Tottenham Hotspur will look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they host Aston Villa on Sunday.
Spurs continue to frustrate and delight in equal measure, having beaten reigning league champions Manchester City in the Carabao Cup in midweek, days after losing to Crystal Palace in the league.
Tottenham will next be up against a Villa side that has been flying high in the Premier League and Champions League this season, though they lost to Palace in the Carabao Cup last time out.
Every Premier League matchweek, three pundits share their pre-match predictions and explaining why they feel that way.
Here is what Alan Shearer, Chris Sutton and Paul Merson have predicted when Tottenham take on the Villans this weekend.
Alan Shearer
Shearer wrote on Metro: “Spurs are back at home after a great win in the League Cup at Man City, but they’ve struggled recently at home when Villa come to town.
“Villa did have a poor result in midweek, and it wasn’t a great result last weekend against Bournemouth with them conceding so late, but I think Unai Emery will go to Spurs and get the three points.”
Prediction: Tottenham defeat to Aston Villa
Chris Sutton
Sutton wrote on BBC Sport: “The away team won on both occasions when these two sides met last season, and you could make a case for Tottenham or Aston Villa coming out on top here.
“I do like the way Spurs play but they could do with having Son Heung-min fit – he has missed three of their past four league games – and they have a few other injuries too.
“Whoever is missing, though, Ange Postecoglou will not change his bullish approach. I admire that, and I find it amazing the way people view Spurs at the moment.
“They have won eight of their past 10 games in all competitions, which is pretty good I think, but there is always this underlying ‘Spursy’ or ‘typical Spurs’ label they get given whenever they slip up.
“That could happen here, of course. Spurs will dominate the ball this time too, but I have got no doubt that Villa will score, because they carry such a threat and their front players will definitely have their moments in this game.
“So, there will definitely be plenty of goals… but maybe there won’t be a winner this time – Tottenham have not had a draw since the first game of the season, and I think they will get one here.”
Prediction: Tottenham 2-2 Aston Villa
Paul Merson
Merson wrote on Sportskeeda: “I thought it was a really bad result for Aston Villa when they lost to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup during midweek.
“I know they play in the Champions League and compete well in the Premier League, but they should also look to win the cup.
“That exit would have definitely been disappointing for Villa. I’m still going to back them to beat Tottenham though.
“Villa’s high line could face problems against Spurs, but I just can’t see them not scoring in this game.
“It’s going to be a big blow for Tottenham in their attempt to qualify for the Champions League if they lose this game.
“Villa can open up an eight-point gap over Spurs if they win and that may well be curtains for the north Londoners’ hopes about finishing fourth.
“I just think Villa have a bit more in them than Tottenham and fully expect them to win here.”
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Aston Villa
Tottenham team news v Aston Villa
Tottenham are set to be without Micky van de Ven, who suffered a hamstring injury in midweek and is now expected to be out until the international break.
Postecoglou refused to put a timescale on when summer signing Wilson Odobert could be back after he suffered a “significant” reoccurrence of a previous injury.
The Spurs boss also said at his pre-match presser, as per football.london, that Son Heung-min would be okay if he got through training on Friday.
Meanwhile, Cristian Romero and Timo Werner were “sore” after the Man City game and remain doubts going into the weekend game.
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