De Zerbi's Spurs set unwanted record with four goalless Premier League openers

Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham Hotspur have made unwanted history to open the 2026/27 Premier League season, becoming the first Spurs side ever to go four consecutive league matches without scoring from the opening day.

The last time Tottenham scored as late as their fourth league game of a season was in 1974/75, when a goal against Manchester City ended a blank run that had also included scoreless outings against Ipswich Town and Carlisle United — a comparison that puts the current drought in stark perspective. That 1974/75 campaign was also, remarkably, the last time Spurs failed to score in their first match of a season until the inaugural Premier League season in 1992/93, when they were goalless in their opening two fixtures.

Spurs are one of only two teams yet to register a goal after four matches of the new campaign, alongside newly promoted Coventry City. Together they have gone 360 minutes plus stoppage time without finding the net.

2026/27 marks the 13th Premier League season in which Spurs have failed to score within 90 minutes of the first whistle, but the historical footnote is secondary to the immediate reality facing De Zerbi. The club invested heavily in the squad over the summer after back-to-back difficult league campaigns, and a pair of 0-0 draws have yielded just two points from a possible 12.

Of the five Premier League sides still without a win, only Bournemouth have accumulated more draws than Spurs. Availability has been a complicating factor in the early weeks: just three players have started all four matches, with Jan Paul van Hecke and Sandro Tonali the only outfielders to do so.

Transfer deadline day falling weeks into the season continues to distort early-season form for clubs undergoing significant squad overhauls, and Spurs are not alone in needing time to bed in new signings. Whether a historically barren start in front of goal earns De Zerbi’s side any patience from supporters remains to be seen.