Sunderland v Tottenham LIVE: Roberto De Zerbi faces injury crisis in first Spurs game | OneFootball

Roberto De Zerbi has the mammoth task of keeping Spurs up (PA Archive)

Roberto De Zerbi will take charge of his first of seven cup finals as Tottenham Hotspur manager today, beginning his reign at Sunderland as he tries to guide the club to safety in the Premier League.

De Zerbi took the reins following Igor Tudor’s winless 44-day reign of error, with Tottenham in the thick of a relegation battle. West Ham’s win over Wolves on Friday night means their London rivals start the day in the bottom three.

The Italian will need to flip the club’s fortunes and fast but it is not yet clear whether he has the complete backing of the fanbase due to his historic comments surrounding Mason Greenwood, controversy he did address in his first interview as Tottenham boss.

He will hope to justify the board’s decision to hand him a lucrative five-year contract swiftly but face tough opposition in Sunderland, who come into the clash off the high of a Tyne-Wear derby win at St James’s Park.

Sunderland team news

And here’s how Sunderland line up. Mukiele preferred to Geertruida at right-back, while Enzo Le Fee is fit to start in attacking midfield and Brian Brobbey continues up top

Luke Baker12 April 2026 12:51

Tottenham team news

And the teams are out. Here’s how Spurs will line up for De Zerbi’s first game at the helm.

Kinsky in goal as expected, while Richarlison, Kolo Muani and Solanke all start. The new boss using his attacking horses

Luke Baker12 April 2026 12:49

De Zerbi regrets Kudus injury setback

We’ll have team news in a few minutes’ time but one player Roberto De Zerbi knows he won’t have available is Mohammed Kudus.

Kudus suffered an injury setback and may be out for the rest of the season, with De Zerbi acknowledging the spanner in the works.

“Yes, I started with not too big luck,” De Zerbi joked. “Kudus was in my head a crucial player, especially for the position, but we have to look forward anyway.

“I think we have a lot of very good attackers and we have to help them, to put them in the best condition to show their qualities.”

Mohammed Kudus may be out for the season (Getty)

Luke Baker12 April 2026 12:40

The huge Roberto De Zerbi risk Tottenham are taking that could spell disaster

This is not a “vibes” appointment. It’s the complete opposite,” writes Will Castle.

Tottenham’s move for Roberto De Zerbi reflects the do-or-die situation they find themselves in, by the fact he could theoretically deliver either the miraculous best or cataclysmic worst case scenario for the club.

De Zerbi, on the surface, is a coup for a team verging on the most humiliating relegation in Premier League history. The Italian was a resounding success story at Brighton, arriving with an unknown quality to English football only to become one of the continent’s most sought-after managers by the end of his two-season stint, apparently earning admirers at Barcelona and Liverpool.

Tottenham must be attracted by De Zerbi’s free-flowing style of football. Traumatised by 44 days of Igor Tudor-ball, a footballing ideology bereft of inspiration, such a tactical revolution is needed and desired. Implementing that now, however, is a big risk.

Read Will’s full comment piece on the De Zerbi appointment:

The huge De Zerbi risk Tottenham are taking that could spell disaster

Tottenham cannot afford for their appointment of De Zerbi to prove ill-fated but the Italian is anything but a perfect match for the club in crisis, writes Will Castle

Luke Baker12 April 2026 12:24

Stadium of Light ready to host crunch clash

It’s a long trip up to Sunderland for Roberto De Zerbi’s first match as Spurs boss but the Stadium of Light is glowing in the morning sun

(Getty Images)

(Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

(Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

Luke Baker12 April 2026 12:00

Racism and violence mar Sunderland derby joy

Last time out, the Tyne-Wear derby was back at St James’ Park for the first time since 2016. “Utter chaos” off the pitch. Utter chaos in Newcastle’s flimsy defence yet again and Sunderland were triumphant on Tyneside – doing the double over their great local rivals.

The occasion started with fans fighting on the streets, with heads bloodied and the Sunderland team coach windscreen smashed.

It ended with a devastating 90th-minute winner for the Black Cats from striker Brian Brobbey and jubilant celebrations high up in the Leazes End for the visitors.

In the middle, as if the occasion needed more controversy, the game was paused as an allegation of racist abuse from the home crowd towards Lutsharel Geertruida was logged by match officials.

Read Simon Bird’s report from that drama-filled clash:

Damaged Eddie Howe left on the brink but racism and violence mar Sunderland derby joy

Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland: Magpies dubbed “pathetic, weak and lazy” after Brian Brobbey’s 90th-minute winner in the Tyne-Wear derby but crowd trouble and an allegation of racist abuse towards Lutsharel Geertruida overshadowed the on-pitch drama

Luke Baker12 April 2026 11:46

Inside Roberto De Zerbi’s shocking Tottenham impact and the early signs of a revival

Some great reporting from our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney, who says things are looking up for Spurs since Roberto De Zerbi took over.

“After months of utter misery at Tottenham Hotspur, there is genuinely a changed mood around the training ground. The players, according to numerous sources, “love” Roberto De Zerbi,” writes Delaney.

“They feel engaged, like they’re actually progressing. It is more than just the energy that comes from a new manager – since Igor Tudor certainly didn’t inspire this response – or even the clarity that comes from actually having a permanent coach again.

“De Zerbi offers an idea, and enthusiasm. This is precisely why some around the club are said to be conspicuously confident of staying up – even if we won’t see whether that is actually justified until we watch his new team in a few games. The situation remains complicated, and highly pressurised. Others at Spurs, of course, remain anxious.”

Read the full piece here:

Inside Roberto De Zerbi’s shocking Tottenham impact and the early signs of a revival

In Miguel Delaney’s latest Inside Football newsletter, he pulls back the curtain on Roberto De Zerbi’s early impact at Tottenham, where a renewed mood at the training ground has sparked growing belief they can climb out of a relegation dogfight

Luke Baker12 April 2026 11:37