Prediction: Bournemouth vs Tottenham

Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Dachbet

In what could prove to be a frantic affair from the Vitality on Thursday night, Bournemouth will welcome Tottenham to town.

Bournemouth

Starting with the hosts, making a welcomed return to winning ways last weekend as they clinched an action-packed 4-2 victory away at Wolves, Bournemouth will be looking to use that performance as a platform to build on. However, marking their return from November’s international break with a 2-1 loss at home against Brighton, Andoni Iraola’s men have struggled to find much stability so far this season. Still battling it out in the bottom-half of the Premier League table, the former Rayo Vallecano boss has not seen his squad record back-to-back victories across any competition so far. Heading into November’s fortnight interval with a dramatic 3-2 defeat at the hands of Brentford, Thursday’s hosts have shown some worrying defensive issues. Along with shipping seven goals in their last three Premier League appearances, the Cherries have also recorded just a single clean sheet so far this season.

Team News

Hit with yet another injury blow back in October, Bournemouth will once again be unable to call upon former Bristol City starlet Alex Scott on Thursday night. However, after serving a one-match suspension against Wolves last weekend, Antoine Semenyo could be handed a full recall here.

Bagging a maiden Premier League hat-trick on Saturday afternoon, Dutch international Justin Kluivert will once again partner summer recruit Evanilson in the final third. Reportedly attracting plenty of heavyweight January interest, Ukraine international Ilya Zabarnyi will partner Marcos Senesi at the heart of Iraola’s defence.

Tottenham

As for the visitors, while Tottenham might have marked their return from November’s international break with an iconic 4-0 romp away at Manchester City, Spurs have drastically struggled to find any kind of stability this season. Suffering a late collapse at home against Fulham last weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate in north London, Ange Postecoglou’s men have recorded just a single victory from any of their previous five appearances across all competitions. Once again missing out on the chance to make up some ground in the Champions League chase, the former Celtic boss will also have a real headache over his side’s extended defensive struggles. Aside from that famous 4-0 victory at the Etihad last month, that is the only domestic clean sheet that Spurs have reported since the end of September.

Team News

Both missing out against Fulham over the weekend, Tottenham will once again be without the defensive duo of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven on Thursday night. Likewise, currently serving a domestic suspension and not expected to feature over the remainder of 2024, Uruguay international Rodrigo Bentancur remains on the sidelines.

Spurs are hopeful that summer recruit and England international Dominic Solanke will be able to play some part against his former club. Undergoing ankle surgery last month and facing a lengthy stint on the sidelines, Guglielmo Vicario will once again be replaced for former Southampton shot-stopper Fraser Forster.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Bournemouth and Tottenham last met 12 months ago, Spurs collected a 3-1 victory in north London.
• Tottenham have collected nine points from their last four Premier League meetings against Bournemouth.
• Bournemouth have conceded at least a pair of goals in each of their last three Premier League showdowns.
• Spurs have recorded just a single domestic clean sheet since the end of September.
• Three of the last four meetings between Bournemouth and Tottenham have finished with both teams finding the net.

Conclusion

In a contest that tends to produce an abundance of chances, neutrals will be hoping for another Premier League thriller from the Vitality. While Spurs might have stormed their way to a 3-1 romp when they welcomed Bournemouth to the Vitality 12 months ago, Thursday’s guests should have a stern challenge on their hands in midweek. However, with the Cherries showing their own respective defensive issues and shipping at least a pair of goals in each of their last three Premier League showdowns, we are expecting an enjoyable showdown here.

Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Dachbet