Tottenham Hotspur FC
Leicester City
Leicester City
Spurs looking to bounce back after Liverpool defeat but face 4th place Leicester
Tottenham to win 2-1
Tottenham were, in some respects, a little unfortunate not to come away from Anfield with a point or more in their midweek fixture.
Before Liverpool’s late stoppage time winner, Spurs had two excellent chances to take the lead and deal a knockout blow to the Reds. That being said, it will be hard for them to take a defeat which removes them from the top of the table at Liverpool’s benefit.
They have an opportunity to bounce straight back here, however, with a match against another tough top four opponent in Leicester.
The Foxes, despite holding a top four berth, have looked a little unsure of themselves of late, losing three of their last five league matches. They were rather outplayed at times against Everton, losing 2-0 to see the gap between the two teams close to just a point.
Nevertheless, Leicester are only four points off the top and a win would see them move ahead of Spurs into 2nd.
Form Guide (all comps): DWWDL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Could have won against Liverpool
Mourinho’s mentality will see them bounce back
Reasons to be fearful:
Need to get back to winning ways after draw and defeat
Leicester are a dangerous side themselves
Tottenham will go into this match with 100% determination to get back to winning ways after their midweek defeat to Liverpool.
That comes from manager Mourinho’s mental strength which he has clearly instilled in his players this season.
In Leicester, they face a team who they have only lost to once in the past nine home matches, winning six of them. Spurs remain in good form, despite defeat, particularly at home where they have won seven of their last 10 league matches.
Although Leicester have fantastic players, they look a little unsure of themselves lately and have fallen to three defeats in five league matches. Mourinho will feel confident his players can capitalise on this at the weekend.
Spurs continue to rely heavily on Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min who have scored all but five of their 25 league goals this season.
Star Man – Son Heung-Min
Has 11 league goals, two more than Harry Kane, and took his counterattacking goal brilliantly against Liverpool.
Form Guide (all comps): LWWWL
Reasons to be cheerful
Are genuine top four contenders this season
Won five of six away league matches this season
Reasons to be fearful
Are in the middle of a tricky run of fixtures
Poor record against Spurs
Regardless of Leicester’s run of three defeats in five matches, few can argue with the fantastic job Brendan Rodgers continues to do with the club, taking them from a mid-table club to genuine top four contenders.
Such is the level of inconsistency among most of the clubs in the league that even after taking just six points from 15 available, Leicester are still just four points off the top of the table.
Their away form has been brilliant, too, winning all but one of their fixtures on their travels so far this season. However, they must pick themselves up after a tricky run of fixtures, against Everton in their last fixture and against Manchester United after this weekend’s clash with Tottenham.
Star Man – Jamie Vardy
Missed a glorious chance to equaliser against Everton. He is unlikely to be so wasteful for a 2nd time this weekend.
Will be the clash of the weekend
Spurs could go top with win while Leicester would go 2nd
Goals on the counterattack
With both Spurs and Leicester preferring to play their football on the counterattack, it will be interesting to see what will happen if one sits back and one must play on the front foot.
Despite losing against Liverpool, you would not expect this to affect Spurs’ confidence right now. Mourinho’s winning mentality has clearly transferred to his players, which is why they are slight favourites here.
Tottenham to win 2-1
