Paul Merson believes that Tottenham might be in for a shock if they are expecting an easy game at Kenilworth Road, remarking that Luton Town will go direct and make it really difficult for the away side.
Spurs head into the game on Saturday high on confidence after picking up four points from their two last two matches against Arsenal and Liverpool.
While they were arguably the underdogs in those fixtures, they will now have to cope with the added pressure of being expected to take all three points on Saturday, particularly now that a lot of people consider Ange Postecoglou’s men to be one of the favourites to finish in the top four.
The Lilywhites have a whole host of injuries, with Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, Rodrigo Bentacnur, Giovani Lo Celso and Brennan Johnson currently sidelined (The Athletic).
(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Tottenham could struggle against Luton Town
Merson pointed out that this is exactly the game where Tottenham sides of the past have come unstuck, but the pundit backed Postecoglou’s men to edge out Luton.
The Arsenal legend told Sportskeeda: “This is a massive game for both teams. I didn’t think Luton would beat Everton away from home, but they pulled it off. I thought they would kick on from there, but they’ve lost their game against Burnley.
“Over the years, Tottenham have dropped off after every run of good results. They are renowned for winning a series of games and then suffering defeats when no one expects them to. This is a huge game for them – if they win here, they could go to the top of the league.
“Luton don’t have the biggest pitch in the world but they do get forward to get the ball into the box. This is going to be a difficult game, but I’m backing Tottenham to come away with all three points.”
Prediction: Luton Town 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs Web Opinion
Early kick-offs on Saturday can often prove quite difficult, especially away from home. Luton come into this game in good spirits and we certainly cannot afford to take them lightly.
Postecoglou will demand that his players match their opponents for effort and intensity so that their quality can shine through.
Have something to tell us about this article?
