Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa Predictions

• Injury-hit Tottenham have lost their last two league games
• Aston Villa have won eight of their opening 12 league matches
• Both teams have scored in six of Villa’s last seven fixtures

Villa can capitalise on Tottenham’s absentees

Back-to-back Premier League defeats against Chelsea and Wolves have seen Tottenham slip to fourth in the table and their depleted squad are sure to be tested by Aston Villa, who head into this weekend in fifth and only one point behind the North London outfit.

Spurs had been unbeaten after their opening ten games, winning eight times and drawing two, before they endured a 4-1 defeat at home to Chelsea.

Despite the heavy defeat, however, there were plenty of positives to take as Tottenham had been reduced to nine men after 55 minutes and were only undone by three late goals, two of which came deep into injury-time.

The 2-1 loss at Wolves may be harder to take, though, as Spurs took a third-minute lead through Brennan Johnson and then conceded twice in the final seven minutes.

It is perhaps no coincidence that that defeat at Molineux coincided with the injuries to James Maddison and Mickey van de Ven plus the suspension of Cristian Romero.

Depleted Spurs set to suffer

Those three star names are set to miss out again and with Yves Bissouma also sidelined through suspension and Richarlison another out with injury, Ange Postecoglou’s side may have their work cut out.

Destiny Udogie is also a doubt at left-back, which means Spurs could be seriously undercooked and that gives Villa every chance of causing the upset.

That said, it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise as Villa are only one point behind Spurs having won eight of their opening 12 games.

Unai Emery is doing a fantastic job at Villa Park and his side come into this clash in confident spirits having won 3-1 at home to Fulham prior to the international break.

Villa were beaten 2-0 in a rare below-par performance on their last away trip at Nottingham Forest but they have won 1-0 away at Chelsea this season.

There is no doubt that the Villans are stronger at home, where they have won their last 13 Premier League games, but this looks a good opportunity for them given Spurs’ number of absentees.

Villa completed a league double over Spurs last term but it would be a little bit of a concern that their only clean sheet in their last ten outings came against Bosnian minnows Zrinjski.

Spurs can still rely on the star quality of Heung-min Son, even if he will miss the creative flair of Maddison, and correct-score backers should plunge for a 2-1 Villa win.