Tottenham Hotspur aim to get their title bid back on track as they visit Premier League strugglers, Fulham at Craven Cottage in Super Sunday’s teatime match.
Newcastle’s win over Cardiff yesterday means that Fulham are now seven points away from safety, therefore making victory here a must if are to keep their survival hopes alive.
At the top, Tottenham are now 12 points off Liverpool so anything less than three points here will all but finish their title dreams for another season.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesAndre-Frank Zambo Anguissa could return to the squad for Fulham after recovering from an ankle injury.
New signing, Ryan Babel is also in contention but is set for bench as he looks to improve his match fitness.
Diomansy Kamara is internally suspended till further notice after a reported argument with Aleksandar Mitrovic in midweek. Alfie Mawson meanwhile is a long-term absentee with a knee injury.
Tottenham could have Eric Dier available for first time since the versatile player suffered a bout of appendicitis last month, subject to a late fitness test.
Moussa Sissoko is a fortnight away from returning from a groin injury whilst Lucas Moura (knee) won’t be risked here ahead of Spurs’ Carabao Cup second leg against Chelsea on Thursday.
Victor Wanyama meanwhile is close to a return from a lengthy knee injury after beginning to reintegrate into first-team training.
Striker, Harry Kane is sidelined with ankle ligament damage till mid March whilst Son Heung-min is away on international duty.
Form
Fulham are unbeaten in three of their last five league games, despite losing their last two which were away from Craven Cottage.
At home, the Cottagers have suffered just one defeat in their last five but collected yellow cards in four of those games.
Tottenham meanwhile have suffered two defeats in their last three league games of which both came at home, having been on a run of one defeat in ten domestic competitive matches beforehand.
Away from Wembley, Spurs are unbeaten in their last five and the absent Son Heung-min has scored in their last three away trips.
Stat Attack
- Fulham have lost their last four meetings in all competitions against Tottenham, having last won this fixture 1-0 in March 2013.
- The last three league meetings have seen both sides score with recent two finishing 3-1 to Tottenham at their ground.
- Tottenham have scored only 17 goals this season if remove the 28 goals by absent trio of Kane, Son and Moura.
- Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon has five assists so far this season, the joint third highest out of English players in Premier League. Only Raheem Sterling (7) and Marcus Rashford (6) have produced more assists.
- Last weekend’s two own goals were Fulham’s first this season.
- Out of top five European leagues, Fulham have conceded the most goals so far this season with 49 goals leaked in at the back.
- Tottenham are the only top flight side yet to draw a league match this season.
Prediction
With teams beginning to move clear of the relegation zone, Fulham need to start making some winning progress now if are to realistically stay in the survival scrap.
Tottenham meanwhile will need to quickly find their attacking groove because there is no room for Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen to hide now Kane is out injured.
I therefore can see a scrappy game but Fulham’s defence will be key to the result.
Produce a solid backline then a draw would be a good bet but Spurs will just have enough for my liking to take the points.
Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Jake predicts: Fulham 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Result: Fulham 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
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