The State of Play
Ange Postecoglu expressed considerable frustration with the officiating decisions that went against his Tottenham Hotspur side during their 4-2 defeat at the AMEX Stadium against Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday evening. Brighton secured a 4-0 lead in that match, with Joao Pedro converting two penalties, and Jack Hinshelwood and Pervis Estupinan also finding the net.
Despite a recent winless streak of five matches, Tottenham rebounded with three consecutive victories earlier this month, maintaining their pursuit of a top-four spot and potential UEFA Champions League qualification. They have been an entertaining force throughout the season, with a combined 67 goals in their 19 league matches so far.
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Bournemouth, after a sluggish start to the 2023/24 campaign, have experienced a remarkably positive couple of months, propelling themselves away from the bottom three and toward the top half of the table. Their recent impressive results include a 3-0 victory over Fulham on Boxing Day, featuring goals from Justin Kluivert, Dominic Solanke, and Luis Sinisterra. This win marked their fourth consecutive triumph, and with a game in hand, they are now within striking distance of the top seven and potential European spots.
Team News
Dejan Kulusevski’s accumulation of a fifth yellow card this season means the Sweden international attacker will be sidelined for this weekend’s clash against Bournemouth. He joins Yves Bissouma on the list of suspended players for Tottenham.
On a positive note for the home team, Oliver Skipp is expected to make a return after recovering from a recent knock. However, key players such as Micky van de Ven and James Maddison remain absent due to injury.
Bournemouth’s Hamed Traore, who missed recent matches due to an undisclosed illness, has now been revealed by Andoni Iraola to have contracted malaria. While the Ivorian international has been released from the hospital, he will face a spell on the sidelines.
There’s a possibility of Lewis Cook making a return to the first-team squad, but players like Ryan Fredericks, Tyler Adams, Lloyd Kelly, and key Hungary international defender Milos Kerkez remain unavailable for selection.
Expected Line-ups
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario; Porro, Emerson, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Hojbjerg; Johnson, Lo Celso, Son; Richarlison
Bournemouth: Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Ouattara; Scott, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Solanke
What they Said
Marco Silva on his expectations for the coming months:
“I would like to see a little bit more consistency in the next months. It is important to build squad depth. It is going to happen where we have injuries and the more of the same quality overall that we have I think will be better for us.”
Ange Postecoglou on the need to add to the squad:
“The way we play takes a fairly hefty physical toll more than the way other clubs play. The way to sustain that and be a team, it’s no secret we need a strong squad we are nowhere near that at the moment.”
When and How to Watch
This fixture will not be televised live in the UK, but highlights will be available on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel once the match is complete.
Prediction
Tottenham have been delightful to watch at times this season, but their vulnerability at the back was glaringly exposed in the recent fixture with Brighton. They now face a Bournemouth side who arguably stand out as the most impressive team in the division at the moment. The visitors carry confidence in their ability to challenge their opponents, and they are capable of earning at least a point, if not all three.
