Tottenham Hotspur

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Manchester City (12:30)

• Arsenal v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Coventry City v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Chelsea v Tottenham (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

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We were talking on the Monday Night Club about what Chelsea could do this season without any European football.

Tottenham are not in Europe either, of course, but they don't look like they are going to be challenging at the top of the table the way Xabi Alonso's side are.

People keep saying how Chelsea's attack is so good, but their 2-0 win over Everton last time out was their first clean sheet of their campaign in the league, and that side of thing still needs to improve.

Spurs, meanwhile, do seem to be getting better, albeit slowly.

It was a big result for them to beat Coventry on Monday but they have an awful record at Stamford Bridge, with only one win there in the Premier League era.

I don't see them getting anything this time, either.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

"Very professional, very serious and looking solid," was how manager Xavi Alonso evaluated Chelsea's win at Everton last weekend.

The 2-0 victory included what is becoming something of a Chelsea trademark – a quickfire goal, with Pedro Neto scoring at the very start of the second half. That was the third time in the Premier League this season that Alonso's side had scored in the opening minute of either half.

But it was what happened at the other end of the pitch that will have surely pleased the Spaniard most, with Chelsea keeping their first clean sheet in the league since January, a run of 23 matches.

Alonso pointed out that "it's just one game"; and although Chelsea are in the top four, only five clubs have let in more goals in this season's Premier League, while even two of the three sides in the relegation zone have conceded fewer.

The Blues are now aiming for back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since December, and will be hopeful of achieving that against a Tottenham side who have struggled this season, and scored just once away from home.

Chelsea have won their past six league matches against Spurs, and have lost just one of their past 16 London derbies at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham fans will be well aware that they have won just one of their past 36 league visits to the Bridge, and have picked up just two points in the past eight trips.

Given their record, it is probably never a good time to visit Chelsea, but Spurs did at least finally get a league win this season with their victory over Coventry on Monday.

Extra reason to celebrate was Omar Marmoush's first goal since his £59m move from Manchester City, along with the return from long-term injury of Dejan Kulusevski.

And the catalyst for the victory was James Maddison, who on his first start for 18 months needed just 14 minutes to make his mark, scoring Spurs' first first-half goal of the season.

Their three goals – all of which came from outside the box – doubled their Premier League tally for the season, and earned them just a fourth league win in 2026.

But Chelsea is not a happy hunting ground, and the away fans will be fearing Tottenham could lose a seventh consecutive London derby for the first time in their league history.

Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Lucas Bergvall and Savio are both unavailable. De Zerbi also said he does not know if James Maddison will be fit after the midfielder missed the "first three days" of team training following the victory over Coventry City. Similarly, Dejan Kulusevski held an individual training session and De Zerbi said for all his players, he does not want to take risks.

• However, Pedro Porro is back in contention after recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up before the last international break. Andy Robertson is also available despite being forced off in the 69th minute against Coventry.

• Since 1990, Spurs have beaten Chelsea just once in 41 matches at Stamford Bridge, but De Zerbi believes his side can utilise that record. He said: "It's not just this negative record, there are many, many negative records. For me, it's one motivation more and [also] for the players. I want this negative record to give us more motivation and more mentality, more energy to win a game and play a good game. We have enough qualities to win this game."

• He added: "It's against one very good team and a very good coach. They have a clear style of play with great players. But also the Tottenham players are very good; the level of the players is high. We have to show together as a team as well as individuals."

• On managing the derby after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off in the match against Manchester United for a headbutt: "The balance is always difficult to fix - a balance between the energy, spirit, mentality. If you have confidence in the players, you leave the players to decide the behaviour, to decide the reaction. For sure, I prefer one 'too strong' reaction, than one player without blood, without reaction."

• Chelsea's frontline of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro have scored 11 goals and produced three assists in the Premier League so far season. On the link-up, De Zerbi said: "One of the best, for sure. Three big talents. They also have Pedro Neto, another very good player. They have Jordan Henderson and [Danny] Welbeck. They have Estevao. [So it's] More than three players but these three players are in the best moment of their careers."

