Sunderland are set for another tough test in the Premier League as they travel to North London take on a Tottenham side that are desperate to win.
Tottenham have lost their first home game of the calendar year five times in the last seven attempts, and Thomas Frank will want a different outcome this time out against Sunderland. Heading into the new year, Spurs languish in the bottom half of the table, and the Dane desperately needs a morale-boosting win, as his side have only managed to do that seven times all season in the league.
Spurs are in an inconsistent vein of form, having won only two of their last nine Premier League encounters. Earlier this week, Frank took his side to former club Brentford, where the two teams could only muster a goalless draw.
Given Tottenham’s current trajectory, they are projected to collect around 50 points from their 38-game season, which will hardly get them into a European place. Hence, it is imperative that Frank gets his team up and running ahead of the second part of the campaign, as qualification for the Champions League should be a must.
Meanwhile, Sunderland will come to North London on the back of an impressive draw against Manchester City. Not only did Regis Le Bris’s side halt Pep Guardiola’s side in their tracks and allow Arsenal an advantage in the title race, the Black Cats also maintained an impressive unbeaten start to life in the Premier League on home soil.
Sunderland come to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium three points and five places ahead of their hosts, and only four points behind Liverpool, who currently occupy the final Champions League spot. Hence, Le Bris will target a big result in North London, which will require Sunderland to improve their otherwise indifferent away form.
The Black Cats have only collected nine of their 29 points so far this season on the road, and that is an area of massive improvement for the team. Given how mixed Tottenham’s form is on their home turf, it is not an overload to suggest Sunderland could potentially take something from here.
Team News & Tactics
Tottenham Hotspur
The big team news from North London is the transfer of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace, and it will be interesting to see whether Spurs make a foray into the market to replace the Welsh international.
Thomas Frank will not have any relief from any players returning from their injuries, and Spurs do have a rather long list on the injury front. Xavi Simons remains suspended for this one, while Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, and Destiny Udogie are still sidelined.
James Maddison is unlikely to play this season again, while midfield duo Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are away at the AFCON. Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur are likely to assume their roles in the central midfield spots, with Lucas Bergvall in the attacking position.
There might not be a change to the back four setup, and Frank may also retain a familiar frontline. Randal Kolo Muani is likely to keep playing off the left flank, with Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison completing the front three for Tottenham.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Vande Ven, Spence; Gray, Bentancur; Kudus, Bergvall, Kolo Muani; Richarlison
Sunderland
Regis Le Bris may have been concerned in the last game, as key attacker Brian Brobbey was taken off in the second half. The Dutch striker is not expected to miss the game against Tottenham Hotspur, as Wilson Isidor is the other option in place of the Dutchman.
While Sunderland continue to miss a host of their first-team stars owing to their commitments to the AFCON, Dan Ballard is the only injury-related absentee at the moment, provided Brobbey makes it for the game. Should the striker start, Le Bris might name an unchanged lineup from the Manchester City stalemate.
Granit Xhaka will be the man in focus as he makes his return to North London, albeit to Arsenal’s arch rivals, and he will be a key figure for the visitors. Makeshift midfielder Lutsharel Geertruida has performed exceptionally well in a central midfield role, and so has Nordi Mukiele in a centre-back role in the absence of Ballard.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin; Xhaka, Geertruida; Mayenda, Le Fee, Adingra; Brobbey
Key Stats
- Tottenham have won their last six home matches against Sunderland in all competitions.
- Tottenham have kept four clean sheets in their last six Premier League games.
- Sunderland have drawn their last three matches in the Premier League.
- Sunderland have kept four clean sheets in their last six Premier League games.
- Richarlison averages a goal or assist every 55 minutes against promoted clubs for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, scoring four and assisting four in 437 minutes. The Brazilian international has been involved in 13 goals in his last 16 Premier League starts for Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (11 goals, 2 assists).
Player to Watch
Granit Xhaka
The former Arsenal captain proved to be a hero for the North Londoners on New Year’s Day as he marshalled an exceptional display against the Gunners’ title rivals Manchester City. The Swiss international did not put a foot wrong in the game, as he controlled the midfield proceedings to earn his side a valuable point in the end.
Upon his return to North London, Xhaka will be the man in focus at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, who are expected to be hostile towards the former Arsenal man. With Sunderland eager to improve their record away from home, these are games they can get something out of, as the Swiss midfielder will be extra motivated for a positive outcome.
Prediction
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Sunderland
Sunderland head to North London against a side who have struggled on home soil this season. Regis Le Bris knows how to compete in these games against top-six opposition, and he will eye yet another positive result, only this time, on the road.
Every time Spurs builds some momentum, they tend to take two steps back, and that was the story in midweek. With their home form nothing to be proud of, Tottenham might struggle again in light of tough opposition. While this game can go either way, an entertaining 1-1 draw is the outcome that is predicted at this moment.