Michael Owen has shared his prediction ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s first Premier League match of the new season.
Dean Smith’s Aston Villa are the visitors to the new Spurs stadium tomorrow evening with the top flight newcomers having spent over £130million on bolstering their squad during the summer transfer window for the challenge of the season ahead (The Sun).
Spurs have also been active in the market having recruited Jack Clarke, Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon.
Owen believes that Villa will pose a tough threat to the Champions League finalists, but has still backed Spurs to edge the encounter with both teams finding the back of the net.
This season will represent the first time that Mauricio Pochettino’s side have played a full campaign at their new stadium and home form is something which they will have to look to improve upon if they are to challenge for the title.
Owen told BetVictor: “Like everyone else I’m looking forward to seeing Dean Smith’s new-look Villa side and they have impressed in pre-season scoring plenty of goals on the road.
“Mauricio Pochettino cut a frustrated figure when asked about Spurs’ transfer targets last week and he is likely to have to do without Dele Alli following a recurrence of the hamstring injury which ruled him out of a number of games last season.
“With Heung-min Son suspended and uncertainty, at the time of writing, surrounding the future of Christian Eriksen – who has less than 12 months left on his current Spurs contract – this will be a real test for the hosts but one I expect them to pass. But only just.”
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