Alan Shearer is convinced that Tottenham will be drawn into a full-blown relegation fight this season unless they meet one crucial requirement. The London club has finished in 17th place in the Premier League for the last two years, securing their survival only in the final match of the 2025/26 campaign.
Despite lavish summer investments exceeding £300 million, Roberto De Zerbi's team has made a poor start to the new season. Currently sitting at 19th in the league, Spurs have yet to register a win after six matches in the Premier League and have also been knocked out of the EFL Cup. The team is struggling with finishing in attack, although their overall performance has shown promise: last weekend, the Londoners displayed decent football and had ample opportunities to secure a win against Manchester United.
Tottenham's upcoming clash with newly promoted Coventry City is crucial, and Shearer insists that a victory is imperative.
I believe there was definitely optimism in the game against Manchester United, Shearer shared in an interview with Betfair.
They missed several great chances. Dominic Solanke scored once but failed to convert three or four clear-cut opportunities, just like a few other players. However, overall, their performance improved significantly; there was more energy and a clear structure. I've always said that alarm bells start ringing when a team stops creating chances, but that wasn't the case at Old Trafford. They created plenty. So if they carry on like this, there’s a glimmer of hope, but they desperately need a win. I know they did well to fight back while down to ten men and managed to score through Solanke. That in itself should give them a bit of confidence, but they need a win like oxygen.
However, the pundit warned of catastrophic consequences should they slip up in the upcoming match:
If they don’t beat Coventry City on Monday, I think they will find themselves embroiled in a massive relegation battle, that’s how important this game is.
Criticism of the club's transfer decisions
Meanwhile, well-known analyst Paul Merson has taken aim at Tottenham's hierarchy for failing to sign striker Nicolas Jackson, who recently joined Aston Villa.
The one thing they probably should have done—and absolutely had to do—is buy a centre-forward, Merson stated on Sky Sports.
They spent a lot of time chasing several players, doing this and that. I like Sandro Tonali; I’m a big fan of his. But they needed a forward. Dominic Solanke is a decent option, but he's not quite a prolific scorer yet. When Spurs won the ball back from United in the first half and he was in a shooting position, you weren't on the edge of your seat expecting a goal. There’s just no feeling of inevitability there. And Omar Marmoush isn’t going to be your goal machine. He might score a couple of great ones here and there, but he's not a goal scorer. They needed a genuine striker. I can’t believe they didn’t try to secure Nicolas Jackson; he’s a very good player.
