Saturday 14 January 2017 12:36, UK
Tottenham will be looking for a seventh straight win in all competitions when they host West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
Spurs enjoyed a superb festive period as they scored four at Southampton and Watford before beating Chelsea to end the league leaders' winning run.
But they have struggled at home against West Brom in recent years, and have not beaten them at White Hart Lane since 2012.
Last season the Baggies drew 1-1 in north London to severely dent Spurs’ title challenge.
"The past is the past," says Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. "That's a different season, a different circumstance. It's always tough to play them.
"This season West Brom are doing a fantastic job. It's always difficult to play a team managed by Tony Pulis."
West Brom were knocked out of the FA Cup at home by Derby last weekend, but before that had beaten Southampton and Hull in the league.
They have won six of their last 10 matches in the Premier League.
Team news
Spurs have no fresh injury concerns, with Erik Lamela (hip) still missing and continuing his rehabilitation abroad.
Pochettino is expected to welcome back a number of first-team regulars who sat out the FA Cup third-round victory over Aston Villa last weekend.
Jonny Evans remains out for West Brom as he continues to battle a calf problem.
The defender missed Albion's 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Derby after coming off in their 3-1 Premier League win over Hull earlier this month.
The Baggies are also still waiting on confirmation from Cameroon over whether Allan Nyom can play after he was left out of their Africa Cup of Nations squad while Chris Brunt and Jonathan Leko will be assessed. Stoke target Saido Berahino will not be included as he is not yet fit.
Opta stats
Tottenham have won only one of their last seven Premier League games against West Brom, drawing five times (L1).
However, the Baggies have collected only one Premier League win at White Hart Lane before, courtesy of James Morrison’s winner in September 2014 (W1 D5 L4).
In this exact fixture last April, Craig Dawson scored for West Brom and scored an own goal in the same match. He was the last player to do this in the Premier League and the only person to do it for West Brom in the competition.
Dele Alli has scored in two of his three Premier League appearances against the Baggies, the last three contests between the sides which have all ended 1-1.
Alli has reached 20 Premier League goals in 52 apps; faster than midfielders such as Paul Scholes (74), David Beckham (90), Frank Lampard (140) and Steven Gerrard (169).
Tottenham Hotspur are unbeaten at White Hart Lane this season (W8 D2 L0); their longest unbeaten start to a Premier League season at home since 2000/01 (13 games), when their run was ended in a 2-1 defeat to Leeds in February.
Matt Phillips has been directly involved in 11 goals in his last 10 Premier League games (four goals, seven assists).
Paul Merson's prediction
Spurs are flying at the moment and playing well, but this was the game that pretty much lost them the league last year when they drew 1-1.
It will be a hard game but I expect Spurs to win. Dele Alli is in great form and I was very impressed with the way they beat Chelsea. Spurs had to win and they played well.
West Brom could easily have got draws at Arsenal and Chelsea so it will be difficult for Spurs, but I think they will win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (9/2 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Tottenham are the weekend’s shortest-priced favourites at 30/100 with Sky Bet, who give West Brom a 9/1 chance of an upset and price a draw at 4/1.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men were cut from 22/1 to 12/1 to win the Premier League title following their victory over Chelsea, while they are now odds-on for a top-four finish at 8/11.
Harry Kane heads the first goalscorer betting at 5/2 with Dele Alli 11/4 for another brace, while Salomon Rondon is rated the visitors’ biggest threat at 10/1 to net first. Find out what the Soccer Saturday pundits are predicting in their Sky Bet tips here.
