Tottenham are without several players for the upcoming clash against Bournemouth on Sunday, worrying some fans after their last two draws.
The team has played well but on Saturday could not get the goal it so desperately desired. Key man Harry Kane was denied by in-form Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, so at least their main striker has rebounded after scoring the bizarre own goal against Swansea before the international break.
Liverpool were lucky as Mignolet pulled out an incredible performance to keep Tottenham at bay. But with Kane’s shot being dealt with by Mignolet in the Reds game, the performance suggests that Spurs are keen to get that win and do away with the recent draws. But will the injuries in the squad prevent them from doing so?
After just eight minutes on Saturday against Liverpool, Nacer Chadli was stretchered off after a collision. The winger suffered damaged ankle ligaments and is likely to be out for around six weeks. Spurs will also be without Ryan Mason, who has a knee injury, Nabil Bentaleb, who has a problem with his ankle and Son Heung-min, who has a foot injury.
Spurs will still have a strong squad and, with their recent performance against Liverpool, should be ready to face a team that has struggled slightly, most recently with a 5-1 demolition by Manchester City.
Jan Vertonghen believes that Spurs still have the squad to cope with their current injury list and should easily come out with the win on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth currently lie in 17th, so will come out fighting against a side that has only won two points in their last two games. However, Spurs are on the longest unbeaten run in the Premier League on eight games without defeat.
One hopes Erik Lamela will back to his best after a mediocre performance against Swansea and over rumours that he wanted to leave the club over the summer. The side is now used to Pochettino’s way of playing in his second season at the club and this is shown by their record of only one defeat. Spurs have also kept four clean sheets during their last six games, so clearly little things need to be tweaked so that the side can bag more points. Pochettino is the man to do so.
However, Bournemouth are also not without their fair share of injury problems, as captain Tommy Elphick is out until the new year after surgery on his ankle. The captain sustained his injury back in August and it will be blow for the team to see him out for so long. Striker Callum Wilson has also had surgery on his right knee after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament. Wilson will also be out for some time and could take up to six months to recover.
A highlight for the Cherries is that the man who saw them go up, Eddie Howe, has extended his contract. Howe will stay at the club until 2020 after helping Bournemouth gain promotion from League One and then the Championship. The 37-year-old originally managed the side during the 2008-09 season before briefly taking over at Burnley. He then returned at the end of the 2012 season, working with the South Coast club to push it into the Premier League within just three seasons.
Tottenham are in action in the Europa League this Thursday against Anderlecht, after drawing with Monaco in their last group game. The fixture will not put much strain on Sunday’s match against the Cherries as it should not be too strenuous for the North London team – that is if they play without picking up any more injuries in Europe.
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