Tim takes on Hoddle

Tim Sherwood has hit back at Glenn Hoddle after the former Spurs manager criticised his players’ mentality in the defeat at Liverpool.

Spurs were humiliated at Anfield last weekend as the Premier League title challengers ran out 4-0 victors.

The former Spurs boss, speaking during Sky’s live coverage, said the players “were too relaxed, too flimsy” and headed to the north-west “with no steel” — comments that clearly got under the skin of Sherwood.

“I don’t know what he said — Glenn’s got a lot of opinion and he’s also got a lot of opinion about Tottenham, and he’s entitled to that,” the Spurs head coach said of the man he played under between 2001 and 2003.

“It’s been a long time since Glenn Hoddle’s managed a football team, and the game has moved on quite significantly.

“I’ve been a pundit myself. It’s easy to look for something when you’ve got nothing else to talk about, other than to be critical of your ex-side.”

The pair’s relationship has been strained since Hoddle sent Sherwood to Portsmouth in January 2003.

Embattled Sunderland arrive at White Hart Lane on Monday, when Emmanuel Adebayor is in line for a return from three weeks out with a hamstring problem and gash on his heel.

“He won’t be 100% but he’s quite good at 70%,” said Sherwood.