Spurs finally win a match – but remain in Premier League relegation zone

Spurs finally win a match – but remain in Premier League relegation zone Last updated 25 April 2026 5:14pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Palhinha’s 83rd-minute winner at against Wolves means Spurs are still within touching distance of West Ham, one spot above them Credit: Nick Potts/PA John Percy at Molineux. Daniel Zeqiri live updates Last updated 25 April 2026 5:14pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email It has been 118 excruciating days and 16 matches but Tottenham Hotspur have finally rediscovered what winning in the Premier League feels like. After appearing to exhaust the ways to fail in a relegation battle, Tottenham are at last fighting and who knows how pivotal a messy goal from Joao Palhinha could prove to be. Chants of “You’re going down with the Wanderers’ echoed around Molineux all afternoon and the prospect of these two clubs facing each other in the Championship next season could still happen. Defeat here, coupled with West Ham’s victory over Everton, would have proved a heavyweight blow for Tottenham but Roberto De Zerbi will hope this is a turning point. His new team remain in the relegation zone and face a tough assignment at Champions League chasers Aston Villa this weekend yet, at last, there is some room for optimism. It would not be Spurs without some more problems, and Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke were both taken off injured. Simons appeared the more serious concern after he was removed on a stretcher with with a knee injury. Tottenham fans were still in joyous mood at the end. Palhinha’s goal seven minutes from time prompted a pitch invasion from De Zerbi and his staff in crazy scenes of celebration that did not appear possible earlier on. Latest updates John Percy at Molineux. Daniel Zeqiri live updates 5:01PM Full time! Wolves 0 Spurs 1 Link copied to clipboard Spurs win for the first time in 2026 and for the first time under Roberto De Zerbi. It was a nervy finish and Kinsky had to make a sharp save at the end, he is embraced by his team-mates at the final whistle and the team are celebrating with gusto. As you were at the bottom, but at least Spurs have stopped the rot with a victory. Roberto De Zerbi celebrates his first Spurs win Credit: Martin Rickett/PA 4:58PM Full-time results Link copied to clipboard Liverpool 3 Crystal Palace 1 West Ham 2 Everton 1 They are still playing at Molineux. 4:56PM GOOOOALL! Liverpool 3 Palace 1 Link copied to clipboard Wirtz adds some gloss to a home win for Liverpool, but Palace have had their chances throughout. Liverpool going fourth, above Aston Villa who lost at Fulham at lunchtime. 4:51PM GOOOOALLL! West Ham 2 Everton 1 Link copied to clipboard Spurs are back in the relegation zone after a 92nd-minute goal by Callum Wilson for has surely won the game for West Ham at the London Stadium. Spurs lead at Wolves, but there will be seven minutes of added time to play there. Or maybe not. The first half was a waste of time. The second has made up for it. What a headed assist by Jarrod Bowen. What a roar after Callum Wilson found the net. Callum Wilson scored a classic poacher’s goal Credit: Warren Little/Getty Images 4:46PM GOOOOALLL! West Ham 1 Everton 1 Link copied to clipboard The Everton pressure has told in the 88th minute, and it was a crisp finish from the in-form Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. As things stand, Spurs will be out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scores Credit: Warren Little/Getty Images 4:45PM 85 minutes: West Ham 1 Everton 0 Link copied to clipboard Spurs fans thought they were about to pull off a win-double for a moment there, but VAR has decided against awarding Everton a penalty at West Ham for what looked a very plausible shout. 4:44PM GOOOOALLL! Wolves 0 Spurs 1 Link copied to clipboard Palhinha has found the breakthrough goal for Spurs, but is is a very tight offside call... goal given! It was a scruffy one but Spurs fans will not care. Joao Palhinha celebrates after scoring the opening goal  Credit: Darren Staples/Getty Images 4:37PM 77 minutes: West Ham 1 Everton 0 Link copied to clipboard Thierno Barry oh so close to a goal that would have cheered the hearts of Everton and Spurs fans but the striker has hit the bar. Thierno Barry of Everton hits the crossbar  Credit: Richard Pelham/Getty Images 4:35PM 72 minutes: Liverpool 2 Palace 1 Link copied to clipboard Woodman is trying to soldier on but the goalkeeper is not moving freely. 