Tottenham Hotspur will host Watford this weekend, hoping to continue their surprising push for the Premier League title.
Watford make the trip to White Hart Lane off the back of an encouraging goalless draw against a rejuvenated Chelsea side under the guidance of Guus Hiddink. Late heroics by former Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes sealed an impressive point against last season’s Premier League champions.
Tottenham, on the other hand, returned from a tricky looking midweek fixture at Norwich City with all three points comfortably in the bag. Goals by Harry Kane and Dele Alli saw Mauricio Pochettino’s men leave East Anglia with the contest against Watford quickly on their minds.
With Tottenham sitting in third place in the Premier League, following a highly successful first half of the season, the young side full of potential will be hoping to capitalise on points dropped at the top as first placed Leicester City go up against fellow title chasers Manchester City in the early kick-off on Saturday.
Watford sit in ninth place in their first season back in the top flight since their promotion from the Championship last year. In what can be seen as an equally impressive achievement to that of their opponents so far, following significant incomings over the past year, Watford will make the short journey with very little fear.
Last time around
In the first meeting between the two sides this season, a late Son Heung-Min back heel saw Tottenham leave Vicarage Road with a vital three points.
Having taken the lead just past the quarter hour mark, thanks to a fine individual effort by Erik Lamela, the visitors were pegged back on the brink of half time as Idion Ighalo managed to break free from the attention of Eric Dier before slotting past the on-rushing Hugo Lloris.
The match turned in the 63rd minute, however, when Chelsea loanee Nathan Aké was sent off for a reckless looking challenge on Lamela.
With Watford looking like hanging on for a share of the points, Son managed to get onto the end of a Kieran Trippier cross to beat Gomes at his near post much to the delight of the travelling Spurs faithful.
Team news
Tottenham are close to full fitness, with long term absentees Clinton N’Jie and Jan Vertonghen the only members of Pochettino’s first team squad missing from training this week. Alli should be passed fit after leaving the field at half time on Tuesday evening having suffered a dizzy spell, whilst England international Ryan Mason could make a long awaited return to the squad.
Probable line-up: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dier, Dembélé; Son, Alli, Eriksen; Kane
Watford face no new injury concerns ahead of a tight looking fixture, although Étienne Capoue (against his former side) and Miguel Britos face late fitness tests.
Probable line-up: Gomes, Nyom, Cathcart, Prödl, Aké; Suarez, Capoue, Watson, Jurardo; Deeney, Ighalo
A potential highlight of the weekend
With much attention being paid to the contest between the two sides at the top of the table, and the intriguing looking Chelsea against Manchester United fixture on Sunday, the Tottenham - Watford match up has gone under the radar somewhat.
However, with both managers knowing each other well from their time in Spain, and both sets of players continuing to grow in confidence, the fixture at 3pm on Saturday could be one of the games of the weekend.