Sunderland vs Tottenham Preview, Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score

Tottenham will look to cement their place in the top-four when they take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday lunch-time.

Andre Villas-Boas’ side brushed aside Aston Villa 4-0 on Boxing Day thanks largely to a hat-trick from Gareth Bale to move back in to fourth place, just two points behind third-placed Chelsea.

Spurs are in excellent form having only lost once in the last seven games and have kept clean sheets in each of their last three matches. However, they travel north to Wearside to face an in-form Sunderland side who head into the game off the back of Wednesday’s impressive 1-0 win over Premier League champions Manchester City.

The win was Sunderland’s third in their last four games – a run that has seen Martin O’Neill’s side move seven points clear of the relegation zone – so Spurs know they’ll be in for a tough game this weekend.

Team News

Sunderland will be without left-back Danny Rose, who is on a season-long loan from Tottenham, so is ineligible to play against his parent club tomorrow. Phil Bardsley is expected to come in with John O’Shea returning at left back.

Tottenham are able to welcome back Clint Dempsey and Tom Huddlestone but both are likely to be on the bench as Andre Villas-Boas sticks with the majority of the team that beat Villa.

Defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto could make his long-awaited comeback from a knee injury but midfielder Mousa Dembele is a doubt with a hip problem. If he misses out Scott Parker may make his first start of the season.

Likely Line-ups

Predicted Score

Tottenham have an excellent recent record against the Black Cats, losing just once in the last seven encounters, and the Londoners are the only side in the league to have scored in every away game this season. We can see Spurs edging this one to maintain their top-four ambitions. Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham.

What would your line-up be and what’s your score prediction? Get involved in the comments section below.