Four wins in seven matches is not where Tottenham Hotspur wants (or expects?) to be, and when all four victories come in non-Premier League fixtures, assessing the club’s form becomes even more challenging. Wins over Hoffenheim and Elfsborg helped secure a finish near the top of the Europa League table, but defeats to Everton and Leicester have Spurs getting uncomfortably close toward the bottom of the Premier League.
What comes next is anyone’s guess. Logically, a trip to Brentford should be less intimidating than upcoming ties against Liverpool and Villa, but would it be even slightly surprising if Sunday ended up as the only non-win of the three? At this point, I would gladly take that outcome, but we will see just how willing Ange Postecoglou and his squad are to make it eight straight league fixtures without three points.
Brentford (11th, 31pts) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (15th, 24pts)
Date: Sunday, February 2
Time: 9:00 am ET, 2:00 pm UK
Location: Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford
TV: USA Network (US), Sky Sports Main Event (UK)
From a results perspective, Brentford has had a fairly steady season. Only twice have the Bees lost consecutive league matches, and neither time did it extend to three. On the flip side, they have yet to win back-to-back contests, placing them 11th in the table with nearly neutral goal difference and xGD figures. Brentford ranks sixth in both goals scored and goals conceded this season, so get ready for some excitement.
One of Brentford’s two instances of back-to-back defeats included a loss at the new Lane in September. Despite an opening-minute goal from Bryan Mbeumo, Spurs dominated that day, amassing 3.5 xG. Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, and James Maddison all found the back of the net in a 3-1 win, even with one of the team’s lowest possession tallies of the year.
A question of how much
It was a strong defensive showing on Thursday night, but Tottenham is still without a clean sheet in the league in seven matches, with the last six all featuring multiple goals conceded. Given Brentford’s attacking record this season and recent form — nine goals in the past four weeks — the home side is almost certain to score, and likely multiple times. Players like Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, both with double-digits league goals, are the key threats.
Radu Dragusin is the latest Spurs player to suffer an injury, though Micky van de Ven is back available. The electric central defender played half the match against Elfsborg and may not be fit enough for a full 90 again this weekend. With options dangerously thin at the back, Postecoglou may opt for another partial inclusion to preserve van de Ven’s health, while also keeping him fresh for the more important League Cup on Thursday.
Embrace it
Brentford plays much better at home but is winless in its last four matches at the Gtech. Still, Thomas Frank will have his side playing aggressively, looking to win and maintain possession. Aside from Arsenal, this kind of setup seems to favor Spurs, as it allows them to exploit counterattacks. The defense remains vulnerable regardless of how aggressively the opposition plays, so might as well help out the attack.
The main issue with an end-to-end affair is fitness, as the temptation will be to prioritize Liverpool. I do not expect a squad full of academy players, but after the jubilation on Thursday, I would be content seeing Mikey Moore and company get significant minutes to energize the team. Lucas Bergvall is another youngster continuing to feature in league matches, and this game may ultimately hinge on how productive Tottenham’s youth can be.