Another match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, another disappointing result for the home faithful. The 2024/25 season continues to be a struggle for Spurs on their own turf, with Saturday's narrow defeat to Liverpool marking yet another low point.
A Dismal Home Record
The statistics make for grim reading for supporters. This was Tottenham's 11th Premier League defeat at home since the start of the calendar year. Under manager Thomas Frank, the team has managed just two victories from nine top-flight matches in N17 this season, those coming against Burnley and Brentford. For fans paying some of the most expensive ticket prices in the country, expectation has been replaced by a sense of forlorn hope.
Frank's Frustration and Forthcoming Fixtures
After the final whistle against Liverpool—a game where a late, desperate push with nine men almost snatched an unlikely point—Frank cut an agitated figure. While he found some positives in his team's resilience, he was left frustrated by a lack of discipline and refereeing decisions, though he will privately acknowledge his players' responsibility for the result.
The Danish manager's tenure has been a rollercoaster of fluctuating results and emotions. While not a disaster—highlighted by a famous win at Manchester City and keeping Champions League qualification hopes alive—consistency has been entirely absent. Frank's Spurs have won back-to-back league games only once, right at the start of the campaign.
The coming weeks are now critical. A run of fixtures before the return match against Manchester City on February 1st presents a clear opportunity. Tottenham face Crystal Palace, Brentford, Sunderland, Bournemouth, West Ham, and Burnley in the league, alongside an FA Cup tie with Aston Villa and crucial Champions League games. Frank must use this period to clearly define his vision for the team and accumulate positive results, or his standing at the club he joined last summer will inevitably weaken.
Player Reactions and Pockets of Unity
Frank has navigated some early challenges within the squad, including a reported incident where players Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence initially ignored his instruction to thank fans after a loss to Chelsea. After the Liverpool game, van de Ven sought to project unity.
'We felt the fans really pushed us forward when we were nine men,' the Dutch defender stated. 'On the pitch, we knew maybe we could get something... I’m proud of the boys. It’s a lot of emotions... I’m gutted, disappointed. I’m angry how some things were going in the game. But we can get nothing changed about it anymore.'
As the dust settles, Thomas Frank will take his customary long Sunday walk through London, hat on and head down. Clearing his mind of football, however, will be a significant challenge. The defining phase of his Tottenham project is now firmly underway.
