players and staff celebrated passionately inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after the final whistle.

But before De Zerbi conducted his post-match media duties, he stopped the press conference to ask for a particular journalist.

“Where is he?” De Zerbi said. “The one who is always there at the Tottenham training ground. He was negative and I’m positive. But I want to hug him, not to fight. I have no energy to fight anymore.”

When the reporter arrived, the pair shook hands. De Zerbi smiled and said: “Are you happy?” The reporter offered his congratulations.

After the press conference, De Zerbi again spoke to the journalist and suggested they had been negative about Tottenham’s survival chances. The reporter responded: “It’s my job to ask questions, it’s not my job to be positive.”

After the survival mission was completed with a glass of red wine, ⁠the Italian spoke of his pride at how his injury-hit squad had responded to the crisis.

However, he stressed there was no time to waste to ensure that Spurs never find themselves in a position defender Micky van de Ven described as “embarrassing” again.

“I think we deserve to stay up, because we made 11 points in seven games and we deserved more,” said De Zerbi. “From tonight, we have to start to organise and to build the new team. I don't think we have to change too many players. We have 10, 11, 12 players good enough ‌to stay. But first we must complete the squad with first-level players.

“We suffered too much. I ​suffered a lot, the players suffered a lot and the fans. We can't suffer like this ‌until the last second of the last game to ⁠stay up. The target to stay up is finished. My target now is to start the pre-season ⁠with the team I have in my dream.”

De Zerbi praised the long-suffering Tottenham fans who stood in massed ranks to greet the team bus ‌on Sunday before a game ​that could have had calamitous consequences had it gone wrong.

“Next ‌season the target is to make them happier ​than this season for sure,” he said. “I would like to compete, I don’t know for what, but stop suffering like this.”

additional reporting by Reuters

When the full-time whistle blew, James Maddison bent over on his haunches gasping for breath. Kevin Danso collapsed in a heap. Roberto De Zerbi ran onto the pitch like he’d won a trophy before remembering himself and turning back to shake hands with David Moyes. All around them, Tottenham fans erupted with relief.

This could have been Spurs’s lowest ebb, on an afternoon when relegation loomed and smirking Arsenal fans passed them on the Victoria Line. Instead this was a day of shared joy and collective catharsis. In those lost weeks under Igor Tudor, Spurs fans were resigned to their fate; just a few games later, the nightmare is over, for now at least.

Spurs supporters provided their team a deafening soundtrack and the players responded with a performance full of commitment and energy in blistering north London sunshine. Danso was immense at the back and Joao Palhinha was everywhere, including Everton’s box where he pounced on a rebound to score the only goal. And Antonin Kinsky – embarrassed under Tudor – made a heroic, full-stretch save to deny Everton substitute Tyrique George what would have been a nerve-jangling equaliser in added time.

It was far from a vintage footballing display. Spurs ended with Djed Spence and Pape Matar Sarr on the wings, square pegs in round holes trying to plug the drain. But Tottenham clung on to a 1-0 victory to record their third home win of the season, and the most important in these parts for many years, given West Ham did what they needed to in east London. The Hammers are down after a 14-year run in the Premier League.

So for Tottenham, there is no humiliating relegation. They will not become the first Championship team with a 62,000-seater stadium, the first with a 23,000sqft megastore, the first who fill their pints from the bottom up. They will not travel to Lincoln City, who won League One singing “Tottenham away, ole ole!”. A £250m black hole has been avoided.

There is a chance now to reset under De Zerbi, who reaffirmed his commitment to the job this week. Amid the battle, there were fleeting signs of his football here in the sharp one-touch passing that split open Everton like a tin can in the first half. De Zerbi’s overzealous antics on the touchline will annoy opposing managers and fans, and perhaps Spurs need a bit of that right now.

“We deserved this day, this win,” De Zerbi said. “We deserved to stay up because we made 11 points in seven games. My players played a fantastic game, especially in the first half they played very well, and I’m proud.”

He hailed the supporters, who greeted the team bus with gusto before kick-off. “They were fantastic, the fans. Before the game, they arrived with big emotion. Next season the target is to make them happier, to stop this suffering.”

But none of the optimism should dilute the harsh lessons relegation would have served. Spurs are a club who built a gleaming stadium and thriving commercial arm, who became London’s NFL home and staged sell-out concerts. And somewhere along the way they appeared to forget about the primary purpose of a football club, the reason this 143-year-old institution exists.

