Tottenham vs Hull City: Match preview and predicted line-ups

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andres Villas Boas

Tottenham would be looking to build on their impressive start to the season when they host Hull City at home on Sunday. The North London outfit currently lie fifth in the EPL Table and Andres Villas Boas’s men would certainly be up for the challenge to finish in a Champions League position come next May when the campaign finally ends.

They go into the game at the back of the impressive 2-0 away win in the Europa League over Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova which puts them a step closer towards the knockout stage. Jermain Defoe scored for Spurs and could be again in line for a starting berth over Soldado, which remains to be seen.

Newly-promoted Hull are ninth in the table, five points adrift of Spurs. Sunday’s match will feature former Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone who will be in line for baptism by fire when he takes the field at White Hart Lane in an opposition shirt.

For Spurs, who made seven changes compared to the last game, AVB is sure to draft in Paulinho and Andros Townsend in his 4-2-3-1 formation. Eriksen is again going to play the number ten role and Erik Lamela might feature from the start this Sunday. Soldado will again be looking to find that inch of space in the final third which is worthy of his reputation all over the world.

Hull on the other hand have had a good start to the season, though they have been bad travellers, being beaten thrice in four times barring their 3-2 win over Newcastle at Tyneside. They always have tried to be more direct under Steve Bruce with overlapping runs from fullbacks and would be looking to cut the Spurs defence who are very strong in the air. It would be very difficult for the Tigers to get anything from White Hart Lane given the home side are so compact and are adept at keeping clean sheets at home this year.

Facts ahead of the game

• All eight of Tottenham’s Premier League goals this season have either been assisted or scored by a summer signing.
• Spurs have kept the most clean sheets in the top flight this campaign (five), along with Southampton.
• They have not won their last two Premier League home games – they haven’t gone three home league games without a win since May 2011.
• Sixteen points equals their best start to a Premier League season after eight matches.
• They have only met on 24 previous occasions. Tottenham have won 10 times, Hull six and there have been eight draws.
• Hull have only won one once at White Hart Lane; 1-0 in October 2008. They drew 0-0 on their only other visit to Spurs in the top flight the following season.

Stats Courtesy : BBC

Predicted line-ups

Tottenham: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Vertonghen; Townsend, Paulinho, Sandro, Holtby, Sigurdsson; Soldado

Hull: Harper; Rosenior, Faye, Davies, Figueroa; El Mohamady, Huddlestone, Meyler, Brady; Aluko, Sagbo