Tottenham v Southampton predictions: Spurs and Saints can serve up lots of goals

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

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 6pm, Wednesday

Best bet

Tottenham to win and both teams to score
1pt 5-2 bet365, Betfair

Team news

Tottenham
Harry Kane looks set to miss out with an ankle injury so Carlos Vinicius could be recalled in attack. Ben Davies and Matt Doherty are still struggling.

Southampton
Takumi Minamino is available after being cup-tied for the defeat to Leicester. Oriol Romeu and Michael Obafemi are still out.

Match preview

They face the runaway Premier League leaders in the League Cup final on Sunday, have sacked their managed and inspired the wrath of the football world by signing up to the European Super League.

Tottenham fans can hardly make head nor tail of what has been happening at N17 over the last couple of days, so much so that a Premier League game with Southampton has slipped completely under the radar.

Chairman Daniel Levy may have hoped forcing the departure of Jose Mourinho on Monday would give him a few public-relations credits after the 12-club breakaway was announced about 12 hours earlier.

Few Spurs fans will be shedding tears about the sacking, but it's harder to decipher whether this will make them a sound betting proposition against the Saints.

Head of player development Ryan Mason has taken the temporary helm and will get a free shot against City - they are 10-3 to win the League Cup - but this is a game they will be expected to win well, even if it is unknown whether the chase for a top-four spot and Champions League football still matters.

Southampton's only victory in their last eight away games was at already-relegated Sheffield United and they have to pick themselves up from an FA Cup semi-final loss to Leicester.

Thoughts of a 5-2 thumping by Spurs in September may also be rekindled for a team who have the second-worst defensive record in the league, even if nine of the 56 goals they have conceded came in the same game against Manchester United.

So manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has plenty to think about and his priority will surely be to avoid his team's season just fading away, so maybe we can anticipate a positive performance.

They are capable of troubling a Spurs defence who have been shaky since Christmas - they have conceded at least twice in five of their last six games, while the home side may have to cope without Harry Kane after he limped off in Friday's 2-2 draw with Everton.

It would be a surprise if he played if he was not 100 per cent fit and Gareth Bale could be unleashed after gaining few opportunities in the final few weeks of Mourinho's regime.

There is a certain amount of guesswork involved but Tottenham's issues on the field are not going to be solved overnight and Danny Ings is likely to prove a handful as the Saints break with pace.

Spurs have kept clean sheets in just two of their last seven home league games and it would be no surprise if Southampton found the net.

So, for a game with many unknowns, backing the home team to win with both teams scoring at an attractive 5-2 could be the way forward.

Key stat

Southampton have lost seven of their last eight Premier League away games.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport