Summary

  • Use audio icon at the top of page to listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

  • RESULT: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea

  • RESULT: Tottenham 0-2 Aston Villa

  • Get involved: Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

  1. 'We are in a process'published at 13:56 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Aston Villa

    Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey, speaking to Sky Sports: "We're still building as a side. We have a lot more understanding now, it is a process and we are trying to take things step by step. We have a game plan today and hopefully we can execute it better than we did against Liverpool.

    "We want to create a lot of opportunities and keep the ball, and have a good game. Hopefully we can take some of the chances we create.

    "It would be massive today for us to win, and for the fans and the club. It would be a great three points."

  2. 'Spurs need to improve their defensive record'published at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Mark Schwarzer
    Former Middlesbrough & Fulham keeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    If Spurs want to be there in those Champions league positions for next season, they have to change things and they have to change things quickly.

    You can't continue to concede goals and try and outscore the opposition. We know what Conte is like, he wants to have that defensive strength.

    Any team that is successful builds it on a very good defensive record and Spurs at the moment are a very long way away from that.

  3. 'We have to continue to follow our work'published at 13:53 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Aston Villa

    Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to Sky Sports: "It was our plan for Emi Martinez. He needed to rest, but he was available to play today. He has only trained two times though, and we are going to do our plan with him. We trust Robin Olsen and we have to use everybody when we have to.

    "We have to continue to follow our work, and our ideas. We are already playing very good football, and we did very good work against Liverpool. The idea is to continue today and protect the players, keep our identity, and try to win."

  4. Postpublished at 13:52 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Unai EmeryImage source, Getty Images

    So far it's two wins and a loss for Unai Emery in the Premier League after he took over from Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa in November.

    Incredibly, none of Emery's 54 Premier League games have finished 0-0, with no manager taking charge of more games without a goalless draw.

    Keeps things interesting.

  5. 'Son needs the love'published at 13:51 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Mark Schwarzer
    Former Middlesbrough & Fulham keeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Son is not feeling the love. There is something about it. Son has been incredible for Tottenham for so long now. I do think also with some players there is a personality thing and it's about whether he is feeling the same sort of feeling towards his manager as previous managers.

    I wonder if that has anything to do with Son's performances.

  6. Postpublished at 13:50 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    No player has scored more Premier League goals on New Year's Day than Tottenham's Harry Kane - five. He also has three assists on 1 January in the competition, giving him more goal involvements than any other player on the day.

    No New Years Day hangovers for Kane, then.

  7. 'We'll try to pay more attention'published at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Tottenham boss Antonio Conte, speaking to Sky Sports: "It is very important for us to have Hugo [Lloris] and Cristian [Romero] in the starting XI. They are in a good physical condition and they have recovered mentally and they are ready to play with us.

    "When you start the game you want to score and not concede goals but in the last games, we have conceded the first goal and then we were good at coming back. We'll try to pay more attention and be better defensively today."

  8. Harry's home comfortspublished at 13:47 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Harry Kane graphic
  9. Comeback Kings?published at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Tottenham have won 14 points from losing positions this season, the most in the Premier League.

    They have been trailing at half-time in seven of their last eight matches in all competitions, including each of their last five.

  10. Expectations will make Romero return 'difficult'published at 13:44 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Tottenham boss Antonio Conte said Cristian Romero is starting a "difficult period" in his career, but is sure the Argentine will rise to the challenge.

    Conte said he has been impressed with the player's attitude in training.

    “I have seen him with great focus and with great desire to come back and play and to go with his mind into Tottenham’s situation," added Conte.

    “For sure I am really happy for him and for us it is important to have in our team two World Cup champions in Hugo [Lloris] and Cuti.

    “But he has to know very well that now starts the more difficult period for him because the expectation is going to become high for him.

    "He has to work much more and continue to work, especially don’t lose the desire to improve himself.”

  11. Postpublished at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Assessing the surroundings...

    Davinson Sanchez & Bryan GilImage source, Getty Images
    Aston Villa at Tottenham StadiumImage source, Getty Images
  12. 'I'm happy here' - Coutinho denies Villa exit reportspublished at 13:42 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Philippe CoutinhoImage source, Getty Images

    Philippe Coutinho has denied reports he wants to leave Aston Villa in the January transfer window.

    The Brazilian attacker has endured a frustrating season so far after being signed by previous Villa boss Steven Gerrard last January.

    "In the last few days I've seen a lot of news with my name but so far, OK, the problem is now that some lies have started and I'm here to clarify," he said in a social media post.

    "NEVER and at any moment had any kind of conversation of mine asking to leave the club, because I'm happy here and my family too.

    "My only focus now that I'm recovered from the injury is to work at the maximum every day, to play in a high level and help the club and my team mates to achieve our goals."

  13. 'Olsen under pressure to perform'published at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Mark Schwarzer
    Former Middlesbrough & Fulham keeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    There is pressure on Robin Olsen. There always is pressure on every player to perform. As a number two goalkeeper, you play so few and far between. Then all of a sudden you are in the side and it's the moment where you have to perform.

    It's really tough because you need to find a momentum and rhythm. You feel like you are lacking that match play. Then the minute you don't play well in that first game or have a few shaky moments, people start to get nervous and criticise.

    When you are coming in as a substitute, you feel that and you know you are bang under pressure.