4:33PM GOOOOALL! Liverpool 2 Palace 1 Link copied to clipboard Munoz lifts the ball into the unguarded net with Woodman down injured with a knee problem. The goal was given on the pitch, but Arne Slot is furious that Palace did not kick the ball out of play. Pesci, Liverpool’s 21-year-old four-choice goalkeeper, could be about to come on. There’s definitely nothing funny about that... The spirit of Paolo Di Canio and Paul Gerrard not alive at Palace. Probably not. Woodman wasn’t down with a head injury so there was no obligation to stop play immediately but what a turn of events this has been. Palace will fancy their hopes of getting an equaliser. Freddie Woodman was down injured when Crystal Palace Credit: Phil Noble/Reuters 4:31PM 70 minutes: Wolves 0 Spurs 0 Link copied to clipboard Spurs go close! Sa gets down well to pluck Bentancur’s header away from the bottom corner. A huge final 20 minutes plus stoppage time coming up. 4:29PM 69 minutes: West Ham 1 Everton 0 Link copied to clipboard Another player who has become indispensable for West Ham in their improved form over the past three months is Crysencio Summerville. It was noticeable how many of his team-mates ran over to check on him after he was left requiring treatment following a hefty challenge. Irrespective of what happens in the rest of this match, he will be needed in the ones that follow. He seems to be okay. 4:24PM 62 minutes: Wolves 0 Spurs 0 Link copied to clipboard The bad news continues to stack up remorselessly if you are a Spurs supporter: Xavi Simons tried to run off a knock to his knee, but has gone down again and will be coming off. Palhinha and Bergvall are on, replacing Simons and Bissouma. Simons looks distraught, that could be a serious one. Simons appeared to fall awkwardly on his knee near the touchline and, despite attempting to carry on, has now been carried off on a stretcher. Dominic Solanke was also withdrawn five minutes before the break. The problems are piling up for Roberto De Zerbi. 4:19PM 58 minutes: Liverpool 2 Crystal Palace 0 Link copied to clipboard Mohamed Salah has pulled his hamstring, and is replaced by Frimpong. This may well prove to be his last Liverpool appearance and if it is, it is a sad farewell. Anfield tries to lift him with a great ovation. Now that was significant. Mo Salah has gone off with a hamstring issue and he lingered, waving to all sides of the stadium, before he headed straight down the tunnel for treatment. Was that a sign of him saying goodbye? It’s one for Arne Slot to explain afterwards. Liverpool remain in control. Was Salah saying goodbye to Anfield? Credit: Phil Noble/Reuters 4:16PM 57 minutes: West Ham 1 Everton 0 Link copied to clipboard That’s livened things up. Two of West Ham’s men for an important moment combine with Tomas Soucek heading home a Jarrod Bowen corner. Cue his helicopter celebration and a roar of relief from the West Ham supporters. The atmosphere has noticeably lifted, the tension dissipated for now. Over to you, Tottenham. Tomas Soucek scored another important goal for West Ham Credit: Tony O'Brien/Reuters 4:12PM 52 minutes: Wolves 0 Spurs 0 Link copied to clipboard News of West Ham’s goal has filtered through quickly at Molineux to spark off another chant regarding Tottenham and potential relegation. Xavi Simons has just wasted a glorious chance to score for the visitors and Tottenham’s fans are becoming increasingly agitated. 4:10PM GOOOOAALLL! West Ham 1 Everton 0 Link copied to clipboard What a big goal this could prove to be, and what a player Tomas Soucek has been for West Ham. An absolute bargain, he has chipped in with so many important goals, and he rises highest from a corner to beat Pickford. West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek opened the scoring Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA 4:06PM Confirmation of that Spurs change Link copied to clipboard Tel on for Kolo Muani. Spurs fans have been calling for Tel to be given more chances, well now he has an opportunity at a crucial juncture. 4:03PM De Zerbi is making a half-time change Link copied to clipboard Mathys Tel is stripped and ready to come on. You would think for Kolo Muani, after Richarlison replaced the injured Solanke in the first 45 minutes. 4:00PM Not much goalmouth action at the London Stadium Link copied to clipboard It all feels slightly surreal so far, one of those lazy, hazy afternoons on which nothing matters very much. Except that it does. There is urgency to win the ball on both sides, but none of it amounted to much in either penalty area until Jarrod Bowen flashed a low ball across the Everton six-yard box in the only minute of added time. Even the half-time whistle of referee Stuart Attwell drew no response whatsoever. No applause, no cheers, no boos. Nothing. Everton may be the happier side, but surely three points would aid their push for Europe more than the point they currently hold. As for West Ham, there is little suggestion that they will make things happen, as their relegation rivals Leeds and Nottingham Forest have in the past week. West Ham United’s Kyle Walker-Peters up against Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye  Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA 3:53PM No shots on target for Wolves or Spurs Link copied to clipboard It is predictably very tense here at Molineux and also low on quality. Tottenham had the best chance when Randal Kolo Muani picked up on a mistake from Andre to advance towards the area and shoot wide. No shots on target from either side but this is a far more important game for Tottenham. Do the players realise the severity of the situation? 