EPL: Burnley v Tottenham preview
Burnley v Tottenham preview
Burnley will move into the top five of the Premier League at the midpoint of the season if they can maintain their excellent form and beat wobbling Tottenham at Turf Moor in the Saturday tea-time kick-off.
Sean Dyche's side are two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, who play fifth-placed Arsenal on the Friday Night Football, ahead of the weekend and will be confident of bettering the draw they secured against Spurs at Wembley in August.
That point came courtesy of Chris Wood's 92nd-minute equaliser and gave early warning of Burnley's resilience this season.
The Clarets have accrued 32 points despite scoring just 16 goals and have not conceded more than one goal in a game since a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on October 21.
Tottenham, who have won only two of their last seven league games, will be desperate for the three points having fallen to seventh on the back of the 4-1 defeat by Manchester City last weekend.
Mauricio Pochettino's side are only three points worse off than this time last season - and have progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League - but the improvement of the sides around them means the Londoners will need to go on a similar run to last year, when they won nine straight in December and January, to keep their top-four bid on track.
Team news
James Tarkowski will miss Burnley's next three matches after he was charged with violent conduct following a clash with Glenn Murray in the 0-0 draw against Brighton last weekend.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche admits that James Tarkowski's three-match ban for violent conduct in the match against Brighton is disappointing.
The defender could be out of action for even longer after undergoing surgery on a hand injury sustained in the same game.
Dyche will also be unable to call upon Robbie Brady, Jon Walters (both knee) and Tom Heaton (shoulder) for Saturday's game while Stephen Ward (knee) is rated as doubtful.
Spurs will be without Toby Alderweireld (ankle) and Victor Wanyama (knee) for the game although both players have stepped up their recovery this week.
Defender Davinson Sanchez makes a timely return to the Spurs squad after serving his three-match suspension.
That point came courtesy of Chris Wood's 92nd-minute equaliser and gave early warning of Burnley's resilience this season.
The Clarets have accrued 32 points despite scoring just 16 goals and have not conceded more than one goal in a game since a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on October 21.
Tottenham, who have won only two of their last seven league games, will be desperate for the three points having fallen to seventh on the back of the 4-1 defeat by Manchester City last weekend.
Mauricio Pochettino's side are only three points worse off than this time last season - and have progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League - but the improvement of the sides around them means the Londoners will need to go on a similar run to last year, when they won nine straight in December and January, to keep their top-four bid on track.
Team news
James Tarkowski will miss Burnley's next three matches after he was charged with violent conduct following a clash with Glenn Murray in the 0-0 draw against Brighton last weekend.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche admits that James Tarkowski's three-match ban for violent conduct in the match against Brighton is disappointing.
The defender could be out of action for even longer after undergoing surgery on a hand injury sustained in the same game.
Dyche will also be unable to call upon Robbie Brady, Jon Walters (both knee) and Tom Heaton (shoulder) for Saturday's game while Stephen Ward (knee) is rated as doubtful.
Spurs will be without Toby Alderweireld (ankle) and Victor Wanyama (knee) for the game although both players have stepped up their recovery this week.
Defender Davinson Sanchez makes a timely return to the Spurs squad after serving his three-match suspension.