Tottenham v Atletico Madrid: Team newspublished at 19:11 GMT 18 March
19:11 GMT 18 March
Richarlison, the Tottenham hero with his last-gasp equaliser against Liverpool at Anfield, is not in the squad as they try to retrieve a 5-2 deficit against Atletico Madrid in this Champions League last 16 second leg tie.
Interim head coach Igor Tudor makes four changes in all, with Dominic Solanke, Kevin Danso and Souza replaced by Randal Kolo Muani, captain Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. Xavi Simons also comes into the starting line-up.
Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Spence, Simons, Sarr, Gray, Tel, Muani.
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Tottenham v Atletico Madrid: Key stats and player infopublished at 08:04 GMT 18 March
08:04 GMT 18 March
Chris Adams BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Last week's hammering in Madrid was a chastening experience for all involved with Tottenham Hotspur, not least goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
A three-goal deficit means the tie is not completely dead and buried, but it feels a very tall task for a Spurs squad winless in their past eight - five of them under new boss Igor Tudor. Atleti, by contrast, have won six of their past seven, although they're a distant third in La Liga.
Did you know?
Atletico Madrid are aiming to reach their first Champions League final since 2015-16, when they lost the decider to city rivals Real Madrid for the second time in three seasons.
Only four teams (out of 51) have lost a Champions League knockout tie after leading by three or more goals from the first leg.
Atletico Madrid player to watch - Julian Alvarez
The joint-fourth top scorer in this season's competition with seven goals and three assists, the versatile forward bagged a double in the first leg. Alvarez is a 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina and a Champions League winner as part of the Manchester City team that did the Treble in 2022-23.
Who else?
Versatile Spain international Marcos Llorente, equally at home at right-back and in midfield, scored last week's opener. Such versatility has made him virtually undroppable this campaign. The 31-year-old has a Champions League winner's medal from Real Madrid's 2017-18 campaign, although he played just 21 minutes of a group stage match against Borussia Dortmund.
Gossip: Spurs could target Savinho in summerpublished at 07:01 GMT 18 March
07:01 GMT 18 March
Manchester City could let Brazilian winger Savinho, 21, leave in the summer and Tottenham are possible suitors if they retain their Premier League status. (Football Insider, external)
Spurs players speaking about leaving 'the biggest nonsense' - Van de Venpublished at 15:30 GMT 17 March
15:30 GMT 17 March
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has labelled talk that members of the squad are talking and thinking about their next club as "nonsense".
Various reports in recent weeks, including in the BBC Sport gossip column, have linked first-team players with summer exits, while our fan writer Ali Speechley wrote earlier in March that, "some of the squad has mentally checked out – unbothered by the badge us fans love so dearly, and instead dreaming about their next club".
"I've seen things going by, it's not something I look at a lot, to be honest," Van de Ven said in the news conference before Wednesday's Champions League second leg against Atletico Madrid.
"It's reporters just saying something. So we're just like, how do you even come up with this? Like players are switched off or don't care about the situation. What's happening right now?
"And the only thing I can say about it is it's not true. It will be strange if a player will be in a dressing room now and saying 'Oh, I'm going to leave either way or I don't focus about the situation'.
"It doesn't affect me. And I think it's just nonsense. It's the biggest nonsense. Everybody's just focused on what's going ahead and what's in front of us.
"The other day when we read that one guy told the rest of the team that he doesn't care because he's leaving anyway. It's like how does this come out? It's just made up. And the fans will believe it. It's just frustrating for us guys.
"It brings so much more trouble as well, because fans are starting to believe this, but trust me, all the people involved on the pitch, the staff, the players, everyone, they care so much about the situation we're in right now, and we just want to turn things around.
"If there are some reports saying the guys don't care anymore, it's frustrating for our guys."
Tudor on Romero's fitness, relegation battle & 'belief' for Atletico challenge published at 14:43 GMT 17 March
14:43 GMT 17 March
Tottenham boss Igor Tudor has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League last 16 second leg against Atletico Madrid at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (20:00 GMT).
Spurs trail 5-2 from the first leg.
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
After their clash of heads late in last week's first leg, Tudor confirmed Joao Palhinha's injury "was worse" and won't be available but captain Cristian Romero "can play".
Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall "will be on the bench but not part of the game too much as they have just come back to us", while an assessment will be made on Conor Gallagher after the midfielder missed the first leg: "We see today what we can do. He has asthma problems, maybe some virus, it is not a nice thing. We will see tomorrow if he is fit for the bench."
