Tottenham slipped back into their wicked ways when a 4-1 demolition of West Ham was followed up by a surprisingly poor trip down south to Selhurst Park where they became the first club this Premier League season to lose to Crystal Palace (L 1-0). It was by far the most concerning result of the campaign for head coach Ange Postecoglou, while afterwards goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario suggested “maybe we lack the desire to fight”.
Even at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where they have piled on 17 goals in seven competitive home games (W6, L1) following their EFL Cup victory over Manchester City, they’ve still got a lot to prove. Postecoglou’s side lost both league fixtures this season against higher ranked opponents (1-0 at home to Arsenal, 3-2 away to Brighton) and now face a club they’ve recently been having trouble against, having lost three of their last four Premier League games at home to Aston Villa.
Unai Emery marked his two-year anniversary at Aston Villa by having to play down concerns that his team are running out of steam following their remarkable Champions League campaign. They have failed to win their last two Premier League matches that immediately followed midweek football, drawing away to Manchester United (0-0) and at home to Bournemouth (1-1), and that’s a challenge they’ll again face here after an EFL Cup tie with Crystal Palace on Wednesday night (L 2-1).
Whereas Tottenham have been accused by their own goalkeeper of lacking determination, Aston Villa have displayed the spirit to even secure three Premier League wins from the five games in which they conceded the opener (D1, L1). With that favourable head-to-head history, a consistent accumulation of points and a perfect (W2) record as visiting outsiders this league season, Villa are in an excellent position to defy the odds again.
Players to watch: In a contest that seems ready to be dominated by high-profile strikers, Dominic Solanke scored in both of his appearances for Bournemouth against Aston Villa last season, despite winning neither (D1, L1). Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins scored in Villa’s last two Premier League away games as well as their 2023/24 away win over Tottenham.
Hot stat: Eight of the last ten H2Hs produced over 2.5 total goals.
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