So when clubs like Brentford, Brighton and Bournemouth pour all their heart, soul and resources into running sophisticated football operations, while Tottenham run an events business with a football team, perhaps none of us should be surprised when Spurs finish 17th and far less wealthy clubs qualify for Europe.

Above all, there has been a lack of any coherent plan for what Tottenham should be and what a Spurs side should look like. To appoint managers as tactically and spiritually diverse as Nuno Espirito Santo, Antonio Conte, Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank in succession is proof of that (meanwhile Brentford replaced seven years of Frank with his set-piece coach), and so the Tottenham squad is now a mesh of players who are either completely different or entirely the same, without blend or balance.

And if Daniel Levy can be blamed for some of those decisions, then the post-Levy regime has hardly covered itself in glory. The move by sporting director Johan Lange and CEO Vinai Venkatesham to appoint Tudor seemed fraught with risk from the start, and after only a few games of his disastrous reign, it seemed like an act of self-flagellation.

They did at least have the courage to U-turn with just enough time left for De Zerbi to recover the ship. Spurs will be a Premier League team again next year. This magnificent stadium will remain a top-flight venue. They will not become the first Championship side with a microbrewery.

Tottenham fans deserve to revel in the moment. But real progress will only be harnessed by the lessons Spurs learn from narrowly avoiding the greatest sporting debacle in Premier League history.

Gary Neville was left “furious” after the second half of Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton was delayed on the final day of the Premier League season.

In a vital match for the relegation battle, with Spurs battling to stay in the league in place of West Ham, who played Leeds United, the second half started more than five minutes later than the London Stadium.

Technical difficulties with the VAR equipment ensured both games could not synchronise the start times for the second halves, with Neville upset on co-commentary duty for Sky Sports.

An irritated Neville remarked: “Why have they kicked off there if they're synchronising it? I don't think a football match should be stopped for this.

“This is not good enough, I get you have technical problems. The fans are booing, and rightly so. I'm furious with this, not just because it's the last game of the season, sporting integrity.

“There's an element of always kicking off together when you're fighting for something. It's absolutely ridiculous, it's a warm day today, but it could be Winter and -2 with players walking around. It's not good enough.”

Spurs had taken the lead, thanks to João Palhinha, though Roberto De Zerbi’s side only required a point on the final day to stay up.

The Hammers were held by Leeds at the break in the other game tied to the relegation battle, with the action resuming at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium almost five minutes late.

Despite their relative degree of comfort, Spurs fans may hear the increasing number of anxious groans coming from their fans as they cede a little (but not too much) territory.

West Ham have been far better since the restart and now how something to show for it, notes Will Castle at the London Stadium.

They lead the game they have to win through Taty Castellanos. Now they require a miracle turnaround five miles away.

Everton must score twice and West Ham must find a way past Leeds for them to go down. The problem for the Hammers is they seem to be rarely threatening in their match with the Toffees have not brought a sweat out of Kinsky yet.

Everton must score twice and West Ham must find a way past Leeds for them to go down. The problem for the Hammers is they seem to be rarely threatening in their match with the Toffees have not brought a sweat out of Kinsky yet.

The Premier League relegation battle will be decided on the final day with Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United battling to avoid the drop.

Spurs had the chance to seal their safety with a game to spare, but were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

One point would, barring a mighty goal difference swing, be enough for Roberto De Zerbi’s side, with both they and their relegation rivals at home on the final day.

Tottenham host Everton while West Ham take on Leeds at the London Stadium with a thrilling battle set to go to the wire.

Tottenham v Everton LIVE: Premier League relegation updates including West Ham v Leeds latest

With Wolves and Burnley both relegated, here are the permutations.

Position: 17th | Played: 37 | Points: 38 | GD: -10

Remaining fixtures:

One point would surely do for Spurs now, their goal difference 12 better than that of West Ham with a game to go. Everton have little to play for – though David Moyes may wish to keep his former club up.

Position: 18th | Played: 37 | Points: 36 | GD: -22

Remaining fixtures:

There is just one game to come for West Ham, though they are, at least, not relegated before they play it. West Ham will have to win against Leeds to have any hope; if Spurs take a point, it will require a goal difference swing that is surely beyond Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

Tottenham vs Everton betting tips

Tottenham face Everton in the final game of the season, with the hosts needing a point to preserve their 49-year stay in the top-flight (4pm, Sky Sports Main Event).

