INDOSPORT.COM - Di tengah hasil minor belakangan ini, Tottenham Hotspur akan kedatangan tamu tim kuda hitam Watford pada pertandingan pekan ke-24 Liga Primer Inggris 2018/19, kamis (31/01/19).
Dengan kondisi skuat yang ditinggal beberapa pemain andalan akibat cedera dan juga jadwal padat, laga sepak bola nanti tentu tak akan mudah bagi Tottenham Hotspur sekalipun bermain di kandang sendiri.
Apa lagi kondisi mental pemain yang ada saat ini juga sedang dalam kondisi yang kurang maksimal setelah tersingkir di dua ajang berbeda, Piala FA 2018/19 dan Piala Liga Inggris 2018/19 hanya dalam tempo beberapa hari lalu.
Sebaliknya, Watford yang kini berada di peringkat ke-7 Liga Primer Inggris 2018/19, belum sekalipun mengalami kekalahan dalam lima pertandingannya sepanjang tahun 2019 ini.
Terakhir, anak asuh Javi Gracia berhasil mengalahkan tuan rumah Newcastle United dalam ajang Piala FA dengan skor 2-0 akhir pekan lalu.
Dengan kondisi terkahir yang dialami kedua klub saat ini, rasannya fakta bahwa Tottenham Hotspur baru hanya sekali kalah atas Watford di 15 pertemuan terakhir mereka, bisa sedikit dikesampingkan. Dalam artian sangat mungkin Watford untuk bisa membuat kejutan di laga nanti.
© Indosport.com Pertandingan Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford.
Tanpa kehadiran Christian Eriksen di laga menghadapi Crystal Palace lalu, Tottenham Hotspur terbukti tak mampu berbuat banyak.
Dan dengan masih belum bisa dimainkannya Harry Kane dan Dele Alli, The Lilywhite tinggal berharap Eriksen bisa menunjukan penampilan terbaiknya melawan Watford nanti.
Secara kualitas, Eriksen jelas mampu menanggung beban tersebut. empat gol dan delapan assists sepanjang musim ini di Liga Primer Inggris menjadi acuan yang tak terbantahkan akan hal itu.
Buat Watford, jika hendak meraih hasil maksimal di laga nanti, tentu tak lain dan tak bukan, Eriksen lah yang harus terlebih dahulu bisa mereka matikan permainannya.
Di pertemuan kedua tim pada putaran pertama, nama Troy Deeney menjadi salah satu pencetak gol ke gawang Tottenham Hotspur hingga membuat Watford menang dengan skor tipis 2-1.
Dengan pengalaman dan kualitasnya, bukan tak mungkin gelontoran gol akan kembali bisa diciptakan pemain 30 tahun itu di laga nanti.
Penempatan posisi pemain ketururnan Jamaika itu menjadi satu hal yang harus benar-benar diwaspadai lini belakang Tottenham Hotspur. Karena kerap kali Deeney tidak terlihat membahayakan sepanjang pertandingan, namun hanya dalam satu momen tertentu, dirinya justru muncul sebagai pencetak gol bagi Watford.
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Spurs will be looking to return to winning ways after a nightmare week in which they were knocked out of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Spurs suffered a humiliating 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday after losing on penalties to Chelsea in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
The hosts are also in the midst of an injury crisis, with Harry Kane and Dele Alli definitely sidelined for the visit of Watford while defender Ben Davies is also a minor doubt. The hosts may have a boost, though, in the return of Son Heung-Min from Asia Cup duty – a sorely needed bit of good news. Follow it live:
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Michael will be here shortly with all the build-up and team news ahead of tonight's games. In the meantime here is the latest from the transfer window as the deadline nears: Denis Suarez has joined Arsenal from Barcelona We've got four Premier League games in action tonight. First up for a 7.45pm kick off Chelsea travel to Bournemouth and Southampton host Crystal Palace. Then at 8pm Liverpool look to extend their lead at the top of the table as they face Leicester and Tottenham welcome Watford. Team news shortly... Bournemouth vs Chelsea Team news BREAKING NEWS Southampton vs Crystal Palace Team news Bournemouth vs Chelsea Team news Gonzalo Higuain makes his first Premier League appearance for Chelsea. New signings Dominic Solanke and Chris Mepham make the bench for Bournemouth but Callum Wilson is left out of the squad. Southampton vs Crystal Palace Team news Southampton are unchanged from their last match vs Everton. Wilfried Zaha makes his 150th Premier League appearance for Crystal Palace. Bournemouth vs Chelsea Team news Bournemouth make two changes to the side that defeated West Ham in their last match. Andrew Surman comes back to captain the Cherries and Junior Stanislas also returns. Callum Wilson and Jefferson Lerma both drop out of the squad. Chelsea