Tottenham Hotspur

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week eight, he takes on legendary boxing manager Kellie Maloney.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

West Ham got the win they needed against Ipswich before the international break, but it was a very different story for Tottenham against Brighton.

It is typical, really, because everyone had been singing Ange Postecoglou’s praises following Spurs’ win at Manchester United the previous week, talking about how he had built a team with an identity... but then they fell apart in the second half against the Seagulls.

I don’t think Spurs’ defeat was down to his style of football, though. It was because of shocking defending, and the way they lost duels all over the pitch.

I am expecting them to bounce back here, helped by the fact that Son Heung-min is in contention after a few weeks out.

I’ve been saying it for a while now, but Tottenham are going to give someone an absolute hiding sooner or later. I don’t think it will happen against the Hammers, but I do think they will win this one easily enough.

Kellie's prediction: Tottenham will be too strong. 3-1

Read the rest of their predictions, and have your own say here

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter, at Tottenham Hotspur training ground

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou was sharp, funny and positive in his first news conference since what he described as his "worst defeat" in a 3-2 loss away at Brighton before the international break.

The Australian admitted the emotions of throwing away a two-goal lead were part of his frustrated post-match comments a fortnight ago.

However, once the passions subsided, he felt he could tell his players where they went wrong in that dismal second half.

He is also buoyed by having almost his full squad available for Saturday's match at home to West Ham. Wilson Odobert remains a doubt but Richarlison, Son Heung-min and Lucas Bergvall all return.

During the two-week hiatus, Postecoglou was seen in good spirits at the NFL match that took place in the club's home stadium between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears last Sunday.

He seems to have quickly got over a painful defeat to deliver a positive outlook.

Sarah Rendell
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against West Ham (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Postecoglou said there are no injury problems from returning internationals. Sweden midfielder Lucas Bergvall "picked up a knock" but has trained.

• Meanwhile, captain Son Heung-min is "good to go" after returning from injury.

• On Richarlison's return from injury: "We’ve taken our time to build his fitness base up. He has worked hard, trimmed down and looks really lean now. We’ve tried to use it like a pre-season for him on an individual basis to not only recover from his injury but so we don’t keep going through this cycle of him coming back and breaking down. He is looking good, working hard and has missed playing. He’s an infectious guy and it's good to have him back in this group."

• On Ryan Mason's links to manage Anderlecht: "There wasn’t too much in it but I have always worked on the premise that part of my role is developing coaches. Ryan is someone who sees himself as one day taking that opportunity. It's an important decision for the guys and it is not like we want them to leave. Ryan is doing a great job for us here but if that’s something they want to explore then I think it's important they do that. He is happy with us now and committed to us."

• On his comments after the loss at Brighton about being "ready to explode" at his players: "I was speaking metaphorically. As you can see here, I haven’t exploded. It was one of those where like therapy, it was getting things off your chest but at the same time it is about giving the right feedback. The emotion you feel straight after a game has dissipated 10 days later. It was important the players get appropriate feedback on what was a real difficult game for us."

• He praised new England boss Thomas Tuchel as a "fantastic appointment" of someone who has a "fantastic record in knockout football".

• On whether he would want to manage England: "I enjoyed international football but at the end of it I wanted to get back into the day-in, day-out. There is greater responsibility because you have a whole nation's expectations around that position. You feel that."

• Finally, he discussed Tottenham's rivalry with West Ham: "I was made very aware of what it means last year. It is an important game. Last year we played really well but didn't end up winning here at home. It is going to be a challenging game - they have some fantastic players in their team, a new manager and are doing things a bit differently. The emphasis has to be on us reproducing the form we have shown in recent times."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has had two weeks to stew over his "worst defeat" after a second-half collapse away at Brighton just before the international break.

Having gone 2-0 up in the first half, the Australian saw his side fall to a 3-2 defeat at the Amex Stadium.

Next up is a London derby against West Ham at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and supporters will demand an improvement in results, at the back and in their record at set-pieces.

Postecoglou does not seem under much internal pressure in the immediate, with managers like Erik ten Hag and Gary O’Neil looking more vulnerable.

Externally though, anger could grow if Spurs do not improve before the next international break.

Postecoglou is likely to be asked about:

• the reaction in training to the most recent defeat,

• how he felt seeing Dominic Solanke return to the England squad,

• about his assistant Ryan Mason having an interview with Anderlecht,

• his reaction to Thomas Tuchel being appointed England manager,

• the fitness of Son Heung-min, Richarlison, Wilson Odobert and Lucas Bergvall.

Return to this page later for all the details

Image source, Opta

After the October international break, the Opta supercomputer has updated its projected final Premier League table.

It is only seven matches into the campaign so much can still change, but the season is beginning to take shape. The supercomputer simulates thousands of seasons and takes the percentage each side finishes in each league position.

After a strong start under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's chances of finishing fourth have increased from 19.5% to 37.1%.

Newcastle are second favourites for fourth spot at 15.1% - down slightly from 17.5% at the start of the campaign - followed by Tottenham at 14% which is up slightly from 11.6% before a ball was kicked.