A few weeks ago, when they were in the bottom three, Spurs would have been grateful to take the relegation fight to the final day, but after two wins and two draws, they would have been hoping to have secured their safety by now.

A 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Tuesday ended Tottenham’s four-game unbeaten run, but they know just avoiding defeat will relegate West Ham, thanks to their superior goal difference.

If they lose and West Ham beat Leeds, then Spurs will fall out of the top division for the first time since 1977. Betting sites don’t view that as a likely outcome, however, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side 7/1-on to be in the Premier League next season.

Everton could still finish in the European places if they can win and other results go their way, but after enduring their worst run of the season, at the wrong time, that seems unlikely.

Since beating Chelsea 3-0 back in March, they have drawn three and lost three, slipping down to 12th in the league, level on points with Fulham and Newcastle.

Spurs have only won nine league games this season, but one of those did come at Everton back in October when two first-half goals from Micky van de Ven set them on their way to a 3-0 win.

That win was Thomas Frank’s fifth league win of the season, and left Spurs third in the league table, and no one could have foreseen what was to come.

They won just two of their next 24 games, losing 14, resulting in the sackings of Frank and Igor Tudor, but under De Zerbi they have won as many games, in just six attempts.

Tottenham vs Everton betting preview: Spurs to stay up

The fact that Everton have conceded two or more goals in each of their last six matches, since the 3-0 win over Chelsea, should give Spurs some confidence.

And add to that, Everton have won just one of their last 16 league games away at Spurs, drawing four and losing 11, including the last four by an aggregate of 14-1.

Surely Spurs are due a home win after failing to win any of their last 10 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

They have drawn four and lost six and have only won twice at home all season - against Burnley and Bournemouth in their opening two home matches.

Spurs are odds-on with most football betting sites to get the win they need, while you can get 29/10 on Everton ending the season with three points.

Tottenham vs Everton prediction 1: BTTS and Spurs to win - 13/5 Unibet

Richarlison to haunt Everton again

Richarlison was once a favourite with Everton fans, and since leaving for Spurs in July 2022, he has returned to haunt them on several occasions.

The Brazilian has been involved in five goals in his last five league games against Everton, with four goals and one assist.

He has been involved in 15 league goals this season, scoring 11 and providing four assists, including two goals in his last three.

He’s 31/20 on some betting apps to score any time or 5/1 to score last, as he has done four times this season, including last time out against Chelsea

Tottenham vs Everton prediction 2: Richarlison to score - 31/20 BetMGM

Tottenham vs Everton team news

Tottenham vs Everton predicted lineups

Tottenham: Kinsky, Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie, Palhinha, Maddison, Kolo Muani, Gallagher, Tel, Richarlison

Everton: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Garner, Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Beto

Free football bets for Tottenham vs Everton

It’s a massive game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday and to mark the occasion, Sky Bet have put together a special offer for the game, offering enhanced odds of 50/1 on a goal being scored in the game.

Sign up using the link above and make a first deposit of at least £5 before the game kicks-off at 4pm. Next, place a maximum £1 bet on over 0.5 goals in the Tottenham vs Everton match market at the standard odds.

Should a goal be scored in the game, Sky Bet will pay out in free bets to equal a pay out at 50/1. The free bets will be split into 5x £10 tokens and will be for BuildABet markets. If the match ends goalless, punters will receive 1x £10 free bet.

If you’re having a bet on this weekend’s football, it’s vital to practice responsible gambling.

Betting can be addictive, and it’s important to stay in control of your gambling, whether you’re using online bookmakers, casino sites, slot sites, bingo sites or any other gambling platform.

Never treat gambling as a way to make money, never bet more than you can afford and when the fun stops, stop.

Gambling sites offer punters tools, like deposit limits, profit and loss trackers and self-exclusion options, to help you stay in control.

But if you ever feel like you need help or advice on gambling addiction, don’t hesitate to contact one of the charities or organisations below.

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

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Everton manager David Moyes finds himself in a unique position ahead of the Premier League's final day, with his current club's match against Tottenham Hotspur potentially deciding the fate of his former team, West Ham United.

