Bournemouth vs Tottenham predicted lineups and team news
Despite some eye-catching performances and results this season, Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham travel to face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Thursday knowing that a defeat would see the Cherries leapfrog them in the table.
Less than a fortnight on from their stunning 4-0 away win at champions Manchester City that is not a thought Spurs supporters were expecting to entertain.
Andoni Iraola and his side are fresh off a four-goal away win of their own, taking care of Wolves at Molineux over the weekend.
Bournemouth v Tottenham Predicted XIs
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Adams, Christie; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson
Tottenham (4-3-3): Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Son, Johnson
Angeball in focus once more
It really must be a frustrating pastime following Tottenham Hotspur. The promise of their better performances is truly immense but it appears to be one step forward and then two steps back of late.
The thumping win over Manchester City at the Etihad has been followed by the concession of a 92nd-minute leveller to Roma in the Europa League in a game Spurs could have put out of reach of the Italians in the first half, and then a frustrating home draw against 10-man Fulham in the league on Sunday.
Postecoglou’s admirable ethos on the game makes for hugely entertaining fare, but his resolute stance on being committed to that all-out attacking philosophy won’t be justifiable in the long-term if the good results continue to be undermined by lacklustre performances.
The former Celtic boss has not been shy in suggesting his second season at a club tends to bring silverware and that could be key for the continuation of his Tottenham project.
They’ve got a pivotal few weeks looming, with Chelsea, Rangers, Manchester United and Liverpool all to face before Christmas Day in various league, cup and European commitments.
Getting the better of Bournemouth would represent a very pleasing start to that tough sequence but Iraola and his side are no pushovers, as Manchester City and Arsenal have found in losing at the Vitality Stadium this season.
Chelsea – Spurs’ next opponents – nicked a 1-0 win at the Vitality in September with a Christopher Nkunku goal four minutes from time. Spurs fans would surely welcome something similar but, as Big Ange likes to remind people, that’s not who they are.
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Bournemouth v Tottenham Team News
The home side are set to remain without Luis Sinisterra, Julian Araujo and Alex Scott but there could be better news for Iraola as Lewis Cook is closing in on a return and Antoine Semenyo has served his suspension.
The news is less pleasing for Spurs. Netminder Guglielmo Vicario is set for an extended spell on the sidelines, with Fraser Forster deputising, while key defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have also been on the treatment table.
Richarlison, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore help make up the Spurs injury list, while summer signing Dominic Solanke missed the draw with Fulham with an illness and will have to be assessed ahead of potentially returning to his former stomping ground. Rodrigo Bentancur continues to serve his domestic suspension.
