Fans can be the absolute worst. If they don't like the way things are going, they will do everything possible to show their displeasure. This can range from marches to protest songs. They want stop until they get what they desire. Lately, two managers have faced the fury of the fans: Tottenham's Thomas Frank and Liverpool's Arne Slot.
Tottenham head coach, Thomas Frank, left Turf Moor to the sounds that are now becoming a familiar backing track to what looks an increasingly unsustainable tenure.
Cristian Romero's last-minute header rescued a 2-2 draw just as Burnley looked on the brink of piling more embarrassment on the embattled Dane by securing their first win in 14 Premier League games.
'Dr. Tottenham' – the jibe that suggests they can prescribe a cure for even the most serious ills of their opponents – looked to be on the brink of the most dramatic cure yet until Romero struck. If Frank thought this would ease the growing anger of travelling fans he would have been sorely mistaken as he once more felt the full force of their fury after the final whistle.
Indeed, the discontent surfaced even in the first half as Spurs fans chanted "sideways and backwards everywhere we go" as the ball was passed around aimlessly. Micky van de Ven's opening goal was greeted with ironic chants of "we're staying up" from the visitors' section.
Once the final whistle sounded, Frank walked off to deafening chants of "sacked in the morning" from his own fans and other more colourful phrases of the uncomplimentary variety.
Frank's position came under internal scrutiny after the home loss to another struggling side, West Ham, with BBC Sport reporting that at least one member of the club's executive team has actively raised the option of ending his reign in recent weeks.
The question for the club's hierarchy now is whether they should move quickly to put him out of his misery or give Frank the opportunity to turn Spurs' fortunes around.
Frank got some relief with the Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund, which illustrated the sharp contrast between Spurs in the Premier League and in Europe.
Spurs have won only two of their past 14 Premier League games - but there is the good news that a win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday puts them straight through to the last 16 of the Champions League.
For all that, the ill-feeling continually aimed towards Frank, as was in evidence here, is not going away and it must be a question of when rather than if Spurs make a change.
It was impossible to disagree with Frank's assertion that Spurs should have won this game measured on chances and the series of outstanding saves made by Burnley keeper, Martin Dubravka. The rub is they ended up grasping desperately for the point Romero's thumping header gave them.
Van de Ven's goal gave them a deserved lead but Spurs then switched off to allow Axel Tuanzebe to sweep in Burnley's equaliser in first-half stoppage time.
Spurs had more opportunities after the break, but such is the frailty of Frank's team that once Burnley, lying in 19th place in the table, actually showed the courage of their convictions, they lost control, leading to Lyle Foster's second for the Clarets.
If Burnley had won, surely a decision on Frank's fate could not have been delayed any longer.
Frank was doing his best to keep the lid on his emotions and accentuate the positives after the game but he revealed his frustration as he thumped the table in front of him three times in time with his words when he insisted Spurs should "never, ever, ever" concede a goal like Tuanzebe's, repeating the message and actions when discussing Foster's goal.
"You can't say we didn't do everything to win," he told Match of the Day. "We just need to keep improving. The only way it can be is calm heads, carry on and keep doing what we think is the right thing. You see the game. We do more than enough to win the game. We just need to defend better in two situations. And, of course, score another goal that could make the difference at 1-0."
And yet again Frank had to rely on defenders for goals, showing once more the lack of potency – and resources – he has in attack.
Only Richarlison, with eight, has scored more than Van de Ven, who has netted seven this season. The Dutchman's tally is also the most of any Premier League defender across all competitions.
"Van de Ven and Romero got the goals but there were more problems at the back against a Burnley side who've now gone 14 games without a win," said ex-Wales defender, Ashley Williams, who is a pundit on Saturday's Match of the Day.
"I just think in the second half, it was so easy for Burnley. They had four big chances in the game and I'm sure Thomas Frank will be unhappy with how his team defended. There's a lack of discipline and focus when Spurs need calmness from their big players and leaders."
This explains, to a large degree, the pursuit of Liverpool's Scotland left-back, Andy Robertson, with talks ongoing. If Spurs can get the result they need in Frankfurt in the Champions League, Frank may find some solace but this carries all the hallmarks of a situation coming to a head with a fierce upcoming fixture list.
Romero has scored four Premier League goals this season but his latest wasn't enough to dilute what is becoming the familiar toxicity aimed in Frank's direction.
Tottenham supporters have begun to openly reminisce about Mauricio Pochettino, with Thomas Frank’s future once again under serious scrutiny. Another Premier League setback, this time against Burnley, leaves Spurs eight points above the relegation zone - and there is a growing expectation that time may finally be running out for the current boss.
Frank earned a stay of execution with a win over Borussia Dortmund in midweek but that remains their only victory from seven matches in 2026 so far. They rescued a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor thanks to a very late goal from Cristian Romero, but Frank’s future remains uncertain.
Fans sang the name of former manager Pochettino on several occasions from the away end at Burnley, underlining the pressure on Frank as he attempts to survive.
Pochettino is currently in charge of the United States men’s national team, but would be a contender to take over if he were willing to return. Such a move is almost certainly unlikely until the conclusion of the World Cup campaign.
