Prediction: Tottenham vs Wolves

Verdict: Son Heung-min to score anytime

Best Odds: 7/5

Bookmaker: Bet365

Tottenham head into Saturday’s Wembley clash against Wolves as unlikely Premier League title candidates after rising to second place in the table.

Tottenham

While Tottenham’s December run in may have started with a 4-2 defeat in the north London derby, few would have expected Spurs’ emphatic finish to the year. Coming off the back of a 6-2 win over Everton followed by putting five past Bournemouth on Boxing Day, Mauricio Pochettino’s side now hold a one-point buffer over Manchester City in the Premier League table. Now recording their best ever league return at the halfway point of the season, Pochettino’s side have won 27 Premier League fixtures in 2018. Only in 1960. Now enjoying a four-match winning run across all competitions, one man to watch for Saturday’s hosts will be the in-form Son Heung-Min. While Harry Kane is up to his usual goalscoring antics, the South Korean international has been a standout performer for Spurs over the Christmas period. Grabbing a brace against the Cherries in midweek, the 26-year-old has now grabbed five in his last three and also has six goals in his last five league outings.

Team News

Tottenham’s Dele Alli faces a late fitness test on the hamstring injury that ruled him out on Boxing Day.

Serge Aurier is back in training, but Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Jan Vertonghen and Victor Wanyama remain on the sidelines.

Wolves

As for the visitors, while Wolves might be enjoying an impressive return to the Premier League, last year’s Championship winners have struggled with their consistency entering 2019. Coming off the back of a 1-1 draw away at rock-bottom Fulham on Boxing Day, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have now fallen out of the top half of the table. Although one more win away from Molineux would see them match their best Premier League return on the road, Wolves have shown some cause for concern with their recent defensive issues. The Oranges have recorded just one clean sheet in their last 11 league matches, a run that stems all the way back to a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace back on the 6th of October. More worrying for Santo’s while they have managed to take points off of both Chelsea and Manchester City in front of their home supporters, they have picked up just one win in their last five away matches. A run that has seen them lose to the likes of Cardiff and Brighton.

Team News

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has confirmed Diogo Jota is not yet fit enough to return.

Leander Dendoncker and Kortney Hause will be assessed after they missed the draw with Fulham because of illness.

Key Factors to Consider

• Wolves have won just two of their previous nine Premier League meetings with Tottenham.
• They are without a win in their last five meetings since a 1-0 victory at Molineux in February 2010.
• Tottenham have posted their best halfway return of any Premier League season of 45 points (W15, L4).
• Wolves have scored 75% of their league goals in the second half of games this season (15 of 20), the highest proportion in the top flight.
• Son Heung-min has now scored six Premier League goals in his last five matches.

Conclusion

While Wolves have put in arguably their best performances when up against the Premier League elite, it is hard to see them coming past a Tottenham side who find their confidence at an all-time high. Given the visitor’s recent defensive issues, particularly on the road, we’re backing the inform Son Heung-Min to carry on his impressive record this weekend.

Verdict: Son Heung-min to score anytime

Best Odds: 7/5

Bookmaker: Bet365