“Sorry, i made an Error”- Gary Lineker changes mind about where Tottenham will finish hours before Leicester clash
Tottenham Hotspur have been spectators to the Premier League’s early action over the weekend, watching as their rivals took center stage. Now, it’s their moment to shine. The opening weekend saw no major surprises, with top teams like Manchester United and Liverpool efficiently securing victories. However, the potential for a shock looms as Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham prepare to face newly-promoted Leicester City in the Midlands on Monday night.
Before the season kicked off, pundits and fans alike were busy making predictions, some more outlandish than others. Gary Neville, for instance, controversially predicted that Liverpool would miss out on a top-four finish. Meanwhile, former Spurs striker Gary Lineker has already acknowledged an early miscalculation regarding Tottenham’s prospects this season.
Last season, Tottenham narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification, edged out by Unai Emery’s resurgent Aston Villa. Despite the departure of star striker Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, Postecoglou’s Spurs managed to accumulate more points and even score four more goals than the previous campaign. This marked an impressive debut season for Postecoglou at the helm.
Initially, Lineker predicted that Tottenham would finish fifth again this season, citing Postecoglou’s period of adjustment as a factor. However, just hours before Tottenham’s clash with Leicester, Lineker revised his prediction. He admitted on “The Rest is Football” podcast that he had made an ‘error’ in his initial assessment. He now believes that Spurs will be “battling with Liverpool” for a top-four spot and could indeed secure a return to the Champions League.
Reflecting on his earlier prediction, Lineker said, “Just a quick one on Leicester and Tottenham while I think about it. When we did our predictions, I made an error. It’s okay to change it now, because they haven’t played yet. But I was meant to put Tottenham in the top four. I only had three Champions League spots. I am just going to correct myself there and put Tottenham in the top four.”
He continued, “I listen to the podcast to check that we don’t mess up too much, and I thought, ‘hang on a minute? Why did I put Tottenham fifth when I was meant to put them third or fourth, battling with Liverpool?’ I even said ‘battling with Liverpool’. So, just to be clear.”
Tottenham’s summer transfer activity has been a major talking point as well. The club has been extremely active, starting with the retention and season-long loan of Timo Werner. This was followed by what many consider to be one of the best deals of the summer—signing highly-rated Archie Gray from Leeds United.
Despite their attacking prowess under the new system, Spurs didn’t stop there. They shattered their transfer record to bring in Dominic Solanke, adding even more firepower to their forward line. With such an array of attacking talent, Tottenham are expected to overwhelm many teams this season.
However, there are still lingering concerns. Jermaine Jenas, a former Spurs midfielder, has expressed worry over unresolved defensive issues from last season. Problems such as conceding goals from set-pieces and corners remain areas that need attention if Tottenham are to truly challenge at the top.
As Tottenham Hotspur take to the pitch against Leicester, all eyes will be on how Postecoglou’s men handle the pressure. With a revitalized squad and revised expectations, the stage is set for a season that could see Spurs not only return to Europe’s elite competition but also make a significant statement in the Premier League.
