Tottenham v Southampton preview: Harry Kane eyes Premier League goalscoring record

Image: Spurs entertain Southampton on Boxing Day in a match you can see live on Sky Sports Premier League

Tottenham can move into the Champions League places with a victory in the Boxing Day lunchtime kick-off against Southampton, live on Sky Sports Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino's men won their first away game in five matches on Saturday when easing past Burnley 3-0 at Turf Moor to move into fifth place, level on points with Arsenal and a point behind Liverpool.

After a shaky start at Wembley, Spurs are now unbeaten in their last eight home Premier League games, winning five of those.

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For Southampton, they return to Wembley exactly 10 months since losing 3-2 to Manchester United in the League Cup Final on February 26.

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Pochettino must decide whether to shuffle his pack for the visit of the Saints. With less than 72 hours between matches, the Spurs boss could be tempted to utilise his squad, although one player certain to start is Harry Kane as he chases the one goal he needs to set a new Premier League era scoring record for a single year.

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Toby Alderweireld (hamstring) and Victor Wanyama (knee) both remain sidelined.

Image: Harry Kane will be looking to score his 37th league goal in 2017 against the Saints

Full-back Cedric Soares is an injury worry for Mauricio Pellegrino after not featuring in Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Huddersfield having come off injured against Chelsea the previous weekend following a nasty collision with the advertising boards.

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Ryan Bertrand also limped off at Stamford Bridge and failed to feature against the Terriers, but could still play at Wembley.

Watch a preview of Boxing Day's Premier League games including Tottenham v Southampton and Liverpool v Swansea

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Tottenham have won 25 of a possible 30 Premier League points against Southampton since Saints returned to the top-flight in 2012 (W8 D1 L1) - only against Swansea (28) and Sunderland (26) have they won more in that time.

Saints have lost five of their last six away Premier League games against Spurs, with that only win coming in May 2016 (2-1).

Southampton's last four visits to Wembley Stadium have seen 20 goals scored (F10 A10) - but Southampton have won just one of those (4-1 vs Carlisle, 2010 Football League Trophy final).

Spurs are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League games played on Boxing Day (W8 D3), since a 2-0 loss at Portsmouth in 2003.

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Merson's prediction

They absolutely ripped Burnley apart, considering what Burnley have been doing and considering they had not won away from home since September, it was a big result. Southampton have gone - no Charlie Austin, no Virgil van Dijk, so I cannot see anything other than a Tottenham win.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (15/2 with Sky Bet)

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