Tottenham are edging closer towards suffering what would be the English Premier League’s “shock of the century”, while at the top of the table, the title race is heating up.
Spurs’ woes were once again thrust into the spotlight with their latest crushing north London derby defeat to league ladders Arsenal.
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And now several of English football’s biggest names are fearing that Ange Postecoglou’s former club could face the dreaded drop.
Meanwhile, the mind games between rivals Arsenal and Manchester City have reached a new level as all things point towards a blockbuster meeting later in the season.
Last season’s champions are causing headaches despite snatching three points at the death against Nottingham Forest in what has been dubbed “one of the biggest robberies” of the season.
Regardless, the result has ramped up the relegation pressure on Postecoglou’s other former Premier League club.
Scroll down for the latest Premier League talking points!
Racial abuse targeted at EPL duo | 00:31
‘SHOCK OF THE CENTURY’: TOTTENHAM IN RELEGATION ‘TROUBLE’
Tottenham were battered 4-1 by Arsenal in front of their home fans in interim manager Igor Tudor’s first game in charge.
Spurs dismissed Thomas Frank, but little seemed to change as they suffered a fourth straight defeat at the hands of the Gunners.
Rubbing further salt into the wounds, Tottenham are winless in their last seven clashes with Arsenal.
They have now also lost three straight Premier League matches and sit just four points clear of the drop zone after West Ham edged closer with a scoreless draw at home to Bournemouth.
Things are looking real dire for Tottenham and the gulf in class between them and their league leading rivals was evident on Monday morning AEST.
“It was a complete mismatch. They were in different leagues, Arsenal were so classy. They were so much better than Tottenham; it was like two different leagues,” former Liverpool, Tottenham and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp said on Sky Sports.
“If Tottenham aren’t careful, they might be in a different league. They cannot keep performing like this.
“They have not won a game in 2026 [in the league]; it is a team devoid of personality. They’ve had a personality bypass. They have to somehow show some character. They cannot carry on every year like this.”
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville shared similar concerns about Tottenham’s future.
After spending almost $2 billion on their 62,850 seat stadium and not having dropped to the English second tier since a one-year spell in the league below almost 50 years ago, Neville believes “it’s unthinkable” that a big six club like Tottenham could find themselves in the Championship.
But with 11 games left in the season, it is a very real possibility.
“Tottenham are in trouble,” Neville said.
“Last season, they really skirted with it a little bit, but they were always clear of it and they were managing the Europa League games and just getting enough points. You never really felt they were going to go down.
“This season, they’ve got some real work to do and they better do it quickly. I watch West Ham, I watch Nottingham Forest, and they’ve got something about them that you think they’re going to pick up points.
“It’s not going to be the case that Tottenham can just sit there and think that this is just going to happen – they’re going to have to work hard to get out of this mess.
“It’s unthinkable. But on the football side of it, they’ve underdelivered for a number of years, they’ve never found the right formula to get it right and this is the second season on the trot that they’re in this type of position.”
Neville continued: “It’s not a fluke anymore. This is a pattern of what you are and it would be the shock of the century. It would be absolutely mind-blowing to think that they could disappear out of this league, but I don’t think they will.
“They’ve shown an attitude against Arsenal for 55, 60 minutes. They were just beaten in the end by a better team. They have shown a little bit of ruggedness that they will need.
“They’ve got to make sure that if they’re playing a team here that doesn’t get the crowd up as much and doesn’t get these players up as much, that they show that same ruggedness. Because it’s easy to show it sometimes in a north London derby where you have to and you’re almost forced to in a manager’s first game.
“But when the cameras are off, and they’re playing against the team in mid-table next week and the week after – and maybe it’s a little bit less motivation because of the fact of what the fixture is – are they going to be as rugged, as dogged and as hardworking and as pressurising?
“They’re going to need to be. Because if you just a few per cent off it in this league, you will get done.”
EPL Wrap: City just 2 points behind top | 03:24
‘GOING TO BE A MASSIVE STRUGGLE’: TITLE RACE HEATS UP
Arsenal’s big win over Tottenham also ensured that they kept a five-point buffer at the top of the table after a slip up last week.
The Gunners became the first league leaders to ever drop points after leading 2-0 against a side in the relegation zone.
Their 2-2 draw at last-placed Wolves left Manchester City smelling blood in the water and Arsenal looked shaky.
City have a game in hand and moved to only two points behind their rivals when they defeated Newcastle 2-1 at home.
The perennial contenders, who have won six of the last eight titles, will lift the trophy if they win all of their remaining matches given a top of the table clash will take place at the Etihad in April.
Gary Neville believes that City sent a strong message to Arsenal with their post-match actions after the Newcastle victory on Sunday morning AEDT.
“The celebrations at the end [after Newcastle] from Haaland and Pep Guardiola were meaningful. They were sending a message – that was mind games at play. Pep will say it’s not, but it is,” Neville said.
“Every time you speak now for the next two months, every time you do something on the pitch, it’s going to be transmitting to the opposition team – that’s vulnerabilities, strength, celebrations, whatever it is.”
