Tottenham Hotspur will travel to Brentford on Saturday for their next Premier League assignment as the season enters its final stage.
Tottenham Hotspur have a crucial six matches coming up in the Premier League as they try to strengthen their hold on the fourth spot on the table. In their quest to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, Antonio Conte’s men make a trip to Brentford on Saturday.
Tottenham were considered out of the race to finish in the top four, but Antonio Conte’s appointment gave them a new lease of life. They are now the favourites to qualify for next season’s Champions League with 57 points in 32 encounters, as many as fifth-placed Arsenal and three more than sixth-placed Manchester United, who have also played a game more.
Tottenham go into the Brentford encounter with four wins in their last five encounters. Their last league match, however, was a 1-0 defeat to Brighton which was a small hiccup, judging by recent form. Conte will want his side to shake off the disappointment and return to winning ways in the final stretch of the league season.
Brentford, on the other hand, come into the encounter on the back of three consecutive wins, the first of which was a resounding 4-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. They defeated European hopefuls West Ham United 2-0 in their next encounter at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Brentford’s latest win came against Watford, another away affair with Pontus Jansson scoring in the injury time. The last gasp win would further boost their confidence going into the encounter against Tottenham.
The Bees have had a great debut season in the Premier League. They are currently 12th in the league table and could even go up to ninth if other results go their way. Thomas Frank’s side will also want to avenge their 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Team News & Tactics
Brentford
? The injury latest
"Zanka (adductor) is out for the rest of the season. Ethan Pinnock (hamstring) is hopefully only a couple of weeks. Sergi Canos is still a few weeks. Frank Onyeka has an ankle ligament injury. That could be the end of the season"#BrentfordFC #BRETOT pic.twitter.com/U9Nzn1xsoo
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) April 22, 2022
Thomas Frank’s compact 4-3-3 has given Brentford great success this season as they have gone toe-to-toe with Premier League’s biggest clubs. It facilitates defending as a unit and allows them to absorb pressure before hitting back on counters.
Ethan Pinnock will miss the encounter after picking up a knock in Brentford’s win over Watford, along with Zanka. Sergi Canos and Frank Onyeka continue to be out due to their respective injuries.
While David Raya will continue between the sticks after impressing all season, Frank could be forced to make a change in the defence with Pinnock doubtful. Mads Bech Sorensen is expected to slot in for him and could be the only change in the back four from the last encounter. He will join Kristoffer Ajer, Pontus Jansson and Rico Henry in the defensive unit.
Vitaly Janelt, Christian Norgaard and Christian Eriksen will continue in the midfield. The spotlight will be on the Danis playmaker who will face former club Tottenham for the first time since returning to action. Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa will form the front three.
Probable XI (4-3-3): Raya; Ajer, Jansson, Sorensen, Henry; Janelt, Norgaard, Eriksen; Mbeumo, Toney, Wissa
Tottenham Hotspur
Antonio Conte will continue with his preferred 3-4-3, wishing Tottenham could return to winning ways. Spurs had been scoring freely before their shock defeat to Brighton and it will nit come as surprise if they return to their goalscoring best against Brentford.
Conte will continue to be without Matt Doherty, Japhet Tanganga and Oliver Skipp for the encounter, but there are no new injury concerns for the Italian tactician. The Tottenham boss is thus expected to field the same XI that started against Brentford.
Ready for Brentford. ?
? @Getir_UK pic.twitter.com/JNGUEJvK9x
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 22, 2022
Skipper Hugo Lloris will retain his spot as the Tottenham goalkeeper with Cristian Romero, Eric Dier and Ben Davies forming the back three. Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg will form a dynamic midfield pairing that will look to essay different roles.
Emerson Royal should retain his spot in Doherty’s absence, and Sergio Reguilon will be the other wing-back for Tottenham. Dejan Kulusevski, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min pick themselves as the three Tottenham attackers, with Lucas Moura a backup option.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Reguilon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
Key Stats
- Tottenham have won their last three encounters against Brentford across competitions.
- The last time Brentford defeated Tottenham was back in 1948 in the second division.
- The 2-0 Tottenham victory in the reverse fixture was the sides’ first-ever clash in the Premier League.
- In all, the two sides have met 43 times with Spurs winning 24 matches, Brentford six and 13 ending in draws.
- Tottenham have scored the fourth-most goals per game this season in the Premier League with 1.8. Brentford are 11th on that list with 1.2.
Player to Watch
Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen will face his former side for the first time since returning to footballing action with Brentford. He has made six league appearances for them so far, scoring one and assisting two goals.
The Danish international scored a goal in Brentford’s 4-1 win over Chelsea and assisted one in the Watford victory. And another such showing could enable the Bees to spring another surprise over a big-name club.
Prediction
Brentford 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Brentford are high on confidence having registered three consecutive victories in the Premier League. Tottenham, on the other hand, will be desperate to return to winning ways as the top-four race heats up. We could have a high-scoring encounter on our hands, as a result.
Expect the two teams to trade blows throughout the contest, with Brentford not scared of taking the game to Tottenham. But the in-form Tottenham attackers will keep the visitors in the tie, with Christian Eriksen likely to peg his former team back to earn Brentford a point.
