Sunday’s briefing: Tottenham get key win as Arne Slot bemoans Liverpool injuries

Tottenham won to ease the pressure on manager Thomas Frank while Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his seventh goal in six outings for Leeds on Sunday.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has heaped praise on team-mate Declan Rice but Liverpool boss Arne Slot bemoaned the champions’ luck with injuries.

Gray secures crucial win for Frank

Archie Gray’s first career goal ensured Tottenham ended a rollercoaster 2025 with a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace to ease the pressure on Frank.

Fans had started to turn on the Dane after a run of five defeats in eight left them 14th in the Premier League at Christmas.

While there had been no suggestions internally that Frank’s job was under immediate threat, Spurs needed to return to winning ways and Gray’s 42nd-minute header settled the contest between the current FA Cup and Europa League holders.

Calvert-Lewin continues scoring streak

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored for the sixth game running to extend Leeds’ unbeaten run to five games after a 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

Simon Adingra grabbed his first goal since arriving on Wearside to put the Black Cats in front but Leeds levelled two minutes after the break when Calvert-Lewin neatly finished off a fine team move.

Odegaard hails versatile Rice

Martin Odegaard believes Declan Rice’s “unbelievable” performance as an emergency right-back demonstrates that Arsenal are “ready to do whatever it takes” to win the title.

Rice successfully stepped into the position for Saturday’s nervy 2-1 victory over Brighton – which restored the Gunners’ two-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the table – in the absence of Jurrien Timber and Ben White.

“It was an unbelievable performance from him,” said captain Odgeaard. “To play right-back, probably the first time in his life, and then do it the way he did was unbelievable.

“And that’s just our team. Everyone is ready to do whatever it takes.”

Injuries to new signings frustrate Slot

Liverpool have yet to get full value from their huge summer spending spree because of the injuries they have suffered, according to head coach Arne Slot.

British record signing Alexander Isak arrived lacking match fitness, struggled with niggles and has now been ruled out for at least two months with a broken leg.

Centre-back Giovanni Leoni sustained a season-ending knee injury in his first appearance while Jeremie Frimpong has made just five starts in 11 games due to a persistent hamstring issue.

That trio cost close to £200million, almost half of the club’s close-season outlay.

“I think a lot has been said by so many people about the amount of money we’ve spent,” said Slot.

“But unfortunately not all of the money we’ve spent we have used and that has to do with the injuries of these players.”

What’s on today?

The holiday football programme continues with a full set of fixtures in the EFL, headlined by two top-of-the-table clashes in the Sky Bet Championship.

Leaders Coventry host third-placed Ipswich while Middlesbrough, who are currently second, take on the side in the fourth spot, Hull.