Aston Villa's continued good form has seen their probability of finishing fourth go from 5.6% to 13.2%, with their most likely finish now fifth at 18.1%. Before the start of the season it was seventh or eighth, both at 11.1%.

Manchester United's poor start is reflected in their chance of finishing fourth dropping from 12.9% to just 2.1%.

Image source, BBC Sport

The fastest player in the Premier League this season plays for Tottenham, but who is he?

And who has covered the most distance for Spurs?

We've gathered the data - so check out the answers here

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It has been a rocky two years at Tottenham for Djed Spence.

A fundamental part of Nottingham Forest’s incredible rise to promotion in 2021-22, the talented 22-year-old looked primed to step into the spotlight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Instead, his light has dimmed dramatically.

Dismissed by new boss Antonio Conte as "a club signing", Spence made just four appearances in the Premier League that season, was sent on loan to Rennes and made seven starts before injury curtailed his campaign.

A fresh start under Ange Postecoglou only brought a loan move to Championship side Leeds where injury restricted him again to just six appearances.

He fared better at Genoa in the second half of last season with the Serie A side keen to sign him permanently, albeit not for the £8.5m option to buy included in his loan deal.

And yet now he has a new contract at Spurs, so what next? This season, he was handed one minute against Leicester in their opening game, then a total of 52 minutes off the bench in blowout victories over Everton and Manchester United.

He has at least got himself a goal, and a critical one too, equalising in the 88th minute at Coventry in the Carabao Cup as Postecoglou's bid for silverware in his second season looked in danger of an early blow.

Maybe that has endeared him to Spurs fans, who, according to the post below, are pleased to have the full-back locked down for four more years.

After all, he still has the pace, athleticism and threat that shone so brightly in the Championship for Forest two years ago and got him into the England Under-21 squad.

His attacking impetus is surely better suited to Postecoglou's style than it was for Conte's conservative tactics and perhaps he has earned his chance for a run in the team.

Or maybe the canny operators in the Tottenham boardroom are merely preserving Spence's value by tying him down to a long-term deal.

His main competition at right-back, Pedro Porro, averages two chances created per game and between four and five crosses, providing a crucial thrust down that flank.

If Spence is to dislodge him, or Destiny Udogie on the other side, more of his Coventry heroics will be needed.

Now is the time to glow brighter.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the news Djed Spence has extended his Tottenham contract until 2028.

Here are some of your comments:

John: Great - now let him play. He hasn't had a chance to show how good he is. He needs more game time. He will come good.

Dave: Pleased that he’s finally getting a few opportunities to show what he can do. Not seen enough yet to determine if Djed can hold down a place but if he’s bagged a new deal - which of course also preserves any potential transfer upside for the club - then good luck to him.

Lindsay: Glad to hear this. He has had a slightly difficult start to his time at Spurs but it’s a very hard environment to deal with when you are young and it sounds like he has started to deal with his situation. I for one think he has plenty to offer the club.

Matty: After a few false starts, loans and whispers of attitude and behaviour issues behind the scenes, Spence seems to have knuckled down and concentrated on his career. It looked like he was on the 'for sale' list not so long ago so he's obviously doing things the right way. I think Pedro Porro is destined for a big move away so Djed is perfectly poised.

Andy: Spence really excites me - he is fast and a good tackler. He was never given a chance by Antonio Conte because he didn’t sanction the transfer. I'm glad Ange Postegolu has realised his potential because I think he is a very good fit for the Spurs way of playing football. Hope this extended contract is a turning point for him.

Jude: Spence has got bags of talent, is very versatile and suits the system well. The game against Coventry was a turning point in my opinion as he was the standout player for Spurs. Hopefully, there is a lot more to come from him.

Matthew: Never really been given the chance at Spurs and although he has made a few appearances this season, he was left out of the Europa League squad and doesn't look to be in the forefront of Ange's plans. Seems a strange decision but I would like to see him flourish in a Spurs shirt.

Real Madrid are considering a January move for 18-year-old England youth international Josh Acheampong, with Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle also interested in the Chelsea right-back. (Independent, external)

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

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham have announced that defender Djed Spence has signed a new contract which will run until 2028.

Spence, 24, joined Spurs for an initial £12.5m from Middlesbrough in 2022 but has struggled to break into the first team and has made just 10 appearances for the club.

The former England Under-21 international has had loan spells at Leeds, Rennes and Genoa in recent seasons but has featured four times under Ange Postecoglou so far this campaign.

Spence scored his first Tottenham goal in September's 2-1 Carabao Cup first round win at Coventry.

What do you make of the news, Spurs fans?

And where does Spence fit into Postecoglou's plans going forward?

Let us know here, external

Nick Godwin
BBC Radio London reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It is both a blessing and a curse that Tottenham face West Ham this weekend.

After their abject second half at Brighton, Spurs fans have spent the international break grinding their teeth in frustration, despite a decent run of form that preceded the game at Amex Stadium.

They will return to action against a Hammers side whose recent fortunes have been the reverse of Spurs' - their wretched run of form ending just before the two-week hiatus with a relatively comfortable dismantling of newly promoted Ipswich.

