Written by Jason Dewey for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
Arguably the match of the third round, the exciting Leicester City will be heading to White Hart Lane to challenge Mauricio Pochettino’s on-fire Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup.
Will Claudio Ranieri’s spirited Foxes manage to knock Tottenham out of the world’s oldest cup competition, or will Spurs’ stellar form keep rolling when these two teams face off on Sunday afternoon?
To Win Match
Tottenham 13/20
Draw 19/10
Leicester 4/1
Tottenham
Tottenham have been nothing short of impressive under Mauricio Pochettino this season, looking on track to secure a Champions League spot. Even with a smaller squad than some top clubs, Spurs have been competing among the league leaders.
Pochettino might pull out all stops in the FA Cup, a vital chance for the club to end an eight-year trophy drought, and they have a squad capable of going all the way to Wembley.
Tottenham enter this third-round tie in excellent form, having only one defeat in their last six matches—a league loss to Newcastle in mid-December. Since then, they’ve secured solid wins over Southampton, Norwich, and Watford. Their latest outing was an entertaining 1-1 draw at Goodison Park, featuring a world-class volley by Dele Alli to equalise after Aaron Lennon put Everton ahead.
Injuries are minimal with only Moussa Dembele and Clinton N’jie sidelined. Spurs are likely to field many of their key players at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Harry Kane is expected to be a key player. After a slow start to the season, he has bounced back to net 11 league goals. Dele Alli, who joined Spurs in February 2015 for five million Pounds, has also shone this season.
Alli is a nightmare for defenders, constantly positioning between the opposition’s midfield and defence, making it tough to mark him. His skills and tricks make him nearly impossible to dispossess one-on-one. Watch out for him – he could very well be the difference this weekend.
Leicester City
Leicester started the 2015/16 Premier League season at a blistering pace, but now show signs the bubble might be bursting. They’ve failed to win in their last three league matches, though two were tough fixtures against Manchester City and Liverpool.
Jamie Vardy, the league’s top scorer this season, will miss the Saturday clash. Vardy has an incredible 15 goals, tied at the top with Romelu Lukaku.
Leicester will look to get the ball to Riyad Mahrez as much as possible. His speed, tricks, and clever play could cause all sorts of trouble for Spurs’ attacking full-backs, Danny Rose and Kyle Walker, who are not known for their defensive skills.
Shinji Okazaki will probably lead the attack in Vardy’s absence. Though not as prolific, the tenacious Japanese striker is a real threat. He has an impressive Bundesliga record, being the most prolific Japanese player in the league’s history.
N’Golo Kante, a key component of Leicester’s charge for a top-four finish, has adapted brilliantly to the Premier League after joining from Caen last summer. He dominates the midfield, covering ground tirelessly, freeing up Danny Drinkwater to orchestrate play behind him.
Verdict: Tottenham 13/20
While Leicester have been fantastic this season, signs of fatigue show with their recent goal drought and Vardy’s absence. Tottenham have been outstanding and look poised to continue their rise. Back Spurs to secure their fourth-round spot in the FA Cup this Sunday.
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