While Everton are practically out of contention for European football, Moyes has expressed a personal desire to help West Ham avoid relegation.

The stakes are high for West Ham, who are currently 18th and sit two points behind Spurs. To survive, the Hammers must defeat Leeds United on Sunday and hope Tottenham lose to Everton. A draw would likely be sufficient for Spurs to secure their top-flight status due to their superior goal difference.

Moyes, who managed West Ham for five-and-a-half years across two spells between 2017 and 2024, and led them to the Uefa Conference League title in 2023, openly stated his sentiment.

"I'd love to keep West Ham in the league if I can," he told reporters.

However, the 63-year-old was quick to clarify his primary allegiance.

"It's more important I get Everton that top finish and we get a few more million pounds because of our league position," he added, highlighting Everton's pursuit of a potential top-10 finish.

Tottenham, revitalised under new manager Roberto de Zerbi, have lost just one of their last five fixtures, contrasting sharply with Everton's current six-match winless streak.

However, they were beaten 2-1 by London rivals Chelsea on Tuesday, which meant that the relegation battle has gone to the final day.

West Ham also missed the opportunity to leapfrog Spurs in the table last weekend when they lost 3-1 at Newcastle.

The odds are now stacked against the Irons to stay in the Premier League, but their former boss Moyes could do them a massive favour.

West Ham have to win their game, though, which would mean beating Leeds for the first time this season after two previous meetings.

Daniel Farke’s side beat West Ham 2-1 at Elland Road in October before overcoming the Hammers at the London Stadium in a penalty shootout in the FA Cup in April to reach the semi-finals, where they lost to Chelsea.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has admitted he can "100 per cent" understand the anger among supporters following the controversial decision by injured captain Cristian Romero to fly to Argentina just days before the club’s crucial Premier League relegation decider against Everton.

Romero’s departure for his homeland has ignited a storm of criticism, particularly as the north London club faces the very real prospect of losing their top-flight status for the first time in 49 years. This could occur if they suffer defeat against Everton on Sunday and 18th-placed West Ham secure a victory over Leeds.

De Zerbi confirmed on Friday that Romero is currently in Argentina, continuing his rehabilitation from a knee injury at his boyhood club, Belgrano, in preparation for the upcoming World Cup. While initially guarded about his skipper’s absence, the Tottenham boss ultimately acknowledged the widespread disappointment.

When pressed on whether he could empathise with the fans’ frustration, De Zerbi stated: "100 per cent, I understand. He spoke with the medical staff and together they decided to go to Argentina to complete the rehab with Argentinian medical staff.

“I want to be clear, I am not stupid. If I understand there is any player who thinks for himself before the club, I can’t be the same Roberto, but with Cuti Romero, I can’t say anything because with me, in my time, he has been correct from the beginning until now."

The manager added: "The decision was with the medical staff and I think he can’t change anything if Romero is at the stadium or not. Finally, I have no time to lose energy and to lose thinking other things. We have to be focused on the game and we have the players good enough to achieve our target."

Adding an unhelpful twist to the saga, Romero’s former club, Belgrano, are also involved in a title decider against River Plate on Sunday.

De Zerbi, despite attempting to remain vague on his absent captain, appeared to deliver a thinly-veiled dig at Romero, who signed a new contract last August, by contrasting his actions with those of long-serving defender Ben Davies.

"Not all leaders are the same," De Zerbi explained. "Ben Davies spoke with me and he asked to stay today to work with us and tomorrow we sleep in the Lodge (at the training ground), and he wants to stay with the team, with his team-mates.

“But Romero is preparing (for) the World Cup, he has an injury and for me nothing changed. And then we have to think after (Sunday), we have to think everything for the future and the best future of Tottenham."

Quizzed further on whether Romero had played his last game for Spurs, De Zerbi responded: "I don’t know. I think Cristian is a top player and with me he was a top guy. And when I say top guy, it’s because I’m sure of what I’m saying.

“For the future, I don’t know. (Sunday) is a crucial game for us, for our future, for our fans, for our club and we have to stay together."

Amid the controversy, De Zerbi did receive some positive news this week, with Dominic Solanke now fit and available. Additionally, Djed Spence, fresh from his England World Cup squad selection, is also available despite sustaining a fractured jaw at Chelsea.

"Solanke is available," De Zerbi confirmed. "We have to decide if he starts in the first XI or not."

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