Following an up-and-down December, Spurs have just three fixtures in the first month of 2024. Can they advance in the FA Cup and keep pace in the race for a Champions League spot?
Here are our match predictions for January as Tottenham kicks off the new year.
Friday, January 5: vs. Burnley (FA Cup)
After ending 2023 on a high note with a victory against Bournemouth, Spurs begin their FA Cup campaign with a third-round home match against Burnley.
Even with the absences of Son Heung-Min (Asian Cup), Pape Matar Sarr (AFCON), and eight others due to injury or suspension (Football.London), Tottenham should have enough to pick up a result and advance against a team that is firmly in the relegation zone.
The Clarets have allowed the second-most goals in Premier League action (41), so a second-rate Spurs side should still be able to tally multiple scores.
This is Tottenham’s most likely chance at silverware for the campaign as they look to end a near 16-year trophy drought. After an early Carabao Cup exit, the same type of showing in the FA Cup would be massively disappointing.
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Prediction: Spurs 1-0 Burnley
Sunday, January 14: at Man United
If there was ever a time to face the Red Devils looking for three points, that time is right now.
Even though the match is at Old Trafford and Spurs will be without several key contributors, the season appears to be headed in an even worse direction than one could’ve thought for Man United.
After winning the Carabao Cup and securing a return to the Champions League in Erik ten Hag’s debut season, the wheels have fallen off at United in his second campaign in charge.
The Red Devils currently sit eighth in the table and are out of both the Carabao Cup and Europe altogether. United’s nine defeats in the Premier League are tied for fourth-most in the table, only one better than the likes of Nottingham Forest and Brentford.
Tottenham should be able to take all three points from a Man United side that can’t put together a positive run of results with a manager on the hot seat.
Prediction: Spurs 2-1 Man United
Wednesday, January 31: vs. Brentford
One of last season’s surprise sides following a ninth-place finish that left them a mere two points from a European spot, Brentford are struggling for results this campaign.
The Bees are on a five-match winless run and have taken just three points from the last eight fixtures, leaving them 16th in the table and only four points above the relegation zone.
Both sides opened the season facing off on August 13, a 2-2 result at the home of the West London club.
Spurs will look to take all three points this time around at home and will need to if they hope to remain in the hunt for a top-four finish and Champions League football in 2024-25.
Prediction: Spurs 3-1 Brentford
Final analysis
With just three fixtures during a month that features an international break, I expect Spurs to take a full six points from the pair of league matches and advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
This would put Tottenham on 45 points through 22 matches, which would likely see them stay put at fifth in the table and just a point outside the guaranteed UCL spots.
If Spurs can come away with results in all three fixtures, they’ll still have a chance to claim silverware and be in the mix for a European position as players begin to return from injury and international duty in February.
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