Kulusevski suggests Tottenham must change if they are to improve

Dejan Kulusevski has gone against his boss Ange Postecoglou by suggesting Tottenham might have to change their approach in order to become more consistent.

Spurs were beaten 6-3 by Liverpool in a thrilling Premier League encounter on Sunday.

While Kulusevski, along with Dominic Solanke and James Maddison, found the net against the Reds, Liverpool could easily have scored even more goals at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

From the high of beating Manchester City 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium in November, Spurs have won just one of their last five Premier League matches, with that victory coming against Southampton.

They have also beaten Manchester United 4-3 in the EFL Cup, while drawing against Rangers and Roma in the Europa League.

Next up is a trip to in-form Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, and while Postecoglou has insisted he will not change his tactics, Kulusevski hinted Spurs should be considering an alternative approach.

As reported by TNT Sports, when asked if Spurs need to add more control to their game, the Sweden international said: “If you want to get a result, maybe yeah.

“You have to think about how are we physically? Who’s playing? How many games have we played in the last week? Who are we playing? Have they rested for one week or something?

“You have to put everything in because it is like life – it’s not just black and white. A lot of factors go into it.

“Maybe [our approach is] not [sustainable]. But you have to improve, you have to find ways. Maybe we should have let [Liverpool] have the ball more, but that’s not how we play. We went out, we gave everything. It didn’t work. Maybe we learn for the next time.

“We have to learn because we conceded six goals. I can’t sit here and say that we’re doing something perfectly, we’re not. We have to change a little bit for the better, always try to change for the better.”

3.6 – Tottenham’s Premier League matches under Ange Postecoglou have seen an average of 3.6 goals scored per game. Among those to take charge of 50+ games in the competition, this is the highest goals per game rate for any manager. Frenzy. pic.twitter.com/VX1VZInKQ6

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 22, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nottingham Forest – Anthony Elanga

After a run of 28 Premier League games without a goal, Elanga has now scored in both of his last two appearances.

Elanga has never scored in three consecutive league games before.

Tottenham – Son Heung-min

With four goals and two assists, no current Premier League player has been involved in more Boxing Day goals than Son (six, level with Mohamed Salah and Raheem Sterling).

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Having won six of seven Premier League meetings with Tottenham between 1993 and 1997, Forest have now lost each of their last six against them.

Indeed, after failing to win any of their first four Premier League away games against Forest (D1 L3), and conceding twice in each match, Tottenham have won their last three visits to City Ground while keeping a clean sheet each time.

Forest won 3-1 against Newcastle on Boxing Day last season. They have not won in this fixture in consecutive top-flight campaigns since 1990-91/1991-92, beating Tottenham 2-1 in the latter match.

Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 16 league games played on Boxing Day (W12 D4) since a 2-0 loss at Portsmouth in 2003-04.

But, Forest have won nine Premier League games this season, already as many as they managed in both 2022-23 and 2023-24. They have won each of their last three, last winning four consecutively in the top-flight in April/May 1995.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nottingham Forest – 41.2%

Spurs – 34.3%

Draw – 24.5%