The ninth gameweek of the 2023-24 Premier League season will come to a close with an exciting London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham on Monday evening.
This will be a highly-anticipated match as Fulham is the only team thus far to defeat Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs in a competitive game. They managed to secure a victory in an intense EFL Cup second-round penalty shootout at Craven Cottage back in August. Therefore, there is a lot at stake for both teams.
As we approach the match, Sports Mole has gathered the latest team news for both clubs.
Tottenham Hotspur will be missing some key players due to various reasons. Yves Bissouma will be absent from the lineup due to suspension, while Rodrigo Bentancur and Ryan Sessegnon are out with knee and hamstring injuries, respectively. In addition, Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic, and Alfie Whiteman will also be sidelined due to knee and ankle issues.
There is some doubt surrounding the availability of Brennan Johnson, who is dealing with a hamstring problem. However, his presence in the starting XI is not entirely ruled out.
Sports Mole has come up with a predicted lineup for Tottenham Hotspur, which includes Vicario in goal, and a defensive line of Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, and Udogie. Sarr and Hojbjerg will helm the midfield, while Kulusevski, Maddison, and Son will form an attacking trio, with Richarlison leading the line.
Moving on to Fulham, they too have their share of injury concerns. They will have to cope without Issa Diop and Kenny Tete, who are both recovering from foot and groin injuries, respectively. Adama Traore and Tosin Adarabioyo are also unavailable due to thigh and groin problems.
On the other hand, there are no doubts surrounding the fitness of any Fulham players at the moment.
Sports Mole predicts that Leno will start between the sticks for Fulham. The defensive line is expected to consist of Castagne, Bassey, Ream, and Robinson. In the midfield, Pereira, Palhinha, and Iwobi will form a strong trio, while Decordova-Reid, Vinicius, and Willian will handle the attacking duties.
With both teams battling with their injury concerns, it remains to be seen how this London derby unfolds. The fans are in for an intense and thrilling match as Tottenham Hotspur seeks to avenge their previous defeat and Fulham aims to strengthen their hold over their rivals.
