Tottenham Hotspur will look to shrug off an injury crisis and keep up their push for a top-three Premier League finish when they host Watford at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, 30 January 2019, kick-off at 22h00 CAT.
Tottenham returned to winning form in the Premier League on January 20 when they defeated Fulham 2-1 away from home, thanks to goals from Dele Alli and Harry Winks. Yet the match was not an entirely positive one for Mauricio Pochettino’s team, as they saw Alli pick up an injury which has ruled him out until March.
With Harry Kane also sidelined, the Lilywhites are looking short of options in attack, though the return of Korean forward Son Heung-min from the AFC Asian Cup will bring some relief. Spanish striker Fernando Llorente could lead the line, but the own goal he scored against Fulham spoke to his lack of form and confidence.
Regardless, Pochettino will have to find a way to make Spurs an attacking force for this clash and ensure that they remain secure in third place: they have a four-point lead over fourth-placed Chelsea.
Watford, meanwhile, have lost just once (2-1 at home to Chelsea on Boxing Day last year) in their last eight Premier League matches and will head to Wembley confident of competing against Spurs on an even footing.
Manager Javi Gracia recently celebrated his one-year anniversary of joining the Hornets and the fact that they are leading the race to be the ‘best of the rest’ outside of the top six heavyweights (Liverpool, Man City, Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man United) speaks volumes for the great job he has done at Vicarage Road in the last 12 months.
In head-to-head stats, Tottenham and Watford have met in 11 Premier League matches. Spurs have claimed seven wins compared to three for the Hornets, while one game has been drawn.
The teams’ most recent meeting in the Premier League was at Vicarage Road in September 2018, with Watford claiming a 2-1 home win thanks to goals from Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart (an Abdoulaye Doucoure own goal accounted for Spurs’ strike in the game).
Tottenham Hotspur v Watford – Head-to-head, Premier League
Matches played 11
Spurs wins 7
Watford wins 3
Draws 1
Last five results (League only, most recent first)
| Spurs | W | L | W | L | W |
| Watford | D | W | D | D | L |