Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United
I had the pleasure of covering both the Premier League meetings between these two teams last season.
And what contrasting fixtures they were.
It was on the second day of January that Spurs looked a real deal under Jose Mourinho and brushed aside Marcelo Bielsa’s Yorkshire side with an arrogant ease – on a day I proclaimed Son Heung-Min as the finest Asian export to ever play in the English top-flight.
The return fixture was very different as chairman Daniel Levy had parted company with Mourinho less than a week before he was due to lead them out at Wembley in the League Cup Final.
That meant a 29-year-old interim boss, Ryan Mason, was in charge of the North Londoners who went down to a 3-1 defeat to see their European qualification hopes all but ended. They have since made the newly-introduced Europa Conference League – a competition many would rather not persevere with.
Since then, life has not got too much better for either club.
Talking Points
If letting Mourinho go was Levy’s last big mistake of 2020/21, his first of the current campaign was making a ‘horlicks’ of appointing his successor.
Once he finally did, Nuno Espirito Santo was hardly given a fair crack of the whip which led to chants of ‘Levy Out’ and strong boos at their last home league match against Manchester United last month.
Levy’s reputation has been damaged by a series of misjudgments, from the hasty decision to join the European Super League to the even hastier hiring of Santo.
Since that United defeat, the chairman has acted but not by falling on his sword. Instead, he has got rid of his appointment and brought in Antonio Conte.
Whether or not Conte is a success at Spurs, Levy could remain in charge of the club for another five or even 10 years but there is a sense that the heat from fans would become particularly intense if another appointment blows up in his face.
I suspect White Hart Lane will be a happier place this Sunday against opponents who will still be without Robin Koch (pelvis) and Patrick Bamford (ankle) and still have not managed back-to-back wins this season.
On a brighter note, Luke Ayling and Junior Firpo are both nearing comebacks from knee and muscle injuries respectively.
As for the hosts, they were dealt a blow during the international break when Cristian Romero hobbled off with an injury in Argentina’s clash with Brazil – a draw which saw La Albiceleste qualify for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg missed both of Denmark’s World Cup qualifiers after being on the receiving end of Mason Holgate’s rash challenge last time out, one that earned the Everton man a red card, while his central midfield partner Oliver Skipp is also unavailable after picking up his fifth booking during the trip to Goodison Park.
Despite the absentees, Premier League 2021 highlights are expected and overdue for home fans, as is a goal from Harry Kane whose confidence may have increased after a hatful on England duty – albeit against minnows Albania and San Marino.
History
In this fixture last season, a Kane penalty was followed up by Son’s 100th goal in English football and a Toby Alderweireld header all inside the first 50 minutes.
Traditionally, these clubs have been well-matched and have enjoyed some ding-dong battles.
Their most recent clash before last season was in the FA Cup in 2013 when Luke Varney and Ross McCormack goals caused a fourth round surprise in a 2-1 win at Elland Road.
They had given Spurs a scare in the same competition at the same stage three years earlier when Jermaine Beckford netted twice – including a stoppage time penalty – to earn the then-League One side a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane before Tottenham won the replay 3-1 at Elland Road thanks to a Jermain Defoe hat-trick.
Leeds have only beaten Tottenham twice in 10 attempts.
Overall, Tottenham have beaten Leeds on 37 occasions, while Leeds have 33 wins and there have been 20 draws.
The very first meeting between the clubs was in October 1924 when Leeds recorded a 1-0 win.
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