Premier League: Fulham Next for Title Hopefuls Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham

When most of the dust has settled on another top flight weekend of football, we still have another treat to come, when Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham is the action on offer for the Monday night match. 

Spurs will start the ninth round of top flight fixtures at the summit of the Premier League table, but by the time they play on Monday night they could easily be fourth, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool all in action on Saturday.

The hosts come into the game on the back of a hard earned 1-0 win away to Luton Town, while Fulham beat Sheffield United 3-1 at Craven Cottage.

Oh, and one more thing…the Cottagers are the only club to get the better of high flying Spurs this season, dumping them out of the Carabao Cup on penalties.

Talking Points

Ange is aiming high

Few neutrals thought Tottenham’s close season appointment of Ange Postecoglou was the action of a serious Premier League contender but the amiable Aussie has proved the doubters wrong, and his attacking style of football has seen the smiles widen week by week at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.    

Harry Kane’s departure had some Spurs fans worrying but the signing of James Maddison was a masterstroke as, while Leicester City were relegated last term, Postecoglou knew he could get the best out of the enigmatic star and appointed him as club vice captain. While Heung-Min Son has continued to score at will, bagging six goals, and Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison are dangerous customers, it is Maddision who is pulling the strings. He is as creative in the final third as he is dominant in the middle and, at 26 years of age, he now looks ready to fulfil his undoubted potential and take responsibility for his team.

Postecoglou is aiming high, and if his men win on Monday they will have accumulated the highest number of points in their first nine games of a Premier League campaign. With six wins and two draws so far Spurs look like real contenders and are ready to crack on in their all new swashbuckling style.         

In pre-match Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham news, midfield ace Yves Bissouma will be missing after he picked up a red card in the win at Luton Town and that means the experienced Pierre-Emile Hjojberg will step into the midfield spot. But Postecoglou will need to shuffle further as Cristian Romero is sidelined which may see a recall for Eric Dier.  But this is a deep squad and the SBOTOP football team rate Spurs as fourth favourites to win the title at odds of 12.00… and that is a price to be taken seriously.  

Post Mitrovic, Fulham are just fine 

Similar to the Kane departure from Spurs, when Aleksandar Mitrovic quit Craven Cottage for Saudi Arabia there were worried furrows around that part of West London. But, with 11 points on the board and just three behind seventh placed West Ham United it’s been a very decent start to the campaign for Marco Silva and his team. Now that their former top scorer has gone, the Cottagers have a more fluid approach without such a strong focal point, and the flair players like Willian and Harrison Reed can take a freer role.  

Of course Fulham still have talismanic figures at the club, including defensive warrior Tim Ream who has seen it all in his nine seasons at Craven Cottage.  And keeping midfield ace Joao Palhinha at the club was a real boost. The Portuguese ace is a powerful box to box player and was the subject of frenzied transfer speculation after a brilliant debut campaign last term. Fulham have already proved they can match a North London giant when they drew 2-2 away to Arsenal, Palhinha grabbing a dramatic late equaliser.

Silva will make a late decision on Issa Diop after he picked up a knock against the Blades, and Adama Traore and Kenny Tete will also face late fitness tests.    

History

Spurs have had the better of their London rivals in recent years, winning 21 of the 38 encounters this century, with Fulham winning nine and there have been eight draws. Tottenham won three on a run before their Carabao Cup exit at the hands of the Cottagers this season.

Recent form is good for both teams; Tottenham have won four, drawn one and lost one of their last six games while Fulham have won three, drawn one and lost two.

Betting Tip

The Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham betting odds rate this as a nailed on home win with Spurs at 1.45 to take three more points while the Cottagers are at 5.60 and the draw is at 3.97. But I predict Fulham will make it hard for their hosts and stay in the game throughout.  

 

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