Tottenham Hotspur will host Burnley at home on Saturday, looking to get back to winning ways after a series of disappointing performances.
Tottenham Hotspur have lost their last four league matches, and UEFA Champions League qualification is in jeopardy now ahead of the visit of Burnley. The home fans will expect a strong reaction from the players here, and Spurs will look to bounce back with a comprehensive victory at home.
Meanwhile, Burnley are 19th in the league table, and they are winless in five of their last six league matches. The Clarets will be the massive underdogs heading into this contest despite the poor form of the home team.
Tottenham will certainly fancy their chances against Burnley, and it remains to be seen whether they can pick up all three points. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Tottenham Hotspur
Destiny Udogie is ruled out for the season with a thigh injury, while Fraser Forster has an ankle problem. Ryan Sessegnon and Timo Werner have also played their final games of the campaign due to their respective thigh injuries. Finally, Manor Solomon has a knee problem, and Ben Davies has a calf injury.
Tottenham are expected to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Burnley, with Guglielmo Vicario in goal. Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven will start in the full-back positions, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Cristian Romero will start at the heart of the defence alongside Radu Dragusin.
In the midfield unit, Rodrigo Bentancur will start alongside Yves Bissouma in the double pivot. They will look to protect the central defenders and add defensive cover and physicality to the side.
James Maddison will start as the central attacking midfielder, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities in the final third. Brennan Johnson and Son Heung-min will start in the wide areas, and they will add pace, flair and penetration from the flanks. Richarlison will lead the line for Tottenham against Burnley.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Dragusin, van de Ven; Bentancur, Bissouma; Johnson, Maddison, Son; Richarlison
Burnley
Burnley will be without Aaron Ramsey due to a knee injury. Jordan Beyer misses out with a thigh injury, and Nathan Redmond has a hamstring problem. Ameen Al-Dakhil is ruled out for the season.
Burnley are likely to shape up in a 4-4-2 formation against Tottenham, with Arijanet Muric in goal. Lorenz Assignon and Vitinho will start as the full-backs, and they will look to protect the back four and help out in the attack. Dara O’Shea and Maxime Esteve will start at the heart of the defence.
Josh Cullen and Sander Berge will look to keep things in control in the midfield. Cullen will add physicality and drive to the side, while Berge will protect the back four and win the ball back for his side.
Wilson Odobert and Jacob Bruun Larsen will start in the wide areas, and they will look to help out in the attack as well. Finally, David Datro Fofana will lead the line for Burnley alongside Lyle Foster, forming the strike partnership alongside Tottenham.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Muric; Assignon, O’Shea, Esteve, Vitinho; Odobert, Cullen, Berge, Larsen; Fofana, Foster
Key Stats
- Tottenham have won ten of their last 11 home matches against Burnley in all competitions.
- Tottenham have kept a clean sheet in their last five home matches against Burnley in all competitions.
- Both teams have picked up just one win from the last six league matches.
- 15 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two sides.
- Son Heung-min has five goals and three assists across his past six Premier League meetings with Burnley, scoring a hat-trick in the reverse fixture this season
Player to Watch
Son Heung-min
The 31-year-old South Korean international has been a key player for Tottenham this season, and they will rely on him to create goalscoring opportunities and get on the score sheet as well. Players like James Maddison have not been at their best in recent weeks, and the home team will need the South Korean to step up and deliver here. Son has 17 goals and nine assists in the league this season, and he is our key player to watch out for.
Prediction
Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Burnley
Tottenham will be disappointed with their performances in recent outings, and the game against Burnley is a golden opportunity for them to bounce back and put some pressure on Aston Villa as far as UEFA Champions league qualification is concerned.
Spurs have the better team on paper, and they should be able to grind out all three points here. Tottenham have an impressive record against Burnley, and they should be able to extend that here. Meanwhile, the away side are lacking in form and confidence right now, and they are likely to struggle away from home. The result will seal their fate, condemning them to the EFL Championship.