Further statistical encouragement for Spurs:
So here are today’s teams:
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Son, Kane. Subs: Trippier, Lamela, Vorm, Sissoko, Llorente, Winks, Davies.
Southampton: Forster, Stephens, Yoshida, Hoedt, Targett, Romeu, Lemina, Boufal, Hojbjerg, Redmond, Long. Subs: Davis, Tadic, McCarthy, Ward-Prowse, Gabbiadini, Pied, McQueen.
Referee: Graham Scott.
Talking of team news, here’s one name you won’t see on the team sheets when they’re handed in:
Hello world!
Most teams have two games still to play in 2017 but for Tottenham there is only today, so if Harry Kane is to better Alan Shearer’s 22-year-old record of 36 Premier League goals in a single calendar year he has only one chance: he must score today. One will do. And he has reason to be confident: 1) He is Harry Kane; 2) Southampton have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 matches, and only Crystal Palace (3), Newcastle (3) and Stoke (2) have kept fewer clean sheets this season than the Saints’ four; 3) Tottenham have scored at least once in all 10 matches against Southampton in the last decade. Having said that, Kane’s record against these opponents is a fairly pedestrian two goals in nine matches.
Mauricio Pellegrino’s side end the calendar year in style, with back-to-back trips to Wembley and Old Trafford, as they start a run of four away games in five fixtures, including the FA Cup tie at Fulham. Spurs meanwhile are at home in four of their next five matches, including their FA Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon.
Anyway, hello! Merry post-Christmas! And welcome! Team news should roll in in a few moments, so stand by…
Tottenham Hotspur
