This week’s Super Sunday sees just one match as Tottenham Hotspur travel to St Marys to face Southampton.
Last month’s clash at Wembley saw Harry Kane break the record for most goals in a calendar year.
Now he has the chance to equal Matt le Tissier’s record of 100 Premier League goals.
Could we see more history broken here?
Team news
Southampton could have a near full squad, if defender Maya Yoshida recovers from a minor hamstring strain.
With Charlie Austin still ruled out, Mauricio Pellegrino could name an unchanged team from the one to draw 2-2 at Watford last weekend.
Tottenham might have Michel Vorm in goal, if Hugo Lloris fails a pre match assessment following illness.
Harry Winks and Danny Rose are still out but defender, Toby Alderweireld is back training.
The Belgian however won’t be risked here but could feature at Newport next weekend in FA Cup.
Form
Since Spurs won this fixture 5-2 on Boxing Day, both teams have been in contrasting form.
Tottenham have taken seven points (W2, D1) from three league games, scoring seven and conceding once.
The draw in that period came at home to West Ham, just before beating AFC Wimbledon in FA Cup.
That form has left them in fifth and victory here will send them 4th, with Liverpool playing in this week’s Monday Night Football.
Southampton meanwhile have taken just two points from same period and Saturday’s results have left them in the relegation zone, entering this game.
Stat Attack
- Southampton have won eight of their 18 home games in the Premier League against Tottenham (W8 D4 L6).
- Tottenham are unbeaten in five league games whilst the Saints have drawn three and lost two.
- Since Mauricio Pochettino left Southampton in Summer 2014 for Spurs, seven Tottenham players have scored a combined 15 goals against his former side. Nine of those goals have come from Kane and Alli alone.
- Kane needs just two more goals to reach 100 Premier League goals.
Tough fight awaits?
Although Southampton struggle to score, could we be in for a good battle, if per game averages are anything to go by?
Per game average | Southampton (home) | Tottenham Hotspur (away) |
Corners | 7.33 | 4.36 |
Fouls | 10.67 | 12.27 |
Shots | 14 | 13.82 |
Shots on target | 3.67 | 5 |
Goals | 1.17 | 1.82 |
Cards (Yellow + Red) | 0.83 | 3.64 |
Southampton are more disciplined at home with less than one yellow per game at St Marys.
That feeds positively into their attack with more corners and shots than Spurs.
The visitors however are more clinical in getting shots on target and into goals.
Their discipline when it comes to cards away from Wembley is quite worrying in comparison.
An average 1.84 of the cards have been yellow whilst there has been two red cards.
Prediction
Although Tottenham are the stronger team, I fancy the Saints to make things difficult here on the attack.
Ultimately, I can see Tottenham just having the edge here courtesy of the Kane and Alli partnership.
Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Jake predicts: Southampton 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Result: Southampton 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
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