Tottenham Faces Bournemouth Amid Injury Woes and Europa League Pressure

LONDON, England (AP) — Tottenham Hotspur will aim to rebound from a disappointing midweek defeat to AZ Alkmaar as they host AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday. After a 1-0 loss in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, Spurs are looking to regain momentum at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where they currently sit 13th in the league standings.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, is enjoying a strong season and occupies the seventh spot, just four points off the European qualification places. However, they too are hoping to overcome a recent slump, having lost three out of their last four matches.

Tottenham’s injury woes could impact their performance again, with Dominic Solanke’s fitness uncertain after he suffered a knock to the lower back during the AZ Alkmaar match. Meanwhile, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are pushing for a return to the starting lineup, having been rested on Thursday. Coach Ange Postecoglou is under pressure to deliver results, especially after his side’s struggle in the league with only nine points separating them from the bottom half.

“We need to start picking up points and get back to winning ways,” Postecoglou said about the upcoming match. “We can’t afford to slip further down the table,” adding that the focus must remain on their upcoming league matches despite the impending second leg against AZ.

In contrast, Bournemouth’s manager Andoni Iraola is keen to capitalize on Tottenham’s struggles. “We need to be sharp and take advantage of their misfortunes,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of focusing on top performances ahead of a potentially historic match, where his team could secure a double over Spurs for the first time.

AFC Bournemouth should welcome back Ryan Christie from a thigh issue, adding depth to their squad. However, they will be missing players like Illia Zabarnyi, who is also serving the last match of his suspension, and Julián Araujo among others.

Historically, Tottenham has had the upper hand against Bournemouth, winning 11 of the 16 competitive matches between the two sides, though the latter bested Spurs 1-0 in December 2024, a match that added to Tottenham’s frustrations.

As the match approaches, fans are on edge, with Tottenham’s form leaving much to be desired. They have lost seven home games this season, the joint-most in a 38-game Premier League season. Fans are calling for improved performances to avoid finishing in the bottom half.

Kick-off is set for 14:00 GMT, and it will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.