Relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur are facing mounting pressure in the Premier League after a disastrous run of results left the club hovering just above the drop zone.
Interim manager Igor Tudor has overseen four straight defeats since taking charge on 14 February following the departure of Thomas Frank, deepening fears that Spurs could suffer their first top-flight relegation since 1977.
Tottenham currently sit on 29 points, only one point above the relegation places, with the bottom six tightly packed. Leeds United lead that group on 31 points, followed by Spurs, while Nottingham Forest and West Ham United are level on 28 points. Further below are Burnley FC on 19 points and Wolverhampton Wanderers on 16.
The situation worsened this week after Tottenham suffered a humiliating 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid, conceding four goals in the opening 22 minutes.
Despite the bleak outlook, Tudor insisted his players must respond with resilience rather than despair.
He said the team must choose whether to “cry or fight”, urging players to view the difficult period as an opportunity to rebuild confidence and character.
“The bottle is either half empty or half full,” Tudor said, acknowledging the many problems confronting the club but insisting that difficult moments would eventually pass.
Spurs now face an even tougher challenge on Sunday when they travel to Anfield to face reigning champions Liverpool FC — a venue where Tottenham have conceded 17 goals across their last four visits in all competitions.
Their struggles have also been compounded by a lengthy injury list, with key players unavailable for the clash. Defender Cristian Romero and midfielder Joao Palhinha are ruled out after suffering a clash of heads midweek, while Yves Bissouma is injured and Conor Gallagher remains doubtful due to illness.
Additionally, Micky Van de Ven is suspended following a red card against Crystal Palace, while several regular starters — including James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur and Mohammed Kudus — remain sidelined with longer-term injuries.
Tudor admitted assembling a starting line-up has become increasingly difficult, describing the situation as one of the most challenging injury crises he has faced in his managerial career.
After the trip to Liverpool, Tottenham will face a crucial relegation six-pointer at home against Nottingham Forest — a match that could prove decisive in determining whether the club survives in the Premier League.