Listen to Saturday's full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 17:30

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Spurs supporter Ebony Riddell Bamber from Women of the Lane says there was a "huge sense of relief" after Tottenham's 3-1 win against Coventry City.

Roberto de Zerbi's side picked up their first win of the season on Monday and scored as many goals as they had in the campaign to date.

Reflecting on the performance, Bamber told BBC Radio London: "There was a huge sense of relief and it was great to walk home with a massive smile on my face.

"All-in-all it wasn't plain sailing, but there are plenty of positives for us to take into the next very big fixture against Chelsea.

"The subs made a difference because it felt like the energy levels were dropping a little bit and they got us over the line."

Hear more from Ebony Riddell Bamber below or listen here on BBC Sounds

Tottenham and Spain right-back Pedro Porro would "seriously consider" the chance to join either Barcelona or Real Madrid. (Football Insider), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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James Maddison says he will "apologise to anyone" who thought his celebration after scoring for Tottenham against his boyhood club Coventry City was "badly timed".

The 29-year-old, who made 42 senior appearances for the Sky Blues, scored within 14 minutes of his first Premier League start since 27 April 2025, having faced a long road to recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Maddison's celebrations included kissing the Tottenham badge on his shirt - a decision which has garnered some backlash from Coventry City fans.

The midfielder has now explained the reasoning behind his celebration and apologised to anyone he offended.

"I had already planned that my first goal I was kissing the badge of this club who has supported me and my family through the darkest days of my career over the past 18 months," Maddison wrote on X, external.

"I absolutely adore and love Coventry City - all of my close friends and family know that. I am a fan and I always will be.

"I will 100% apologise to anyone who thought the timing was bad, my first goal back just happened to be against my hometown club.

"Good luck to Frank [Lampard] and the boys for the rest of the season. PUSB."

Image source, Getty Images

"Football, for me, is like breathing. Imagine you can't breathe for two years?"

Those were the words of Dejan Kulusevski after he made his first appearance in 526 days in Tottenham's 3-1 win over Coventry City on Monday.

The 26-year-old first suffered what was described as a "knock" in May 2025, but subsequently endured a hellish recovery which featured patella surgery, a second procedure and multiple setbacks.

However, he was given a hero's reception when he was introduced as a late substitute on his long-awaited return.

"Everything feels great. I have been working harder than you can ever imagine," Kulusevski said.

"The journey felt impossible. It was the most difficult it could be, but I had a feeling I was going to come back to play football. I just had to believe and that is what I did.

"I had to tell my closest ones it might not work out, just a couple of months ago, but in my heart, I always knew it would work out.

"I kept working - 10 hours every day when no-one is watching - so when everything was impossible and everyone gave up, I never gave up.

"It has been an amazing journey, even if it is hard sometimes. Hard is beautiful and I am so grateful that I had to experience it."

Image source, Getty Images

Kulusevski's return coincided with Tottenham's first win of the season, and he believes this could mark a fresh start for him and the club.

"I am so grateful that [fans] missed me playing. It means a lot and I am here to show them a better me. And a better me will be a better Spurs so we will be good," he added.

"It was amazing. It was more emotional I think this morning. It was a beautiful day and I'm so happy we won.

"Now I am ready to play football. I see myself a little different now. I think I am a different man now. Same guy, same guy that wants to play football, but a little bit smarter.

"I was not [nervous]. I was ready to play and it was fun."

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Coventry.

Here are some of your comments:

Tottenham fans

Clive: Brilliant win... De Zerbi's hard work starting to pay off.

Iain: Great result, maybe not the best performance with levels nowhere near what we produced at Old Trafford, but we will take it and move on. Can't see what Lampard is moaning about. It was a totally accidental elbow from Marmoush. He should perhaps focus on how easily his defender gave up the fight to get goal-side. Slightly embarrassing.

