Bournemouth vs Tottenham preview: Will Spurs seal Champions League spot?
Watch Bournemouth vs Tottenham on Sky Sports Premier League from 11.30am on Saturday; Kick-off at 12.30pm
Saturday 4 May 2019 11:54, UK
Mauricio Pochettino has called on his Tottenham players to "deliver their best" after admitting his side are at a "key moment" in their season.
Spurs' participation in next season's Champions League will be guaranteed if they beat Bournemouth on Saturday lunchtime, live on Sky Sports, in their penultimate Premier League game.
Live Premier League
The battle for the top four has been more keenly fought than expected as Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have all dropped points in recent weeks.
Pochettino accepts Tottenham are not enjoying the best of "circumstances" relating to injuries and a packed fixture schedule, but has called for one last push from his side.
"The problem now is it's a decisive period for us," he said. "It's a key moment. "Playing the second leg of the semi-final and playing Saturday against Bournemouth.
"Now it's not to talk too much, to focus on our job and deliver. Finishing in the top four is our priority too.
"Maybe we're in circumstances that maybe aren't the best but now it's a moment to be all together.
"Being together is the best. Try not to think too much, go there and try to do what we want in the end.
"Try to forget the circumstances and deliver our best. How we prepare for the games is so easy. Not too much time to prepare but it's about being together and being strong."
Bournemouth are winless in five Premier League home games, losing the last two in a row. They last lost three consecutively at the Vitality Stadium in April 2016.
Team news
Bournemouth quartet David Brooks (ankle), Dan Gosling (calf), Adam Smith (knee) and Dominic Solanke (hamstring) will be assessed.
Lewis Cook, Simon Francis, Junior Stanislas, Charlie Daniels and Andrew Surman are out.
Tottenham are waiting for an update on Jan Vertonghen before deciding if he is available.
The centre-back saw a neurologist on Thursday after suffering a worrying head injury during Tottenham's Champions League defeat by Ajax.
Harry Kane (ankle), Serge Aurier, Erik Lamela (both hamstring) and Harry Winks miss out.
Opta stats
- Bournemouth have lost six of their seven Premier League meetings with Spurs (D1), netting just two goals in those matches.
- Tottenham have won two of their three Premier League away games against Bournemouth, winning 5-1 in 2015-16 and 4-1 last term. The other match finished 0-0.
- Tottenham average 3.1 goals-per-game in the Premier League against Bournemouth (22 goals in seven games), their best such record against any side in the competition.
- Bournemouth have never lost their last home Premier League game of the season, drawing one and winning twice. The last time they lost their final home game in a league campaign was in 2010-11 in League One (1-2 vs Rochdale).
- Until the end of January, Tottenham had won more away games (11), more away points (33) and scored more away goals (30) than any other Premier League side this season. Since then, they're one of just two sides not to earn a single point on the road along with Huddersfield (L5).
- Tottenham have lost 12 Premier League games this season, last losing more in a single campaign in 2008-09 (15). Only two teams have ever lost more than 12 Premier League games and still finished in the top four - Chelsea in 1997-98 (15) and Everton in 2004-05 (13).
- Bournemouth's Callum Wilson has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last nine Premier League games, scoring six and assisting four.
Paul Merson's prediction
Tottenham need to get something, because if Chelsea or Arsenal pick up points that'll make life difficult, but they're still in the Champions League - they're still in it, and I think the players will be a bit like they were against West Ham. They'll be thinking about that game on the Wednesday.
Bournemouth have a go. I watched them against Fulham and Fulham deserved it, they went to Southampton and were never in the game, but then got one of the goals of the season. They are hot and cold but they'll cause problems and I think Spurs will rest players.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1
