The Three Step Guide For Burnley To Beat Tottenham
Burnley will welcome second-placed Tottenham Hotspur to the Turf Moor this Saturday, as the Premier League action returns after the international break.
The Clarets have been performing beyond expectations this term and sit comfortably at 13th position in the league standing when many tipped them for immediate relegation. Sean Dyche and his team have been excellent at home and have the 6th best home record in the league, having collected an impressive 29 points from 14 games at the Turf Moor.
However, considering that they haven’t won a single game in their previous 6 league encounters, coming out on top against a dominant Spurs side will be extremely difficult. But they did manage to hold Tottenham to a 1-1 draw at the Turf Moor in January in their FA Cup third round clash. The Clarets eventually lost the replay by a scoreline of 4-2 at the White Hart Lane, but this being a home game, will give them a little confidence.
Here are 3 things that could help the Clarets cause an upset against their illustrious opponents come Saturday:
Unleash Andre Gray on Eric Dier
Andre Gray has been a crucial player for Burnley over the past two years. The Englishman drove the Clarets to the EFL Championship last season and has been their top scorer in the Premier League this season as well, with 6 goals.
Tottenham may boast the best defensive record in the league this season, but they too have chinks in their armour. The three-man defence that has worked brilliantly for them but it has one weak-link in the form of Eric Dier. The 23-year old has looked far from convincing playing in the back line for Spurs. If Burnley manage to get Gray up against Dier and hassle him in the final third, there could be a way around Hugo Lloris’ goal.
Stifle Heung-Min Son
Burnley will be breathing a huge sigh of relief on knowing that they will not be facing the terrific Harry Kane on Saturday. The 19-goal striker has been out due to injury and won’t be available or quite a while, which is a serious blow for Tottenham.
However, in Heung-Min Son they do have a decent replacement to call upon. The South Korean may not be as prolific as Kane but has chipped in with important goals during the Englishman’s absence in the early part of the season. The 24-year old has managed to score 14 goals this season across all competitions and has shown that he can deliver the goods for the team when needed.
Son may not be Tottenham’s primary goal threat, but for Burnley to stand a chance of winning against them, the central defensive partnership of Michael Keane and Ben Mee will have to keep the South Korean international under check.
Put Dele Alli Under Pressure
In Kane’s absence, Tottenham will look to Dele Alli to provide them with threat up front. The 20-year old has been sensational this season and has netted a brilliant 18 goals across all competitions, 14 of which have come in the league.
He will be the key man for Spurs this weekend against the Clarets. However, in the past, Alli has shown that he can lose his cool on the field when things don’t go his way. If Burnley manage to mark him tightly, intimidate him physically and commit a few fouls, that could get Alli frustrated and lead to a silly error from the Englishman as it was seen in Spurs’ Europa League exit against Gent. Burnley getting under Alli’s skin could definitely harm Tottenham at the Turf Moor.