make seven changes from the side that beat Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Jorginho, N'Golo Kante, Eden Hazard, Pedro, David Luiz and Emerson all return while Higuain makes his Premier League debut. Liverpool vs Leicester Team news Tottenham vs Watford Team news Southampton vs Crystal Palace Team news Matt Targett recovers from a knee injury to keep his place in an unchanged Southampton team. Crystal Palace make one change to the team that lost to Liverpool in their last Premier League game. Vicente Guaita replaces Julian Speroni in goal as Zaha makes his 150th Premier League appearance for Palace. Liverpool vs Leicester Team news Virgil van Dijk recovers from illness to make the starting line up for Liverpool. Xherdan Shaqiri and Georginio Wijnaldum come into the side as James Milner and Fabinho drop out. Leicester make three changes as Jonny Evans, James Maddison and Marc Albrighton come back. Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan and Harvey Barnes miss out. Tottenham vs Watford Team news Spurs make eight changes from their 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup. Son Heung-min returns from the Asian Cup to boost the attacking prowess of the London club. For Watford only Daryl Janmaat, Craig Cathcart and Will Hughes keep their places from the FA Cup win against Newcastle. Troy Deeney returns to skipper the side. KICK OFF And we're underway! Bournemouth 0 - 0 Chelsea Southampton 0 - 0 Crystal Palace 3 mins: Southampton 0 - 0 Crystal Palace Southampton concede two quick fire corners but Palace fail to capitalise on the set plays. 3 mins: Bournemouth 0 - 0 Chelsea Joshua King takes a right-footed shot from outside the box but the shot is blocked. Bournemouth have started the game well. 6 mins: Bournemouth 0 - 0 Chelsea Chelsea recover and get the ball into the box from the wing aiming for Higuain. The ball goes past him but finds Kovacic who hits the crossbar with a strong header. 11 mins: Bournemouth 0 - 0 Chelsea All Chelsea at the minute, Hazard whips the ball past Ake and takes a shot on the counter but it's an easy save for Boruc. 12 mins: Southampton 0 - 0 Crystal Palace Wilfried Zaha wins a free kick for Palace but the teams look content to battle it out in mid-field with little action in the final third at either end of the pitch. 13 mins: Southampton 0 - 0 Crystal Palace As I typed that, Luka Milivojevic gets the ball off Andros Townsend and lines up a right footed shot from outside the box. There's a moment of suspense but the ball sails over the bar as the attempt is too high. KICK OFF The 8 o'clock kick offs have just started: Liverpool 0 - 0 Leicester Tottenham 0 - 0 Watford 1 2 3 4 Next
What time does it start?
Spurs vs Watford kicks off at 8pm.
Where can I watch it?
The match will not be shown live in the UK. Highlights will be shown on Match of the Day at 10.45pm on BBC One.
It’s a big game for…
Etienne Capoue: The Frenchman, who will line up against his former side, has become a reliable operator at the heart of the Watford midfield and he will be looking to show Spurs what they are missing with a standout performance on Wednesday.
Name of player: Select a player that has something to prove – perhaps up against a former club, or their form has been questioned of late, or they’re on the verge of a record. No more than 3 sentences.
Weird/best stat…
6: Before Watford’s win over Spurs earlier this season, Spurs defeated the Hornets in six of the games they had played since Watford regained promotion to the Premier League.
Remember when…
Rafael van der Vaart, remember him, scored a long range strike in typically cool fashion to send Spurs through to the fifth round of the FA Cup with victory over Watford in 2012.
Player to watch…
Son Heung-Min: Should the South Korean return to the side following his Asia Cup excursions, he will be the key man the hosts look to for a clinical edge in the absence of the injured Kane and Alli. It will be interesting to see whether Son can return straight back to form after his period away from the side.
Past three-meetings…
Spurs 2 (Alli, Lamela) Watford 2 (Success, Capoue) Spurs win 4-2 on penalties, Carabao Cup, September 2018
Watford 2 (Deeney, Cathcart) Spurs 1 (Doucoure OG), Premier League, September 2018
Spurs 2 (Alli, Kane) Watford 0, Premier League, April 2018
Form guide…
Spurs: WWLWLL
Watford: DDWWDW
Odds…
Spurs to win: 4/6
Watford to win: 9/2
Draw: 29/10
(Odds provided by Betfair)
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news, rumours and done deals throughout the January window
