Burnley vs. Tottenham: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream and TV Info
Both Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur have plenty to play for as the final stretch of the Premier League season commences this weekend.
Sunday's visitors are chasing another season of European football, preferably in the Champions League. The 18th-placed Clarets are battling to escape the relegation zone and ensure consecutive top-flight campaigns for the first time since the 1970s.
The two teams have met three times already this season.
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Tottenham beat Burnley 4-2 in an FA Cup third-round replay after being held behind 1-1 at Turf Moor. Mauricio Pochettino's side also got the better of Sean Dyche's men in the Premier League in December. Goals from Harry Kane and Erik Lamela secured a 2-1 win after they fell behind to a superb long-range effort from Ashley Barnes.
Date: Sunday, April 5
Time: 1:30 p.m. BST/8:30 a.m. ET
Venue: Turf Moor
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (U.K. only)/NBC Sports Network (U.S. only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (U.K. only)/NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. only)
Form Lines
| Burnley | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Premier League, March 21: Southampton (a)—Loss: 2-0 | Premier League, March 21: Leicester City (h)—Win: 4-3 |
| Premier League, March 14: Manchester City (h)—Win: 1-0 | Premier League, March 15: Manchester United (a)—Loss: 0-3 |
| Premier League, March 4: Liverpool (A)—Loss: 2-0 | Premier League, March 7: Queens Park Rangers (a)—Win: 1-2 |
| Premier League, February 28: Swansea City (h)—Loss: 0-1 | Premier League, March 4: Swansea City (h)—Win: 3-2 |
| Premier League, February 21: Chelsea (a)—Draw: 1-1 | Capital One Cup Final, March 1: Chelsea (n)—Loss: 2-0 |
Team News
Burnley boss Sean Dyche has Stephen Ward available to him as the defender has recovered from an ankle injury, per BBC Sport. The only absentees are long-term-injured Kevin Long, Dean Marney and Matthew Taylor (though the latter is back in training).
Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed on Thursday all of his players on international duty were "back in a good level, all fit. This is very good news for us."
Not so good was the news on Hugo Lloris: "We hope that he is [out] only Sunday, but we need to wait how he is recovering." It was also confirmed via Spurs' official website that Roberto Soldado is doubtful with a knee problem.
Predicted Line-Ups
Dyche and latterly Pochettino have both attempted to field a consistent starting XI when possible.
The international break might have engineered a change in mindset in respect to elements of their teams. But it would not be a surprise if they looked almost exactly the same. The only definitive change in Spurs' case appears to be Michel Vorm replacing the injured Lloris (and the Dutchman played virtually all of the win over Leicester City anyway).
Burnley Player to Watch: George Boyd
Mail Online's Oliver Todd reported this week that Burnley attacking midfielder Boyd has covered the most distance of any Premier League player this season (Spurs' Christian Eriksen was second).
The 210.5 miles the 29-year-old racked up are a testament to the player's desire to put his stamp on proceedings. Striker Danny Ings might be the most high-profile member of the Clarets' attack, but Boyd's presence instils vital energy and a welcome touch of flair.
The summer 2014 signing's perfectly struck winner in Burnley's last home game against Manchester City demonstrated elements of both. If they are to stay up, Dyche's side could do with Boyd producing more in that vein.
Against Tottenham is a good a place as any to start.
Prior to the international break, the pace and directness of players from David Nugent and Jamie Vardy to Marouane Fellaini and Wayne Rooney caused the Spurs defence numerous problems. Ings had a similar effect at White Hart Lane in December.
Boyd at his most persistent could be just the man Burnley need to set their visitors on edge and in the process add to his own tally of five goals this season.
Tottenham Hotspur Player to Watch: Harry Kane
Kane's good form showed no signs of slowing in a solid first week working with the England senior team. He followed up his hat-trick against Leicester City with a debut goal in the 4-0 win over Lithuania and an encouraging showing in his first substantial international test against Italy.
Pochettino's pre-match press conference was dominated by talk of his striker. Asked if he could believe just how good a season Kane has had, he replied, "Yes, it's real!"
Incredulous though the same remains about the player's feats, we are well past the point they need to be regarded with such surprise. At least in regard to this season.
The Argentine will be pleased to answer more such questions if it has meant another positive performance from the 29-goal forward at Turf Moor.
Burnley will not need reminding of Kane's threat. He scored in Spurs' 2-1 defeat of them in December when he clinically finished a move he had started himself with a quick free-kick. Staying alert to his movements first and foremost will be key for the Clarets as they attempt not to get caught out again.
Key Battle: Can Burnley Expose Spurs' Leaky Defence
As mentioned in discussion of Boyd, Tottenham have had some defensive issues of late.
The north Londoners have conceded nine goals in four matches since the Capital One Cup final. That they also won three of those games shows a you score one, we'll score two philosophy can work. But it was not something they can get by on forever.
Pochettino is very aware of his team's need to tighten up at the back and "concede less chances and less goals" but emphasised on Thursday his belief this was a team-wide problem.
"It is not about the 'keeper or the centre-backs or the full-back or the holding midfielder," said the Argentine. "It's about the team, that we need to try to provide the team a better balance in the defensive positions."
The way Spurs were hit from deep by Leicester City and Manchester United underscores Pochettino's stance. Vardy's goal for the Foxes stemmed from Christian Eriksen's initial failure to close down and then track Nugent. Confusion in the Spurs midfielder contributed to Fellaini's Red Devils' opener a week earlier.
Erratic concentration levels and the disconnect at times between the Spurs defence have not helped matters, though.
The recent pairing of Eric Dier and Jan Vertonghen has had its moments and could pay off long term, but they still have work to do to become a totally cohesive unit.
While Danny Rose has enjoyed a good run of late, right-back Kyle Walker has been off the pace more often than he would have liked (again, see the Vardy goal). It will be hoped his return to the England team this week might have refocused him at just the right time.
Be it through Boyd, Ings, Sam Vokes or whoever, Burnley will believe they can hurt Tottenham. If Spurs defend like they have done lately, they might well be bloodied and bruised again. As the Manchester United loss showed, their attack will not always be able to rescue a result.
Odds (Via Odds Shark)
Burnley win: 5-2
Tottenham win: 11-10
Draw: 12-5
First goalscorer—Ings: 5-1, Kane: 4-1
Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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