For the second time in the space of two gameweeks, Tottenham Hotspur welcome a team from the South Coast to North London, as Bournemouth lie in wait for Saturday afternoon’s Premier League contest. The Lilywhites somehow scraped past Brighton & Hove Albion in a chaotic 2-1 win last weekend, while Gary O’Neil’s men came away from the King Power Stadium with a 1-0 triumph over Leicester City.
Team News:
Lucas Moura must also serve the second of a three-game ban following his sending-off at Everton, but the Brazilian would have had little chance of forcing his way into the XI over Dejan Kulusevski or Son, who became the first Asian player to score 100 Premier League goals with his beauty against Brighton.
Tottenham have been charged by the FA over last weekend’s touchline melee, but Stellini will be on the touchline this weekend as he awaits to hear the outcome of the investigation.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth boss O’Neil is hopeful over the fitness of Marcos Senesi (thigh), but Hamed Traore (ankle), Ryan Fredericks (calf) and Junior Stanislas remain unavailable.
Dango Ouattara was taken off with just 38 minutes on the clock against Leicester, but the former Lorient man’s withdrawal was believed to have been a tactical switch due to his underwhelming display.
Ouattara could therefore be given the chance to redeem himself out wide here, but Marcus Tavernier is waiting in the wings as he endeavours to force his way back into the starting lineup, while exiled left-back Jordan Zemura will join Udinese on a free transfer this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Porro, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Neto; Smith, Mepham, Stephens, Kelly; Lerma, Rothwell; Ouattara, Billing, Tavernier; Solanke
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Bournemouth
With Bournemouth showing plenty of attacking eminence in recent gameweeks, Saturday’s game has the potential to be another banana skin for Tottenham, who were extremely fortunate to come away with all three points versus Brighton.
However, the Lilywhites possess the recipe for success on their own patch – albeit while not always producing an exciting, free-flowing display – and Stellini should witness his side clinch a hard-fought win from the naughty step.
