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New this season: Live match updates
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Tottenham v Aston Villa: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 20:10 BST 18 September
20:10 BST 18 September
Paul Birch BBC Sport journalist
Tottenham and Aston Villa have scored just one league goal between them so far, with both clubs making poor starts to the season. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes before the game on Saturday (12:30 BST).
Spurs search for spark
In the wake of their Carabao Cup exit to Liverpool, Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi said his side have to find "La Scintilla" (the spark) to kick-start their season and finally score some goals.
This is the first time in the club's 144-year history that they have failed to score in their opening four league matches of a season.
The only time they've ever failed to score in five or more league games at any stage of a campaign was a six-game run between December 1985 to February 1986.
While the sole Premier League side to have ever gone longer than four matches without a goal is Crystal Palace, who took seven matches in 2017-18 before finally breaking their duck.
But that Palace team did go on to finish 11th and none of the other four Premier League teams who also failed to score in their opening four matches ended up finishing lower than that.
Coincidentally, one of those sides was actually Unai Emery's Aston Villa just 12 months ago as they roared into form to eventually finish fourth and lift the Europa League.
De Zerbi's side were much improved in their loss to Liverpool in midweek - actually scoring a goal, registering 17 shots and posting an expected goals tally of 2.34, which is remarkably their highest figure against an English opponent since December 2024.
This slow start was somewhat inevitable after such a huge influx of new players over the summer. Analysis by Opta has uncovered that Tottenham are the 12th team in Premier League history to give 20 or more starts in their first four games of a season to players who didn't play a game for them the season before (excluding promoted teams).
Worryingly for Spurs, only five of the previous 11 teams to do so saw their league position actually improve from one campaign to the next.
A stat doing the rounds in recent weeks has highlighted Tottenham's inability to win a game after conceding the first goal. It now stands at an incredible 47 games in all competitions (D11, L36) dating back to a 4-1 comeback win over Aston Villa in November 2024.
Villa also looking for first win
It is surely no coincidence that the sides to have gone through two of the biggest squad upheavals over the summer have both made such sluggish starts to the campaign.
Aston Villa rank 20th in the Premier League for expected goals this season with their tally of 3.39 marginally worse than opponents Tottenham, while only Hull have had fewer touches in the opposition's box than the Villans' 62. However, unlike Spurs, at least Villa did open their top-flight goalscoring account in their defeat with Nottingham Forest last Saturday.
Next on their list will be avoiding equalling an unwanted club record of failing to win any of their first five matches to a top-flight season for the second season running, and for only the fourth time in their history (also 1919-20 and 1964-65).
But Unai Emery is finally getting the chance to call upon most of his new signings having been without the majority of them for a variety of reasons. So far, only four of their 11 summer recruits have started a league match for the club - Zion Suzuki (three starts), Nicolas Jackson (three), Joao Gomes (one) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (one) - and no more than three have done so in the same league match.
Villa have enjoyed the upper-hand in this fixture in recent years, winning seven of the past 10 in all competitions, and have been victorious on five of their past seven visits to N17.
However, Spurs' win at Villa Park in May was one of the highlights of an otherwise wretched campaign for the Lilywhites.
Sutton's predictions: Tottenham v Aston Villapublished at 19:08 BST 18 September
19:08 BST 18 September
Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi has this reputation of being a great coach. We saw what a good job he did at Brighton, but we haven't seen any improvement from Spurs yet, despite the big money they have spent.
He is surely going to come under pressure soon, if their poor results continue.
They are not the only ones to revamp their squad but, if you listen to De Zerbi, after about five years they might come good. He keeps saying they need time, but he's had long enough for their results to be much better already.
Other clubs, like Hull City and Ipswich Town, have brought plenty of players in and are doing well enough - so why aren't Spurs?
I think De Zerbi has to come under scrutiny, but it is different with Unai Emery at Aston Villa.
They are also without a league win, but they look more likely to score goals, as they showed against Coventry City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
I'm expecting them to improve the same way they did after not winning any of their first five games last season, and I can see them edging this.
Do I give Spurs their first league goal of the season? Yes, but only one. They are due a deflection or Villa will score an own goal.
