Predicting Tottenham's next 5 fixtures
- Tottenham boast some winnable fixtures over the next few weeks
- Two London derbies on the horizon for the Lilywhites
- Europa League clash with Rangers to come in December
It's been a slightly bizarre season for Tottenham Hotspur, epitomised by the month of November.
Spurs have triumphed convincingly against the likes of Manchester City and Aston Villa, yet fallen to defeats to Galatasaray and Ipswich Town and conceded a late equaliser against Roma. Heading into the hectic month of December, it remains difficult to predict what we will witness from Ange Postecoglou's side on a game-to-game basis.
As is the case for many of England's elite sides, the winter period promises to be decisive for Tottenham in Postecoglou's second season at the helm. He has already shown his hand, declaring confidently he "always wins things" in his second year at a club, but that statement of intent could be used as a stick to beat him with come the start of the new year.
With that in mind, let's take a gander at Spurs' next five fixtures and how they might pan out.
Tottenham vs Fulham - Premier League
- Date/Kick-off time: Sunday 1 December - 13:30 GMT
- Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Tottenham's first outing of the month sees them welcome fellow capital side Fulham to north London in what, on paper at the very least, looks like a relatively routine victory for Postecoglou's side. However, the Australian has lost two of his three meetings with the Cottagers and this is exactly the kind of banana skin over which Spurs tend to slip.
The good news for Tottenham is that Fulham have been equally inconsistent this term. Over their last four matches, they have beaten Brentford and Crystal Palace but fallen to a heavy 4-1 home defeat to struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers and been held at Everton. Spurs should find a route past Marco Silva's side, even if it isn't entirely convincing.
- Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Fulham
Bournemouth vs Tottenham - Premier League
- Date/Kick-off time: Thursday 5 December - 20:15 GMT
- Venue: Vitality Stadium
Only several days after their visit from Fulham, Tottenham face the trip to the south coast to face Bournemouth. Arsenal and Man City have already been shown the dangers of the Vitality Stadium this term and Andoni Iraola's Cherries are always capable of springing a surprise against the division's best.
Bournemouth's intense press should be rebuffed by a similarly gung-ho approach from Spurs, with a midweek cracker under the lights likely to unfold. Unfortunately for the Lilywhites, they may end the Dominic Solanke derby with fewer than three points.
- Prediction: Bournemouth 2-2 Tottenham
Tottenham vs Chelsea - Premier League
- Date/Kick-off time: Sunday 8 December - 16:30 GMT
- Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Despite Chelsea's woes last season, they still beat Spurs home and away. Their trip to north London was particularly fruitful, with Nicolas Jackson's hat-trick putting nine-man Tottenham to the sword just as Postecoglou's side were dreaming of a title challenge early in the campaign. Spurs' relentlessly high-line proved costly.
Now, Tottenham face a much more organised Chelsea collective, one that has stood firm in tests with Arsenal and Manchester United in recent weeks. Both sides are prone to lapses in concentration and are renowned for risk-taking, meaning this London derby could be similar to last term's goal-fest in N17.
- Prediction: Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea
Rangers vs Tottenham - Europa League
- Date/Kick-off time: Thursday 12 December - 20:00 GMT
- Venue: Ibrox
Ibrox has lost some of its fear factor during Philippe Clement's unsuccessful reign. The Belgian may not even be Rangers manager by the time Spurs visit in December but former Celtic boss Postecoglou - who had an excellent record in the Old Firm derby - won't be overly concerned either way.
Rangers have proven a soft touch under Clement and have struggled to throw their weight around in Europe. A 4-1 home defeat to Lyon highlights how far the 2021/22 Europa League finalists have fallen, with Spurs primed to take advantage in style.
- Prediction: Rangers 0-3 Tottenham
Southampton vs Tottenham - Premier League
- Date/Kick-off time: Sunday 15 December - 19:00 GMT
- Venue: St Mary's Stadium
The games come thick and fast during the festive season and the lesser-spotted 19:00 kick-off slot on a Sunday will be filled by Tottenham's trip to Southampton in mid-December. Postecoglou will lock horns with the Saints for the first time in a fixture that tends to produce goals - 35 in the last eight meetings to be precise.
Neither team has kept a clean sheet in this fixture since January 2020 and the upcoming meeting could see the wait for a shutout continue. While Spurs should win comfortably on the south coast as they press Southampton into errors, Russell Martin's side flexed their creative muscles in the recent 3-2 defeat at home to Liverpool.
- Prediction: Southampton 1-3 Tottenham
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