Pochettino led Spurs to a Champions League final, an achievement that certainly feels far beyond the reach of this current side. Chief executive, Vinai Venkatesham, continues to support Frank, and any decision to part ways would require a clearly defined succession plan.
Frank, however, will point to the statistics from the Burnley match as evidence that his side were unfortunate. Spurs had 63% possession and registered 11 shots on target, with home goalkeeper Martin Dubravka producing an outstanding performance to limit their goal return.
Time is running out for Thomas Frank to rescue the situation at Tottenham, following yet another disappointing Premier League outcome.
The away supporters made their feelings abundantly clear with a wave of boos and chants of "We want Frank out," leaving no doubt about their stance on the manager's position. As pressure mounts on the board and ownership regarding the appointment of the head coach, the window to salvage matters is rapidly closing.
With that in mind, former Tottenham player, Jamie O'Hara, has shared his view on the crisis, advocating for the bold move of bringing back Harry Redknapp but only as a caretaker boss until the end of the season. Speaking on talkSPORT, he commented: "Look, Harry's been out of the game for a while, but he still watches football."
"Give him some backroom staff, people that can coach, take the sessions for him, he manages the team. He's been my manager, Harry Redknapp. He'll get his arm around you, he'll give you some confidence and he'll say, 'Go and play and express yourselves.'"
"And I think that's what the players need. I don't know if Thomas Frank has just got these players with the handbrake on. I think Harry Redknapp would take the handbrake off these players and say, 'Go and enjoy your football.'"
Appointing the 78-year-old would represent a gamble, even temporarily, considering he's been away from the sport for almost a decade. Redknapp's most recent managerial stint came in 2017, when he took charge of Birmingham City for several months to steer them clear of relegation danger in the Championship.
His departure that September marked his retirement from management after 34 years in the dugout, with his tenure at Tottenham standing out as one of the pinnacle moments of his career. Given the transformation the Premier League has undergone since then and how competitive the division has become, such an appointment could be viewed as a considerable gamble.
Whilst such speculation circulates amongst Tottenham supporters and pundits, Frank has urged his squad to "keep going" amid their current difficulties. Speaking to the media following the stalemate with Burnley, he said: "First and foremost, I want to thank them [the fans] for travelling and supporting the team throughout the game, which they do."
"I'm sure they can recognise and acknowledge especially the first half, and the improvement we've done there, and could and should have put it out of sight. But also acknowledge the will-power and character of the team that keeps running, keep fighting, to the end."
"We just need to keep going. We do so many things right. But there's no doubt, that when it's not dropping so easy for us, the consistent performances we've done, which I think I said that many times, they actually are in an OK level.
"But apparently because of where we are now, we need to do more, to make sure we get the wins over the line. Especially in the Premier League. And one of the bits is to play every third or fourth day, to perform, that demands a lot of mentality.
"We have a few injuries, that doesn't help, but that's part of it. Never any complaints from me, that's reality. But that's where we need to be strong enough as a team to keep performing every third or fourth day."
Thomas Frank is treading on very thin ice. I believe the only thing that's preventing him from sinking is the Champions League. Frank could go on a massive losing streak in the Premier League and still cling onto his job as long as Spurs are in Europe.
Should Tottenham exit the Champions League at any stage, I'm pretty sure the higher ups will give Frank his marching orders. Spurs fans might be in for a very rough ride.
Heading to Merseyside and going into the match at Bournemouth, Liverpool's unbeaten run was the longest of any side in Europe's top five leagues. Hardly the sign of a team struggling.
As Amine Adli wheeled away in ecstasy after scoring Bournemouth's winner in the 95th minute, the reality of Liverpool's problems that were somewhat hidden by their 13-game undefeated sequence were laid bare.
The reigning champions are now winless in their past five Premier League matches, after four draws and one defeat.
Bar the draw against Arsenal, the other four games have been against Leeds, Burnley, Fulham and now Bournemouth.
This is a Liverpool side no longer feared - one that has lost the aura they possessed while romping to the title last season. Here, they defended erratically and were predictable going forward.
"From Bournemouth's point of view, they would have looked at Liverpool and thought 'why can't we beat them?' Arne Slot's side look miles off the team we saw last season," said Alan Shearer, who is a pundit on Saturday's Match of the Day.
"Liverpool just don't look right in all areas. They're making too many errors and are weak defensively, as we saw with the winning goal. While they scored two goals from set-pieces, they didn't create anywhere near enough from open play."
Bournemouth have been there for the taking this season.
Andoni Iraola's side have been decimated by injuries and no longer have Antoine Semenyo since he joined Manchester City. The Cherries came into this game with one win in 14 matches but ruthlessly exposed Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk's error for the first goal by Evanilson was entirely avoidable, even if Slot insisted the windy conditions played a part.
Yet, the fact that Liverpool didn't think to play the ball out before the second goal by Alex Jimenez, in order to replace the injured Joe Gomez and no longer play with 10 men, was baffling. Slot and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, were telling the players to put the ball out so they could bring Wataru Endo on. They were made to pay, and from that point on Liverpool were up against it.
