Tottenham Hotspur look to put a difficult month behind them as they welcome Watford to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A win for Spurs could put them closer to the top five whilst Watford can move closer towards their relegation rivals, if they take all three points.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesChristian Eriksen is a doubt for Tottenham after returning from international duty for Denmark with a dead leg.
Giovani Lo Celso (hip) and Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) are back back in first-team training but won’t be risked until they’re fully fit.
Hugo Lloris meanwhile is ruled out with an elbow injury, meaning that Michel Vorm could start after rejoining the club as a free agent but faces competition from Paulo Gazzaniga for the first-choice keeper role.
Watford will be without Etienne Capoue due to a back injury but have no other fresh injury concerns.
Sebastian Prodl (hamstring), Isaac Success (groin) and Troy Deeney (knee) are still sidelined for the Hornets.
Form
Tottenham have been inconsistent across all competitions since September’s international break, although they did score in all three home games during that period of which two wins came in the league against Crystal Palace and Southampton.
Watford remain winless in the league but have taken three points from their last five on top of a Carabao Cup win in that time.
Stat Attack
- Tottenham have lost just one of their last 16 meetings with Watford in all competitions (W12, D3, L1), although one of those victories did come via a penalty shootout in the Carabao Cup on neutral ground last season after a 2-2 draw.
- Tottenham have won all six Premier League home clashes with Watford by a combined aggregate of 16-2.
- Each of Tottenham’s last four goals against Watford have come after the 80th minute.
- Tottenham’s Harry Winks has made the highest number of passes by an English midfielder so far this season, producing 518 passes.
- Toby Alderweireld has made 11 blocks in eight appearances for Tottenham this season, more than any other player on either team.
Prediction
This is a huge match for Mauricio Pochettino because we will definitely see whether Tottenham were going through an early rough patch, or if this rut is a sign that fresh enforcement is needed in the coaching department.
Watford meanwhile are continuing to show signs of progress but they must surely view this as a winnable chance to ignite their season after a slow start, whilst Spurs continue to look vulnerable.
I therefore am expecting both teams to play with a point to prove which is either going to make for a good game or a dull scrappy draw, and a part of me thinks that Spurs will edge this because they have more to lose here than Watford.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Watford
Result: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Watford