The Premier League’s annual Boxing Day fixtures return with 16 English top flight sides all in action up and down the country. The early kick-off sees Southampton travel to Wembley to face Tottenham, who have struggled since their move from White Hart Lane to the home of English football. Tottenham are 5^th in the Premier League while Southampton are 13^th with just three points separating them from the drop zone.

STATS

• Tottenham’s involvements with this season’s Champions League have really affected their league form. They have won only three of their last eight in the league which has seen them slip out of the top four and into the Europa League places. They played some great football in their last match against Burnley as they won 3-0, coming on the back of a 4-1 demolition by Manchester City.
• Southampton have been less than impressive in the league this season and their football was awful for the opening weeks of the season. They briefly improved but have fallen into the same rut that affected them early on. They have now gone six league matches without a win, their last one coming in late November against an Everton side that were out of form at the time.
• Harry Kane is having yet another great goal scoring campaign. The England striker scored a hat-trick at the weekend against Burnley and this took his tally for the season up to 15 goals, no top flight player has more.
• Charlie Austin has returned to the side after sitting on the bench for the first period of the season. He has six goals and is Southampton’s top scorer, netting five in his last seven matches.

HEAD TO HEAD

Tottenham have dominated Southampton in the fixtures between the two sides in recent years. In the last 10 meetings (which all happen to have come in the Premier League), Spurs have won eight times with one draw and one Southampton win making up the 10. They are yet to face off this term and the last meeting came in March where Tottenham ran out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli. In each of the last three, both teams have scored.

TOTTENHAM NEWS

If Liverpool fail to beat Swansea in the televised late kick-off on Boxing Day, Tottenham will finish the day in fourth place. They have a great chance of victory as only Victor Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld are missing the clash, both through injury.

Latest matches: Tottenham Hotspur

23.12.2017	Prem	Burnley FC	Tottenham Hotspur	0:3	W
16.12.2017	Prem	Manchester City	Tottenham Hotspur	4:1	L
13.12.2017	Prem	Tottenham Hotspur	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	2:0	W
09.12.2017	Prem	Tottenham Hotspur	Stoke City	5:1	W
06.12.2017	UEFA	Tottenham Hotspur	Apoel Nicosia FC	3:0	W

SOUTHAMPTON NEWS

A win for Southampton could see them move into the top half, if Brighton, Huddersfield and Watford all lose their matches. The Saints will be up against it especially if Charlie Austin, who is currently a major doubt, is ruled out. Cedric Soares and Ryan Bertrand will both be on the sidelines with ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.

Latest matches: Southampton FC

23.12.2017	Prem	Southampton FC	Huddersfield Town	1:1	D
16.12.2017	Prem	Chelsea FC	Southampton FC	1:0	L
13.12.2017	Prem	Southampton FC	Leicester City	1:4	L
10.12.2017	Prem	Southampton FC	Arsenal FC	1:1	D
03.12.2017	Prem	Bournemouth AFC	Southampton FC	1:1	D

SUMMARY

Everyone loves a bit of Boxing Day football and this game should provide everything that Premier League fans crave. Tottenham are strong favourites at ‘home’ but Southampton will be a threat on the break and Spurs will have to be careful, a problem which is even worse without Alderweireld in the backline. The Saints will make life hard for the hosts but Tottenham should prevail and take all three points.