Alan Shearer Exclusive: Lack of fight puts Spurs at risk of shock relegation | OneFootball

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Tottenham Hotspur are a mess and could go down

Tottenham are in big danger of getting relegated now. When I saw them against Newcastle, I said that from that night onwards, I thought there's a real prospect of them being relegated, because I just didn't see any fight.

I didn't see any desire or any attitude from the Spurs players, particularly in that first half on Thursday, but I think last Thursday encapsulates what they are, they're a mess. I mean, both on and off the pitch. You can tell confidence is fragile. I know they've got injuries, but everyone has injuries.

And if they go down, they deserve to go down because it hasn't just happened this season. It was last season when they finished, and I mean, we all thought that can't happen again, but it has, so they can only blame themselves.

I thought Leeds would be alright a couple of weeks ago, but they are slowly but surely getting dragged back into it.

West Ham are making a right good fight of it. I spoke about Spurs not having the attitude or desire, and all of those things. Well, West Ham are the opposite. They looked dead and buried but somehow Nuno's managed to get them organised, find a bit of form with a few of his players, particularly Summerville, and they've given themselves a great opportunity of getting out of it. They've dragged Spurs and Leeds into it.

If you're a betting man, at least you're seeing a bit of fight from West Ham, a bit of something from them, whereas Spurs are the exact opposite.

Spurs could sack Tudor before end of season

I could see spurs getting rid of Igor Tudor before the end of the season. I've said all I can on Spurs, there's a real-life possibility that Spurs could be relegated and can you imagine that stadium in the Championship? They're going to have to get some unity from somewhere because on Thursday they just looked as if they were done.

Unless they improve big style, they're going down, because at least the others, such as Forest who went to City and West Ham as mentioned, have showed some fight.

It would be one the biggest Premier League shocks if Spurs were to go down. What would be bigger, Leicester winning it, or Spurs being relegated? I guess it's on a similar scale. It would be a shock to the system. It would, without doubt, be one of the biggest shocks of all time. Wth that training ground, with that stadium, it's just unthinkable for them. I mean, you can imagine what it would do to them as a club?

Man Utd played like Amorim's team

Man United's performance on Wednesday was a bit like what we saw from then under Ruben Amorim. Other than Bruno Fernandes, they were very flat. I thought there was nothing in the forward positions. I know Aaron Ramsdale pulled off a couple of good saves, one with a great header, but even then, the changes that Michael Carrick tried to make didn't work. I was pleasantly surprised by how bad Man Utd were.

I was expecting more from them. They are third and I genuinely don't think they're a good team. They have got a good chance of finishing in the Champions League places which is amazing when you think how poor some of their football has been this season.

I was surprised by Scholes' comments towards Carrick

Paul Scholes said something along the lines of Manchester United being really poor in some games under Michael Carrick. They might have been poor but they've been getting the results. I guess when you play like that the other night, and they didn't play well, you're going to get criticised.

I don't know if there's a friendship between Scholes and Carrick, I guess when they're former-teammates, who fought together on the pitch, then it probably is a bit surprising. But we know how the world works now and I don't suspect that would upset Michael much.

Liverpool haven't played well but neither have their rivals

I still think Liverpool will get Champions League football next season, on the probability of other teams around them being as inconsistent as them.

Chelsea, for example, went to Aston Villa and got a great win this week. But two weeks ago they drew against Burnley and drew against Leeds. Aston Villa's performance wasn't that bad against Chelsea but the result was damaging for them.

Man United are, as mentioned already, third despite being so poor for such long periods. So when you look at Liverpool, they're very much like the other three or four clubs around them in the table. They could qualify for the Champions League but if they do, it won't be from them being brilliant all season.

Slot needs Champions League qualification to keep his job

The key for Arne Slot staying on at Liverpool next season is securing Champions League football. With what Liverpool spent in the summer their biggest disappointment is not challenging for the league title again. That ship sailed for them three or four months ago.

If they don't make the top five then you would, without doubt, question whether Slot would be in the job next season. For a club of that size, with how much they've spent after winning the league, not finishing in the top five would leave him under pressure.

Newcastle could win the FA Cup

Newcastle's win against Man United on Wednesday should really spur them on for a big finish to the season. Their performance and result against Everton was really poor, and there were a lot of questions being asked. I've always said, as a player and a manager, you always get the right to reply, and it's great when you've got a game three or four days later, so you can reply. Their reply to the noise was brilliant, exactly what it should be. The atmosphere was great, their performance and attitude was brilliant.

The only thing that wasn't brilliant was the referee because he had an absolute shocker again. I mean, for a referee to say to someone 'you're conning me', you have to be certain, because what you're saying to that player is that they're cheating. I thought it was an awful decision to send off Jacob Ramsey.

But for Newcastle, the way they stuck together, the way they outfought Man Utd, it was a great night for Eddie Howe's team.

I'm hoping it gives them the kick that they need from now to the end of the season, starting with Man City on Saturday evening in the FA Cup. With a repeat of that attitude and level of performance, Newcastle can get through to the next round. They're not going to make the Premier League top five now. I think at best, they can try and push for a European place without Champions League.

I don't think wininng the FA Cup is beyond them. They've got an unbelievable two weeks coming up with fixtures that would be dreamland for any club. Looking at Newcastle and where they've come from to where they are now, with Man United, Man City, Barcelona, Chelsea, Barcelona, Sunderland, it's a brilliant fixture list.

It was a great start to that set of fixtures by beating Man United and with the backing at St James' Park, any opponent knows it's going to be a tough night for them.

Arsenal are perfect but title race isn't over

We can't crown Arsenal the champions yet,  but you'd much prefer to be in their position than Man City's. My mind hasn't changed, I still think they'll do it. I haven't wavered on that for months now, even when City were putting pressure on them. I've always said there'll be twists and turns, which there will still be. I know they play each other, but I don't think City will win every game, and I don't think Arsenal will win every game.

I've been in that position myself and I know how it works. The other night was a result that probably no one really expected, but there are going to be results like that between now and the end of the season for both City and for Arsenal. But I still think Arsenal will win it.

The Arsenal players, fans and the management staff won't give a jot about people saying they're not playing great football, or they're just grinding out results, or talking about the goals they are scoring from set pieces. Up to now, Arsenal have been the best team by a long way. It doesn't matter whether you like their football or not. If they somehow find a way to win the league after 38 games, then they'll deserve it, and their fans won't give a damn what other people think.

Arsenal are in an unbelievable position. They're seven points clear of the league, they're in the next round of the Champions League and looking strong. They're also in the FA Cup and they're in the final of the Carabao Cup.

I'd be amazed if they were to win the quadruple. But I wouldn't bet against them winning two or three trophies.

In the Champions League, Arsenal are in a great position and nobody will enjoying playing against them, with the way they defend. They're almost perfect. In fact, they are. They're seven points clear and still in every competition, so it can't get any better than that.

Villa will qualify for the Champions League

Aston Villa are in a rut but if you had said to Unai Emery, and to Aston Villa players and fans, you're going to be sat in fourth position with eight or nine games to go, they would have taken that before the season.

They've got a week to regroup and work on things. They did create chances the other night, they missed some big chances against Chelsea. So they're in a rut but I still think they will get Champions League football, despite the position they're in.

Extending Championship play-offs to six adds excitement

I'm not surprised that the Championship will have six play-off places next season, because of the revenue that it can generate. I don't think it dilutes it, because I guess between sixth and eighth, sometimes it might be down to one point or two points.

It adds extra revenue for clubs, or for that division, which I guess is needed. It doesn't surprise me that they have decided to make the change but it adds that little bit more excitement.