Tottenham Hotspur's season has started in alarming fashion, and Saturday's goalless draw with Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium only deepened the concern. Four league games in, Spurs have yet to win, sit 17th in the Premier League table with two points, and have failed to score in their last two league outings. For a club that spent heavily in the summer, the gap between expectation and reality is already stark.

Roberto De Zerbi inherited a project built around his vision, with midfielder Matheus Fernandes arriving for £85 million on the back of the manager's personal persuasion. Yet the squad is being tested by a growing injury list. Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie were both absent against Everton, adding to a backline already stretched. Mykhailo Mudryk, only recently back after a 22-month suspension, has picked up an ankle injury in training that could keep him out for up to two months. Dejan Kulusevski, sidelined for over 16 months with a knee problem, is edging closer to a return but was not available for this fixture.

Off the pitch, the Richarlison situation remains unresolved. His proposed move to Vasco da Gama collapsed at the final stage, reportedly due to loan limits imposed by the club, leaving him in limbo at Spurs.

The pressure on De Zerbi is real and growing. A Carabao Cup trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on September 15 offers little respite, and results need to improve quickly before questions about his transfer control become impossible to ignore.