Aston Villa vs Spurs – Analysis, Prediction, Team News

As part of our weekend Premier League predictions, we examine Spurs’ visit to Villa Park. Spurs have not won away from home since January. Villa have won their last 5 home games. 6? Free betting tips and more with our Aston Villa vs Spurs prediction.

Team News

Injuries and Suspensions

Aston Villa:

Might Not Play: Cash

Will Not Play: Steer

Spurs:

Might Not Play: Lenglet, Bissouma

Will Not Play: Lloris, Bentancur, Sessegnon

Aston Villa vs Spurs Lineups (Predicted)

Aston Villa (4-4-2 / 4-2-3-1): Martinez; Moreno, Mings, Carlos, Konsa; Ramsey, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Watkins, Buendia

Spurs (3-4-3 / 3-4-2-1): Forster; Davies, Dier, Romero; Perisic, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Porro; Son, Kane, Richarlison

Aston Villa vs Spurs Analysis

Villa Will Likely Put Spurs Under Pressure, But Also Have Transitional Opportunities

Villa still have faint hopes of European football, though it’s highly likely it won’t happen now. Regardless, they will still want to end the season well. Their recent two defeats following their good run are far from ideal, but they’ll know how they want to play against Spurs; they’ll come out, and press Spurs intensely from the off, fully aware that the Londoners are poor when closed down. Kamara will probably come back into the team – he and Luiz in midfield must press high and give the Spurs midfielders no time on the ball. Pressing also comes from the font, so the front four players must provide the Spurs defenders and goalkeeper with no time.

Defensively, Villa must prevent Spurs from transitioning on them. Villa will likely play a hybrid style of attacking in possession and countering at other times, so they must beware of being caught on the break. Spurs have fast players, and we expect Mings and the returning Carlos to have to make tackles, interceptions and blocks in one-on-ones and from shots or passes. Konsa might play right-back to give Young a rest (and because Cash is still not fully fit). If he does, that gives Villa another natural centre-back on the flanks to defend against the threat of Son.

In attack, Villa will combine probing football with countering, as stated. Villa will have moments where they’re trying to break Spurs down. However, we also anticipate significant spells of end-to-end football as Villa are a direct team. They’ll look to set pieces and the pace of Watkins on the break to try to punish Spurs. The Villa striker is a massive threat via dribbling and shooting in the left channel.

Buendia can drop deeper to set Watkins up with his creative ability, and Mioreno can offer overlaps from left-back. The ability of Ramsey and McGinn to come in off the sides and play more like attacking midfielders also gives Villa more numbers near the box and can compress the play. Bailey, Coutinho and Traore are energetic dribblers and passers to introduce. Their creativity off the bench might be vital.

Spurs Will Likely Play On The Counter

As stated, Spurs won at the weekend to keep their slim chances of Champions League qualification alive. However, they are still in a precarious position regarding confidence and performance. They’ll likely appear at Villa Park determined to play their natural counter-attacking game. With Villa also being a direct side playing on the counter, the teams will often stretch the game, as we said. Spurs will want Villa to come onto them and commit men forward so that they can catch the home side on the break.

What Spurs need, though, is for their goalkeeper, three centre-backs and Hojbjerg and Skipp in midfield to take care of the ball – Villa are an energetic team; if they win the ball in dangerous areas, they have the pace, passing and skill to tear Spurs apart. Therefore, Spurs must be very mindful of this threat and not be careless in possession or make errors that encourage Villa. Blocks, tackles and compression of space will be necessary for Spurs defensively.

In attacking areas, Spurs have Perisic and Porro’s threats on the flanks – the two wing-backs must get up and down the park and perform their attacking and defensive duties diligently. We anticipate them delivering crosses and cutbacks and linking up to supplement the forwards. The midfielders must come across to cover when the wing-backs advance.

Of course, the attackers will be crucial for Spurs. Kane performs his hybrid role of number 9/ number 10; his ability to drop deep and play long passes as Son, Richarlison, Kulusevski, and Danjuma run beyond him will be crucial. The wingers’ pace and ability to dribble, cut in, and shoot are significant threats. Kane will also play in the box on other occasions and be a target for crosses and through balls. The beauty of Kane’s game is variance – he is equally at home as both a playmaker and finisher (like a lesser Lionel Messi), and – as always – much of Spurs’ success at Villa Park will depend on his performance.

Our Prediction

What to make of this match? Villa had been doing very well but have stumbled recently, whereas Spurs have been in chaos for a while. While we don’t generally overly emphasise recent trends and records, Spurs have won their last eight away matches against Villa and scored at least two goals in these games (all competitions). This statistic could be more of a quirk, or it may signify Spurs having the Indian Sign over Villa.

Generally, though, that likely means that the gap between Spurs and Villa has usually been more prominent in the last decade or so than it is now (Villa were relegated, after all). Villa are a quality team under Emery, and their two recent defeats weren’t signs of an implosion – if anything, they could have got something both at Old Trafford and Molineux. With them having the home advantage here and both teams being a threat on the break, Villa will fancy their chances. Spurs’ away record is average – while a draw might be a safer pick, we will go for Villa to attain a narrow victory.

Aston Villa 2-1 Spurs

Aston Villa vs Spurs Betting Tip – Aston Villa Odds: