Tottenham Hotspur

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank called it the "perfect storm".

Other assessments are available of Cristian Romero's lunge at Manchester United midfielder Casemiro half an hour into their Premier League game at Old Trafford.

At the end of a week during which Romero has been at the centre of attention after he publicly condemned the Spurs hierarchy for their failure to invest in the squad, the Argentina defender once again left Frank to defend him

According to the Premier League Match Centre, Romero's challenge met the threshold for serious foul play because it was "made with excessive force and endangered an opponent".

Former Premier League official Darren Cann agreed with the decision.

"Romero makes a forceful challenge on Casemiro which is, in law, undoubtedly a serious foul play tackle," Cann told BBC Sport.

"It was a really excellent decision from referee Michael Oliver, who was brilliantly positioned."

Not even Frank could argue Oliver was wrong to send Romero off.

"The red card is a red card," he said. "But I have watched it back five times, he clearly tried to go for the ball."

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also defended his team-mate on TNT Sports.

"He's our captain and today he made a mistake," he said. "But we know the player he is.

"He's going to come back stronger, for sure, and he'll help us throughout the rest of the season."

But Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy was clear Romero "let his team-mates down", adding: "It is irresponsible, especially after a week where he's been talking about recruitment and a lack of players.

"He's the captain, the leader - he needs to do better."

Frank has made it clear Romero will still be captain when he returns for that Liverpool game, which will split two Champions League last-16 ties, when Juventus and Atletico Madrid are two of the four opponents they could meet.

In the meantime, he must hope for more level heads because Romero's dismissal led to another defeat. And, with local rivals West Ham starting to pick up points, the spectre of relegation is far too close for comfort.

Read more on Romero's week ending in a 'perfect storm'

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank, speaking to TNT Sport: "I think the first 30 minutes were a good away performance at a difficult place against a team with confidence in them and flow. Then after the red card, I am very proud of the players.

"The resilience, staying in the game mentality, still being a threat at times trying to create something. Very proud of them. Then, of course we just made the three offensive subs and then we concede the second. I think the last 60/70 minutes, we were playing with 10 men. They put everything into it. Very proud of the fans. You could hear them loud throughout the game.

On Cristian Romero's red cardb: "Cristian first and foremost, there is no intention to do the follow through and get a red. He clearly goes for the ball. Unfortunately, the way the rules are, it becomes a red. Cristian apologised to his team-mates in the dressing room.

"It is, but it is what it is. We need to deal with it. I think a big area we've been working hard on is the resilience. We didn't get the result out of it today, but what they showed out there on the pitch today, the players, was incredible. We need to focus on Newcastle on Tuesday night.

"Just focus on the next game. That is Newcastle on Tuesday night."

Did you know?

• Tottenham are now winless across their last seven Premier League games (D4 L3), their third such run since the start of the 2024-25 season. Previously, they hadn't gone as many matches without a win since May-October 2008 (a run of nine).

• Cristian Romero became the first player to be sent off twice in the Premier League this season. His red card today was his fourth in the Premier League since he joined Spurs in 2021 - the most of any player during this period and the joint-most of anyone for Spurs in the competition overall (also Younes Kaboul).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester United's performance

What did you make of Tottenham's display?

Come back on Sunday for a selection of your replies

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Michael Carrick goes with an unchanged line-up as Manchester United look for a fourth win in a row since he was installed as Ruben Amorim's successor until the end of the season.

The only change to Carrick's entire matchday squad is on the bench, where Scotland Under-19 midfielder Tyler Fletcher gets the nod ahead of young forward Shea Lacey.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo.

Substitutes: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Zirkzee, Malacia, Yoro, Ugarte, Heaven, Sesko, T Fletcher.

Thomas Frank makes three changes to the side that fought back to draw at Manchester City last week.

Key defender Micky van de Ven is back from injury to partner skipper Cristian Romero in central defence.

Wilson Odebert and Pape Sarr replace Yves Bissouma and Randal Kolo Muani, who drop to the bench.

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Joao Palhinha, Romero, Van de Ven, Gray, Gallagher, Odebert, Udogie, Sarr, Simons, Solanke.

Substitutes: Kinsky, Dragusin, Bissouma, Tel, Kolo Muani, Souza, Olusesi, Byfield, Williams-Barnett.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Man Utd v Tottenham (12:30)

• Arsenal v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Burnley v West Ham

• Fulham v Everton

• Wolves v Chelsea

• Newcastle v Brentford (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra with second half on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Bournemouth v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Sunderland", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

Michael Carrick will be looking to maintain his 100% record in his second spell in charge of Manchester United in the Saturday 12:30 GMT kick-off at the expense of his former club Tottenham Hotspur, who are winless in their last six league games.