This is just one of the issues that surrounds Saturday lunchtime's game: just who exactly is in the better form?

Games against West Ham - just like against Arsenal and against Chelsea - are one of a set Tottenham must negotiate each year that are full blooded, unpredictable and difficult to move on from if you lose.

It is quite unfortunate that Ange Postecoglou's side have six vital, hotly contested fixtures like this to deal with on an annual basis. Most teams really only need to deal with bitter local rivals twice a season.

It is therefore an occupational hazard for these Spurs players. Whether they like it or not, high-pressure, high-expectation matches will keep coming.

West Ham fans enjoy nothing more than beating Spurs - especially away from home - and their fans will demand more from their players this weekend than at any stage this season so far.

So even though it will be a huge challenge, Tottenham fans and players know how rewarding success would be.

That second half against Brighton would suddenly look like a pretty insignificant blip.

Tottenham and Crystal Palace are both interested in 21-year-old Lille and Iceland winger Hakon Arnar Haraldsson. (Football Transfers, external)

Meanwhile, Manchester City have joined Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea in monitoring Shakhtar Donetsk and Ukraine midfielder Georgiy Sudakov, 22. (I Sport, external)

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

BBC Sport pundit Fara Williams will be answering your questions, giving her insight and opinion around your club.

So what would you like to ask the former England midfielder?

What can your team achieve after their start to the season? Who has been your best player so far? What does the manager's future hold?

Send in your questions here, external

Arsenal have joined Tottenham in the race to sign 22-year-old Ukraine attacking midfielder Georgi Sudakov from Shakhtar Donetsk. (Caught Offside), external

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

Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool have sent scouts to watch Borussia Dortmund's England Under-21 winger Jamie Gittens in recent weeks. (Bild - in German), external

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

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for one thing - good or bad - that isn't being talked about regarding Tottenham at the moment.

Here are some of your comments:

Matty: Can we all agree the Timo Werner experiment has failed? Loads of pace but zero end product. A budget Aaron Lennon. Send him back in January from his loan and play Odobert or Bergval instead if Son is out. If Werner is the answer, I don't know what the question is.

Leders: So, the media and a lot of Spurs supporters say we have two of the best central defenders in the world. Nope! Have a look at how many goals are scored against us when they are out of position or when they allow attackers to get in the space between them. Individually they are excellent, but they don't defend cohesively as a unit.

Iain: Why does Son Heung-min seem incapable of taking a shot now? Every time he gets in a position to shoot he takes too many touches and is blocked, or passes sideways. In past seasons, he would shoot at most opportunities with either foot. Is this a tactical decision by the coaches or something else?

Giovani: The fans. Are we - the Spurs fans - 'Spursy'? All the talk about plan B, the manager, the criticism... I have not had so much fun for years. Should we not just sit back and enjoy the show? Maybe Ange Postecoglou will deliver that elusive trophy. Maybe he won't. Either way, it will have been a hell of a journey!

Ian: Should Son still be Tottenham captain? Yes, he is a legend in his own right but is he maybe too nice to bring a steely backbone required of a captain?

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham forward Dominic Solanke made his second appearance for England on Thursday against Greece, six years and 331 days after winning his first.

It is the fourth-longest gap between a player winning their first two caps for the men’s side.

It has been a rollercoaster start to the season for Tottenham - not least in the final game before the international break.

Much ink has already been spilled on the pros and cons of what Ange Postecoglou is building at Spurs, but you know your club the best.

So we want you to tell us the one thing nobody seems to be talking about - good or bad - but should be?

Let us know here, external

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha speaking on BBC Sounds' Planet Premier League podcast about Tottenham's game plan in Sunday's 3-2 defeat at Brighton: "There are some games you play where you walk off and you've lost and you've no idea what's happened and it's almost, I'd imagine, similar to a boxer when they’re constantly getting the bell rung with just jabs and jabs and jabs.

"You're there, but then you're not really there and it's tough. It's frustrating.

"Let's put it this way. A couple of weeks ago, some people were critical of Arsenal because [David] Raya went down to the floor to get treatment 15 minutes into a second half when there was probably nothing wrong with him.

"If [Guglielmo] Vicario would have done the same thing for Spurs, maybe they could have won the game."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

A report by Raiola, the agency which represents several players, has mapped how Micky van de Ven's market value has increased by over £19m since moving to the Premier League.

The 22-year-old midfielder has impressed since making the move from Wolfsburg for an initial £34m in the summer of 2023.

The report highlights how Van de Ven’s value has increased from £31.1m to £50.5m based on metrics including standout performances and the exposure of England's top club competition

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham assistant manager Ryan Mason is set to stay after being interviewed by Belgian giants Anderlecht.

The 33-year-old English coach explored the opportunity after being invited to apply for the post.

But Anderlecht have instead appointed David Hubert, who impressed as caretaker manager after Brian Riemer was sacked last month.

Mason remaining at Spurs is a boost for Ange Postecoglou after Chris Davies left to manage Birmingham in June.