Tottenham Hotspur faces a challenging turnaround after suffering a 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday. Manager Ange Postecoglou's men will host a determined Bournemouth side this Sunday at 10 am ET, albeit with some injury concerns.
Adding to their woes, Dominic Solanke limped off during stoppage time following a brief return from a knee injury, only 20 minutes after being introduced as a substitute. The 25-year-old striker, who transferred to Spurs for $83 million from Bournemouth in the summer, sustained a knock to the back while competing for a high ball. Postecoglou is optimistic, suggesting the injury is not severe, categorizing it merely as "a knock". However, with Spurs struggling in the attacking department—managing little in three of their last four halves—any setback could prove costly.
Defensive reinforcements may also be on the cards, as center backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero were available but unused on the bench during the last match. Their presence will be crucial against a Bournemouth team that thrives on pressing and was previously unsettled by Alkmaar’s intensity.
On the other side, Bournemouth is reeling from a dip in form. After an impressive 11-match unbeaten run from late November to January (7 wins, 4 draws, 0 losses), the Cherries have suffered three defeats in their last four Premier League outings. This slump puts them in jeopardy of drifting further from the Champions League spots, having scored merely four goals in these four matches, with three of those coming in a single fixture against last-place Southampton. The absence of Evanilson, due to a broken foot, has been noticeable as the team struggled to find the net consistently. However, with his return to form—he started and scored in the recent FA Cup victory over Wolves—there is hope for a resurgence in the Premier League where he is expected to feature again this Sunday.
In terms of team news, Spurs will be missing Dejan Kulusevski (foot), Richarlison (lower leg), Radu Dragusin (torn ACL - out for season), and Ben Davies (undisclosed), while Dominic Solanke is currently questionable due to a knock. Bournemouth also has its share of injury concerns, with Illia Zabarnyi suspended and Enes Unal (knee), Marcos Senesi (thigh), and Adam Smith (knock) all out. Ryan Christie (groin) and Julian Araujo (thigh) are doubtful.
Despite playing at home, Tottenham's inconsistent form raises questions about their advantage in this encounter. Predictions lean toward a close contest, with many expecting an outcome favoring Bournemouth, potentially leading to a Spurs defeat.