Tottenham Hotspur are facing an uphill battle for Premier League survival, with pundit Gary Neville branding their squad a "concoction of misfits" with "a set of ingredients that don’t go together".
Spurs languish in 18th place, two points adrift of safety after failing to win a single league game in 2026.
Tottenham’s precarious position was underscored by results elsewhere: Leeds United’s 2-1 win over 10-man Manchester United on Monday night moved them six points clear. West Ham thumped Wolves 4-0 on Friday, hauling themselves out of the bottom three, while Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 with Aston Villa on Sunday.
These outcomes contrasted sharply with Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat at Sunderland in Roberto De Zerbi’s first game on Sunday.
Former United and England defender Neville believes Leeds’ performance at Old Trafford showed how far Spurs are from a team capable of securing top-flight survival.
"In the first half, they (Leeds) were absolutely wonderful. That is a performance I don’t think Tottenham are capable of – and that is the scary thing for Tottenham," Neville said on his podcast for Sky Sports.
He continued: "Not the six points by the way that Leeds have gone clear of them, but the actual performance levels they put in. They (Tottenham) are nowhere near that."
Neville added: "You watch Spurs against Sunderland and it is a set of ingredients that don’t go together, a concoction of misfits, yet you watch Leeds and there is a balance and a flow."
Adding to Tottenham’s mounting problems is the likely absence of captain Cristian Romero. The Argentina defender fought back tears as he hobbled off at the Stadium of Light, injured in a collision with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
Reports suggest Romero – who was pictured on social media on Sunday with a bandaged right knee – is set to miss the rest of the season.
Manager De Zerbi acknowledged he is a "crucial player for us" and said the injury needed proper assessment. Tottenham have yet to comment on the timescale for his recovery.
Tottenham – two points below West Ham – must now regroup for Saturday’s visit of Brighton, when they are expected to be without their influential captain.