Is the aim tomorrow to reach the next round, or just to build confidence in the relegation battle?: "Both things. It is a game which we should play to pass. Our first thing is to stay in the league, but tomorrow is a big challenge to show we can do good things and show that they are not better than us."
On Atletico Madrid's form, following recent heavy defeats by Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano: "It is difficult but not impossible. We need to stay in the game, focus on our strengths. Everything is still to play for, believing we can do it is the important thing from the start."
Tudor was asked whether a weight has been lifted by winning his first point in charge at Liverpool on Sunday: "Of course, it is important when you give a good performance to confirm the good will, and to start to change things. The players really care, they want to do well. It is not easy to start to move things, but this is one good game. If you are honest on the pitch, football will give you it back. Now we need to continue in this direction."
When asked if Tottenham will stay in the Premier League, Tudor said he is "very confident" of survival.
Forest to lose Premier League relegation battle? Fans have their say...published at 12:44 GMT 17 March
12:44 GMT 17 March
Image source, Getty Images
With Opta's supercomputer predictions suggesting it could be four teams fighting to avoid one relegation spot as we head into the final eight games of the season, we asked you who you think will be the one to go down (with Burnley and Wolves).
At the time of writing, Nottingham Forest - who Opta say have a 32% chance of finishing 18th - are the ones fans think are mostly likely to be in the Championship next season.
Fans must follow Richarlison into battlepublished at 18:11 GMT 16 March
18:11 GMT 16 March
Ali Speechly Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Relegation Richarlison has been well and truly activated.
Before the Liverpool game, morale could not have been lower.
The sickening clash of heads between Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha last week was a perfect visual representation of everything that has plagued Spurs this season.
Even when the fight has made its way to the surface during this disastrous campaign, it has been so disorganised, poorly communicated and shambolically executed that, invariably, it has caused more damage than it has helped to avoid.
Increasingly, it has felt as though there is no-one in charge at this football club. Not on the pitch, not in the dugout, and not in the boardroom.
Here is the fight we have been waiting for. Here is the determination we have been lacking. Here is the passion we have been desperate to see.
Cast in the lead role? A man familiar with what it takes to survive. Richarlison has played this part before, successfully battling relegation with Everton, of course, but also overcoming his own personal demons to persevere in a sport that is not for the weak of spirit.
The battle on the pitch was enthusiastically supported in the stands. Listening on the radio, I felt so proud to hear the travelling Spurs fans roar the players on throughout the game.
Indeed, it's worth remembering that this is our fight, too. Managers will come and go. The boardroom faces can and do change. Owners may decide to sell. But this will always be our club - our one and only club.
Let Richarlison lead the charge. Let that performance against Liverpool be the beginning of a rallying cry that galvanises our team and stuns the opposition. Let us fans maintain this positive momentum so the players know we are behind them all the way.
So when the final whistle is blown on this wretched season, we will know we did everything we could to support our team.
The race for Premier League survival - who will go down?published at 14:27 GMT 16 March
14:27 GMT 16 March
It is the business end of the season and the race to stay in the Premier League is getting more tense.
With Opta giving Burnley and Wolves just a 0.35% and 0.07% chance of survival respectively and Crystal Palace a 0.08% chance of going down, it looks like it is a fight between four teams to avoid the remaining relegation spot.
Just three points separate West Ham in 18th and Leeds in 15th, with only goal difference currently keeping the Hammers in the drop zone.
Opta's supercomputer has been running the scenarios and providing the percentage chance of Leeds, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham finishing in 18th place.
At 6.36%, Leeds are currently predicted to have the best chance of staying in the top flight in their first season back, while bottom-of-the-form-table Tottenham - who are just one point ahead Forest and West Ham - have been given a 13.03% likelihood of being in that third relegation spot come the end of the campaign.
Things look a bit more worrying for Vitor Pereira's Forest and Nuno Espirito Santo's West Ham with a 32.85% and 45% chance respectively.
As Spurs and Forest face each other in a crucial match this Sunday, the picture could yet look a whole lot different heading into the international break next week.
Do you agree with the supercomputer? Who do you think of those four teams is most likely to go down?
