Tottenham Hotspur are set to get back to winning ways after being inconsistent when they take on Watford at the Vicarage Road this afternoon. Jose Mourinho’s side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend before beating Middlesbrough 2-1 in midweek to build a little bit of confidence ahead of a difficult game.
Mourinho would be looking to avoid equalling his longest losing streak in the league – three in a row, set at Chelsea from October to November 2015. He will be without his numberone striker Harry Kane, who suffered an hamstring injury and has undergone surgery last week. Tottenham have won only one of their past seven league matches without the Englishman.
The Hornets defeated Bournemouth 3-0 last weekend before their midweek FA Cup replay against Tranmere Rovers was postponed. Pearson has breathed new life into the deflated Hornets to move them out of the relegation zone, winning 14 of 18 available points and looking for a fourth win against Spurs.
Spurs will need to watch out for Troy Deeney who is in fine form. He has scored four goals in his last five appearances. Pearson is getting the best out of the Hornets captain and the team is reaping the rewards of his clinical edge in front of goal.
The 31-year-old scored the equaliser in this fixture last season as Watford came from a goal behind to win. He will need to be at his best again. Abdoulaye Doucoure will have a late fitness test but Christian Kabasele is still suspended.
Also, Watford will need to be wary of Spurs’ counter-attack which will be potent today considering their recent style of play under Mourinho. The Portuguese is likely to recall Toby Alderweireld, who was rested for the FA Cup replay against Middlesbrough and new signing Gedson Fernandes could play
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2020
Venue: Vicarage Road, Watford
Kick-off time: 12:30pm (UK time)
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Watford’s only victory in their 13 Premier League matches against Tottenham was by 2-1 in this fixture last season.
- That is their only win over Spurs in 17 attempts in all competitions dating back to 1994.
- However, Spurs have won on only two of their past nine away league visits to Watford (D4, L3).
Watford
- Watford’s tally of 13 points from six matches since Nigel Pearson’s appointment is only bettered by Liverpool and Manchester City.
- That tally has been earned in the past five matches – it took Watford 22 games to earn their previous 13 points.
- The Hornets are looking to win four consecutive top-flight home games in a season for the first time since December 1986.
- Watford have opened the scoring in five league games in a row, having done so in just four of their previous 17 top-flight matches. Only Liverpool are on a longer current run.
- Nigel Pearson could become the first English manager to win seven Premier League matches in a row at home since Harry Redknapp in 2009 with Spurs.
Tottenham Hotspur
- Tottenham have won once in five Premier League games and could lose three in a row for the first time since November 2012.
- Their total of two Premier League clean sheets this season is the joint worst record of any team, along with Norwich. Spurs and Aston Villa are the only sides yet to keep an away clean sheet in the top flight this season.
- Spurs have conceded in 18 successive away league games, their longest such run in the top flight since April 1977.
- Tottenham have won only one of their past seven league matches without Harry Kane. They scored just four goals from 89 shot attempts in those seven fixtures.
- Jose Mourinho was the last manager to win away from home against a Nigel Pearson side in the Premier League, doing so in April 2015 with Chelsea at Leicester.
