Tottenham v Aston Villa predictions: Dele Alli may star for Spurs

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event, 6pm Wednesday

Best bet

D Alli first scorer
1pt 10-1 BoyleSports

Team news

Tottenham
Serge Aurier (groin) is a doubt and Ben Davies (calf) has not featured since March.

Aston Villa
Tyrone Mings (shin) is a doubt and Jack Grealish could start for the first time since February but Matty Cash (hamstring) and Morgan Sanson (knee) miss out.

Match preview

Tottenham are coming to a crossroads after Harry Kane signalled his intention to end his 17-year association with the club but there are a few reasons for optimism. They include the recent improved performances of Dele Alli, who could be one of the main danger men to Aston Villa in Spurs' last home game of the season.

Kane is assured of a warm reception from the 10,000 crowd, but Alli is also a hugely popular figure and is looking forward to a brighter future as he comes to the end of the toughest season of his career.

At the peak of his powers Alli was hugely influential for club and country and his 18 league goals in the 2016-17 season helped Tottenham to finish second on 86 points.

His performances waned towards the end of the Mauricio Pochettino era and, after starting brightly under Jose Mourinho, he got on the wrong side of the Portuguese manager and appeared destined for a move away from the club.

However, Mourinho's dismissal has handed a lifeline to Alli and he seems determined to take advantage.

The 25-year-old has provided classy assists for Kane in each of the last two games but will be anxious to get on the Premier League scoresheet for the first time this season.

Alli's revival has probably come too late to catch the eye of Gareth Southgate but Villa talisman Jack Grealish will be in the England manager's thoughts and he could make his first start since February.

Grealish's shin injury has kept him out of action for much longer than he would have expected and it is vitally important that he proves his fitness before the end of the season.

Villa's number ten has come off the bench in the last two games but has been unable to arrest a decline which has seen his team win just twice in their last 12 matches.

Dean Smith's outfit are four points outside the top half and any lingering hopes of a top-ten finish could be quashed by a Spurs side peppered with high-quality attacking players, including Kane and Alli, who have very different reasons to want to impress.

Key stat

Tottenham have scored the first goal in eight of their last nine home games.

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