Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Tottenham Hotspur's decision to sack Jose Mourinho is a shock when measured by its timing - but hardly a surprise when judged by the direction of travel of his tenure.

Spurs announced Mourinho's dismissal while under an avalanche of criticism for the club's move to join the proposed new European Super League but, of more immediate significance, it comes only six days before they face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

It is a bold strategy when Mourinho has guided Spurs to within one game of their first major honour since they won this competition since 2008, but the graph has been heading on a downward curve for some time.

Read more from Phil on Mourinho's sacking here.

This is what Spurs chairman Daniel Levy had to say about Mourinho's sacking...

"Jose and his coaching staff have been with us through some of our most challenging times as a club.

"Jose is a true professional who showed enormous resilience during the pandemic.

"On a personal level I have enjoyed working with him and regret that things have not worked out as we both had envisaged.

"He will always be welcome here and we should like to thank him and his coaching staff for their contribution."

Really? Will he be welcome anytime? Hmm.

Buried amongst the avalanche of Super League news this week was, of course, Jose Mourinho's sacking as Spurs boss - a decision taken by the club purely because of bad results.

The Portuguese replaced Mauricio Pochettino as Spurs manager in November 2019 and guided the club to sixth in the Premier League last season.

But they are currently seventh, having picked up two points from their past three league games, and were knocked out of the Europa League in March.

Spurs face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on 25 April.

The big news then... no Harry Kane for Spurs.

The striker suffered the injury that keeps him out of this evening's game, after scoring twice in the 2-2 draw at Everton.

Forty one of their 52 Premier League goals this season have been scored or assisted by Kane or Son Heung-Min.

Spurs have actually only taken one point from the last five Premier League matches in which Kane did not play.

Image source, BBC Sport

Tottenham’s interim head coach Ryan Mason makes three changes to the side that started former boss Jose Mourinho’s last match in charge of the club five days ago, the biggest of which sees Harry Kane miss out through injury.

Joe Rodon is absent and Moussa Sissoko drops to the bench. So in come Gareth Bale, Giovani Lo Celso and Lucas Moura.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Lo Celso Ndombele, Bale, Son, Moura

Subs: Hart, Sanchez, Winks, Lamela, Sissoko, Alli, Bergwijn, Tanganga, Vinicius

Image source, BBC Sport

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl makes five changes to the side that began their FA Cup semi-final defeat against Leicester on Sunday.

Ryan Bertrand misses out while Fraser Forster, Nathan Redmond, Moussa Djenepo and Ibrahima Diallo drop to the bench.

Alex McCarthy starts in goal as Mohammed Salisu, Nathan Tella, Theo Walcott and Che Adams also come in.

Southampton: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Salisu, Tella, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Walcott, Ings, Adams

Subs: Forster, Stephens, Redmond, Djenepo, Minamino, Diallo, N'Lundulu, Ferry, Jankewitz

We've got two former Super League sides in action tonight, Tottenham and Manchester City. We've also got an ex-European champion playing, but it's neither of the aforementioned sides. Odd that.

We'll get to Man City's trip to 1982 European Cup winners Aston Villa in due course.

First up, we've got 1961 First Division champions Tottenham's game against Southampton and here is the team news...

As they did at Elland Road on Monday and Stamford Bridge yesterday, football fans are making their voice heard outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Sunday...

Tuesday...

Life comes at you fast.