When are Tottenham's injured players due back?published at 12:44 GMT 16 March
12:44 GMT 16 March
Image source, Getty Images
Richarlison's late strike at Anfield lifted the tiniest bit of gloom at Tottenham and offered hope that an unthinkable relegation could be avoided.
Key to Spurs' chances of building on their hard-earned point at the home of the champions will be the return of key faces to the starting 11.
At the time of writing, Igor Tudor has 13 important players out through injury.
So when can he expect some help from them?
The almost there group...
Micky van de Ven and Conor Gallagher will be available to face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. There's a great chance Destiny Udogie can play by this weekend when Spurs face a crunch fixture against Nottingham Forest, with Tudor stating he was "almost back" when asked last week.
So three big names could be in action by the weekend and both Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha may be in the squad by then too, with their return date slated for 22 March - the day of the fixture.
Last week Tudor explained: "I think they will be back for sure for Forest, maybe even for the Champions League. I don't know exactly."
There's a short wait on...
Tudor therefore could have five of his key figures available soon, which sounds hugely significant. The issue is the other eight names come back in April at the very earliest.
This would mean they could take part in Spurs' final seven league games, starting with a trip to Sunderland on 12 April.
Will we see them again this season?
Minutes this season for Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur could prove significant and the pair are slated to be back in early May. Spurs on paper have a tough finish to the campaign, facing Aston Villa away on 2 May, Leeds at home on 9 May, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 17 May and Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 24 May. The chance to pick Kulusevski or Bentancur for two or three of these games will surely do Tottenham's survival chances no harm.
Season over...
The likes of James Maddison and Wilson Odobert will not feature again this season, while Yves Bissouma is the only player listed as having an unknown return date.
Tottenham's unlucky 13 are being sorely missed at the moment. The reappearance of several of them might just be the difference between a close escape and complete disaster.
'That squad has been allowed to decay'published at 11:14 GMT 16 March
11:14 GMT 16 March
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham's relegation battle is a result of poor recruitment after losing big figures at the club, says BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel.
For the second season running, Spurs have found themselves down the wrong end of the Premier League table, with this campaign seeing them in a genuine fight for top-flight survival as they sit just one point above West Ham in the relegation zone.
"Quality counts at the end of the day," Mokbel told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
"What has happened at Tottenham over the course of the past three or four years is that squad has been allowed to decay maybe. They lost Harry Kane, and any club in the world would suffer if they were to lose Harry Kane.
"So they lost Kane, they lost Son Heung-min, the two who have been their main source of goals over the years. And I have some sympathy with the club and the recruitment staff there because trying to replace those to players is nigh-on impossible. I don't know how you do it.
"But regardless, they have had to replace them and unfortunately for them, the players they have been replaced with just haven't been up to scratch."
Despite their form seeing them slide towards those danger places, there were some positives for fans to take from a hard-earned point away at Liverpool on Sunday.
"We need to be careful to not over egg the pudding. It is still just a point, albeit a very good one at Anfield," Mokbel added. "But also, my understanding going into Sunday's game was that a defeat, certainly a heavy defeat and poor performance, would have cost Igor Tudor his job.
"There is some room for optimism if you are a Tottenham fan, but we still have to point out that he is very much not out of the woods. He is on the cusp of a very big week.
"The game against Nottingham Forest on Sunday is probably the biggest game of Tottenham's season."
Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham - the fans' verdictpublished at 10:49 GMT 16 March
10:49 GMT 16 March
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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Tottenham.
Here are some of your comments:
Liverpool fans
Ben: I think Slot has to go sadly, it's been dire football since being knocked out the Champions League last season. Even before that the football was turgid but the results were good. The slow predictable football has been there since slot took over, winning the league last season was much to do with Man City's deficiencies rather than Liverpool brilliance - much like this season's probable winners.
Jack: I don't know what Slot has done to this team, but they genuinely look cowardly. Terrified to attack, terrified to defend, and even terrified to play a risky pass more than 5 yards away. We made Tottenham look like a Champions League winning team, not a side fighting a relegation battle. If we play like this on Wednesday against Galatasaray we can say goodbye to the Champions League for a couple of years, and probably by to Slot for good.
Paul: I've had enough of this - no drive, no desire and no passion. Slot has ripped the heart and soul of this team. He has to go and needs to be sacked now. Unacceptable.
Alan: Absolutely shocking yet again. This MUST change and change very quickly. Starting to think Slot is not the answer, same answers to same questions and nothing changes. We will not win a trophy this year.
