After finishing 17th in the Premier League in each of the last two seasons, Spurs were expected to start the 2026/27 campaign differently. Over £300 million was spent during the summer transfer window, while Roberto De Zerbi was brought in to save the club towards the end of last season and lead them into a new era.
However, four Premier League games into the season, Tottenham are still without a win or a goal. Two draws against Nottingham Forest and Everton in their last two fixtures have been accompanied by defeats to Brentford and Newcastle, leaving Spurs with just two points and sitting 17th yet again in the Premier League. Then, midweek they suffered a 3-1 loss at Anfield vs. Liverpool, subsequently knocking them out of the Carabao Cup. Spurs are now left with only two competitions: the FA Cup and the Premier League.
Realistically, with how things stand currently, there is no chance they compete for the Premier League, leaving their chances of silverware solely hanging on their FA Cup performance. It’s early days in the season, but it’s already looking like another bleak season for their loyal fanbase.
The Goal Problem
The biggest issue for Tottenham right now is obvious. They cannot score.
Spurs have failed to score in all four of their Premier League games this season, making this the first time in the club’s history that they have started a league campaign with four consecutive goalless matches. The goalless draw against Nottingham Forest was also the first goalless game the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had witnessed since its opening in 2019.
The worrying thing is not just the lack of goals, but the lack of confidence in front of goal. In the last Premier League game against Everton, Tottenham created good chances but struggled to seriously test Jordan Pickford. De Zerbi has admitted that his side needs to shoot more and make better decisions in the final third. However, that problem continued against Liverpool.
Despite having 17 shots, Spurs only scored once, and only forced Mamardashvili into making two saves. De Zerbi admitted after the game that his team needs to improve its finishing but reiterated the great quality the players in his side possess.
Tottenham are performing well in xG (expected goals) stats, and are outperforming their opposition more often than not in this metric. This was the case yet again against Liverpool. This would suggest that once it clicks for Spurs in the final third, they have the ability to compete further up the league table.
Has The Spending Worked?
Tottenham’s summer transfer window created a lot of excitement amongst their fan base. Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Sávio, Omar Marmoush and Jan Paul Van Hecke were among the new arrivals as the club invested heavily in rebuilding the squad.
On paper, Tottenham have a much stronger squad than the one that struggled last season. But so far, it has not translated onto the pitch. There are reasons for this.
Several players have been injured, while some of the biggest signings arrived late in the transfer window, meaning they will need time to integrate into the side. The team is also still adapting to De Zerbi’s style of football, especially with so many new players. We’ve seen with Chelsea in recent years under owners BlueCo that spending a lot of money at once doesn’t guarantee instant success.
That means this Spurs side needs time. It’s not time for panic stations just yet. However, after two consecutive 17th-place finishes, patience is already being tested.
What Happens Next?
Tottenham now face Aston Villa at home on Saturday, which is shockingly already building up to be a season-defining game. Spurs need a performance, but more importantly, they need a result. This is the final game before an extended three-week international break. A loss would give time for a bad atmosphere around the club to build, while on the other hand, a win could ignite the season and belief that maybe De Zerbi has made it click.
The money has been spent.
The manager has arrived.
The squad has changed.
Now Tottenham need to start showing it on the pitch.