Mike: The win flattered us despite Maddison's quality and we need to show more urgency and desire to get at opponents. No doubt some players are low on confidence but most need to deliver more, especially to justify transfer fees and places in starting 11. We need to see a real effort and performance against Chelsea, whatever the outcome.

Andy: Finally a win!. And finally an overdue start for Maddison, our only creator, showing why he has to be our number 10 in every match from now on if we are going to be a top-six team again. Please De Zerbi - decide on who will be playing alongside Tonali and Maddison in midfield and stick to that combo.

Martin: Three points but still look too fragile at the back for my liking. The score flatters us, I never thought we had full control of the game. But a win is a win.

Coventry fans

Ian: All Sky Blue fans who are old enough will have seen videos on the Coventry Evening Telegraph's site of when James Maddison was aged about five and already displaying great skills with a football. I find it unfathomable why we didn't have a defensive midfielder to man mark Maddison from the start of the game.

Dick: Coventry's strikers have to learn how to hold up the ball so the midfield can catch up. Time after time they turned over the ball before Rudoni or Sakamoto could help out. Poor attacking display. Rushworth looked poor. The third goal he dived like a sack of potatoes.

Victor: To be honest I am disappointed by the way we didn't compete. Thought we were poor going forward and the defence looks shaky apart from Thomas and Pinnock. Goalie is not as comfortable as last year. Big games coming up.

Lee: Some strange decisions. Grimes is too slow, lightweight and was hiding for two goals, BTA is a headless chicken, we should've started better players if we're serious about staying in this league.

Terence: Relegation I'm afraid. I reckon we will get 30 points.

Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi, spoke to BBC Sport after his side's victory against Coventry City: "I am delighted for the result, the attitude, the spirit and the reaction after the goal we conceded. Honestly we did not play so well like the last games. But now for our responsibility they deserve credit as they defended very well and compact.

"When we went outside from [Mohammed] Kudus and [Andrew] Robertson we didn't push the ball with the right speed. We were too predictable maybe playing three at the back. We played three at the back for injury reasons, first of all.

"We play with Kudus right wing and Robertson left wing and with three number 10s with different characteristics. We scored two goals with these players but we can't forget [Dominic] Solanke as he played very well.

"Now we have to understand we are able to win because after two or three seasons like this, the mental aspect is crucial. We have to thank the fans, especially in the last part of the game they were fantastic, they have suffered a lot. We have to push, we have to improve the quality of the play for sure but we are a good team, a very good team."

On Dejan Kulusevski returning: "Fantastic moment and fantastic human. We celebrated him in the dressing room after the game. He is maybe the most important thing after this win."

Spurs midfielder James Maddison, spoke to Sky Sports: "I hoped [to start]. I spoke to the gaffer about it this week and feeling like the right moment for me to go back into the starting 11 after a stop-start, start to the season.

"I just wanted to show my quality and show what the team's missed in the last 18 months since my last start. The gaffer asked me to play and said he wanted to enjoy watching me from the side so hopefully I did that, and getting the goal is always nice."

On his goal: "They're just a bit blurry; they're the ones you dream of. Recovering from the ACL last year, those dark days. They're the ones you dream of, those goals. Always the light at the tunnel for you.

"And for Dejan Kulusevski I felt proud for him because I knew exactly how he felt. Those moments and those goals they make it all worth it."

On his game position: "That's where I operate best, in the pockets on the outside of the lines. I was popping up on the left, right and centrally and that's where I'm at my best. Between the lines and being able to pick up the pockets of space and that's where the goal came from."

Did you know?

• Since making his Premier League debut in August 2018, Maddison has scored 21 goals from outside the box, at least two more than any other player (Kevin De Bruyne & James Ward-Prowse, 19 each).

• Tottenham's victory was just their sixth win in their last 37 home Premier League games (D10 L21), and their fourth league victory overall in 2026 (P27 D10 L13).

• For the first time in 36 games, Spurs scored more than two plus goals in a Premier League match, while it was the first time they scored three plus goals on home soil in the league since MD1 last season against Burnley (3-0).