In Roy Keane's retelling of a Sir Alex Ferguson team talk ahead of a game against Spurs, the Scot reportedly told his players: "Lads, it's Tottenham," and left it at that, such was his confidence. Recently though, things have been less straightforward for the Old Trafford outfit, who will mark the 68th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster before kick-off.

The Red Devils are winless in their past six league games against Spurs (drawn three, lost three), their joint-longest run without a league win against the north London side – and one that extends to eight games in all competitions.

Classy Casemiro back to his best

With no arrivals in the winter transfer window, Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro seem almost certain to continue as United's first-choice pairing at the base of midfield, as they have done in Carrick's three consecutive wins.

The Brazilian, who last month confirmed he will leave at the end of the season, has been in fine form recently, opening the scoring with a header in last week's dramatic 3-2 success against Fulham – since his debut in August 2022, no midfielder has scored more headers in the Premier League than Casemiro's seven.

The home side conceded twice when he was replaced by Manuel Ugarte in the second half of that game; astonishingly, they've let in more league goals this season with Ugarte on the pitch than with Casemiro, despite the Uruguayan playing less than half the number of minutes.

A Frank assessment

Tottenham's second-half rally to earn a 2-2 draw against Manchester City last week provided a welcome fillip for head coach Thomas Frank, whose side haven't won in the league this calendar year.

"I think we can create something magic together - the players and the fans - when we are united like we were," Frank purred after that comeback. Spurs' Champions League form has arguably kept him in a job, although the Dane would quite rightly point to the club's ongoing injury crisis as a mitigating factor.

Dominic at the double

One man who is back off the treatment table is Dominic Solanke, who netted both goals to earn a point against City – even if his dubious first effort provoked the ire of Pep Guardiola, who insisted it was a foul.

Solanke has four goals in six games in all competitions since returning from an ankle injury that caused him to miss four months of the season, averaging a goal every 88 minutes. That's the best rate of any Spurs player this season, and notably he has notched five in his last five appearances against Manchester United.

The statistics suggest that the first half of this encounter will be telling for Tottenham, who sit 14th in the table with just one league win in nine. They are winless in all 10 of their league games when behind at the break this term – drawing three and losing seven – and unbeaten in all six when leading at half-time (won five, drawn one).

Worryingly for Frank, only the bottom two sides have conceded more first-half goals than Tottenham's 18 in the league this season.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.

His guest for week 25 is Gladiators star Apollo, real name Alex Gray, who supports Newcastle.

Sutton says: Manchester United were slightly fortunate to beat Fulham last time out. A draw would have been about right.

Still, it was big for Benjamin Sesko to get their winner and I have got to say he put it away very nicely, especially because he should have scored with a header earlier in the game.

Tottenham, meanwhile, produced a great comeback against Manchester City. I've talked about how much I rate Dominic Solanke and when he is up for Spurs, they are in a much better place as a team.

There is a danger of getting carried away with United under Michael Carrick, and I am expecting Solanke to score again here, but it still feels like United will find a way to win it.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Apollo's prediction: 0-1

AI's prediction: 2-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tottenham's 22-year-old Argentine striker Alejo Veliz, who is on loan at Rosario Central, is set to join Brazilian club Bahia in the summer in a deal worth 9m euros (£7.8m) plus add-ons. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Cristian Romero's comments about the "disgraceful" number of players Spurs had available to face Man City have been "dealt with internally" and Frank said: "If you want to know what he meant you need to ask him."

• He added: "He is a very passionate character and player that wants to leave everything on the pitch. He is very ambitious and wants to win every single time. Sometimes when you are like that can come an outburst."

• On the social media post, Frank said: "I wouldn't have done it. That is my message."

• With successive draws, Frank said "the performances are more competitive and consistent. Are they perfect? No, but we are getting closer and closer".

• Micky van de Ven has returned to training and is available for selection, while Djed Spence is "touch and go" but getting closer.

• After signing Conor Gallagher and Souza in the January transfer window, Frank said "where we are now is OK. We tried to do more but it was not possible for whatever reason".

• Frank praised Joao Palhinha for his "important" performances and said has been "driving the team".

• Michael Carrick has "injected energy" at Manchester United and Frank expected a "threat" and a "challenge", but insisted "we are looking forward to it.

Atletico Madrid are ready to move for Tottenham defender Cristian Romero, 27, following the Argentine's latest social media post appearing to criticise the club. (Sun), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Ali Speechly
Fan writer

Spurs only managed to secure two first-team additions in this winter transfer window and one of those is a teenager.

Unbelievable, but true, and some might even say disgraceful - especially given our significant injury crisis.

Most fans appreciate that the board could not fix everything in one window, but seeing as we are in desperate need of a striker and an attacking midfielder, we thought the powers that be would have achieved more.

In fairness, I have been impressed by Conor Gallagher and I think he will prove to be a shrewd acquisition. Ultimately though, we are left feeling once again that the club has not done enough to secure the players we need.

