Tottenham vs Leeds: Match preview, betting tips and predictions

Harry Kane has to lead from the front as Spurs try to return to the top having fallen behind in recent games. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Tottenham vs Leeds United
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
1:30pm

Tottenham are under pressure, how? Not many can answer but as it stands, Jose Mourinho has to find a different way to win a game other than sitting deep and waiting for counters.

Interestingly, this fixture, like many others hasn’t happened in decades and it’s a game Mourinho would like because of the attacking nature of Marcelo Bielsa’s side and we can easily predict the blocks the Portuguese would build ahead of this.

Leeds are coming into the fixture on the back of two straight wins and the latest was a 5-0 annihilation of West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns, while it’s easy to say the Baggies were poor, the relentless spirit of Leeds had its impact on the game as well.

Tottenham scored very early against Wolves and then conceded very late, being their last game of the year after their game against Fulham was called off following Coronavirus outbreak in the Lilywhites’ team, gifting Spurs extra days to prepare for this fixture.

Mourinho said Lucas Moura and Carlos Vinicius are expected to be involved against Leeds after both forwards missed the trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers with an injury.

Mourinho added he does not expect any arrivals during the January transfer window with the club's revenues taking a hit due to the pandemic.

"Times are not easy, the club made a big effort in the summer to try and build a good squad," Mourinho said.

"If something good happened for us, it would be a big surprise for me... I don't feel the right to ask for something."

Spurs were top of the standings last month but one point from three games has dropped them to seventh but Mourinho said he expects his side to improve.

Leeds United aren’t afraid to attack, they often expose themselves at the back, they don’t mind conceding really, they are willing to let you run in-behind them but they will always take it to you, how will Mourinho set up to counter them?

It’s almost 7 years now since these two met in the FA Cup, Leeds triumphed on that occasion but Spurs won the two legs of the 2003/04 season which was Leeds’ last time in the premier league before this present season.