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:38 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply)

    Worried for Villa today. Why are Martinez and Cash on the bench. Don't understand why McGinn is playing let alone captain. Doesn't feel any different to Gerrard. Chambers and Bednarek are a safer pair than Konsa and Mings. Should be playing 4-2-3-1 with Ings up top.

    Stephen, Birmingham

    I was at the Liverpool game the other day and to describe Olsen's performance as shambolic would be generous. Obviously confidence is huge for keepers but I fear for him today. Still, we live in hope.

    Alex, Swansea

  15. 'No surprise that Martinez isn't starting'published at 13:36 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Mark Schwarzer
    Former Middlesbrough & Fulham keeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I'm not surprised that Martinez is not starting. I thought that he wouldn't play. He's only been in for a couple of days and that come down from the World Cup experience, winning the World Cup and the celebrations and everything else.

    Trying to refocus, get his head in the right place will take a couple of days at least back at the training ground. No surprise at all for me that he is not starting.

  16. Villa 'proud' of their World Cup winnerpublished at 13:33 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Unai Emery says everyone at Aston Villa is “proud” of their World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and wants him to quickly adapt back to life in the Midlands.

    "For us we are proud of him and every Aston Villa supporter must be proud of him," said Emery. “We have in our team and our squad a winner of a World Cup. Congratulations to him.

    "He pushes his team-mates on the training ground every day. When he comes back we have to try to introduce him again into our everyday and to be positive to use his energy to help us.”

    Martinez drew criticism for his celebrations when awarded the World Cup Golden Glove and Emery wants him to be ready for the challenges at his club side.

    "Hopefully he is coming 100% focused on Aston Villa. He has to adapt again in a new way with us," he said.

  17. Postpublished at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    We have World Cup winners in our midst...

    As we've seen, Argentina duo Cristian Romero of Spurs and Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa both return to the fold today with Romero in the starting XI but Martinez on the bench for this one.

    Cristian Romero kisses World CupImage source, Getty Images
    Emiliano Martinez kisses World CupImage source, Getty Images
  18. Boxing Day Liverpool loss had 'optimistic signs' for Villapublished at 13:27 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Mike Taylor
    BBC WM

    From the press box graphic

    The Boxing Day party at Villa Park may have had the air taken out of it pretty quickly by Liverpool, who led almost throughout, but it was not without optimistic signs for Aston Villa.

    They missed chances to put more pressure on their visitors, but had at least created them in the first place. For much of the second half, Villa were pushing Liverpool back, and stayed competitive until the two-goal gap was restored 10 minutes from the end.

    Monday’s game perhaps added evidence to the claim that Villa will be wanting a new striker soon. Most clubs do. It was noted by several of the callers to BBC Radio WM afterwards, though, that Danny Ings had not only been put on the bench after scoring twice in Villa’s last match before the World Cup break, but was held back until the final five minutes.

    Garry Thompson, on duty to analyse the game for WM, knows all about what a good goalscorer looks like, and what they need. "Leon Bailey, in patches, shows some wonderful football and balance, but doesn’t really finish.

    "I think [Unai] Emery is going to get another centre-forward, a finisher. But every finisher needs opportunities. Ollie Watkins had the opportunities and didn’t take them. Neither did Bailey. If we get another centre-forward in, which is going to cost a lot of money, we’ve still got to get support to him, we’ve got to get the balls to him and give him opportunities."

    Earlier in the year, it was assumed Philippe Coutinho would be instrumental in doing just that. But with Steven Gerrard now gone, perhaps not. His first involvement on the field since Emery’s arrival was brief, and Thompson thinks his moment may have passed - at Villa anyway.

    "I love Philippe Coutinho as a footballer - he’s so balanced and has great ability - but he hasn’t done it for Aston Villa consistently, so I would imagine they’ll come to an agreement for him to go somewhere else and play," he said. "I don’t think he’s going to play many games here."

    Emery would probably have had a good idea of the job to be done in rejigging his squad before the Liverpool game, and maybe some of those thoughts were clarified still further on Monday.

    The transformation will not necessarily be quick, and as they stand only five points clear of the bottom three, Villa must be mindful of keeping their balance while the work is done.

    But they are a club eager to move up, and Emery must be confident he can attract the players who can help take them there.

  19. Head-to-head recordpublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Head to head stats graphic
    • Tottenham have won 12 of their past 14 Premier League games against Aston Villa.
    • Villa have won just two of their previous 21 Premier League games against Spurs.
    • Tottenham have won seven of their past eight Premier League games on New Year's Day, with the exception being a 1-0 loss at Southampton in 2020.
    • Unai Emery is unbeaten in all three of his Premier League meetings with Tottenham.
  20. Sutton's predictionpublished at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2023

    Tottenham v Aston Villa (14:00 GMT)

    Sutton's predictions

    Sutton's prediction: 2-2

    I just don't know what to expect from Tottenham. For a team that is fourth in the table, they are extremely inconsistent and very unconvincing at times.

    Which Spurs side will turn up here, why does their manager Antonio Conte always say they are tired and why do they go behind in games so often?

    Aston Villa were well beaten by Liverpool in the end but they were pretty lively going forward.

    So, I have a sneaking feeling this will end up in a draw, although I suppose that is mostly because I have no idea what kind of performance we will see from Tottenham.