Tottenham Hotspur's alarming slide continued with a 2-3 home defeat to Aston Villa, a result that leaves them 19th in the Premier League on just two points. It was a fifth consecutive game without a win, plunging Roberto De Zerbi's side back into the relegation zone and piling pressure on the Italian manager.

De Zerbi did not speak to his players in the dressing room after the final whistle at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He later described the defending for Villa's second goal, scored by Nicolas Jackson in the 67th minute, as "unacceptable." The forward tormented Tottenham's centre-backs throughout, combining silky touches with bruising physicality and giving them no peace. His goal, which doubled Villa's lead after Johan Manzambi's opener just before half-time, proved the game's key moment.

A familiar pattern

Spurs have now conceded eight goals in five league games, scoring only twice. Their recent form reads two draws and three losses, with the last two matches both ending in defeat. The loss to Villa followed a 3-1 reverse at Anfield against Liverpool, where Conor Gallagher scored a consolation. Gallagher was on target again against Villa, netting in the 86th minute before Jan Paul van Hecke's stoppage-time header created a nervy finish.

The international break now arrives at an awkward time, with some players not due to see De Zerbi again for more than two weeks. The manager must find a way to address the defensive frailties that have seen his team drop points from winning positions and fail to keep a clean sheet since the opening day of the season. The squad is also dealing with several absences, with Richarlison, Mykhailo Mudryk, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons all currently sidelined.

Elsewhere in the league, the result provided a stark contrast to the fortunes of north London rivals Arsenal, who were thrashed 3-0 by Brighton. That defeat ended a remarkable run for Mikel Arteta's side, who had not conceded three goals in a Premier League away game since December 2023. Brighton, the league's top scorers, underlined their credentials by stopping Arsenal in full flow.

Everton maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign across all competitions with a draw against Ipswich, their fifth clean sheet in seven games. Manager David Moyes said his team is "trying to make it that way," citing the advantage of a small, tight-knit squad. Newcastle's Harvey Barnes provided two assists in seven minutes against Hull, the earliest a Newcastle player has set up multiple goals in a Premier League match, breaking a record previously held by Fabian Schar.

For Tottenham, the focus shifts to a daunting trip to Old Trafford after the break. They face Manchester United, who sit 13th, on October 10th in a match that already carries significant weight for De Zerbi's future. The full schedule leading up to that clash is available on our fixtures page.

Read the full report at Sky Sports Football