3:50PM Half-time scores Link copied to clipboard Liverpool 2 Palace 0 West Ham 0 Everton 0 Wolves 0 Spurs 0 3:48PM 45 minutes: Liverpool 2 Palace 0 Link copied to clipboard What an important few minutes that could be. Big contributions from Freddie Woodman and Andrew Robertson but the tension was lanced by Alexander Isak’s goal. It was a fabulous finish, an instinctive touch and finish, and the confidence he will have taken from that strike will be enormous. Liverpool are coming out of their shell.   3:42PM GOOOALLL! Liverpool 2 Palace 0 Link copied to clipboard The visitors had made a bright start at Anfield, but things have fallen apart since. Andy Robertson, who will wave Anfield goodbye in a few weeks, is the unlikely scorer of the second. Liverpool raced away on the counter-attack after a fine save by Woodman, and Robertson was fed by Curtis Jones before drilling the ball across Henderson. Andy Robertson finished like a season striker Credit: Paul Ellis/Getty Images 3:39PM 39 minutes: Wolves 0 Spurs 0 Link copied to clipboard Bad news for Spurs fans: Dominic Solanke is down and receiving treatment for what looks a hamstring problem. Richarlison is getting ready to replace him, so that’s Solanke’s race run. Dominic Solanke is injured and going off just before half-time. Richarlison is now on for Tottenham and perhaps this game needs a maverick to lift it from the tedium. A Tottenham team already short of goals have lost their striker Credit: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters 3:36PM GOOOALL! Liverpool 1 Palace 0 Link copied to clipboard Salah the source of the danger, but Isak is the scorer after a scuffed Alexis Mac Allister shot. Dean Henderson had no chance. Anfield jubilant after the disappointment of that penalty being overturned. Isak bounced the ball over Henderson Credit: Paul Ellis/ Getty Images 3:33PM 32 minutes: West Ham 0 Everton 0 Link copied to clipboard It is eerily quiet at the London Stadium so far. Both sides probing yet barely raising the pulse. The Everton fans are creating a consistent backdrop of songs, but the West Ham faithful are waiting for something good to happen, either here or at Molineux. So far, it feels like the game – and the relegation battle – are in a holding pattern. 3:32PM 32 minutes: Wolves 0 Spurs 0 Link copied to clipboard Wolves fans are now going through the whole catalogue of songs dedicated to former players. Joao Moutinho, Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves are all getting a mention. The game has flatlined a little, as you might have guessed. 3:26PM 25 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0 Link copied to clipboard Liverpool thought they had a penalty for a Brennan Johnson challenge on Mohamed Salah, but replays show the Palace man made contact with the ball rather than the player so the decision has been overturned after a VAR review. Brennan Johnson was adjudged to have fouled Mohamed Salah before the decision was changed Credit: Phil Noble/Reuters 3:24PM 23 minutes: Wolves 0 Spurs 0 Link copied to clipboard Tottenham have produced the chances so far but never looked close to taking them. Roberto De Zerbi is constantly encouraging his players and clapping certain passages of play, but they need a goal here. Wolves have settled a little bit and clearly revelling in the prospect of unsettling the Premier League’s relegation battle. Dominic Solanke battles with Joao Gomes Credit: Darren Staples/Dominic Solanke 3:23PM 22 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0 Link copied to clipboard Very striking images around Anfield as yellow placards are held up all around the stadium and Fenway Sports Group are told in the most blunt terms that they are – how shall we say this – “avaricious” and “enough is enough”. It wasn’t as stark as February 2016, when there was a mass walkout in the 79th minute, but it will have registered in Boston. Liverpool fans hold aloft leaflets and banners critical of Liverpool’s owners Credit: Paul Ellis/Getty Images Liverpool fans hold up yellow cards Credit: Phil Noble/Reuters 3:15PM 14 minutes: West Ham 0 Everton 0 Link copied to clipboard David Moyes knows most of the West Ham players so well and he has clearly identified full-backs Kyle Walker-Peters and El Hadji Malick Diouf as the players to contain. In possession, Everton’s full-backs Jake O’Brien and Vitali Mykolenko are playing like surrogate wingers, filling the width of the London Stadium pitch and keeping Walker-Peters and Diouf hemmed into their own half. It means that the home side are having to go forward through a congested middle. Can West Ham find an answer to the puzzle Moyes has set? Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and West Ham United’s Taty Castellanos battle for possession Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA 3:05PM 5 minutes: Wolves 0 Spurs 0 Link copied to clipboard The away team are the first to threaten: Pedro Porro’s free-kick was whipped across the penalty area, and Dominic Solanke was not far away from getting on the end of it. 3:03PM 3 minutes: Wolves 0 Spurs 0 Link copied to clipboard And there it goes, after just a minute. The South Bank at Molineux is chanting “you’re going down with the Wanderers” and “Tottenham away”. 3:01PM KICK OFF! Link copied to clipboard We are under way. Nuno Espirito Santo has been here before Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA 2:59PM The teams are out Link copied to clipboard Just a couple of minutes until the three three o’clock kick-offs get under way. 2:58PM Another damning Spurs stat Link copied to clipboard Here is another ridiculous statistic to underline how poor Spurs have been this season. Wolves have proved equally awful but in the space of four days earlier this year equalled the number of home league wins that Spurs have managed so far. That’s just two.  2:58PM Liverpool fans making a stand Link copied to clipboard It’s very strange looking at The Kop at the moment without any flags or declaration. A significant protest will take place in the 13th minute, in regard to season ticket prices have risen by 13 per cent over the last three seasons. Supporter groups have mobilised and are urging those in attendance “not to spend a pound in the ground”. It remains to be seen what effect it will have on the atmosphere.  2:47PM Everton still on a European charge Link copied to clipboard Of course, Everton aren’t here for an end-of-season jolly. It will not be lost on the Everton fans that they are visiting the last club that the Scot took into Europe – and picked up the Europa Conference League trophy. As well as looking for their ticket to the continent, Everton have a prominent role to play in the relegation tussle. They return to London on the final day of the season to visit Tottenham. Oh, and one last thing, Happy Birthday, David Moyes – 63 today. Everton will go seventh with a win Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA 2:43PM ‘Caution: Anfield’s soul at risk’ Link copied to clipboard Liverpool fans are protesting against proposed ticket price hikes, and have already decided to remove the Kop’s flags for the remainder of the season. A Liverpool fan holds a placard which takes aim at FSG Credit: Peter Byrne/PA 2:35PM How things stand Link copied to clipboard 2:15PM West Ham fans have reason to believe Link copied to clipboard The sun is bright, temperatures are up and all seems sweetness and light in the bars leading to the London Stadium. Yet amid the shorts and shirtsleeves, a gnawing feeling still persists among those bedecked in claret and blue. Optimism is present naturally given West Ham’s recent form and the thrill in these parts that the team beneath them is Tottenham, yet that excitement is laced with a nervousness. The wrong combination of results this afternoon could plunge West Ham back into the bottom three and suddenly the first hints of summer will be replaced by thoughts of impending doom. West Ham fans would relish staying up at Tottenham’s expense Credit: Richard Pelham/Getty Images 2:11PM Another anxious afternoon for Spurs fans Link copied to clipboard Wonder how long it will be until we hear the first chant of “you’re going down with the Wanderers” at Molineux today? Wolves are of course already doomed to the Championship and Tottenham supporters must be increasingly worried their team will join them. Rob Edwards was building some momentum before a ridiculous 25-day break damaged their upward curve. They now face Tottenham on the back of a 7-0 aggregate loss over two matches to West Ham and Leeds. Could this be the perfect opportunity for Tottenham to finally start their fightback towards survival? One of the Wolves mascots thinks not: he’s gone for a 4-1 home win. 2:03PM James Maddison back with in the Spurs squad Link copied to clipboard Maddison is not quite fit to play after such a serious knee injury, but De Zerbi said in