Image source, Getty Images

Roberto de Zerbi has used all the tools at his disposal to discover the missing spark in struggling Tottenham Hotspur, from acting as an amateur psychologist to team bonding dinners, then a sunshine break in Marbella.

The answer, at least when Spurs finally moved off the bottom of the table with their first Premier League win this season against Coventry City, came in the shape of James Maddison as he made his first start in 18 months.

He missed most of last season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in pre-season, before fracturing his shoulder in the opening-weekend defeat at Brentford in this campaign.

The 29-year-old finally made it back into the Spurs starting line-up to face Coventry - and delivered in spectacular style to set them on the way to a 3-1 victory that De Zerbi hopes will finally give their season lift-off.

Maddison could barely keep the smile from his face as he warmed up, then made his mark in the 14th minute by showing what Spurs have been missing with a brilliant right-foot finish from 20 yards, taking Mohammed Kudus' pass first time to arc a sweeping strike high beyond Coventry City keeper Carl Rushworth.

It was a moment of sweet relief for Maddison, the goal getting loud gasps of admiration from Spurs supporters as it was shown several times on the stadium's big screens.

Even though the goal came against his former club, Maddison celebrated with his trademark imaginary dart throwing motion before kissing the badge on his Spurs shirt.

Maddison's significance to Spurs is illustrated by the fact they had won just 12 out of 57 Premier League games since his last top-flight goal, in a 1-0 victory against Manchester United in February 2025. They had averaged less than a point a game since then.

And since his last start, at Liverpool on 27 April 2025, Spurs had won only 11 of 49 league games in between, losing 23.

Spurs cannot kid themselves that this was a glorious victory. It was actually only their sixth win in the past 37 home league games - drawing 10 and losing 21 - and just their fourth league victory overall in 2026, having played 27, drawn 10 and lost 13.

And it was the first time they scored three goals or more at home in the league since the opening day of last season, when they beat Burnley 3-0 in Thomas Frank's first game in charge.

There are still too many nerves around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and in De Zerbi's team for calm and relaxation.

Read more from Phil

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Tottenham fans got to celebrate a rare and vital home victory after a poor start to their campaign in which they drew three and lost three of their opening six league games.

Wins for Fulham and Bournemouth earlier in this round of fixtures left Spurs as the last club to register a victory in the Premier League.

Roberto de Zerbi's team looked to be in total control at the break against a Coventry City side that had not registered a shot on target in the first half.

James Maddison had begun his career at Coventry and scored against his former side with a stunning opening goal.

But Tottenham, who only avoided relegation on the final day of the 2025-26 season, made it hard for themselves as they conceded soon after the restart.

Just as the home fans were getting nervous though, Omar Marmoush scored with a powerful shot, but Coventry were unhappy the goal was allowed to stand, with the elbow on Milan Van Ewijk judged accidental.

Newly promoted Coventry had won their past two Premier League matches and had eight minutes of stoppage time to find an equaliser, but could not create a decisive opportunity, before Davies made it 3-1.

The returns of Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski provide a huge boost to Tottenham.

Both suffered knee injuries at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, missing Tottenham's Europa League final victory and then in Kulusevski's case the entirety of last season.

The Spurs fans gave Kulusevski a huge reception when he warmed up in the first half, repeatedly singing his name in the second before he came on as an 85th-minute substitute to one of the biggest cheers of the night.

The only negatives for Tottenham were injuries to defenders Andrew Robertson and Tosin Adarabioyo, while Marmoush also limped off when being replaced by Kulusevski.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Tottenham starting XI:

Antonin Kinsky: Fumbled first-half corner and not great with his feet. 5

Tosin Adarabioyo: Powerful in the air and did well in the physical challenges until he went off injured. 6

Jan Paul van Hecke: Disappointing night. Uncertain moments and lost possession for Coventry City's goal, but did make one brave clearance. 5

Micky van de Ven: Superb tackle to stop Brandon Thomas-Asante in the first half and solid all-round display. 7

