Tottenham Hotspur is getting ready for the new season under its leadership of Thomas Frank. On July 19, 2025, Spurs will play Reading in a pre-season friendly at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. This will be the first game of the 2025/26 season. After firing Ange Postecoglou, Frank has a chance to start over with a new team. This friendly match provides him a chance to see how his players are doing and get them in shape and ready for the next season. Here’s a full list of everything you need to know about this exciting match.
Reading vs. Tottenham Hotspur – Match Details
- Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
- The start time is 3:00 PM UK time.
- Place: Select Car Leasing Stadium in Reading, UK
- Type of match: friendly before the season
Fans who can’t make it to the game can watch it live on SPURSPLAY. You can also watch it on Pluto TV, CBS Sports Golazo, and Amazon Prime US.
This friendly match before the season starts is the first step in Tottenham’s preparations for the new season and the first chance for Thomas Frank to show how he manages. Fans of the Spurs will be eagerly awaiting to this game to see how the team is doing under their new coach.
Thomas Frank’s First Day at Tottenham Hotspur
Thomas Frank, formerly known to be the manager of Brentford, is now in charge of one of the most famous clubs in English football. Frank was hired to bring stability back to Tottenham after Ange Postecoglou was fired, even though the Australian had led the team to victory in the Europa League. He was additionally recruited to help the team compete for the Champions League in the 2025/26 season.
Frank’s philosophy for the pre-season is to teach his tactical ideas while also giving his players the time they need to get fit by playing in games. Frank will get a good idea of how his team will react to his methods and the formation he chooses to use in this pre-season game against Reading.
Injuries and the availability of players
- Dejan Kulusevski is out right now because of a knee injury.
- James Maddison has a hurt knee, but he should be back soon.
- Radu Dragusin is out for the next few months because he hurt his ACL.
- Cristian Romero: Romero is still with Tottenham, even though there have been rumours that he might leave. He might not play in this game, though.
- Heung-Min Son is likely to stay at Tottenham even though there are rumours about him moving.
These injuries give other players a chance to show Frank how good they are in the pre-season games.
Reading’s Team News and Expected Lineup
Reading had a mixed season in League One, so their team will be focused on getting to know each other before the new season starts. There have been some changes to the Royals’ squad, including Amadou Mbengue leaving for QPR. Paudie O’Connor is expected to play in the defence, and Jack Stevens, who just signed with the team from Cambridge United, will compete for the goalkeeper spot.
The predicted lineup is a 3-4-3 formation:
- Pereira (GK)
- Rushesha, O’Connor, Bindon, and Garcia
- Craig, Knibbs, and Savage
- Smith, Wareham, and Campbell
Reading will use this match to get ready for the tough games in League One and figure out how to balance their team.
What the Tottenham Hotspur Team Will Look Like
Thomas Frank will probably use the game to switch up his team, giving first-team players a chance to get in shape and new players like Mohammed Kudus a chance to fit in. But Tottenham won’t have some of their best players due to injuries, and Frank will want to try out different formations to see which one works best for his team.
Expected Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1):
- Vicario (GK)
- Porro, Van de Ven, Romero, and Udogie
- Maddison, Sarr, and Bentancur
- Son, Solanke, and Tel
The game is a great chance for new players, like Mohammed Kudus, to show how good they are in Tottenham colours. Heung-Min Son is also expected to be in the lineup, even though there are still rumours about him moving.
What’s at stake in this friendly before the season starts?
This game is more than just a friendly for Thomas Frank. It’s a chance for him to start putting his football ideas into action and see how the players react. Since the pre-season has just started, Frank will be focusing on getting his players in shape, examining how each player is doing, and figuring out which strategies work best for his team.
For the players, it’s a chance to show the new manager what they can do. Frank’s rotation will give younger players and new signings a chance to show what they can do. Tottenham’s players have a lot to prove in this pre-season build-up after completing 17th in the Premier League last season. Frank’s leadership gives them a chance to start over.
Frank’s Plan for the Future of Spurs
Many people praised Frank’s leadership at Brentford, and his focus on making the team adapt and collaborating together could be just what Spurs need to move up the Premier League table this season. He will mostly want to get the team back into the Champions League, which could be a big step towards getting Tottenham back to the top of European football.
Frank’s first game as manager is a friendly against Reading. The game will show how well the team is adapting to his ideas. This pre-season game is important for setting the tone for the next few months, even though it’s just a warm-up.
Expectations and Pre-Season Games
Tottenham has a lot of fun challenges planned for the preseason, such as:
- Reading vs. Spurs on July 19 at 3:00 PM UK time
- Luton Town vs. Spurs on July 26 at 3:00 PM UK time
- Spurs vs. Arsenal on July 31 in Hong Kong at 12:30 PM UK time
- 3 August: Spurs play Newcastle in Seoul at noon UK time.
- FC Bayern vs. Spurs on August 7 at 5:30 PM UK time
Frank will be able to try out his strategies against different levels of opponents in these games, with the North London Derby against Arsenal on July 31 being the most important one. Frank’s first competitive NLD will be in Hong Kong, which is outside of the UK. This will give him a taste of the fierce rivalry early on.
Information about streaming
If you can’t make it to the game in person, you can watch it on SPURSPLAY for Tottenham fans or Royals TV for Reading fans. Fans can watch Spurs’ pre-season games on demand and get live updates through streaming.
Important Points
- Thomas Frank’s first game as manager of Tottenham Hotspur is a friendly match against Reading before the season starts.
- Frank will change the lineup to try out different formations, get new players used to the team, and check on the players’ fitness.
- Some important players who are hurt, like Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Radu Dragusin, won’t be able to play.
- The match gives Frank a chance to see how ready Tottenham is for the upcoming competitive season.
- Tottenham will play teams like Luton Town, Arsenal, Newcastle, and Bayern Munich in the pre-season.
- Fans of Spurs are able to view the game live on SPURSPLAY, and fans of Reading can watch it live on Royals TV.
In conclusion
The first pre-season friendly for Tottenham under Thomas Frank gives us a taste of what the club will be like in the future. This game against Reading is the start of Frank’s tactical overhaul as he tries to bring stability back to the team and lead them into a new era. Spurs have a lot of new players and a mix of young and experienced players. They want to find their rhythm before a big season that includes qualifying for the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup. It’s a must-see for fans as Frank starts his time at Tottenham and sets the stage for a bright future.
