Will Tottenham recover in the month of September?
After a solid start to the Premier League season, Spurs followed with a disappointing League Cup exit to Fulham. With four matches and an international break in between, here are our predictions for Spurs’ upcoming schedule.
Saturday, September 2: at Burnley
While Tottenham has gotten off to a solid start under Ange Postecoglou in the Premier League, the same can not be said of recently promoted Burnley and Vincent Kompany.
Even after running away with the EFL Championship title a season ago, many consider Burnley to be one of the teams who could face relegation at the end of the campaign.
Through two matches, the Clarets have allowed six goals, falling 3-0 to Manchester City and 3-1 to Aston Villa.
Spurs should be wary of the side that sits 18th in the table, however, and they will need to put the cup exit behind them and refocus to keep their positive league form intact heading into the international break.
Prediction: Spurs 2-1 Burnley
Saturday, September 16: vs. Sheffield United
With the two-week break in the past, Tottenham resumes play with a home match against another newly promoted side, Sheffield United.
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The Blades are currently 0-0-3 but have been competitive in all three matches and Spurs cannot afford to overlook the side.
In their three games thus far, Sheffield United have lost each by a one-goal margin, including giving the reigning champion Man City all it could handle in a 2-1 Matchweek 3 defeat.
This match will be the first at home for Spurs in nearly a month, and they need to take advantage. An early goal from a scoreless Son Heung-min or Richarlison (in league action) would set the tone for a victory after a two-week hiatus.
Prediction: Spurs 2-0 Sheffield United
Sunday, September 24: at Arsenal
The first North London Derby on the schedule will be the biggest test of the campaign thus far for Spurs.
Not only is it an away match, but Arsenal is in decent form to start the season as well.
The Gunners have picked up seven possible points from nine in three matches, and have also claimed a victory in the Community Shield over Manchester City.
They are vulnerable however, having given up a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw where Fulham was down to 10 men and seem to have struggled putting goals in the net. Through the three matches, they have tallied just five goals against what would be considered inferior opposition (Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Fulham).
If Spurs’ backline can keep Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah off the scoresheet (both have two goals each), they might even have a chance to sneak out of the Emirates with a win.
Prediction: Spurs 1-1 Arsenal
Saturday, September 30: vs. Liverpool
After a disappointing fifth-place finish and qualifying for the Europa League last season, Liverpool is looking to retake its spot among the Champions League places this campaign where it has regularly been under Jurgen Klopp.
So far through three matches, the Reds have taken seven of nine possible points, level on points with Spurs, West Ham, and Arsenal.
Liverpool struggled in the opening draw against Chelsea but may be finding their stride early after a convincing 3-1 victory over Bournemouth and a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Newcastle when the Reds went down to 10 men.
Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz each have a pair of goals to their name early in the season, while Mo Salah and Diogo Jota have also found the back of the net.
If Liverpool’s attack is getting production from all four of those players so far, I have a hard time believing a Spurs backline can stop them.
And while the match is at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, I can’t see Spurs keeping pace with attack of Liverpool.
Prediction: Liverpool 3, Spurs 1
Final analysis
While Spurs have a pair of games they should take all three points in to start the month, the last two matches will see them face two of the Premier League’s best sides.
I expect Tottenham to get the full six points in the first pair of games, but the winning run stops there.
Spurs can be competitive with Arsenal and Liverpool, but they need someone to step up and fill the Harry Kane void and become a consistent goal-scorer (looking at you Richarlison).
They also have weaknesses across the backline and depending on how frequently Ange Postecoglou rotates his side, it feels like a costly mistake is bound to happen for the Spurs defence that leads to a goal (or multiple).
In September, I see Tottenham tallying seven of a possible 12 points, registering two wins, a draw, and a defeat.
This would see Spurs end the month on 14 points from seven matches, just three points off from where they were at the same point last season while being firmly in the hunt for the European places.
Where do you think Spurs will be in the table at the end of September?
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