Why Spurs are not finishing movespublished at 18:15 BST 18 September
18:15 BST 18 September
Umir Irfan Football tactics correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
When an attacking side accelerate play, it is common for the defending team to drop back in an urgent manner, looking to protect their goal.
When this happens, space opens up in front of the defence, for late-arriving midfielders or clever strikers that drop back.
Omar Marmoush has tried to do this on a number of occasions but has not always been found.
This may be a matter of players requiring time to gel. For Savio, it may also be a wide player struggling to pull the ball back on their weak foot.
Left-footed right-winger Savio is better at getting to the byeline but the left-footed Destiny Udogie and Andy Robertson have created clearer chances via crosses.
At Marseille, both right winger and right full-back were comfortable cutting the ball back on their right foot.
These crosses were maximised by the excellent box-movement of 37-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Image caption,
Here, Savio's quick dribbling ability gets him to the byeline. As Dominic Solanke's run towards goal, Everton's backline drops deep. Marmoush, in yellow, recognises this and pulls off into a great position for a cutback but isn't found.
Looking at how Roberto de Zerbi is trying to work, it is easier to see how many of Tottenham's attacking moves are almost there in terms of creating clearer chances.
This is not to say things will be perfect immediately. Successful tactics depend on a team's quality - and Marseille's forwards were excellent finishers who thrived in space.
But if the small details across the pitch are refined, Spurs should create enough chances to score, even if they miss a few.
De Zerbi on trio's availability, 'staying calm' and Aston Villapublished at 16:40 BST 18 September
16:40 BST 18 September
Millie Sian BBC Sport journalist
Spurs boss Roberto de Zerbi has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (kick-off 12:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Pedro Porro, Sandro Tonali and James Maddison are "all available to play" this weekend. Their "physical condition" will be assessed before the match, but "all of them are ready" at present.
Record signing Tonali is "working very hard" to get up to speed after his summer move: "His adaptation hasn't been fast, but the same happened in his first season at AC Milan. I know he was younger then but it isn't easy to change club, city and style of play - sometimes it comes immediately, sometimes it needs more time."
He recognises Maddison's "characteristics, experience and passing qualities" are different to his other options in attacking midfield, with Mohammed Kudus not being a natural number 10 and Mateus Fernandes needing to work on being more decisive.
Dejan Kulusevski, who has not featured at all since May 2025, being back in training to some degree is "great news". The international break will be important for his rehabilitation and he will be "like a new signing" when he is back to full fitness.
De Zerbi was forced to reiterate that Conor Gallagher isn't "underrated" by him: "When he hasn't played this season, it has been because I needed different characteristics for that game. Maybe last season we needed different things and we had less competition in the squad, but I still love him. He is my player, when I call on him he is always ready to play, fight and run."
Tottenham must "stay calm, remain confident and keep trying to be better day by day" to secure their first league win of the season. He promised to show improvement "not by words but by facts", but admitted to never experiencing goalscoring problems in his managerial career.
Selling Will Lankshear to Middlesbrough "wasn't a mistake" because Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush are "good players", plus the Richarlison transfer saga "changed in the last five days of the window". He added: "We have three strikers - how many more do people want me to have in my squad? I think it is enough."
On whether the three-week international break comes at a bad time after building a three-game unbeaten run following a tricky start: "We have to accept it - nothing more. I would work every day if I could, but if we have to stop then we have to stop."
Aston Villa's trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the "most important thing" right now. He explained: "If we don't play well, we won't win against them. Let's hope for a good performance."
Villa counterpart Unai Emery is in a similar position to De Zerbi this season, having "changed many players this summer", so the Italian anticipates a "tough game" for both sides.
Gossip: Richarlison unlikely to be pursued by Everton published at 08:21 BST 18 September
08:21 BST 18 September
Everton are unlikely to pursue Tottenham forward Richarlison despite the 29-year-old being linked with a return to the Toffees over the summer. (Football Insider, external)
'When the small details click, it will be very good' - Marmoushpublished at 16:32 BST 17 September
16:32 BST 17 September
Image source, Getty Images
"Small glimpses of success" in Tottenham's opening matches this season show the team is "very close" to finding positive results, summer signing Omar Marmoush has said.
