Tottenham Hotspur will look to reclaim top-four status when they host Leicester City in Sunday’s Premier League encounter in North London.
Last time out, Antonio Conte’s side drew 0-0 with Brentford, while the Foxes drew 1-1 with Roma in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final.
Match preview
With Dejan Kulusevski seemingly completing the attacking puzzle with Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, it was impossible to envision a side capable of containing Tottenham, but Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford had all the answers.
Tottenham’s recent slump in form has allowed them to relinquish control of the Champions League race to arch-rivals Arsenal, with their recent slump amused Gooners ahead of what will almost surely be a key North London derby on May 12.
The deficit to Arsenal is only two points, though, which means Conte’s team might return to the top four for at least a couple of hours before Arsenal faces West Ham United on Sunday, and three points on Sunday are critical ahead of a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on May 7.
A lack of goals is one thing, but Tottenham’s inability to register a single shot on target in their last two games is inexplicable given the attacking talent at Conte’s disposal, and no side has gone three Premier League games without registering a single shot on target since the start of the 2003-04 season.
The Lilywhites have also preserved only one clean sheet in their previous six league meetings at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – albeit while scoring 15 goals themselves – but failing to find their shooting boots on Sunday might spell the end of their ambitions of dining at Europe’s top table.
Team News
Along with Matt Doherty and Japhet Tanganga, who are both gone for the season with knee injuries, Spurs have confirmed that Oliver Skipp will be out indefinitely following a groin procedure.
The 21-year-old has battled injury and illness in the region and hopes to return to training in time for pre-season, while Sergio Reguilon will also miss out owing to groin issues.
Despite the recent couple of disappointing setbacks, the Lilywhites’ starting XI should seem familiar, as Ryan Sessegnon starts on the left and Harry Kane looks to add to his tally of 18 goals in 17 meetings against the Foxes.
As if Rodgers hasn’t had enough defensive absentees this season, Leicester lost Timothy Castagne to an eye injury in the 21st minute against Roma. However, Rodgers has confirmed that Castagne is in position to start tonight after scans revealed no major injury.
The Foxes are still without Ryan Bertrand and Wilfred Ndidi, and the need to be cautious with Castagne frees up a position for Luke Thomas to return, with James Justin hoping to fill in for Ricardo Pereira on the right.
Jamie Vardy played for just over an hour on Thursday and will almost probably be rested for the second leg, which means Kelechi Iheanacho might also return in a significantly altered Leicester XI this week.
Possible Line Up
Tottenham Hotspur’s possible starting lineup: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
Leicester City’s possible starting lineup: Schmeichel; Justin, Soyuncu, Amartey, Thomas; Tielemans, Soumare; Lookman, Maddison, Barnes; Iheanacho
Kick-Off Time
Tottenham vs Leicester is scheduled for a 2pm BST kick-off on Sunday, May 1, 2022.
Prediction
Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Leicester City
Despite their worrisome lack of attacking bite over the last couple of weeks, Sunday’s encounter against a fatigued Leicester side that does not travel well presents Spurs with the ideal opportunity to reclaim their winning ways.
Given the short turnaround, Rodgers may make a number of defensive changes, but Conte’s side can be confident of ending their goal drought and throwing the pressure back on Arsenal.