However, if we consider the complexities of the winter window, are we actually surprised by this outcome?

The reality is we are not going to beat teams like Manchester City in signing players like Antoine Semenyo.

Instead, we have to attract the players that are left in the market once clubs like City have concluded their business and, unfortunately, those players are often unlikely to be the right solution.

Even if a viable option is identified, moving a player mid-season is difficult. They have to want to come, often from Europe because the existing Premier League players have already been snapped up by the opposition, and often only as part of a loan move until an upgrade is found in the summer.

For now, Thomas Frank must focus on getting the best out of the players he has, so that come the summer we are in a better position to attract higher quality reinforcements.

Behind the scenes, the board must continue to work hard between now and the summer to ensure that the next transfer window is a resounding success.

Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane, external and on Instagram, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

I watched the Tottenham v Manchester City draw, mostly with my mouth wide open in the second half as an abject Spurs, from nowhere, dominated City. My chin was on the floor for Dominic Solanke's genius equalising scorpion kick. However, my shock had also yet to recede following Spurs' opener.

It initially looked a good goal. Then the replay showed clearly from one angle, that Solanke had not kicked the ball, he had kicked Marc Guehi's foot onto the ball, which then put the ball in the net.

There is this rule in football which you might be aware of, you are not allowed to kick an opponent, you are supposed to kick the ball. Somehow the VAR thought it perfectly acceptable - what?!

Then an array of pundits, well the ones who spotted it, started to agree it was a perfectly good goal. I must admit I began to wonder if I was missing something, but I looked again and no.

Yes, strikers put their foot in between a defender and the ball to take a hit to win a penalty sometimes, but that is totally different.

On those occasions the forward initiates the contact deliberately. Guehi was going for the ball and got to it ball first. Allowing the goal may well be my least favourite VAR moment of the season, and that is saying something.

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Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland senior reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham have signed teenage striker James Wilson on loan from Hearts in a deal that includes an option to buy at the end of the season.

Arsenal were in talks with the Scottish Premiership leaders over a move for the 18-year-old - in a deal that was effectively a six-month trial.

Wilson has been around Hearts for a number of years and there was considerable interest from Leeds, before he signed his first professional contract just after his 16th birthday.

Although he played a number of matches for Hearts 'B', he has been training with the first team for the vast majority of his professional career.

Wilson scored six goals in 33 appearances last season, but has struggled to force his way into the line-up in this campaign thanks to the excellent form of Hearts' strikers.

He already has one Scotland cap to his name having been introduced to the squad by Steve Clarke last year.

James has twin brothers, Alfie and Stanley, who are also youth players at Tynecastle.

The Observer's Rory Smith discussed Tottenham's second-half comeback against Manchester City on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club: "There has been this discussion about atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - most of which leaves out the fact if you don't give the fans anything to cheer, they are not going to cheer.

"There is a direct relationship between what happens on the pitch and the product and the atmosphere in which it's played.

"Presumably, Thomas Frank has been trying to get his players to do this all the time, so I wonder why it's only clicked after that first-half performance and the boos.

"Something changed at half-time and the Spurs team that came out looked completely different to the team of most of the past six months."

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "Spurs have a proper striker in Dominic Solanke.

"He is a good all-rounder, he will score goals and having a proper number nine who will run in behind and who adds variation to the play will just mix their game up."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Tottenham were unable to finalise a deal with Monaco for Maghnes Akliouche, 23, but might go back in for the France midfielder in the summer. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Tottenham have done the following business on deadline day:

• Scotland forward James Wilson, 18, has joined Tottenham from Hearts on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy for an undisclosed fee.

• Midfielder George Abbott, who has one senior appearance for Spurs, has completed a loan move to League One club Mansfield Town for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.

• Centre-back Alfie Dorrington makes the move to Salford City on loan. The 20-year-old has been on loan at Aberdeen for the first half of the season.

• Spurs forward Herbie James, who has featured 20 times for the club's academy teams, has joined League One side Cardiff City on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

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Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

People might not agree with me, but I think Conor Gallagher to Tottenham will be seen as a success. I think they needed leaders in that squad and he's certainly one of those.

I think it's unfortunate for them that they couldn't get the Andy Robertson deal over the line. They've been crying out for a player like that for a while.

But I think the Gallagher deal will be a successful deal because I think he's an excellent player.

Spurs fan Ali Speechly told BBC Sport that the winter window has been a "snooze fest" but is pleased with the signing of Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid.

You can watch BBC Sport's Transfer Deadline Day coverage here

Watch Total Sport's transfer deadline day special for London, discussing the business done by Arsenal, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham, plus the capital's EFL sides.

The show, which runs from 18:00-20:00 GMT, will offer the latest updates and analysis on the done and rumoured deals.

Watch it here