Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester City. Premier League.
White Hart LaneAttendance31,868.
Saturday 29 October 2016 13:59, UK
Injured duo Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld will miss Tottenham's Premier League match against Leicester City on Saturday.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino says both are progressing well in their bid to recover from ankle and knee problems respectively, but they will not be available when the champions visit White Hart Lane.
Tottenham, who remain unbeaten nine matches into the campaign, have not won since beating Manchester City earlier this month, and Saturday's game marks the beginning of a crucial run, with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday before a trip to Arsenal next Sunday.
As for Leicester, their boss Claudio Ranieri may also have European commitments in mind as the Foxes travel to Copenhagen on Wednesday hoping to wrap up qualification for the knockout round.
It could mean a place on the bench this weekend for Riyad Mahrez, who started the victory over Crystal Palace but was left out of the lineup for Leicester's last fixture proceeding a European game, against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Team news
Tottenham will be without Kane (ankle) and Alderweireld (knee), which could mean another opportunity for Vincent Janssen in attack after his goal in the EFL Cup defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday.
Pochettino made 10 changes at Anfield and is expected to revert to full strength on Saturday, although Moussa Sissoko is suspended after his clash at Bournemouth.
Ranieri should be able to choose from the same group he had for the Palace win, but will head to north London without Nampalys Mendy and Ben Chilwell.
Mendy has not featured since injuring his ankle on his Premier League debut against Arsenal in August, while Chilwell picked up a muscle strain on international duty with England U21s earlier this month.
Yohan Benalouane is nearing full fitness after getting some valuable minutes under his belt for the development squad in recent weeks.
Opta stats
Tottenham and Leicester have met seven times in all competitions in the last two seasons, with Spurs enjoying three wins to Leicester's two (D2).
Spurs have gone nine Premier League games against the Foxes without keeping a clean sheet - only against Arsenal are they on a longer run without a shutout among current top-flight sides (14 games).
The nine goals scored in the four clashes between Spurs and Leicester last season were all scored by different players.
Ranieri has never lost a Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur (W7 D3).
Spurs are yet to concede a single goal from open play in the Premier League this season, with all four of the goals they've conceded coming from set-piece situations.
Leicester have lost all four of their away league games so far this season - the only reigning champion in the history of the top-flight to lose their opening five were Everton in 1932/33, whose losing run was halted by a 2-2 draw at Filbert Street with Leicester in the next game.
Shinji Okazaki ended a run of 13 Premier League games without scoring by finding the net against Palace.
Merson's prediction
It wouldn't surprise me if Ranieri rested his stars again with Copenhagen to come. That's the priority now and if they can get a result in Denmark, qualification is done and dusted.
It's an interesting game for Tottenham because they're coming off a draw against Bournemouth, and if they drop points on Saturday, their next league game is away at Arsenal after a Champions League tie. It's potentially a tricky little run so it makes beating Leicester quite important.
I expect them to do it with Ranieri naming a similar team to the one that lost to Chelsea.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 13/2)
Betting
Sky Bet make Tottenham the odds-on favourites at 8/13 to defeat Leicester. The Foxes have a long way to go to retain their crown and Sky Bet offer 17/4 for the away win at White Hart Lane. The draw is on offer at 29/10.
Tottenham have won all of their last three home games without conceding a goal and Sky Bet price up Pochettino's men to win to nil at 7/4. Leicester won 1-0 at Spurs in the league last season and Sky Bet go 12/1 for a repeat of that scoreline.
