Tottenham vs Leicester City sees last season’s champions travel to White Hart Lane, facing a team that finished third after a promising campaign. Spurs, currently fifth, welcome a Leicester side in 12th – a team whose current league fortunes contrast heavily with last season’s.
Current Form
Tottenham have yet to suffer a loss this season, winning five and drawing four of their opening nine matches.
They have, however, looked a little short on goals lately, highlighting the absence of star striker Harry Kane. A goalless draw at Bournemouth meant the North Londoners missed out on leading the league table, even if only for an afternoon.
Leicester City on the other hand, have been experiencing mixed results. A win, a draw and a loss in their last three games sums up their season so far. Furthermore, star duo Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have yet to hit the same heights they did last season.
Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri was pleased to get back to winning ways last week. A 3-1 win at home to Crystal Palace came as a welcome reminder of the quality the squad possesses. However, all of Leicester City’s losses have come away from home this season. This weekend will surely represent a different test to their last league outing.
Team News
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino will be without defender Toby Alderweireld once more as the Belgian recovers from a knee injury. Striker Harry Kane is close to returning from an ankle problem, but looks set to miss out this weekend.
Midfielder Moussa Sissoko starts his three-game suspension for violent conduct after a clash with Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter last weekend.
Ranieri and Leicester continue to be without midfielder Nampalys Mendy who misses out with an ankle injury. Also sidelined is defender Ben Chilwell who is kept out due to a muscular strain.
Statistics
Tottenham have conceded only four goals this season – the lowest of any team in the league.
If Leicester win at White Hart Lane this weekend, it will be only the second time they have won there since 1999.
Spurs are the only team left this season yet to concede a goal from open play.
The Foxes have lost four games this season – one more loss than in the whole of last season.
Final Thoughts
Tottenham vs Leicester City could prove to be a game that tests both sides on their recent shortcomings this season.
Spurs are without their talismanic forward, and therefore could find goals hard to come by. With stand-in Vincent Janssen’s only two strikes coming from the penalty spot in cup matches, Pochettino may ask his midfield to try and ease the burden on him.
With Leicester conceding most of their goals away from home, an opponent missing their main frontman could be what the doctor ordered. The inclusion of link-man Shinji Okazaki worked wonders last time out, and may play an important role this time around.
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