Tottenham vs. Sunderland: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info

Tottenham Hotspur have the perfect opportunity to get their Premier League campaign back on track when Sunderland arrive at White Hart Lane on Saturday. 

After two frustrating meetings with Leicester City in the last week, Mauricio Pochettino will be glad to be facing a new opposition. 

Unfortunately for Pochettino, Sam Allardyce is likely to ape Claudio Ranieri's effective tactics as best he can. 

The relegation-fighting Black Cats will likely set up in the hope of taking a point back to the north-east, but Spurs will be desperate to come away with all three.

Form Lines

Tottenham

Tottenham 3-0 Norwich 

Watford 1-2 Tottenham

Everton 1-1 Tottenham

Tottenham 2-2 Leicester City 

Tottenham 0-1 Leicester City

Sunderland

Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland

Man City 4-1 Sunderland

Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool

Sunderland 3-1 Aston Villa

Swansea City 2-4 Sunderland 

Team News

The return of Mousa Dembele as a second-half substitute in Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Leicester is likely to end Tom Carroll's run of starts, and Pochettino could also rotate his full-backs as he usually prefers to do in busy periods. 

Per the club's official website, Pochettino confirmed that Alex Pritchard, Ryan Mason and Clinton Njie would be the only absentees for Spurs. 

Work-visa complications mean loan signing Dame N'Doye will not make his debut for Sunderland, but Spurs legend Jermain Defoe is likely to feature. 

Former Spurs captain Younes Kaboul suffered a hamstring injury in December and seems likely to miss out on a White Hart Lane homecoming. 

Steven Fletcher is fit again but is moving steadily toward a transfer, per James Gray of the Daily Express, and probably won't play here.

Predicted Lineups

Spurs

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris 

Defence: Kieran Trippier, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose

Midfield: Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela

Attack: Harry Kane

Sunderland

Goalkeeper: Vito Mannone

Defence: Billy Jones, John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Patrick van Aanholt

Midfield: Lee Cattermole, Jeremain Lens, Yann M'Vila, Adam Johnson

Attack: Fabio Borini, Jermain Defoe

Player to Watch per side 

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

BBC commentator Simon Brotherton named Jermain Defoe as the key man in Sunderland's fight to avoid relegation. 

Age appears to have taken little toll on Defoe's aggression and energetic movement, and the 33-year-old will clearly be the main threat to his former club. 

Sunderland are unlikely to dominate possession and carve Spurs open. Rather, they will take their chances on the break and few players in Premier League history have been more effective in such situations. 

Defoe will try to take on one of Alderweireld or Vertonghen, find some space and hammer a shot at Lloris' goal. That has always been his style and Spurs should know what to expect. 

Spurs have a number of players in good form. Dele Alli and Erik Lamela have shone in recent weeks, but the return of Dembele to the midfield will have a transformative effect and he is the man to watch. 

His absence proved problematic in the Leicester double-header and his return is welcomed. 

Dembele's unflappable presence represents a release valve for pressure in midfield. He allows Dier to focus on his defensive duties and has the maturity to restart attacks from deep when they break down.   

The Belgium international makes the players around him better, and he will be key for Spurs in this match.

Key Battle 

Sunderland have conceded 41 goals in 21 games this season. Even in their victory against 10-man Swansea City, Allardyce's men conceded twice. 

Their ageing back line's attempts to stop Spurs' young, pacey attack will be decisive in this fixture. 

Tottenham's defence has been deservedly praised this season. They've conceded just 17 goals, three fewer than even the sterile Manchester United. 

If Spurs are on their game, Sunderland should not trouble their goal. 

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

The battle will take place on the edge of Sunderland's box. It will be a test of whether Tottenham can do what they've failed to do in recent weeks; turn dominance into goals.

Live Stream, TV Info

UK: 12:45 BT Sport 1, BT Sport Ultra HD

USA: 7:45am, NBCSN

Odds

Tottenham are short-priced favourites to return to the winner's circle in this match, listed as short as 2/7 on Odds Shark.

At 4/1, a draw is good value while a bold bet on the visitors to pull off a shock is 10/1.