Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action today, welcoming title contenders Manchester City to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the hosts looking to close the gap on the top four and the visitors looking to profit from Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Goodison earlier today by cutting the gap to the Premiership summit to 2 points with a victory.
Results-wise, it’s been a good weekend for both teams – aside from Arsensl’s aforementioned loss at Everton, United and Brighton were the only sides in and around the top 6 to claim maximum points, with Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelsea slipping up. Whoever wins today has a wonderful opportunity to take massive strides in their season.
With regards to injuries, Spurs have the rare luxury of being able to call on an essentially fully-fit squad for the first time all season as far as playing personnel is concerned. Richarlison and Lucas Moura are expected to make the matchday squad, and it remains to be seen whether Pedro Porro will make his debut from the off against his former club.
However, the primary absentee for the home side will potentially be Antonio Conte, who is recovering from having his gall bladder removed earlier in the week. Assistant manager Cristian Stellini hinted that Conte may be in the dugout today, but couldn’t elaborate further on the likelihood of this instance.
City themselves have no substantial injury worries of their own, and having recently demolished Spurs a few weeks back and sensing an opportunity to cut the gap on the top to two points, will be horrendous opponents today, but not unbeatable.
Indeed, Spurs have won the last four encounters at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium between the two in all competitions, so have every reason to be confident going into this one, and all those wins have followed the template of defensive solidity and devastating pace and slickness on the counter.
Granted, both of these facets to such an effective gameplan have often deserted us this season, but if we can recapture any scintilla of those elements today, we have every chance to stop City in their tracks. Whether the lads are up to it, however, is another matter entirely…
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