Tottenham Hotspur meet Sunderland in a massive mid-table clash in the Premier League.
Victory could lift Tottenham as high as seventh if results elsewhere go in their favour, whilst Sunderland can go fifth for a few hours with a win if Manchester United fail to win at lunchtime.
Team News
Lucas Bergvall is a doubt for Tottenham after he sat out their goalless draw at Brentford on New Year’s Day, due to a groin injury.
Xavi Simons (suspension), Destiny Udogie (hamstring), James Maddison (ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Dominic Solanke (ankle) are still ruled out.
Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are both away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal and Mali respectively.
Sunderland could be without forward, Brian Brobbey after he suffered a minor muscle injury during their goalless draw at home to Manchester City on New Year’s Day.
Dan Ballard (ankle) could return if he passes a late fitness check.
Reinildo, Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Habib Diarra, Bertrand Traore, Chemsdine Talbi (international duty) and Aji Alese (shoulder) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Tottenham host Sunderland at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 4 January at 3pm GMT, live on Sky Sports Football in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Tottenham have avoided defeat in their last 14 league meetings against Sunderland (W10, D4).
- Sunderland are winless in their last eight league visits to Tottenham (D1, L7).
- Both Tottenham and Sunderland scored in three of their last four meetings in North London, of which Spurs netted 12 goals to Sunderland’s three across the four clashes.
- Richarlison has scored in three of Spurs’ last four league matches at home (W1, D1, L2).
- Sunderland have claimed four points in their three previous league visits to London-based opposition this season (W1, D1, L1).
Prediction
Having laboured to a drab goalless draw at Brentford, Tottenham can take heart from their defensive display because their attack otherwise was pretty lacklustre aside from an initial bright pressing start, so more consistent attacking quality and finishing is needed.
Sunderland meanwhile knew that they were underdogs at home to Man City despite being unbeaten on their own turf yet they embraced it, as evidenced by plenty of resilient gritty defensive play whilst still having enough creativity to pressure City’s defence in spells throughout.
That goalless draw therefore was well-earned but you have to ponder whether it exerted too much energy out of the Black Cats, especially given their poor form in this fixture but I do fancy them to get something from this if Spurs are as inconsistent as they’re currently.
Prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland
Result: Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland
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