Thomas Frank must unleash Tottenham star who Jamie Carragher loves vs Liverpool
Tottenham need a statement performance to ease the pressure off Thomas Frank, and three points against Liverpool would erase some doubts over the Dane.
Spurs were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Nottingham Forest last time out, and this result left them in 11th position, four points behind fifth-place Crystal Palace.
As a result, Jamie Carragher thinks Tottenham will sack Frank if Liverpool secure all three points against them on Saturday evening.
However, if he wants to save his job in north London, then the former Brentford boss will have to make a key decision in his starting lineup.
Thomas Frank must start Joao Palhinha vs Liverpool
Spurs were all over the shop defensively at the City Ground, and Archie Gray was one of several who struggled against Forest.
The 19-year-old started in midfield alongside Rodrigo Bentancur, while Joao Palhinha was dropped by Frank following their 3-0 win over Slavia Prague in the Champions League.
But ahead of their showdown against the Reds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Frank should restore Palhinha to his starting lineup, mainly for the protection he offers defensively.
Palhinha is one of the best midfielders in the top-flight at winning possession, with that attribute needed against a star-studded Liverpool attack.
| Joao Palhinha’s 2025/26 Premier League stats |
| 15 appearances |
| 2 goals |
| 2 assists |
| 4.3 tackles per game |
| 2.9 balls recovered per game |
| 7.1 duels won per game (63%) |
| 83% pass completion |
The 30-year-old should arguably come into the side for Bentancur, whose form has suffered in recent months, leading to many wanting him dropped.
Jamie Carragher loves Palhinha
Spurs have an option to sign Palhinha for just £27million at the end of the season, and the Portuguese international has proven to be worth that fee, and some.
In his column for The Telegraph in October, Carragher even admitted that the Bayern Munich loanee is Tottenham’s best signing.
“The best signing under Frank so far is Joao Palhinha, a highly effective ball-winner more so than a playmaker,” Carragher said.
“In the early stages of his Spurs career, Palhinha is exactly what Frank and his new club need, and it could bring instant success.
“Going forward, there will have to be an evolution, as the pairing of Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur is perceived by supporters to be over-cautious in home games.”
Clearly a huge fan of Tottenham’s No.6, Carragher won’t want him to perform well this weekend.
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