'Sorry' De Zerbi won't panic as Spurs shambles continues

LONDON — Roberto De Zerbi apologized for Tottenham's dismal 2-0 defeat to Newcastle, but insisted he won't panic after the club's worst start to a season in 52 years.

De Zerbi's side conceded twice in the second half in north London on Saturday to extend its miserable opening to the new Premier League campaign.

Anthony Elanga put Newcastle ahead in the 62nd minute, before Yoane Wissa killed off lackluster Tottenham 10 minutes later, sending its frustrated fans streaming to the exits long before the final whistle.

It was another chastening result for De Zerbi, whose expensively assembled team suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat at Brentford in the opening game of the season a week earlier.

Tottenham has spent over 300 million pounds ($406 million) in the summer as De Zerbi overhauled a squad that narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of last term.

Bottom of the table Tottenham has lost its opening two matches of a league campaign without scoring for the third time in its history and the first since 1974-75.

Despite Tottenham's troubles, De Zerbi is confident it can bounce back and regain its supporters' trust.

"There is no panic. I know where we are going and what the plan is. I'm sorry to the fans for the result," De Zerbi said.

"We have to improve. We have to work hard on the pitch and find the connection between the players."

De Zerbi has already signed eight players since the end of last season.

He hopes to make one more major signing before the transfer window closes on Sept 1, with Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo linked to the north London outfit.

On the evidence of Tottenham's limp surrender to Newcastle, De Zerbi could do with adding even more new recruits.

"Disappointed for the result because, until the first goal we conceded, I think we played better than Newcastle," he said.

"We lost ball possession in the first half because we didn't defend in the right way, the distance between the defenders and attackers was too big. We can improve in the defensive phases, but today was an unfair result."

Tottenham has finished 17th for the last two seasons, with Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank and interim boss Igor Tudor all sacked during that dispiriting period.

De Zerbi managed to stop Tottenham crashing into the Championship after his arrival late last season.

But the former Marseille and Brighton boss is discovering how hard it is to succeed at Tottenham, which hasn't won the English title since 1961 or lifted the FA Cup since 1991.

The 2025 Europa League won by Postecoglou is its only major trophy since the 2008 League Cup.

"We created many chances to score, we have to improve our decision-making, because that will make a difference," De Zerbi said.

"At the end we are disappointed for the result and our fans. We are working to be a great team.

"When we become a team, I think we can change the story of the last two seasons for Tottenham."

Munoz saves Iraola

Victor Munoz saved Andoni Iraola from his first defeat as Liverpool manager with a late strike that rescued a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Forest looked set to win at Anfield for the third consecutive season as Dan Ndoye and a penalty from Morgan Gibbs-White twice put the visitor ahead.

Alexander Isak briefly brought Liverpool level in the second half before Munoz's deflected effort rescued a late point for the second time in Iraola's two matches in charge.

"It's quite clear the first half was poor, we haven't controlled the game," Iraola said.

"We improved a lot in the second half, much more intense, much quicker on the ball, but not enough to win the game."

After a 2-2 draw at Newcastle in his first game as Liverpool boss a week earlier, Iraola had hoped for a memorable day to mark his first match in charge at Anfield.

But instead, the former Bournemouth boss got a reminder of why he was hired to replace the sacked Arne Slot in the summer.

Iraola could have Bradley Barcola to unleash by the time Liverpool is next in action at Ipswich on Friday.

The France winger has been one of Anfield's top targets for months, and a 106-million-pound ($144 million) deal with Paris Saint-Germain, which could rise by a further 17 million pounds, is reportedly close to completion.