There is a London Derby to watch when Brentford visits the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a thrilling game.
The Premier League’s winter break will see just the second matchday of January on the final day of the month, but expect to see two recharged teams going all out for the points.
It was an electric opening half when both sides met in the first game of the 2023-24 season which ended 2-2 to stretch Tottenham’s winless run to four against their West London counterparts.
The Lilywhites have not beaten Brentford since their first-ever Premier League meeting in December 2021.
Ange Postecoglou has revived his team’s fortunes, which had underperformed in recent seasons. Spurs started the campaign excellently as they went unbeaten in the first ten games, winning eight as a new brand of exciting football was introduced.
An opening-day draw at Brentford was followed by consecutive 2-0 victories over Manchester United and Bournemouth.
They then beat Burnley 5-2 and Sheffield United 2-1 via two added-time strikes, adding to their credentials with a draw against Arsenal and a controversial late win versus Liverpool.
Spurs beat Luton with a man sent-off, then won consecutive London derbies against Fulham and Crystal Palace.
The chance to win a third straight derby was denied as Chelsea inflicted a damaging 4-1 defeat, which proved disastrous as the suspensions and injuries from that encounter cost them dearly.
Tottenham failed to win any of the following four games but bounced back with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Newcastle featuring a brace from Richarlison.
The Brazilian’s contributions would prove vital over the next few weeks as he netted five times in five matches, with Spurs winning four.
The year ended with a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth that took Tottenham to within three points of second place and just one behind fourth-placed Arsenal. Postecoglou will be keen to build on that momentum, which could propel his team in the decisive part of the season.
Having secured a place in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, Spurs travel to Manchester United before hosting Brentford for another must-see game.
Thomas Frank’s men are in a slump, with seven goals conceded in their last two Premier League games. They have dropped into 16th place and are four points above the relegation spots, although they have a game in hand.
The pressure is on, and Brentford must avoid getting caught by Everton and Luton Town, which becomes more complex when you consider they have won only one of their past nine games at the time of writing.
Nevertheless, the January transfer window has come at just the right time, and Brentford must maximize any opportunity to improve the squad ravaged by injuries.
The return of Ivan Toney is also a massive positive after his long-term ban robbed the team of a consistent goalscoring outlet.
Brentford would likely be much more robust in the second half of the season, Spurs beware.
Match Tickets
This game will be played on Wednesday, January 31, with kick-off scheduled for 7:30 PM UK time. Tickets for the game are available on each club’s website for season ticket holders and members to receive their allocations.
Given this is a London Derby, there will rarely be a dull moment with Tottenham looking to get back in the top-four race while their visitors are desperate to avoid a relegation battle. This creates a brilliant atmosphere, and the fans will make it memorable in the 62,000-capacity Tottenham Stadium.
Match tickets would be scarce for a sold-out game, so supporters keen to get their Tottenham vs Brentford tickets may be lucky enough to find copies on a ticket resale website.
Team News
Dejan Kulusevski would be available after suspension, and Micky van de Ven could make his long-awaited return from injury.
On the other hand, Alejo Veliz is the latest injured Spurs player to join a list that includes James Maddison, Cristian Romero, Manor Solomon, Alfie Whiteman, and Ivan Perisic, who Ange Postecoglou admitted has almost certainly played his final game for the club.
Son Heung-min is off to the Asia Cup, while Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are also on international duty.
Rico Henry, Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Chade, and Aaron Hickey are long-term injury casualties for the Bees, while Yoane Wissa, Frank Onyeka, and Saman Ghoddos are on international duty.
Suspended striker Ivan Toney can return to the squad on January 16 after his eight-month ban for breaching player betting offenses.
Line-ups
Van de Ven’s return to the Spurs’ defense provides a huge reprieve after they had to field four full-backs for much of his absence.
Their injury crisis and national team commitments would also provide opportunities for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Bryan Gil, and Rodrigo Bentancur to see playing time over the coming weeks.
- Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Van de Ven, Davies, Udogie; Hojbjerg, Bentancur; Johnson, Lo Celso, Gil; Richarlison
Injuries and suspensions have ensured a lousy time for Brentford throughout most of the season, but they will look to have added a few new faces by the time this game comes up on Transfer Deadline Day.
High on Thomas Frank’s list of priorities would be building Toney’s match fitness, so expect the striker to get a start.
- Brentford: Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Zanka, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Janelt, Jensen; Maupay, Toney
Prediction
Tottenham is the favourite here, but their recent record against Brentford gives enough reason for caution. The Bees were 3-1 winners on their last visit to Spurs, and they are very capable of causing a similar upset.
However, the Lilywhites are searching for a fifth consecutive home win in all competitions, which could be decisive against their visitors, who are short on confidence.
This game should be edgy, and Tottenham’s ambitions are enough to see them through with a win.
- Tottenham 3-1 Brentford
