Ollie Watkins strikes for Villa against Spurs
(Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur welcome Aston Villa to north London this evening as the hosts continue to push for a spot in next season’s Europa League.
Led by interim coach Ryan Mason, Spurs enter tonight’s fixture in sixth place in the Premier League, ahead of seventh West Ham – who take to the pitch later in the evening – on goal difference. Mason’s side are four points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, who have hit their stride at just the right time to close in on European football next term – perhaps even a spot in the Champions League. Tottenham, meanwhile, have won three of their last five, with their 2-0 victory over Wolves last time out marking a solid response to their disappointing 3-1 loss to Leeds United. In the background, however, star striker Harry Kane’s future is a key talking point, with the England captain wanting a summer move away from Spurs.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, sit in 11th place in the standings and will struggle to achieve a top-half finish at this point. In any case, it has been a successful campaign for Dean Smith and his players, who improved starkly following last season’s final-day heroics and narrow escape from Premier League relegation. Villa fans can simply enjoy their final two games and will hope to see their recently returned captain Jack Grealish confirm his spot in Gareth Southgate’s Euros squad for this summer with some fine performances. Follow live updates from Tottenham vs Aston Villa in the Premier League below.
65 min: Traore about to shoot to make it 3-1, but Hojbjerg made a last ditch tackle to stifle the midfielder.
Tottenham really haven’t turned up today.
Emmet Gates19 May 2021 19:27
62 min: Villa look like cutting through Tottenham’s defence at any given opportunity. Grealish and McGinn are enjoying themselves.
Emmet Gates19 May 2021 19:23
58 min: Some Zinedine Zidane-esque pivots from John McGinn deep in the Tottenham half.
Villa look dangerous every time they venture forward. Tottenham look so fragile defensively.
Emmet Gates19 May 2021 19:20
Burnley vs Liverpool line-ups
After this game, we’ll have live updates from Burnley vs Liverpool. Here are the starting line-ups for that match:
Burnley XI: Norris, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, McNeil, Westwood, Cork, Brownhill, Gudmunsson, Wood.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, R Williams, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Thiago, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Alex Pattle19 May 2021 19:17
54 min: This is better from Spurs, Reguilon’s cross is met by Kane, whose first-time volley is well hit, but just lacking control, and flies over the bar.
Emmet Gates19 May 2021 19:15
50 min: Another chance for Bergwijn, as he’s fed by Kane, but his shot is medium height for Martinez, who once again parries it away.
Emmet Gates19 May 2021 19:12
48 min: Big chance for Tottenham. Reguilon pushes forward, Son produces a lovely little flick in behind into the path of Bergwijn, who is no more than right yards out, the striker smashes his shot straight at Martinez, who parries the ball out for a corner.
Bergwijn should’ve scored, but this is better from Tottenham.
Emmet Gates19 May 2021 19:11
HALF TIME
HT at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham had a good 10 minutes, and ever since it’s been all Villa.
Tottenham look devoid of ideas, of creativity, of everything, really. Villa could be four goals up at this stage, only for poor finishing to let them down.
Grealish is finding pockets of space to exploit, and Tottenham’s midfielders aren’t really doing much to stop him. Watkins is causing problems with his movement.
In saying that, both of Villa’s goals came from Tottenham mistakes, with Reguilon at the heart of both of them.
The home side got booed off, they need to make amends in the second half.
Emmet Gates19 May 2021 18:55