"I tried to scream towards them [his players] to put the ball out of play but actually we were quite comfortable - I think we kept the ball for quite a long time and then when we lost it, it was the opposite," said Slot. "Maybe that sums up our season. It's every time something else, it's every time something special how we concede. But we concede and the only ones to blame are ourselves."
For Slot, the focus post-match was on fixture congestion and the tiredness of his players. Liverpool were brilliant midweek in Marseille but this was a different challenge entirely against a Bournemouth side that deserve all the credit for chasing a winner, despite losing a two-goal lead.
By the hour mark, three of Liverpool's starting back four were off the pitch with Gomez injured, while Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong were taken off to protect their fitness.
"I think it's safe to say a few players of ours ran out of energy," said Slot. "I cannot even criticise them for that because two days ago we had to play an away game in Europe. We are the only team that played [in the] Champions League that has two days between in this time."
In mitigation, Liverpool's lack of depth was clear with notable injuries and absences but, bar Rio Ngumoha, they still finished the game with senior players and Slot was able to call on the likes of Endo, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones and Hugo Ekitike off the bench.
Yet, Slot was forthcoming in insisting Bournemouth could've made it 3-2 earlier. The winner came in the 95th minute and led to wild scenes but it hardly came as a surprise for those who have followed Liverpool this season.
Arne Slot conceded his side ran out of steam in defeat at Bournemouth, after Amine Adli’s 95th-minute winner condemned Liverpool to a first loss since November. Liverpool pulled level from 2-0 down late on courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai’s sensational free-kick but Bournemouth responded impressively and Adli struck a winner from a long throw with almost the last kick.
Against Bournemouth on Saturday, both Liverpool boss, Arne Slot and first assistant coach, Sipke Hulshoff, ordered Reds goalkeeper, Alisson, to put the ball out of play with defender Joe Gomez struggling with an injury.
Liverpool answered through Virgil Van Dijk, making the score 2-1 at the half, before Dominik Szoboszlai equalised late on with an excellent free kick. Yet there was still time for Bournemouth to snatch a 3-2 win thanks to Amine Adli's last-minute goal.
The Liverpool head coach felt the referee, Michael Salisbury, should've played more second-half stoppage time taking in substitutions and video assistant referee checks but admitted he feared a Bournemouth winner. “I think it is safe to say they could have scored 3-2 a little bit earlier,” Slot said, alluding to chances for the Bournemouth pair Evanilson and Ryan Christie.
They conceded a 90th-minute winning goal for the third time in the Premier League this campaign - their most in a single season in the competition - and it was the fifth time they had lost points in stoppage time.
It was also the fifth Premier League goal they have conceded from a throw-in this season - the most of any team.
"Their aim has to be salvaging the season by qualifying for the Champions League with a top-four or perhaps top-five finish - but that's a big drop-off from what we saw last season," added Shearer.
Xabi Alonso has reportedly received a "first call" from Liverpool, with his interest in a future managerial role on Merseyside being sounded out. The World Cup winner is available at present after seeing a testing spell in charge of Real Madrid cut short after seven months. Arne Slot continues to oversee events at Anfield for now but questions are being asked of his future.
More of those have surfaced on the back of a dramatic 3-2 loss at Bournemouth which saw the reigning Premier League champions suffer a seventh defeat of their uninspiring domestic title defence.
Slot guided the Reds to top-flight glory in dominant style last season, after taking over from Jurgen Klopp but has struggled to bring the best out of an expensively-assembled squad this term - with little return being seen on record-breaking transfer investment.
According to Spanish news outlet, AS, Liverpool are putting contingency plans in place when it comes to their head coaching role. They claim that “first” contact has been made with Alonso after seeing him unceremoniously ushered out of the Bernabeu - where he is said to have endured a strained relationship with the likes of Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.
Despite lasting just 34 games in Madrid, Alonso’s stock remains high on the back of his Bundesliga title-winning exploits at Bayer Leverkusen. He is fondly remembered at Anfield from his playing days and was asked about taking the reins there in 2024 when Klopp announced that he would be terminating his contract.
Alonso felt it "wasn't the right time to leave" Leverkusen at that stage, but he is now waiting on enticing offers. AS claims that the 44-year-old ex-Spain international is taking in "active rest" and "knows he'll be welcomed back to Anfield."
Liverpool are said to be "counting on him for the near future, or for the 2026-27 season." Alonso, along with his representatives, have opened themselves up to contact from England. He is “determined” to retrace steps to Merseyside at some point.
Liverpool's Premier League defence has been over for a while. This is a squad that should compete for the title next season, but right now they have no semblance of an identity, and above all are no longer feared.
Liverpool, I believe, will continue to be a mixed bag of results for the rest of the season. Despite this possibility, Slot will remain in charge, at least until the end of the season. This is by virtue of winning the League last season. Ergo, he has a lot of credit in the bank.
I think every football fan can predict what happens after the season is over. Slot will be sacked and Alonso will be appointed. Should this occur, this would be the most predictable move in football history.