Spurs fans
Pat: Players showed lot of heart and courage, at times though making very basic mistakes. A better Liverpool side would have punished them. Nonetheless, a great point. Have to now stick with Tudor. Keep taking each match at a time, and keep fighting for each other.
Richard: At last a performance of which Spurs fans can feel proud - full of effort and determination, and richly deserving of a point, and heads didn't drop even when going behind. Maybe the team have finally got the meaning of playing for the shirt - more of the same, please!
Dave: A terrific unexpected vital point gained and well deserved. We showed some resilience and everyone put a shift in with no sign of the farcicle unravelling we've seen recently. Particular praise for Richarlison and Tel. Is the Tudor effect kicking in? The attitude shown at Anfield must continue in order to stay up. Same goes for our fans. No eerie atmosphere at home please, the anxiety is palpable and is not helping the team. COYS.
Kevin: Best team performance for ages. Dragusin and Danso don't give you pace or finesse, but they get their heads on everything and put their bodies in the way. Leave Micky Van de Ven and Romero on the bench and play the youngsters. Hope at last?!
'Tudor can have satisfaction of demonstrating he can get a reaction'published at 08:56 GMT 16 March
08:56 GMT 16 March
Phil McNulty Chief football writer
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Igor Tudor delivered a message of defiance amid Tottenham Hotspur's deepening crisis when he told his players before their visit to Liverpool: "You can stay and cry or you can fight."
The smart money was on more tears after four straight losses under the Croat saw an alarming drop towards relegation, along with a loss at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16 first leg that was nothing short of a fiasco.
And yet here, against all odds and without 13 players because of suspension and injuries, Spurs stood and fought every inch of the way at Anfield to earn a fully deserved point with a performance that may yet prove to be of wider significance as they fight against the drop into the Championship.
Will it be enough to buy Tudor more time? We shall see.
The sense is he is not out of the woods yet, but at least Tudor can have the satisfaction of demonstrating he can get a reaction, at least once, from Spurs players who had previously looked down and out.
Can Anfield point 'kick-start' Spurs' season?published at 07:53 GMT 16 March
07:53 GMT 16 March
Image source, Mirror and Express
Monday's newspaper back pages are about Richarlison's all-important 90th minute equaliser against Liverpool on Sunday that could prove vital in Tottenham's attempt to pull away from the relegation zone.
It's left the media and pundits wondering whether a point at Anfield could be the turning point that Igor Tudor and Spurs need.
"The whole season has been very poor by their standards and the pressure was mounting on the new manager after another heavy defeat midweek," says former Premier League footballer Charlie Adam.
"To go to Anfield and get a point will look to kick-start the season for them because they are in the mix [of the relegation scrap]. They need to start getting results so that will hopefully give them some confidence going into the final run-in.
"They were well-organised, well-drilled and more competitive than they have been.
"They now just need to keep going so that Tottenham are in the Premier League next season."
Gossip: Spurs shortlist eight managerspublished at 07:07 GMT 16 March
07:07 GMT 16 March
Tottenham are considering up to eight candidates to replace under-pressure manager Igor Tudor, with Sean Dyche, Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto de Zerbi among them. (Talksport), external
Manchester City could also sign Spain defender Pedro Porro, 26, for significantly less than his £80m valuation because of Tottenham's financial situation if they are relegated. (Football Insider), external
Spurs analysis: Light at the end of the tunnel?published at 19:28 GMT 15 March
19:28 GMT 15 March
Image source, Getty Images
Spurs and interim head coach Igor Tudor – however long he may last – can take huge encouragement from both the performance and result at Anfield.
Tudor arrived at Anfield surrounded by speculation about his future after four dismal losses, the last little short of a fiasco at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
But missing 13 players, they fully merited the draw as they were spirited and dangerous throughout.
Richarlison led the line superbly, giving Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez a torrid time in tandem with Dominic Solanke.
He had tested Liverpool keeper Alisson several times before finally beating his Brazil colleague with a scuffed finish after Randal Kolo Muani had outmuscled Van Dijk in the final minute of normal time.
The big question is whether Spurs can now build on the platform this fine display has provided.
They face a mammoth task to over-turn a 5-2 deficit from the Champions League last-16 first leg against Atletico Madrid before a vital game at home to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.
Spurs have reached the stage where every point is priceless – and no-one could possibly begrudge them this one.
