Tottenham Hotspur will seek to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League as they take on Fulham at the new White Hart Lane. The London derby on Monday will be the curtain closer to Matchday 9 of the Premier League.
Coming back from the international break, Spurs will aim to uphold their impressive start to the new season, holding the top position in the Premier League table.
Ange Postecoglou, the back-to-back Manager of the Month, has guided his new team to an unbeaten record. They have won six matches and drawn two of their initial eight Premier League games, narrowly edging out North London rivals Arsenal based on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Fulham, under the management of Marco Silva, continues to demonstrate their strength. They currently sit 12th in the league with three victories and 11 points from eight matches, having suffered just three losses.
In their most recent match before the international break, Fulham secured a 3-1 home victory against Sheffield United, putting an end to their two-game winless streak in the league (with one draw and one loss). Silva, who successfully maintained Fulham’s top-tier status for two consecutive seasons last year, is also the only manager to defeat Postecoglou this season.
Fulham notably eliminated Tottenham from the FA Cup on penalties at the end of August, which could provide them with a boost as they aim to secure their first Premier League victory against Spurs since 2013.
This is expected to be an exciting game and White Hart Lane should be packed on Monday night. Match going supporters can still buy Tottenham tickets for the game but act fast if you want to bag one before kick-off as they’re selling quickly.
MATCH STATS AND HEAD-TO-HEAD
- A win against Fulham would secure Ange Postecoglou a record 23 points from his first nine Premier League fixtures in charge, surpassing Mike Walker and Guus Hiddink.
- Fulham defeated Spurs on penalties in the EFL Cup earlier this season but have not won a Premier League fixture against them since 2013.
- Tottenham have conceded only two goals at home in the Premier League this season.
- Tottenham have won their last three Premier League matches against Fulham as part of a nine-game league unbeaten run.
- Son Heung-Min has scored six Premier League goals this season, with only Erling Haaland (8) having more.
- Tottenham hold a perfect home record in the Premier League, conceding only twice on their turf.
- Spurs have scored only four of their last 13 Premier League goals in the first half, with eight of the last 10 goals in games involving Fulham occurring in the second half.
- James Maddison has contributed to seven goals for Tottenham in the Premier League this season, all in away matches (two goals and five assists).
- Fulham’s three league victories have come against teams that were in the bottom five of the table before the latest round of fixtures: Everton, Luton Town, and Sheffield United.
- Tottenham’s record of six wins and two draws after eight league games this season is their best since the 1960-61 season when they won their first 11 league fixtures en route to the title.
MATCH DETAILS
DATE: Monday, October 23, 2023
KICK-OFF TIME: 8 pm BST
LOCATION: London, England
VENUE: White Hart Lane
REFEREE: Anthony Taylor.
Assistant Referees: Gary Beswick, and James Mainwaring.
Fourth Official: Graham Scott.
VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE: Paul Tierney.
ASSISTANT VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE: Lee Betts.
TEAM NEWS
Tottenham’s injury concerns persist, with Manor Solomon facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury, adding to the challenges faced by Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou.
However, there is a glimmer of hope for the team as Son Heung-Min and Cristian Romero are expected to return from international duty.
Son has been nursing a groin injury, and although he appeared to be in discomfort while playing for South Korea, he is anticipated to be fit for the Fulham match. Romero also sustained a knock to his right ankle while representing Argentina but is likely to be available for selection.
Despite these potential returns, Tottenham will still be without Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, and Rodrigo Bentancur, who are sidelined with their respective injuries.
Additionally, Yves Bissouma will serve a one-game suspension due to a red card he received against Luton.
On a more positive note, Brennan Johnson has returned to training and could potentially make an appearance, providing a glimmer of hope for Spurs amid their injury woes.
Fulham, on the other hand, have its own injury concerns. Tosin Adarabioyo, previously linked with a move to Spurs, is unavailable due to a groin surgery.
The availability of Kenny Tete, Steven-Andreas Benda, and Adama Traore is subject to a late fitness assessments.
Issa Diop, who sustained an injury described as a “crack in his foot” by manager Marco Silva, is likely to miss the upcoming match after going off injured during a previous fixture against Sheffield United.
PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UP
FULHAM PREDICTED LINE-UP: Bernd Leno; Timothy Castagne, Tim Ream, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson; Harrison Reed, Joao Palhinha; Harry Wilson, Andreas Pereira, Bobby De Cordova-Reid; Carlos Vinicius.
TOTTENHAM PREDICTED LINE-UP: Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie; Pape Matar Sarr, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg; Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Richarlison; Heung-min Son.
PREDICTION
Despite being reduced to ten men against Luton Town, Spurs, under the guidance of Postecoglou, have demonstrated resilience, maintaining impressive performances and achieving favorable results.
While the sustainability of their title challenge remains uncertain, they possess the quality to build on their current good form and secure a victory over Fulham on Monday night.
This match presents an opportunity for Spurs to further solidify their standing in the Premier League and continue their quest for success in the competition.
London derbies are not easy to predict. These are the games the players want to do their best for the fans and they give it all on the pitch. The home fans will be absolutely behind the team, and the result could go any way.
It is also not easy to pick up momentum right after the international break. However, with Arsenal facing Chelsea this week and Liverpool meeting Everton, Spurs should win this game to keep their position at the top intact. Expect them to earn a 3-1 at home.
