Bournemouth v Tottenham preview: Spurs will go top with win
Saturday 22 October 2016 11:40, UK
Tottenham can go top of the Premier League with a win at Bournemouth on Saturday lunchtime, live on Sky Sports 1.
Mauricio Pochettino's side are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League after Dele Alli's late leveller maintained their run at West Bromwich Albion last weekend.
They are just a point behind Manchester City and Arsenal, who both play later this weekend.
Bournemouth come into the game in good form, too, having beat Hull City 6-1 last week - the first time they had scored six goals at home in the League since February 2004. That victory was their third straight at success at home.
Team news
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe revealed that he will have to make a late call on whether or not Harry Arter will feature.
The Republic of Ireland international picked up an injury against Hull and hasn't trained all week.
Brad Smith (foot) and Lewis Cook (ankle) will not feature but Max Gradel should be fit to play after recovering from a hamstring problem.
Danny Rose is struggling with a foot injury for Spurs.
Rose's foot is heavily bruised after he took a kick against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, meaning Ben Davies is likely to start at left-back against the Cherries.
Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld are still out as they recover from ankle and leg injuries respectively, but Kyle Walker is expected to return after being rested in midweek.
Match stats
Bournemouth's only victory over Spurs in any competition came in the fifth round of the FA Cup in February 1957.
Spurs won both Premier League games against the Cherries last season, scoring eight goals and conceding just once.
The Cherries have won just one of their last nine top-flight games against London sides (D2 L6), and have yet to register a home Premier League win against a side from the capital (D1 L4).
Bournemouth are looking to win successive games in the Premier League for the first time since March.
Christian Eriksen has had 24 attempts on goal this season in the league, but is yet to find the net (inc blocks).
If Spurs avoid defeat here, it would be the fourth time in their top-flight history that they've remained unbeaten in their first nine fixtures (also 1959/60, 1960/61 and 1990/91).
After nine games without a goal or an assist, Junior Stanislas has scored three and assisted another two in his last three Premier League games.
Bournemouth have started nine English players in their last three Premier League games. The last time a side did this in four consecutive Premier League games was Norwich in April 2012.
This game will see the injured Toby Alderweireld miss a Premier League fixture with Spurs for the first time since the Belgian joined in the summer of 2015 (46 consecutive appearances).
Merson's prediction
Bournemouth are playing very well, I watched them last week. Spurs had a tough game in midweek and it might catch up with them for the early Saturday kick-off. I know they got beaten 5-1 last year, but it will be different for Bournemouth.
I've been impressed with Spurs, even when they don't play well they get a result. They're undefeated, and when they go 1-0 down late on against West Brom, they fight back for a result.
But I can see a draw here, which would be a superb result for an ever-improving Bournemouth side under Eddie Howe.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Tottenham are the odds-on favourites at 19/20 with Sky Bet to claim victory at Bournemouth in Sky Sports' opening live match of the Premier League weekend. The Cherries are 14/5 outsiders for the three points despite having home advantage and the draw can be backed at 5/2.
There are six Sky Bet Price Boosts available before kick-off, including Callum Wilson and Heung-Min Son both to score at odds enhanced from 7/1 to 9/1.
