Game Week 10 Predictions: Villa to hold Spurs to a draw

Tottenham hosts Aston Villa in a high-stakes clash, with both teams eager to climb the EPL standings. Key players return, promising an intense matchup

Tottenham must build on their midweek success to help their cause in the league when Aston Villa visits the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. (Photo credit: Opta)

 Spurs vs. Aston Villa

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

3:00pm

Aston Villa could end the game week in third if they beat Tottenham away from home; that’s a huge incentive for a team that is still trying to get their groove in the league this season.

Tottenham Hotspur is also enduring a difficult start to life in the league this season; they currently sit outside European qualification places and must beat Aston Villa on Sunday to get back on track or fall further behind.

Ange Postecoglou regretted the result after the game, promising a turnaround in this game.

Aston Villa suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, crashing out of the tournament before the quarterfinal stage. Unai Emery’s side is doing great in the Champions League, and they have a date with Club Brugge on Wednesday.

For Tottenham, it was a huge relief for them to beat Manchester City in the League Cup in midweek; the 2-1 win sent them to the quarterfinals, where they will play against Manchester United, and they must build on the win when Villa comes to town.

Ross Barkley is the only player unavailable for the visitors as he’s recuperating from an ankle injury, leaving Emery with a relatively fit squad to pick from. There will always be a selection headache due to the abundance of quality options in various positions, but rotation will also be beneficial with the Champions League approaching soon.

Heung Min Son has trained with the group, so he will feature from the start, while Christian Romero is also expected to start. Timo Werner scored against Manchester City, but his injury forced him to limp out; his inclusion in the squad remains uncertain.

Both sides play free-flowing football; it will be a feisty game with both sides needing three points to better their lot, and with Arsenal and Manchester City both losing on Saturday, it’s a huge opportunity for both sides to gain ground on them.

The visitors expect Ollie Watkins to lead the line, but Jhon Duran is making a name for himself with yet another League Cup goal. Morgan Rodgers is another player catching eyes with his performances; will he impress again?

Dominic Solanke is struggling in front of goal; Brennan Johnson could be the player to watch out for in this match, as Richarlison is also expected to start. James Madison will be the creator-in-chief; Villa must limit his influence on the game.

Verdict: Both teams to score