Tottenham Hotspur VS Fulham Match Prediction
2018-08-18
14:00:00
Tottenham Hotspur
VS
Fulham
Our Prediction Tip
Tottenham Hotspur will win this match.
2018-08-1814:00:00 Tottenham Hotspur will win this match.
A Tottenham win in this fixture would be their 50th against London rivals Fulham, with the Cottagers having won just 18 in reply and 29 games having been drawn. They have met just once since Fulham’s relegation in 2014, when Spurs won 3-0 in the 2016/17 FA Cup – Harry Kane scored a hat-trick for the visitors.
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After the surprise early return to action for five of Spurs’ World Cup semi-finalists, they now head to Wembley with another week of training in their legs and theoretically more match fitness.
Fulham have strengthened at the back over the summer, but they will have their work cut out at Wembley against the likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli.
Kane has never scored in August but this could be the chance to change that, in his first game at Wembley since winning the World Cup golden ball award.
Fulham, for their part, were better than the 2-0 scoreline suggests against Crystal Palace in their first game and Aleksandar Mitrovic went close a couple of times.
But the very fact two of Serge Aurier, Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose and Ben Davies will miss this shows the strength of Spurs’ back line.
At the other end, if Kane’s poor run of goals continues, they can also turn to Eriksen, Alli or Lucas Moura for impetus.
Their eagerly-awaited move home has been delayed, but Wembley hosted some big performances by Spurs last season.
And Mauricio Pochettino’s side can kick off their 2018/19 home campaign with a win.
Tottenham are big odds-on favourites to beat Fulham at Wembley, with Ladbrokes and Betfair offering 2/7 on Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
There were three goals last time Fulham faced Spurs, meanwhile, and there were three goals in Tottenham’s opening game too. Over 2.5 goals will return 8/15 with Bet365, Ladbrokes and Betfair. A Tottenham win and BTTS is a best price of 3/4 with Ladbrokes and Betway.
Both teams to score has been set at evens with Bet365, Betway, 10Bet an 888sport.
While he has never scored in August, Harry Kane did score a hat-trick last time he faced Fulham, and he is 6/11 with 888sport to score at any time.
Tottenham’s first-team players have another week of training in their legs now and, after winning their opening game, can see of newly-promored club.
Despite suggesting none would start against Newcastle on the opening weekend, five of Spurs’ nine World Cup semi-finalists started the match and another, Moussa Dembele, came off the bench. Only Tony Alderweireld – an unused sub – and full-backs Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier missed out. Serge Aurier and Ben Davies are battling to keep their places ahead of the latter two. Spurs could stick with the same starting XI, however, knowing some rustiness will have been shaken off in their opening win. Heung-Min Son is away at the Asia Games, meanwhile, and Harry Winks, Victor Wanyama and Erik Lamela are injured.
Christian Eriksen – Danish international reached double figures for goals and assists last season and it will only be a matter of time before he gets going in both categories again this season.
Harry Kane – While he has bizarrely never scored a Premier League goal in August, the World Cup golden boot winner scored a hat-trick the last time Spurs faced Fulham.
Dele Alli – Scored in the win at St James Park – his first appearance since the World Cup.
Spurs enjoyed a successful pre-season overall despite their lack of first-team players, and won the International Champions Cup. But they had actually lost their most recent match 4-1 to Girona prior to the opening day win against Newcastle. World Cup semi-finalists Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli wasted no time making their mark in their first appearances post-World Cup – scoring either side of Joselu’s equaliser in a 2-1 Spurs win.
New signing Alfie Mawson will not make his Fulham debut until at least September, having undergone knee surgery in the summer. Joe Bryan and Tim Ream face late fitness tests, meanwhile.
Aleksandar Mitrovic – Serbian World Cup goalscorer scored 12 times in 17 appearances in the Championship last season.
Ryan Sessegnon – Highly-rated English teenager has a chance to impress against one of the teams rumoured to have been interested in signing him.
Jean-Michael Seri – Club-record signing will have an important role to play in the middle of the park.
Fulham’s hopes of a dream return to the Premier League were shattered by a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at home on the opening day. It followed a poor pre-season results-wise, which featured heavy defeats to Fenerbahce and Lyon among other losses.
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