Spurs are winless and goalless in their opening four Premier League matches, but scored against a top-flight side for the first time this season in Tuesday's Carabao Cup loss at Liverpool.
Despite the lack of end product so far, the summer signing from Manchester City believes Roberto de Zerbi's new-look team are creating enough to show that they are close to clicking in attack.
"If we keep trying - as everyone can see, we reach the goal so many times. We have so much quality on the pitch and from the people that come off the bench to give us this last push. When these small details click, it will be very, very good.
"These moments build the mentality and join the team together. We're all one big family and we push all together. These small glimpses of success give us another push and we have to build this confidence within us.
"I have to say our fans were unbelievable. We've had their support since the very beginning and that's important.
"All of us in the club, the staff, the fans, the coaching staff, everyone around us, we have to support each other in order to reach our goal because that's the only way you can reach it."
Gossip: Spurs latest club to be linked with Icardipublished at 07:19 BST 17 September
07:19 BST 17 September
Spurs are the latest club to be linked to Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, with the 33-year-old available as a free agent after leaving Galatasaray in July. (Calciomercato - in Italian, external)
Angela: Still a bit laboured. If Spurs had put away their chances it could have been a very different outcome.
Gazza: Good result and big bonus to rest key players while knowing you can rely on youth to help. Still not convinced by us defensively but it's early days. So pleased that Gakpo has stayed. If he can gel with Isak, Wirtz and Barcola then that's an exciting prospect which should put fear into most opposition defences.
Robby: We may just pull off a few surprises this season with our wealth of youth all pressing for game time. The contribution put in by the younger players was definitely uplifting for both the team and the fans. Things are finally taking shape.
Nigel: Koumas - amazing non-stop pressing! He must be a nightmare to play against.
Ian: A much more positive performance. It was good to see everyone battling to keep possession and making good use of it, with some creative play capped off with three excellent goals.
Tottenham fans
Richard: Some promise, but still ineffective in front of goal. Maybe time to dispense with some of the 'old guard'. It was a little unlucky to draw Liverpool away early in the competition - hardly a confidence driver.
Febz: Chances made are frustrating when there isn't enough quality to finish them. We will always struggle without someone reliable to find the net. Improving side but fairly blunt at the sharp end. Eternally optimistic...
Ian H: We got bullied from start to finish. The Liverpool kids looked a lot sharper than we did and we need to start putting our chances away or it's going to be another long, hard season to watch.
Greg: Same issues. Just can't stick the ball in the net. We had a lot of attacking moments that didn't go anywhere and spent far too long just passing it between the goalkeeper and defenders, especially after we were losing.
Mike: Huff and puff. No finish. Dreadful football. What a shame to have sunk to this level.
'It's my responsibility' - De Zerbipublished at 09:18 BST 16 September
09:18 BST 16 September
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi has apologised for Tuesday's limp Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Liverpool, but says it is "unfair" that his team are in "this unlucky moment".
Spurs' hopes of a morale-boosting cup win to distract from their winless and goalless opening four Premier League games were short-lived, and even Conor Gallagher's header - their first goal against top-flight opposition this season - came while already trailing 2-0 and did not change the outcome.
"We have to shoot more times, we have to shoot better, but we are sorry for the result. Disappointed, frustrated for the result," De Zerbi said after the match.
"I think [it is] unfair, but we have to accept and to be stronger than this unlucky moment.
"I'm honest with myself and I'm honest with you, I think in these five, six games, we have been for sure not lucky. With Newcastle, with Everton, even with Nottingham [Forest] and tonight as well.
"We have to understand if we are in the right way or not.
"I think watching the game, the last three games, four games, maybe until minute 60 with Newcastle, I think we are in the right way.
"I believe in my players. I have a big confidence, a big opinion of my players, and when we arrive to find the click, to win a game, I think we enjoy with these players, because the qualities of the players are incredible."
De Zerbi also took responsibility for the defeat and looked forward to Saturday's now pivotal looking visit of also struggling Aston Villa.
"I'm sorry, and it's my responsibility. Because maybe in the middle of the first half we didn't recognise the clear situation man-to-man," he added.
"It's a tough moment, but we have to be stronger to prepare our best for the next game with Villa and to find this click."