his press conference that he was going to pick the playmaker among his substitutes for morale reasons. As someone with a stated intention to be the main man at every roast dinner, I suppose Maddison will be an uplifting presence in the dressing room. He will also be buoyed by boyhood club Coventry City winning promotion to the Premier League. James Maddison is on the bench for Spurs Credit: Martin Rickett/PA 1:54PM Liverpool vs Crystal Palace team news Link copied to clipboard Liverpool starting XI: Woodman, Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Isak, Gakpo Subs: Pecsi, Gomez, Kerkez, Chiesa, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Ngumoha, Wright Crystal Palace starting XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Canvot, Munoz, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell, Johnson, Mateta, Sarr Subs: Benitez, Lerma, Pino, CLyne, Hughges, Strand Larsen, Soso, Riad, Devenny 1:52PM Wolves vs Spurs team news Link copied to clipboard Wolves starting XI: Sa, Lima, Doherty, S Bueno, Toti, H Bueno, Andre, J Gomes, R Gomes, Mane, Armstrong Subs: Bentley, Tchatchoua, Olagunju, Wolfe, A Gomes, Bellegarde, Edozie, Hwang, Arokodare Spurs starting XI: Kinsky, Spence, Danso, Van de Ven, Porro, Bissouma, Gallagher, Bentancur, Xavi, Kolo Muani, Solanke Subs: Austin, Dragusin, Palhinha, Richarlison, Maddison, Tel, Gray, Bergvall, Souzs 1:49PM West Ham vs Everton team news Link copied to clipboard West Ham starting XI: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf, Fernandes, Souček, Bowen, Summerville, Pablo, Taty Subs: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Scarles, Todibo, Potts, Magassa, Kanté, Adama, Wilson Everton starting XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski (c), Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Gana, McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Barry Subs: Travers, Patterson, George, Dibling, Coleman, Alcaraz, Rohl, Iroegbunam, Armstrong 1:40PM Goals on film: De Zerbi using video to help players Link copied to clipboard It is now 118 days since Tottenham last experienced the feeling of winning three points in the Premier League. This game today at Molineux has surely veered into ‘must-win’ territory after Nottingham Forest’s thumping victory at Sunderland on Friday night. It looks like a straight shoot-out between Tottenham and West Ham now for the final relegation place, joining Wolves and Burnley. Roberto De Zerbi has been showing his squad various clips of past achievements on YouTube, and will be desperate for his players to avoid dropping a video nasty here. 1:37PM Spurs must win or the unthinkable becomes probable Link copied to clipboard It is a very significant day at the bottom of the Premier League where the battle to avoid relegation now looks like a two-way scrap between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur. Nottingham Forest are eight points clear of the bottom three after their eye-catching 5-0 victory at Sunderland on Friday night.  Spurs’ trip to relegated Wolves this afternoon is simply a must-win for Roberto De Zerbi and his players. There were signs of competency in performances against Sunderland and Brighton, but they could only claim one point from a possible six. If Spurs fall four or five points behind West Ham, who host Everton, relegation would go from a perilous possibility to a near certainty. Wolves have taken points off Aston Villa, Arsenal and Liverpool at Molineux this calendar year, so they can be slippery opponents, and Spurs are winless in the league in 2026. “I don’t want to put pressure but we have to know the situation, we can’t forget the table and that we need to win, and maybe what we have ​done until now is not enough,” said De Zerbi said ‌at his pre-match news conference. “Even if we win at Wolves it’s not finished yet anyway, there are four more games. But right now I think we deserve to win a game. We played a very good game against Brighton and were unlucky.” At the London Stadium, David Moyes returns to face his former club knowing that Everton can climb above Chelsea and Bournemouth with a win. West Ham have lost just two of their last six in the league, though they may have been frustrated by their failure to convert first-half dominance into goals in their draw at Crystal Palace last time out. Nuno Espirito Santo is well aware of the threat Everton offer and says Moyes’s familiarity with the West Ham squad poses a challenge. “(Former team) managers have the advantage of knowing the players, sometimes the routines,” said Nuno. The third three o’clock game is Liverpool vs Crystal Palace, with Champions League qualification now looking more comfortable for last season’s champions than it did a few weeks ago. Full team news on the way shortly.