An unbeaten Tottenham Hotspur make a potential tricky journey to the bet365  Stadium for a clash against rock-bottom Stoke City as the Premier League returns to action following the international break.

Although Spurs are just one of six sides that remain unbeaten so far, they have won just one of their three matches. They have so far recorded two draws, one away to Everton and the other at home to Liverpool, while their only victory was a narrow one-nil victory over Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane. Manager Mauricio Pochettino will want to bag all three points for this fixture and continue Spurs’ unbeaten run.

Meanwhile, Stoke City have had a horrid start to the Premier League campaign. They are still looking for their first win of the season following defeats to Manchester City and Everton as well as their 1-1 draw with newly promoted Middlesbrough. They are one of six teams without a win and as they host a strong Tottenham side on Staurday, manager Mark Hughes will hope that the Potters pull up their socks and put in a solid performance, else they will be in a relegation battle all too soon.

Team News

Stoke City

Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri will miss the game due to a calf injury, but defender Glen Johnson has returned to full training following injuries that have seen him out of the squad since February.

Defender Bruno Martins Indi – signed on loan on Deadline Day – could make his first Potters appearance, while Mame Diouf (hamstring) is a doubt. Goalkeeper Jack Butland is out for another six to ten weeks following an ankle surgery, so Shay Given will take his place between the sticks.

The good news is that striker Wilfred Bony is set to make his debut for the Potters and give them much needed firepower up front.

Probable lineup (4-3-3) : Given; Bardsley, Shawcross, Cameron, Pieters; Whelan, Allen, Imbula; Arnautovic, Bony, Bojan

stoke-city

Player to watch out for : Wilfried Bony

Bony will be looking to make an impact straight away
Bony will be looking to make an impact straight away

Bony is a quality striker no doubt. He is the ideal player to boost a depleted Stoke City team. If anyone can deliver the goods for Stoke City against a formidable Spurs side, it is Bony. All eyes will be on him for this one.

Tactics

Stoke City are in need of some much needed inspiration and they will look up to Wilfried Bony up front to provide them with it. Bony has a fantastic work rate with good speed and also is a great finisher. He would want to leave a mark right away. Helping Bonny out would be Bojan, Arnautovic and Allen.

Bojan has shown flashes of brilliance while Allen has been in great form for Wales. They will go forward and also supply for Bony. The defense needs to pull up its socks, though, and Shawcross has to lead by example.

Under Tony Pulis, Stoke used to play long balls and long throws to great effect. Their tactics have changed though, and they have turned more towards the passing game. They will have to do that to good effect if they want to get the better of Tottenham.

Without Shaqiri, the side is depleted no doubt, but Bojan and Arnautovic can be pretty dangerous when they are on song. Bony and the rest of Stoke will be expecting some crisp passing and piercing through balls from them.

Tottenham Hotspur

For Spurs, captain Hugo Lloris is back after a hamstring injury suffered on the opening day of the season but a similar injury for Danny Rose picked up on international duty means he is out of the game.

Ben Davies should take his place. Moussa Sissoko could also feature in the match following his Deadline Day £30 million move from Newcastle. Christian Eriksen is also in line to feature after signing a new four-year deal to stay at White Hart Lane until 2020.

Probable lineup (4-2-3-1) : Lloris; Walker, Alderweidel, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Lamela, Alli, Eriksen; Kane

tottenham_hotspur

Player to watch out for : Harry Kane

Kane will be looking to fire and get some much needed goals. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Kane will be looking to fire and get some much needed goals. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

It is true that Harry Kane has not exactly fired so far. However, rock bottom Stoke City will be the ideal opponents against whom to start showing his goal scoring prowess. With him at his best, it will be a tough 90 minutes for the Stoke defenders.

Tactics

Spurs will look towards the trio of Lamela, Alli and Eriksen to lead attacks into the heart of the Stoke defence. Erik Lamela has covered more ground than any other Spurs player so far this season, averaging 12 km per game and he will definitely have an impact on the game. Alli and Eriksen are both quick and have good sets of dribbling skills.

They will not only surge forward, but will also provide balls to Harry Kane, who would desperately want to get on the score sheet. Kane’s finishing has always been clinical, but he has now gone five Premier League games without scoring, his longest wait for a goal since September 2015 (six games).

He will look desperately to score some and combining with the trio behind him, Spurs look pretty formidable when they go attacking.

Behind them in midfield, Dembele and Dier can also surge forward as and when required and they also do the job of picking up the pieces. Dembele has good pace and power and should Spurs need an extra man up front, he is more than capable of providing it.

The back four looks pretty solid as well. Walker has great speed and can also cover up well while the Belgian compatriots Alderweidel and Vertonghen are rock solid in defence. Ben Davies has great potential too and is more than capable of taking Danny Rose’s place.

Key Stats

  • Stoke suffered their joint-biggest Premier League home defeat in this fixture last season (0-4, also against Chelsea in January 2013).
  • Tottenham have won more games at the Bet365 Stadium than any other Premier League side (5).
  • There have been eight red cards in 16 Premier League meetings between these sides, with seven of those coming at the Bet365 Stadium (three for Stoke, four for Spurs).
  • Dele Alli scored twice against Stoke City back in April; his only Premier League brace to date.
  • Mauricio Pochettino’s only win in the Premier League against Stoke was the 4-0 win in April.
  • Wilfried Bony has scored in both of his previous two Premier League starts against Tottenham Hotspur

Betting tips

One could very well call it the game that sets Harry Kane free. Stoke are as formidable as anyone and would pose a potent threat to Tottenham.Harry Kane has been goalless for club and country since the beginning of the season but this could very well be the match where the beast is unleashed.

Stoke have conceded in each of their three Premier League games and the norm could well continue. On the other hand, Tottenham are strong defensively and could curtail Stoke’s chances especially in the absence of talisman Shaqiri.

Standard Bets :
1. Harry Kane to score anytime @2.10
2. Tottenham to win @ 1.85
3. Tottenham Half Time/Full Time @2.87

Underdog Bets :
1. Harry Kane to score 2 or more @6.50

Prediction

Stoke City 0 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur

Stoke have plenty of talent no doubt, but in comparison, Tottenham have stronger players who can turn the game on their heads. The battle will be won in the midfield for Spurs with the quick feet of Lamela, Alli and Eriksen. Their defence too, is far superior. Though it is not going to be an easy game for Spurs by any means, they should be able to see this one through.

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