Neville continued: “So what Arsenal had to cope with and the questions that they’ve had to answer, I missed one of them out and that was the fact that Man City have sent a message that we’re coming for you and we’re going to be breathing down your neck.
“Arsenal have withstood that, and they’re going to have to withstand that for another six to eight weeks. They were never going to get this Premier League title handed to them on a plate. It doesn’t work like that.
“It’s a struggle, it’s a battle, it’s a fight and this City team aren’t quite the team that were going through those fights with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, but there’s still some characters in that dressing room who understand it and know it – and particularly the manager, so they’re going to be so dangerous.
“I think Arsenal will get there, but it doesn’t surprise me that they are making mistakes and that City are coming back at them. They’ll almost crawl over the line in the end.
“It’s going to be a massive struggle. I don’t think it’s going to be easy and that game is going to be monumental at the Etihad [on April 18].”
Before that blockbuster in the league, Arsenal and City will have the chance to land a few blows on one another in next month’s League Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
But Neville believes that while silverware is always much sought after, it will be Arsenal’s trip to Manchester that will be of the utmost importance.
“I have thought for a number of years when Arsenal have been going for this title that they’re going to have to go and win at the Etihad. That’s the only real way,” Neville said.
“The Carabao Cup final [on March 22] is a chance to send a message, because you’re playing directly against them and you can cause them some real pain by taking a medal from around the necks, but what you can do is go and beat them at their own place.
“You go into Manchester City on that day and you’re going to silence them and rock them to the core if you win. But on the other hand, if City beat you up like they did two or three years ago, when Arsenal had those problems defensively, it rocks you the other way.
“That’s in the far distance, it’s not to start thinking about that now, but we know it’s coming. The Arsenal fans know it’s coming, the City fans know it’s coming and it’s about jostling for position.”
Liverpool snatch late win at Forest | 00:37
‘REAL WORRY’: LIVERPOOL GREAT’S FEARS FOR REDS EUROPEAN AMBITIONS
Jamie Carragher called Liverpool’s 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest “one of the biggest robberies” of the Premier League season after a first-half “horror show” in which they were completely outplayed.
The Reds struggled after losing midfielder Florian Wirtz to injury before kick-off, but a 97th minute goal from Alexis Mac Allister still ensured they got all three points.
It was Liverpool’s second straight victory and it was a much-needed one in their quest for a top four finish.
Liverpool are sixth on the table, but are level on 45 points with Chelsea and Manchester United, who both boast a superior goal difference.
United also have a game in hand as they make the trip to Merseyside to take on Everton on Tuesday morning AEST.
Liverpool have a big opportunity ahead of them, however, with their next three matches coming against relegation battlers West Ham, Wolves and Tottenham.
But Reds great Jamie Carragher is not getting his hopes up of Liverpool charging towards the Champions League places after what he saw in Nottingham.
“I’m still not [optimistic] and the reason I say that was more because of the performance today that was a real worry how poor Liverpool were,” Carragher said.
“It was a throwback to games at the start of the season that Liverpool won very fortunately as they did today. But it also reminds me a lot of games in that run when Liverpool lost.
“I said on the back of the Manchester City game I’d be really interested how long Arne Slot sticks with this sort of front four – it’s really offensive, really attacking and at times he can leave that midfield exposed.
“Liverpool have not got great legs, energy or pace in the team and I think that really showed today. So as soon as the Premier League game as they were in today became end to end and fast and furious, they really struggled.
“And I think at some stage Rio Ngumoha has got to come into the team or you may have to actually go with another midfield player and maybe lose probably a Gakpo or a Salah, probably Gakpo initially.
“But I think Liverpool’s pace and penetration in the wide areas is really lacking.”
Australia gearing up for Asian Cup | 00:43
‘SAD AND ANGRY’: FOREST FEAR BEING CUT DOWN
Liverpool’s last gasp escape also created a lot of concern for Nottingham Forest.
After sacking three managers within the space of a season, Forest are only two points above the drop zone.
They were widely praised for taking it up to Liverpool with their physicality, but it reaped no rewards.
Forest are winless in their last four matches and with tough trips to Brighton and Manchester City to come in the next fortnight, they could find themselves in the bottom three.
New manager Vitor Pereira, who replaced Sean Dyche earlier this month, was feeling hard done by after the final whistle.
“I am frustrated, sad and angry with football,” Pereira said.
“For me, it was very unfair but this is football. We need to keep the good things and prepare everything to be ready for the next game.”
Asked if he was confident that Forest will stay up, he replied: “Of course, very confident.
“Frustrated but very confident. If we keep this organisation, we will get points for sure.”
Jamie Carragher was similarly optimistic about Forest’s survival chances.
The Liverpool’s greats confidence comes as The Tricky Trees have conceded just once in the two matches since Pereira took charge, despite failing to find the back of the net.
“What he (Pereira) has seen in the first two games will make him really, really confident that they’ve got more than enough to stay in this Premier League,” Carragher said.
“He’s a really good coach, got great experience, and he’s got some wonderful players in that Nottingham Forest team.
“And as I said, if they perform anywhere near as they have done in his first two games, they’ll have absolutely nothing to worry about in terms of staying in the Premier League.
“They were absolutely fantastic, especially in that first half.”