Tottenham Hotspur vs West Brom
Kick-off: November 25, 15:00 Venue: Wembley Stadium
West Brom enter into a post-Tony Pulis world this weekend when they travel to Wembley to face Tottenham. With the end of any relationship comes a sense of foreboding about what’s to come, but a sense that it probably can’t get much worse than what’s gone before.
Mauricio Pochettino may well not be acquainted with Gary Megson, who will be in the away dugout on Saturday. The Baggies haven’t won in 11 games, a slide which their interim boss will be looking to address with a shock upset.
Like so many sides have already done at the national stadium this season, it’s likely they’ll set up not to lose rather than to actually win. Spurs have tasted defeat just once at home this term in the Premier League, which doesn’t bode well for the visitors.
Last weekend was tremendously disappointing for the hosts. Pochettino suffered his first loss in a league north London derby, and Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Christian Eriksen all went missing in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal.
Victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League has helped them to put that result behind them to some extent, but while they remain on a high from winning their group, they can’t drop any more points here if they are to remain in with a shout in the title race.
The last time these two sides faced each other, Tottenham ran riot in a 4-0 cruise and Kane scored a hat-trick. The striker is at least looking back to full fitness after a lethargic display at the Emirates and depending on how Mohamed Salah, Alvaro Morata, Sergio Aguero, Romelu Lukaku, and Gabriel Jesus get on elsewhere, the 24-year-old could find himself top of the goal chart with another couple against the Albion.
Team news:
Tottenham came through the Dortmund game unscathed, so it’s just Victor Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld who miss out. Pochettino is still waiting on Erik Lamela to inform him he’s ready to play again as he continues his rehabilitation.
As for West Brom, Nacer Chadli’s hamstring injury will rob him of the chance to face his old club. Craig Dawson (knee) and James Morrison (Achilles) will sit out too.
Heung-Min Son could well be handed a start thanks to his winning goal in Dortmund. It’s difficult to see where he slots in, but Pochettino may take the opportunity to rest Alli, who has not been at his electrifying best.
Expected starting line-ups:
Tottenham: Lloris, Sanchez, Dier, Vertonghen, Trippier, Winks, Sissoko, Davies, Eriksen, Son, Kane
West Brom: Foster, McAuley, Evans, Hegazi, Phillips, Livermore, Barry, Krychowiak, Gibbs, Rodriguez, Rondon
Did you know?
During his time at Spurs, Pochettino has faced West Brom six times, but won just two of those meetings.
Prediction
The whole point of Pulis’ brand of football was that it was supposed to keep West Brom out of trouble. That it has failed to do, as they linger one point above the relegation zone.
Chelsea were easily able to exploit their defensive weaknesses and even if Tottenham have put in some lacklustre performances at home this season, they should be able to do the same.
Tottenham 2-0 West Brom
