Tottenham Hotspur will hope to return to winning ways when they host Sunderland on Sunday
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Tottenham Hotspur will face another test this weekend as they host one of the Premier League’s most impressive sides this season in Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Black Cats have defied expectations following their promotion via the Championship play-offs in May and currently sit seventh in the table at the half-way point – five places and three points above Spurs, who are 12th.
Thomas Frank’s side played out a goalless draw on his return to former club Brentford on New Year’s Day, one of three matches not to see a single goal on one day of Premier League action as several sides made a slow start to the new year.
Spurs are just four points off managerless Chelsea in fifth but will know that if results do not take a consistent turn for the better, the pressure may increase on Frank. Sunderland will prove a tough test but could provide the north London outfit with the perfect chance to make up ground on those ahead of them in the table.
Tottenham predicted XI vs Sunderland: defence and midfield
Spurs continue to see several key-first team players out with injury, with six players currently side-lined and nearing a comeback to first-team action.
At the back, captain Cristian Romero returned from suspension at the Gtech and is set to start alongside Micky van de Ven. Djed Spence is likely to continue at left-back with Destiny Udogie still returning to fitness.
Lucas Bergvall was not passed fit to face Brentford following a believed groin injury during the victory at Crystal Palace, but could return here. Frank said he was “quite positive” Bergvall would be fit to face the Bees, which did not transpire in the end, but the 19-year-old could replace Joao Palhinha in the starting XI to face Sunderland.
Match-winner at Selhurst Park, Archie Gray will look to keep his place in his preferred position of central midfield alongside Rodrigo Bentancur, with Bergvall likely to play slightly higher than the pair in Frank’s frequently-used 4-2-3-1 formation. The Lilywhites will remain without Pape Matar Sarr, who is away at AFCON.
Tottenham predicted XI vs Sunderland: midfield and attack
In attacking areas, a series of absentees have limited Frank’s options in recent weeks.
Xavi Simons will serve the final of his three-match ban following his straight-red card against Liverpool, while attacking trio James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke are likely to remain on the sidelines. The latter duo are expected to return to action this month, but whether the clash with the Black Cats will come a little too soon remains to be seen.
Frank is also unlikely to call upon Brennan Johnson, who was left out of the squad to face Brentford as he nears a move to Crystal Palace.
With the dangerous Mohammed Kudus likely to keep his place on the right, Frank could call on Randal Kolo Muani to return to the side from the opposite flank. The forward joined PSG for £79 million in 2023 and has since gone on a season-long loan to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where he has featured both through the centre and from the left. He is likely to be joined in attack by Richarlison, Spurs’ top scorer with seven league strikes.