Tottenham are now locked in a serious relegation battle, sitting 18th in the Premier League with six games left. A run of poor results, combined with rivals picking up points, has pushed Spurs into the bottom three and increased external concern about the squad’s mentality and form.
Opta’s supercomputer currently gives Tottenham a 49.5% probability of relegation, underlining the scale of the threat. Spurs dropped into the relegation zone after West Ham’s 4-0 victory over Wolves on April 10, 2026, and then stayed there following a damaging defeat at Sunderland in Roberto De Zerbi’s first match in charge.
Gary Neville has questioned whether Tottenham have the character needed for a survival fight, comparing Spurs unfavourably with fellow strugglers.
Neville focused on Leeds United’s display at Old Trafford, arguing that the level of intensity and cohesion shown there is beyond what Tottenham currently demonstrate in matches.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Gary Neville Podcast, Neville praised Leeds’ display against Manchester United and directly contrasted it with Tottenham’s performance at Sunderland. He highlighted not just the league position swing, but also what he sees as a clear difference in teamwork, balance and belief between the two sides at this stage of the season. "In the first half [against Man Utd], they [Leeds] were absolutely wonderful," Neville said on Sky Sports’ Gary Neville Podcast. "That is a performance I don’t think Tottenham are capable of, and that is the scary thing for Tottenham. Not the six pointsthat Leeds have gone clear of them, but the actual performance levels they put in. They [Tottenham] are nowhere near that. You watch Spurs against Sunderland and it is a set of ingredients that don’t go together, a concoction of misfits, yet you watch Leeds and there is a balance and a flow. "
The table tightened further across matchday 32. Tottenham’s 2-0 loss at Sunderland on April 11, 2026, left Spurs 18th by the weekend’s end. Leeds then beat Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford, moving into 15th and opening a six-point cushion over Tottenham, while Nottingham Forest collected a valuable point against Aston Villa.
Those outcomes increased pressure on De Zerbi before Tottenham’s next fixtures. Spurs now trail several relegation rivals on both points and confidence, with their form slump coming at the worst possible stage of the campaign. Leeds’ win, in particular, changed the mood around the bottom half and placed extra focus on Tottenham’s response.
Tottenham Premier League form, injury setback and home struggles
Spurs’ situation is made harder by injuries, with captain Cristian Romero expected to miss the rest of the season. Romero suffered a knee problem during the defeat at Sunderland, removing a key defender and leader from De Zerbi’s options just as the run-in intensifies and defensive stability becomes critical.
Tottenham’s home record has also collapsed, adding to relegation concerns. Spurs have lost four consecutive league games at home, and they have only once dropped five in a row at home in their league history, back in February 1994. That statistic underlines the scale of their current difficulties at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Historical form in 2026 has been troubling as well. A long winless stretch from the start of the calendar year has drawn comparisons with Derby in 2008, Sunderland in 2003 and Swindon Town in 1993, all of whom were relegated after similar runs. Opta data has therefore been used to highlight how precarious Tottenham’s situation has become.
14 - Only Derby in 2008 (18), Sunderland in 2003 (17) and Swindon Town in 1993 (15) have had longer winless runs to start a calendar year in the Premier League than Tottenham in 2026 (14) - all three were relegated in those campaigns. Precarious. pic.twitter.com/sDtwBxfQfIOptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 12, 2026
Tottenham relegation battle, De Zerbi storyline and upcoming fixtures
De Zerbi’s first home game as Tottenham head coach will come against Brighton on April 18, 2026, adding an extra narrative layer. The Italian previously managed Brighton, and his first Premier League home match for the Seagulls also came against Tottenham in October 2022, when Spurs won 1-0 at the Amex Stadium.
Managerial history at Tottenham offers a mixed picture for De Zerbi. Only one of the previous 13 managers lost their first home match in charge, a group that includes De Zerbi’s predecessor Igor Tudor, who did suffer defeat. De Zerbi will aim to avoid repeating that outcome while trying to halt Spurs’ poor run and keep the club above the relegation line.
The combination of a difficult league position, injuries to key players, poor home form and a demanding schedule leaves Tottenham with little margin for error. With Opta’s models showing a near 50-50 chance of relegation, every remaining match, including the meeting with Brighton, carries major weight for Spurs’ Premier League future.
