by Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest – LIVE!
Tottenham have the chance to move up to fourth in the Premier League when they host Nottingham Forest this evening. After Aston Villa drew with Brentford on Saturday, Spurs, who also have a game in hand, will move level on points with Unai Emery’s side if they win here, and already have an advantage on goal difference.
Tottenham have an advantage in the race for Champions League football, but Ange Postecoglou’s side have not been very convincing in recent weeks. They held West Ham last time out, and were only edged out by Luton at home a week ago. Richarlison has been ruled out through injury, while Brennan Johnson will hope to get the nod to face his former team.
Forest are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference, after Luton’s win over Bournemouth. Nuno Espirito Santo is back in north London and will be keen to challenge the club he led for four months before being sacked in 2021. land!
Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest latest news
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Start: 6pm BST | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
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How to watch: Sky Sports
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Tottenham team news: Johnson pushing to start
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Nottingham Forest team news: Awoniyi still out
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Standard Sports Prediction: Tottenham to win
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Why is it a 6pm start?
Postecoglou sets out the transfer position
16:42 , Matt Verri
Ange Postecoglou says he would never sign a player who insisted on joining a Champions League-only club, because Tottenham would have their priorities wrong.
The Spurs boss insisted this week that he would end the club’s interest in a player if they were unwilling to play without assurances for Champions League football.
“I don’t want those players – because they don’t want to come to Tottenham, they want to go to a club in the Champions League”, Postecoglou told reporters.
“I signed Micky van de Ven this year — he’s not a bad player, is he? And we were in the Champions League? No.
“That’s a beautiful discussion for me. That’s one of the debates I had: Why do you want to come to Tottenham? Because if you want Champions League football and that’s what you want, you don’t want to come to Tottenham; you just want to go to a club in the Champions League.
“I want people to come to Tottenham who know this club, they know the challenge we have – and we have a challenge, we are different from other clubs in that we have not had any success for a while.
“I’m looking for a certain type of character who will say: ‘You know what, they’re not in the Champions League but if I win something with them, it could mean something for my career and for me. So I’m up for that fight’.”
Spurs confirm game to go on
16:32 , Matt Verri
Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest will go ahead as planned despite a man being found stabbed to death outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Police have launched a homicide investigation following an incident in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police and paramedics were called to Northumberland Park on the edge of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where a man was found with several stab injuries.
CPR was administered but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Supporters have been advised to allow extra travel time ahead of the 6pm BST kick-off on Sunday evening, with all of Northumberland Park Road and the north end of Worcester Avenue closed.
A Tottenham statement said: “Following an incident in which a person lost their life, we are doing everything we can to assist the ongoing Police investigation, which is extremely important.
“This evening’s League final against Nottingham Forest will go ahead as scheduled, but the entirety of Northumberland Park Road and Vicarage Road, as well as the north side of Worcester Avenue, will remain closed for the duration.
“We will update supporters where we can, and ask fans to be patient and allow extra travel time.
“Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and all those affected.”
Read more about that here
Nuno: The Spurs sack was a sad moment
16:23 , Matt Verri
Nuno Espirito Santo will return to north London this evening.
The Forest boss was in charge of Tottenham for four months before being sacked in November 2021, but has insisted that scoring a point against his former club is not a priority.
“More important is the situation we are in and that we have to continue putting points on the table,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“That’s more important to all of us. It will be a pleasure to come back, play there and face Spurs. It’s a thing of the past now, I’m focused on the Forest and I’m really determined to try and get a good performance.
“I’ve learned from every moment of my life and from all the experience I’ve had. They (Spurs) are also some.
“I started managing in 2011 or 2012. From all the experiences I’ve had, there’s always been something to learn from – and this is no exception. It was a sad moment, but life goes on.”
Postecoglou issues judgment on ‘luxury tax’
16:10 , Matt Verri
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says he would be skeptical of any plans to limit the difference in spending power between Premier League clubs with a ‘luxury tax’ as it could discourage clubs from striving for excellence.
Reports on Thursday claimed that Premier League clubs are considering replacing the current points deduction penalties Everton and Nottingham Forest have received this season.
Such a report proposes another ‘social’ system, in which clubs would be fined in proportion to their overspending in accordance with the Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Postecoglou said: “I came from a very controlled world. ‘Balance’ in Australia, as in American sports, is very, very large. So I came from that world. I didn’t like it one bit.
“It’s always understood that you have to create some kind of competitive balance between clubs and there’s not too much of a divide between clubs that can throw randomly at times, compared to clubs that have restrictions.
“You want to keep that balance, but I’ve always felt: not at the cost of discouraging people from being the best they can be.”
Why is it a 6pm start?
16:03 , Matt Verri
Tottenham host Nottingham Forest in an unusual start.
The Premier League meeting was between Champions League hopefuls Ange Postecoglou and former Spurs boss Nuno Espírito Santo, the relegation battlers. originally scheduled for 8pm BST on Monday, April 8.
But the fixture was postponed with 10 days’ notice because of planned train strikes on Monday and now starts at 6pm this evening.
The London Underground strikes have since been called off.
Standard Sports Forecast
15:55 , Matt Verri
Tottenham have a tendency to start slowly, while Forest are able to keep things tight and frustrate the hosts.
It might not be a very comfortable evening for Spurs fans, but they should have enough to get the job done.
Tottenham to win, 2-1.
Nottingham Forest team news
15:48 , Matt Verri
Taiwo Awoniyi remains out for Nottingham Forest.
The striker has been sidelined for almost a month with an unspecified injury, which Nuno Espirito Santo recently described as “serious”.
“It’s a big injury, unfortunately,” said the Forest boss.
“It’s a big blow for us because he just came back. I don’t know exactly how long he’ll be out, but I’m positive we’ll see him again this season.”
Willy Boly and Nuno Tavares are also still unavailable.
Tottenham team news
15:42 , Matt Verri
Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson is in line to face his former club Nottingham Forest.
Johnson was withdrawn late on after scoring in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at West Ham but Ange Postecoglou has confirmed his availability.
Postecoglou has considered the composition of his starting line-up, with Johnson seeking a place on the right alongside Dejan Kulusevski. Timo Werner looks set to continue on the left.
Richarlison has been ruled out but the Brazilian should be able to return against Newcastle next weekend.
James Maddison will be hoping to find some form in the No10 role, having struggled to regain his best form since returning from injury.
Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Manor Solomon (knee) and Fraser Forster (foot) remain sidelined.
Tottenham XI prediction (4-2-3-1): Vicar; Porro, Van de Ven, Romero, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Werner; Mac
How to watch Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest
15:36 , Matt Verri
TV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Coverage will begin after the Manchester United vs Liverpool match with kick-off at 6pm BST.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch a live stream via the Sky Go app.
Live blog: Follow all the action right here with us! Dan Kilpatrick will be providing expert analysis from the ground.
Good evening!
15:30 , Matt Verri
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest!
It’s the final of another Premier League weekend and it’s a huge game at both ends of the table.
Spurs know a win will take them above Aston Villa and into fourth place, although Nottingham Forest are out of the relegation zone only on goal difference. Any results here would be a great bonus.
We’ll have the latest updates, team news and pre-kick-off team news coming at 6pm BST from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium!
