Spurs not out of contention just yet
The final set of midweek fixtures of the 2020/2021 Premier League sees plenty of intrigue in the scramble for the top seven places, and with them, qualification for continental competition. Tottenham Hotspur's timely 2-0 win over an insipid Wolverhampton Wanderers has seen them go back up to sixth, ahead of London rivals West Ham United on goal difference, a metric which could still prove key. Aston Villa are the visitors on Wednesday evening, and whilst they're no pushovers, they have little to play for, with 11th position almost certain to be where they finish. The return to prominence of Dele Alli could help the hosts get the win they need to make certain of their presence in Europe, too. Read our preview here:
Høj Polloi
Double pivot and Danish international Pierre-Emile Højbjerg was one of a clutch of outstanding performers in white at the weekend, and he had a direct contribution to both goals, scoring one and setting the other up for Harry Kane from deep. Villa's own trio in the engine room are less liable to sit back and compress the space between themselves and the back four, so the raking passes forward by him and Gio Lo Celso could find their mark more readily. Elsewhere, Sergie Aurier is out with a groin strain, which will hand academy graduate Japhet Tanganga another chance to stake his claim for a spot in the first XI, ahead of Matt Doherty. Interim boss Ryan Mason will have a very full bench to call upon should things not be going his charges' way as well.
Precious Mings
Dean Smith will be boosted by the return of two of his most exceptional individuals - though Matty Cash is now out, Tyrone Mings will resume his place at the heart of the defence, and will be hoping to impress England manager Gareth Southgate sufficiently to be included in the expanded 26-man squad for Euro 2020. He is not as adept with his passing as his competitors for a spot, but does have the important versatility he'd be looking for, and is left-footed to boot. It will be of course be an acid test of his credentials against Harry Kane and a marauding Heung-min Son, and he'll need to prove he can organise both the backline and himself competently enough to minimise the number of chances a desperate attack will look to carve out.
Oi, oi, oi!
The key difference though could be Alli, who has looked really sharp since being reintroduced into the fold. Whilst it is doubtless too little and too late for him to be considered for England, his revitalisation will be a boon for whoever becomes the next permanent head coach at Spurs. betway have odds of 4.00 for him to score anytime against Villa.
