Spursvs.Bournemouth

The Lilywhites' Europa League adventure is on the brink of ending after their 1-0 last-16 first-leg loss to AZ Alkmaar, while the Cherries are riding high on the back of reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Match preview

Following 90 minutes of continental action next Thursday evening, Ange Postecoglou may no longer be able to proudly claim that he always wins trophies in his second year at a particular job, as the Lilywhites were found wanting and then some in the Netherlands when AZ welcomed them to the AFAS Stadion.

Lucas Bergvall's sliced clearance ended up looping into the far side of the net as the Eredivisie outfit gleaned a slice of revenge for their 1-0 league-phase loss to the Lilywhites, who were also slain by the same scoreline in their most recent Premier League outing.

Indeed, Erling Haaland's goal settled the blockbuster Spurs vs. Manchester City top-flight tie in the champions' favour, ending Tottenham's three-game victorious run in the Premier League and leaving them in an unlucky 13th place in the top-flight standings.

Unlucky would certainly be the word Postecoglou might use to describe his side's injury situation this season, but mediocrity rather than misfortune was the key factor in Thursday's defeat, and home has not been where the heart is for the Lilywhites in recent weeks either.

The narrow beating at the hands of Man City means that Tottenham have now won just one of their last nine Premier League contests in front of their own fans - losing six of them - and defeat on Sunday would see them lose eight Premier League home matches for the first time in a 38-game season.

From a team that has already lost seven Premier League home games this term to one seeking their seventh top-flight win on the road, Bournemouth are also still on the hunt for a slice of silverware this season after holding their nerve from 12 yards against Wolves in the FA Cup fifth round.

There was little time for the Cherries to capitalise on Matheus Cunha's meltdown and subsequent red card in the last stages of extra time, but Andoni Iraola witnessed Matt Doherty and Boubacar Traore fluff their lines from the penalty spot before the quarter-final celebrations began.

Rewarded for their progression with a daunting last-eight clash against tournament favourites Manchester City, Bournemouth's shootout success was the perfect tonic to a Premier League drop-off, which has seen the Cherries lose three of their last four top-flight games and both of their last two.

Having fallen short against Liverpool, Wolves and most recently Brighton & Hove Albion, Iraola's seventh-placed men have fallen four points adrift of the Champions League positions, but Justin Kluivert's consolation at the Amex at least stretched their Premier League away scoring sequence to a terrific 10 games.

Sunday's visitors could complete their first-ever league double over Spurs should they maintain that hot streak, having prevailed 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium in December, although six of Bournemouth's last seven Premier League away games versus Tottenham have seen them fall to defeat.

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

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Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

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Bournemouth Premier League form:

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Bournemouth form (all competitions):

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Team News

Just 20 minutes into his comeback appearance following a knee injury on Thursday night, Spurs marksman and ex-Cherries striker Dominic Solanke was substituted after taking a heavy knock in a collision with AZ goalkeeper Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro.

However, Postecoglou stressed on Friday that the issue was nothing more serious than a "knee to the backside" and is therefore keeping his fingers crossed that Solanke will be fine to face his former club, but a start is likely out of the question.

Defensive duo Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero could also be in line for some minutes after making the bench in the Netherlands, while Ben Davies has not been ruled out either, but Dejan Kulusevski (foot), Richarlison (calf) and Radu Dragusin (knee) are still missing.

Bournemouth will soon welcome a key centre-back back to their ranks too, but not just yet, as Ilya Zabarnyi serves the third and final game of his suspension for his sending-off against Wolves in their Premier League loss to the Old Gold.

Zabarnyi will watch on from the sidelines alongside Enes Unal (knee), Marcos Senesi (thigh), Julian Araujo (thigh) and Adam Smith (calf), but Iraola refused to rule out Ryan Christie (groin) in his pre-game press conference.

The Cherries should be working with a largely identical squad from their cup success over Wolves, though, and Kluivert is sure to come back into the XI as he endeavours to build on a terrific record of 10 Premier League strikes away from home already this season.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Gray, Danso, Spence; Sarr, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Son, Odobert

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:

Kepa; Cook, Hill, Huijsen, Kerkez; Adams, Scott; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Bournemouth

Expect a clinic in high-pressing between Spurs and Bournemouth, who rank second and first respectively in pressures resulting in a turnover in the final third in the current Premier League season.

Written by

Ben Knapton

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