Archie Gray: Busy and did his best to give Spurs some creative edge. 6

Sandro Tonali: Occasional flashes but still struggles to justify his £100m price tag. Needs to produce more. 6

James Maddison: Brilliant strike on his first start for 18 months. Always prompting and probing. Revelled in his return to the starting line-up until understandably tiring. 8

Andrew Robertson: Some trademark surging runs and always willing to join the attack but picked up an injury. 6

Mohammed Kudus: Mixed night. Some good things but too often short of end product. 5

Omar Marmoush: Had struggled but then scored a superb goal. 6

Dominic Solanke: Tireless but little luck. Booked and had a shot on the turn over in first half. 5

Tottenham substitutes:

Conor Gallagher (on 69, Maddison): Not able to get into the game. 5

Mateus Fernandes (on 69, Tosin): Little impact. 5

Ben Davies (on 69, Robertson): Experienced head to close out the win and got himself a goal. 6

Mathys Tel (on 87 Marmoush).

Dejan Kulusevski (on 87 Kudus).

Subs not used: Dubravka, Senesi, Olusesi, Williams-Barnett.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Coventry's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Tuesday for a selection of your replies.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Tosin Adarabioyo is set to make his full Premier League debut for Tottenham against Coventry City on Monday.

The 29-year-old centre-back arrived from Chelsea on transfer deadline day but has so far made just one substitute appearance in the top flight for Spurs, coming on as a late substitute in the 0-0 draw against Everton last month, but he did start the Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool.

Tottenham spent the past few days on a training camp in Marbella, where head coach Roberto de Zerbi is understood to have worked on potential tweaks to the team's defensive approach for the home fixture against Frank Lampard's newly promoted side.

If, as expected, Adarabioyo does play, it will be the defender's first top-flight start since May, which was for Chelsea against Nottingham Forest.

Tottenham remain without a league win this season and go into the match against Coventry bottom of the table on three points. The visitors are 16th with six points having secured back-to-back victories either side of the international break.

Tottenham will be fresh from their training camp in Marbella and we are about to find out if it worked.

If they don't beat Coventry and get their first win of the season, then they will probably have to go back out there next week as well.

Being serious, they do look like they are improving already and they played well against Manchester United last week.

Coventry are a dangerous counter-attacking team, and their pace in forward areas will cause problems, but this is going to be Tottenham's night.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Hearing about Tottenham's team-bonding trip to Marbella last week made me think about the similar methods I used as a manager to build team morale.

While some things have changed from my day, the idea behind taking your players away to a new environment where they will benefit from spending a lot of time together has not.

Roberto de Zerbi needed time with his players on the training pitch after their poor start to the season, to bed them in and build a proper team.

He will have used their warm-weather camp in southern Spain to do more of that, getting to know what is almost a new squad of players.

With De Zerbi being cut from Italian cloth, I'm sure the players will have been working mornings and afternoons to drill in the manager's principles in respect to team shape and direction.

But that's not the only purpose of taking them away - he will have been able to also monitor the different personalities within the group away from the grass.

If the trip has worked then, as well as getting them ready to face Coventry City on Monday night, I'm sure he will now understand the strengths and weaknesses of each individual, on and off the field, for the very first time.

A few eyebrows were raised about Tottenham going away so early in the season, but it makes perfect sense to me when you consider so many new players arrived there this summer.

When I was Stoke manager, I often took my teams away to Austria in our pre-season for the same reasons De Zerbi and Tottenham have gone to Spain.

Those trips were not only set up to test the players' fitness, but also to see how the group worked together.

I've always believed in building a family togetherness within the dressing room, with a commitment from every player to the benefit of the team.

The extreme tests that we asked our players to do over that 10-day period brought out an inner determination to fulfil the tasks given to them and, in my opinion, helped us through some tough times early on in our Premier League campaigns.

Watching the lads slowly bond together on the training pitch and at meal times was great to see - and I found out a lot about all of them, good and bad.

Read Tony Pulis' full column here