Gossip: Spurs still interested in Gibbs-Whitepublished at 07:23 BST 16 September
07:23 BST 16 September
Tottenham remain interested in Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, having previously tried to sign the 26-year-old in summer 2025, but the Reds have no intention of selling. (Teamtalk, external)
Analysis: Spurs punished for their wastefulness in the final thirdpublished at 23:13 BST 15 September
23:13 BST 15 September
Aadam Patel Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
For the 20 minutes between Conor Gallagher pulling one back for Tottenham and Dominik Szoboszlai wrapping things up for Liverpool, the travelling Spurs support and Roberto de Zerbi grew in belief but ultimately they were wasteful in the final third and that is what cost them.
Lucas Bergvall, Mohammed Kudus, Omar Marmoush and Savio all had great chances but failed to convert and they only had to look at the other end, with all three of Liverpool's goals coming from quality strikes.
"I don't know if the [moment Spurs' attack will] click is on Saturday because we have enough qualities to score many goals with these players," said De Zerbi. "It is a tough moment but we have to be stronger."
It was generally a positive display from Spurs, who had more possession, more touches in the opposition box and more shots on target than Liverpool, but their horrid start to the season continues.
If they fail to win against Aston Villa on Saturday, they will go into October without a victory against a Premier League side this season.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Tottenham" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Ipswich match", for example.
New this season: Live match updates
Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.
Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.
Williams handball against Spurs was conclusive - Webbpublished at 17:09 BST 15 September
17:09 BST 15 September
Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams insisted that the ball had not come off his arm before it went into the goal
Referees' chief Howard Webb has insisted there was "conclusive" evidence to disallow Nottingham Forest's goal against Tottenham Hotspur for handball by Neco Williams.
The Forest defender bundled the ball home in the 67th minute but video assistant referee Peter Bankes stepped in to rule out the goal for accidental handball.
It was a controversial incident with Williams and Forest manager Oliver Glasner adamant after the 0-0 draw that there was no proof the ball touched an arm.
"I've seen the images and the replays and at not one moment did I think I handballed it," Williams told Sky Sports.
But running through the incident on Match Officials Mic'd Up, Webb backed the decision to disallow the goal.
"This is not about clear and obvious. It's about a matter of fact," said Webb.
"The VAR looks at it, initially you can hear that he's not conclusive. He doesn't feel it's quite there.
"But then when he slows it down to an appropriate pace and gets the right angle, you can see that the ball clearly and conclusively hits the right arm. You see the sleeve move.
"It's clear. It's conclusive, and the goal has to be disallowed.
"Harsh on Neco Williams, but the officials have no choice."
'He needs to feel full confidence' - De Zerbi predicts Solanke goal tallypublished at 09:16 BST 15 September
09:16 BST 15 September
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi believes "for sure" that Dominic Solanke will rediscover his form and score 10 to 15 goals this season.
The 29-year-old striker endured an injury-hit campaign last season, scoring three goals in 15 Premier League games.
Solanke, who joined the club in 2024 from Bournemouth for a deal worth up to £65m, is yet to score in the league this season.
"I can't understand why I have to think negatively. OK, because last season he was injured many times, yes," De Zerbi explained.
"It's not the same last season [compared to] this season. This season, we have top physical and medical staff. We don't have three games per week.
"I spoke with him and I would like to manage him in the best way I can, in the physical aspect and in the mental aspect, because he's a sensitive guy. He needs to feel full confidence, and from myself he has big, big confidence.
"I believe he can score 10-15 goals for sure. He's already scored at Bournemouth, so why can't he score at Tottenham? It's the same sport, different stadium, no pressure, because in our stadium, if we push, if we play well, the fans are with us."
De Zerbi confirmed Solanke will feature in Spurs' game against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup at Anfield on Tuesday.
Solanke, who has one cap for England, enjoyed the best season of his career in 2023-24, scoring 21 goals in 42 appearances. He then scored 16 goals in his first season at Tottenham.
"I would like [Solanke] to play part of the game. I don't know if at the beginning or at the end, but one part of the game. It can be important for him," De Zerbi added.
"My challenge is to help him and to put him in the right condition to score."
Image source, BBC Sport
