Thomas Frank has urged Tottenham to have an optimistic approach to the Premier League due to the small margins of the competition this season.

Spurs are 13th in the league after drawing to Sunderland on the weekend, but they are just seven points behind reigning champions Liverpool in fourth.

Frank’s side take on Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday, with the Cherries four points behind in 15th following their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal.

The Dane expressed the importance of remaining positive with the teams still close together in the Premier League, while he is not underestimating a struggling Bournemouth side.

“It's a very crazy league, very even league. I said that I think the competition between teams is very big,” said Frank.

“The difference between teams is very small. It's small margins.

“So we need to look optimistically and positive on the future, but also understanding where we are and keep working very hard to improve and make sure we are ready against a very good Bournemouth team.

“I know they haven't won as much lately, but they are a team that is very competitive with Iraola.

“Watch the game against Arsenal. That was a very tricky game that Bournemouth easily could have at least get something out of.”

Following their loss to Arsenal, Bournemouth have failed to win any of their last 11 games in the English top-flight.

However, they showed positive signs against the league leaders, producing 1.43 expected goals (xG) to the Gunners’ 1.13.

Junior Kroupi scored a stunner to give the Cherries hope of a late comeback, and team-mate Marcus Tavernier was full of praise for the teenager.

“I’ve said before, Junior is a generational talent,” Tavernier told the club website.

“The club has done an amazing job to pick Kroupi up.

“That boy has an unbelievable future ahead of him and today he showed why he’s such a good talent in the world of football.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bournemouth – Junior Kroupi

Kroupi has scored in five Premier League games (six goals), but his side have only gone on to win one of those (D3 L1).

Only his team-mate Antoine Semenyo and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen (both five) have scored in more matches in which their side failed to win in the competition in 2025-26.

Tottenham – Richarlison

Richarlison is Tottenham’s top scorer in the league this season, finding the back of the net seven times so far.

However, he has failed to score in their last three matches despite playing the full 90 minutes on all occasions.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Following their 1-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in August, Bournemouth are looking to complete the league double over Spurs for the first time.

Spurs have lost two of their last three Premier League games against Bournemouth (D1), as many as they had in their first 14 (W10 D2).

However, both sides struggle when playing midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday).

Bournemouth are winless in their last seven midweek Premier League games (D3 L4), having won seven of their previous eight (D1).

Spurs, meanwhile, are winless in their last 10 midweek Premier League games (D3 L7), their longest run in the competition. Their last victory was in January 2024 against Brentford.

Spurs have kept five clean sheets in 10 Premier League away games this season, more than they managed in 2024-25 (four). They are looking to keep three in a row on the road in the league for the first time since April 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Bournemouth – 42.3%

Draw – 26.7%

Tottenham – 31.0%