Verdict: Tottenham -1
Best Odds: 8/15
Bookmakers: William Hill
High-flying Tottenham host struggling Bournemouth on Saturday in a match of great importance at both ends of the table. Spurs will be looking to break their Wembley curse, while the visitors need to put some points on the board after a poor start to the season.
Tottenham
Mauricio Pochettino’s side currently sit third in the Premier League table, five points behind the two Manchester clubs. Despite their strong league position it has been an inconsistent season so far for Tottenham. The North London club are yet to win at home in the league and have drawn distinctly winnable games against the likes of Burnley and Swansea at Wembley. Given that Spurs went unbeaten at White Hart Lane last campaign this will be a worrying sign for Pochettino, and the game against Bournemouth will provide an excellent opportunity to get their home form trending in the right direction.
Harry Kane is the main threat in this Tottenham team and the English striker already has six goals in this league campaign. Spurs are averaging two goals a game currently and against what is a relatively porous Bournemouth defence this could be another high-scoring affair. Kane scored a crucial winner for England last week that helped his national side qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and his form should carry over into this fixture.
Team News
Spurs haven’t had much luck in the injury department but both Danny Rose and Erik Lamela returned to training this week. It seems unlikely that either will feature in this game however due to a lack of match fitness.
Key midfielders Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama are both also doubts with ankle and knee injuries respectively.
Bournemouth
The Cherries have had a disappointing start to this campaign and find themselves down in 19th place after seven games. Only Crystal Palace, who are yet to score a goal, have had a worse start. Some of this has to do with poor form of Josh King, who bagged 16 goals for Bournemouth last season, and the striker’s struggling partnership with new signing Jermain Defoe. The pair have just one goal between them in the league so far.
There has also been little success at the other end of the pitch for Eddie Howe’s side. The Cherries have conceded 11 times in seven league games, and while they have only lost one game by more than two goals they have suffered five losses this season. There has been little to cheer about on the south coast and it looks like that could continue to be the case in this tough fixture.
Team News
Ryan Fraser is expected to feature in this game but Callum Wilson is likely to miss out. The striker is coming back from a long-term knee injury and scored twice for Bournemouth’s U-21s this week, but a lack of match fitness is still an issue.
Tyrone Mings will miss this game due to a back injury, as will Brad Smith who suffered a hip injury while on international duty.
Key Factors to Consider
- Tottenham have scored an average of two goals per game in the Premier League this season.
- Harry Kane has scored six goals in seven Premier League games this season.
- Bournemouth have lost every away game in the Premier League this season.
- Bournemouth have lost five of their seven Premier League games this season.
- Bournemouth have only lost one league game by more than two goals this season.
Conclusion
This fixture provides the perfect opportunity for Spurs to win their first game at Wembley in the league this season against a Bournemouth side that have been disappointing thus far. Harry Kane is in sensational form and should be able to find the back of the net again in this game, but the safer bet is a comfortable Tottenham win.
Verdict: Tottenham -1
Best Odds: 8/15
Bookmakers:William Hill
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