Tottenham Hotspur face Wolves at home on Sunday, hoping to put an end to their recent slump as they enter a brand-new year under Ange Postecoglou.
The last thing Spurs fans wanted after Boxing Day misery was another game so soon, yet here we are. This time it’s against a team fighting relegation but somehow thriving after sacking their manager.
Wolves, under Vítor Pereira, have won both matches since his arrival – a convincing victory against Leicester and a spirited triumph over Manchester United. Meanwhile, Spurs are still licking their wounds from what feels like a never-ending nosedive.
What time does Tottenham v Wolves kick-off?
- Location: London, England
- Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Date: Sunday, 29th December
- Kick-off Time: 3 pm BST
- Referee: Chris Kavanagh
- VAR: Jarred Gillett
How both teams go into Tottenham v Wolves
Tottenham are currently in their worst league form for 16 years. With one win and four losses in their last five matches, the stats paint a grim picture: 23 points from 18 games, a dismal 39% win rate, and half of their matches lost this season.
Wolves manager Vítor Pereira has started his tenure with a bang, winning his first two matches. Wolves, on the other hand, look like a different beast under their new manager, winning back-to-back matches against Leicester and United. Pereira’s impact can’t be downplayed. He’s managed to instil a sense of urgency and dynamism in the team, and Wolves now look like a side with a clear plan.
Tottenham team news
If Spurs’ injury list were a play, it would be titled A Tragedy in Many Acts. Ange Postecoglou has no senior central defenders available for Sunday’s game. Zero. None. Ben Davies, who Spurs fans hoped would return by year-end, suffered a setback and is now out for weeks. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are still long-term absentees, while Radu Dragusin’s availability remains uncertain after tweaking his ankle.
Yves Bissouma was deployed at centre-back after Dragusin’s injury, but let’s be honest — it wasn’t pretty. We saw Bissouma playing the centre-back position when Radu Dragusin was injured, but Bissouma never seems to get a hold of himself. He wants to do the right things the hard way, and that’s totally not applicable for a centre-back’s nature. So, my vote is for 19-year-old Alfie Dorrington to get the nod in defence.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, Richarlison, Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore, and Djed Spence (suspended) remain unavailable. It’s a case of “pick whoever’s left” for Ange Postecoglou.
Wolves team news
Wolves aren’t without their own troubles, but there’s a glimmer of good news for Spurs fans: Matheus Cunha, their talisman with 10 Premier League goals this season, is suspended for violent conduct. His absence is a massive blow for Wolves.
Other absentees include Boubacar Traore, Enso Gonzales, Pablo Sarabia, Sasa Kalajdzic, and Yerson Mosquera, while Mario Lemina is doubtful.
Predicted Tottenham Line-Up
Forster; Porro, Dorrington, Gray, Udogie; Bentancur, Kulusevski; Maddison, Johnson, Solanke; Son
Our prediction
Wolves have been impressive under their new manager, relying on pace, counter-attacks, and overloads in the final third. However, this success could also be attributed to the element of surprise – opponents haven’t had enough time to study his playstyle, and the same applies here. My analysis of Pereira’s tactics is based on only two games. He previously managed a Saudi club, so drawing comparisons from that league would be irrelevant.
His playstyle focuses on exploiting defensive gaps with runners and creating overloads in the attacking third. Against Leicester, they scored twice from long balls and once from a clever low pass. The common denominator? Their players’ relentless running and ability to exploit defensive lapses. For Spurs, the key will be executing an effective offside trap to neutralise Wolves’ strategy.
Matt Doherty, the former Spurs player, could be their key man. With a 66.7% duel success rate and a knack for delivering dangerous balls into the box, he’ll require close marking.
And it doesn’t help that Spurs don’t exactly enjoy playing Wolves. In the last five meetings between the two sides, Spurs have won just once, with Wolves taking three victories and a draw. Wolves even managed to snatch a late, stoppage-time win at Molineux last season, overturning a 1-0 deficit.
While Wolves’ unpredictability and fast breaks could trouble Spurs, their defensive risks might leave gaps for Kulusevski and Maddison to exploit. With the team at its lowest, this is the perfect moment to rally. Despite recent form, there’s a feeling Spurs might pull off something special.
Predicted Scoreline: Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Wolves