Spurs Travel to Stoke in the League Cup

Stoke City vs Tottenham - 23/12/2020

League Cup | Preview

22/12/20

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On Wednesday the 23rd of December we have two English League Cup quarter finals to enjoy, beginning with the meeting between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Bet365 Stadium.

The hosts are the lowest ranked team remaining in the competition as they currently occupy 7th place in the Championship while Tottenham Hotspur are in 5th place in the Premier League.

Next up ➡️ back in Carabao Cup action at Stoke. #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/QQChqcMNVM
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 21, 2020

Stoke City come into this match having defeated Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at home in the Championship on the weekend. It was a good victory against the team that started the day just 2 points behind them in the table and Stoke City are just 5 points off the automatic promotion places.

Trends show Stoke City have been difficult to beat this season and they are undefeated in their last 7 games in all competitions. However, they have picked up just a single victory from their last 4 matches, all of which have come in the Championship.

Stoke City have seen under 2.5 goals scored in 6 of their last 7 games, keeping a clean sheet in each of the 6 matches where under 2.5 goals have been scored.

They are on a good run in the League Cup and have remained undefeated in their last 7 matches in the competition. Stoke City have won each of their last 4 home League Cup games, including the penalty shootout against Blackpool earlier this season. In Stoke City's 5 most recent League Cup matches, there have been under 2.5 goals scored.

Tottenham Hotspur make the trip to the Bet365 Stadium having suffered a disappointing 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday. That result saw them drop to 5th place in the table having previously lost 2-1 at Liverpool.

Spurs have now failed to win any of their last 3 matches having been held to a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace prior to the defeat at Anfield.

Both the goals and clean sheets appear to have dried for Jose Mourinho’s team and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 3 games, while scoring only 2 goals themselves.

Spurs are on a run of 4 successive away games in all competitions without a victory. In terms of away form in the League Cup, they have won only 2 of their last 7 matches in the competition.

Team news and Stoke City have a long list of casualties ahead of the game. Tyrese Campbell, Niki Mäenpää, Sam Clucas, John Obi Mikel, Lee Gregory, Angus Gunn, Adam Davies, and Joe Allen are among those expected to miss out.

Spurs are still without the injured duo of Japhet Tanganga and Erik Lamela. Mourinho is sure to rotate his players for this game with Gareth Bale, Lucas Moura, Matt Doherty, Davinson Sánchez, Harry Winks, Joe Rodon, Dele Alli, and Carlos Vinícius among those expected to start.

The number of changes to the Spurs starting XI could fall nicely into the hands of Stoke City. We expect this game to be tight, with few good opportunities to score and it would not be a surprise to see it end 0-0.