Tottenham will look to build on their dramatic win over Manchester City when they face Burnley in Wednesday’s rescheduled Premier League encounter.
Burnley ended a 12-game winless streak across all competitions in emphatic fashion as they registered an impressive 3-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. Considering their solid draws against Manchester United and Arsenal since the turn of the year, a win seemed to be a long time coming.
The result provides the Clarets with only their second win of the Premier League season, and they now have control of their own destiny in the relegation scrap. Burnley leapfrogged Norwich City into 19th, leaving them five points adrift of safety with two games in hand.
Sean Dyche’s side could look to put more pressure on those above them by grinding out results. Burnley boast the best defensive record in the bottom half of the table, conceding just 29 goals after 22 games. But their resilience will be tested by a Tottenham side that will enter the contest at Turf Moor on the back of a remarkable triumph over Manchester City.
Tottenham snapped their three-game losing run in the top-flight with a superb 3-2 win against leaders Manchester City to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Former Manchester City target Harry Kane capped off a fine goal-scoring performance with an injury-time winner to inspire the Lilywhites to a thrilling victory on the champions’ home soil.
Tottenham are eighth in the league table with 39 points, but crucially have a few games in hand over the majority of sides competing for the Champions League spots. The north London side will be looking to build on this morale-boosting win and stitch together a run of results to break into the top-four, starting with their tricky visit to Burnley.
Tottenham recorded a league double over Burnley last season, while the Lilywhites also knocked the Clarets out of the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 win earlier this season.
Team News & Tactics
Burnley
?️ The Gaffer praised Saturday's team performance and looks for more of the same against Spurs. #BURTOT | #UTC pic.twitter.com/rj2ZwjNyTy
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) February 22, 2022
Burnley’s crucial 3-0 victory at Brighton came at a cost, with star players Wout Weghorst and Maxwel Cornet suffering injuries. But Clarets boss Sean Dyche is hopeful that they will shake off their problems in time for the Tottenham clash.
Meanwhile, Charlie Taylor, James Tarkowski and Ashley Westwood could all be back in contention should they pass late assessments, but Johann Berg Gudmundsson will be unavailable due to a fresh injury, while Matej Vydra is recuperating from hernia surgery.
Dyche could continue to utilise his preferred 4-4-2 formation and may name the same starting eleven that faced Brighton, though that depends on the squad’s fitness levels. Nick Pope will take his place between the sticks. Guarding him in central defence would be the centre-back pairing of Ben Mee and Nathan Collins, flanked by Connor Roberts and Eric Pieters on the right and left sides respectively.
The midfield quartet will comprise Dwight McNeil, Josh Brownhill, Jack Cork and Aaron Lennon. McNeil would be the chief creative outlet for the hosts and will look to utilize his great crossing ability to put threatening balls into the opposition box. Ex-Spurs man Aaron Lennon, who was on the scoresheet in the last game, would add width on the other flank.
Finally, Weghorst and Cornet will form the dynamic strike partnership, with the former already a big focal point in the Clarets’ attack. The latter will look to put his incredible pace and trickery to good use and offer a threat by running in behind the opposition defence.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Pope; Roberts, Collins, Mee, Pieters; Lennon, Cork, Brownhill, McNeil; Cornet, Weghorst
Tottenham
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte will remain without the services of Sergio Reguilon due to the Spaniard’s positive Covid-19 test. Oliver Skipp (groin) and Japhet Tanganga (knee) are also sidelined.
With no fresh injury concerns, Conte is likely to pick the same eleven that took to the field against Manchester City, but might make one change in midfield. Hugo Lloris will continue to operate in goal for the north London outfit, with the team lining up in their customary 3-4-3 formation in front of him.
? “Consistency is fundamental”
Antonio Conte spoke to the media ahead of tomorrow's game against Burnley! ⤵️
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 22, 2022
Conte could opt for a three-man central defensive unit consisting of Eric Dier, Christian Romero and Ben Davies as they look to tighten up at the back after several leaky performances of late. Dier, in particular, will hold the responsibility of maintaining a good defensive line as he looks to marshal Burnley’s most potent weapon in Weghorst.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and winter arrival Rodrigo Bentancur both covered plenty of ground against Manchester City, but the latter could be handed a breather with games coming thick and fast. Harry Winks is the most likely option to partner Hojbjerg in the midfield pivot.
Elsewhere in the second line of press, Ryan Sessegnon will retain his spot at left wing-back in the absence of Sergio Reguilon, whereas Emerson Royal should occupy the right side.
Harry Kane ought to continue to spearhead the Tottenham frontline after rediscovering his goal-scoring boots. The England captain will get support from Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min in the final third as they look to breach a stubborn Burnley defence.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Royal, Winks, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
Key Stats
- Burnley have won only one of their last 12 top-flight games against Tottenham (D3 L8), a 2-1 win at Turf Moor back in February 2019.
- Tottenham are unbeaten in 14 of their past 15 matches against Burnley across all competitions (W11 D3). Meanwhile, they have kept a clean sheet in six of their last eight games against the Clarets.
- Burnley have won just one out of ten home league games this season (D6 L3) and have failed to score on five occasions.
- For all their failings to get on the scoresheet, the Clarets have been rather impressive defensively and shipped just ten goals on their home turf – the joint-fourth best defensive record at home in the division.
- Harry Kane scored a terrific brace last weekend and could again be looking to get on the scoresheet here, boasting an excellent tally of nine goals and three assists in 13 outings against the Clarets.
Player to Watch
Wout Weghorst
The Netherlands international has impressed with his all-round performances since arriving at Turf Moor for £12.5 million on January deadline day to replace Chris Wood. Weghorst could prove to be a real difference-maker to help Sean Dyche’s side pull off a great escape.
The 29-year-old’s display against Brighton underscored his impact on the side, as he opened his Burnley account with a powerful drive before showing great hold-up play to set up Josh Brownhill for the second. Not only is he a competent finisher, but he is also a pressing machine and brings other players into the attack. He would once again be looking to make major contributions for his side in this game.
Prediction
Burnley 1-2 Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur are the undisputed favourites heading into this contest but have shown defensive frailties of late under the leadership of Antonio Conte. Burnley will be playing with newfound confidence and have been a tough nut to crack as evidenced by their recent performances.
A close affair could be on the cards at Turf Moor, but Antonio Conte’s lethal attack-partnership of Son and Kane should provide the necessary firepower to propel Tottenham to a narrow and crucial victory at Burnley.
