Burnley humiliated the Hatters 2-1 in midweek, while Spurs defeated Liverpool by the same score owing to a VAR gaffe that has become well-known.
Match preview
Rob Edwards’ Luton Town were dealt a hard welcome return to Kenilworth Road by a Clarets team that was also looking for their first victory of the top-flight season. Burnley entered their postponed match on cloud nine after achieving their first-ever Premier League maximum away to Everton at the weekend.Elijah Adebayo appeared to have done enough to secure a point for the Hatters against their fellow newly promoted opponents, but Burnley restored their slim advantage just 65 seconds later through Jacob Bruun Larsen. Lyle Foster’s goal on the verge of halftime gave Vincent Kompany’s team the lead.
The 2010-11 Blackpool crop were the most recent victims of this streak, and Luton are now the first team in 13 years to fail to win any of their opening three Premier League home games. However, an especially upbeat Edwards did not have a bad word to say about his side’s valiant second-half performance.
Despite only collecting one of the nine points available at Kenilworth Road thus far this season, Luton is hanging onto 17th place thanks to their superior goal differential over 18th-place Burnley, and Hatters supporters would undoubtedly accept such a position come May’s curtain call.
The hosts have gone nine games in all competitions without recording a clean sheet this year, and a recent defensive injury blow does not give them any comfort before hosting a Tottenham team whose hot streak of two goals under Ange Postecoglou was extended in the most contentious of situations.&w=707&quality=100)
Son Heung-min had put the Reds ahead before Cody Gakpo’s equalizer, but even with two extra players on the field as a result of Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota’s controversial red cards, Tottenham was unable to break through a well-organized Reds block. It wasn’t until the very end that one of Jurgen Klopp’s veteran defenders undid all of his team’s hard work.
Joel Matip attempted to stop Pedro Porro’s cross during the game’s final attack, but the Cameroonian only managed to send the ball into the roof of his own net, setting off wild celebrations in North London before the PGMOL found themselves at the center of a scandal.
After linesman and VAR official Darren England made a “significant human error” at Stockley Park and incorrectly disallowed Luis Diaz’s goal two minutes prior to Son’s opening goal, Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp publicly demanded that the game be replayed.
The startling request from the German may go unanswered, but Tottenham’s Lilywhites have quietly continued their work on the practice fields despite the latest VAR controversy. They are currently sitting pretty in second place in the table, just one point behind Manchester City, whom they will pass if they defeat the Hatters here.
Although the North London club’s chances of winning the Premier League title are still in doubt, Matip’s wild slice means that Spurs have still managed to score at least twice in each of their games under Postecoglou. Spurs will face Luton in their first competitive matchup since 1992, when the two teams played to a third consecutive 0-0 draw at Kenilworth Road.
Team News
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Amari’i Bell, a dependable center defender for Luton, left the game against Burnley after just 21 minutes due to a hamstring problem, but Edwards is optimistic that the Jamaican international averted a more severe injury.
Reece Burke should fill in for the back five this weekend as Albert Sambi Lokonga (thigh), Gabriel Osho (knee), Dan Potts (ankle), and Jordan Clark (ankle) are still sidelined due to injuries. Burke is hoping to put his groin issues behind him.
Ross Barkley, who just began training despite a hamstring issue of his own, may be able to rejoin the competition, and Adebayo has a strong argument for being preferred over Jacob Brown in the final third.
When it comes to new fitness issues, Postecoglou will feel sorry for Edwards since the Australian’s options on the left flank have been further limited by Manor Solomon, who is reportedly out for two months with a ruptured meniscus.
Ivan Perisic (ACL), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Alfie Whiteman (ankle), Rodrigo Bentancur (knee), and Giovani Lo Celso (thigh) greet Solomon in the treatment room, which is also home to Brennan Johnson’s hamstring issue and Bryan Gil, who is reportedly back in training after having surgery on his groin.
However, Postecoglou’s recognizable starting lineup won’t be significantly impacted by Solomon’s illness, and Richarlison should keep feeding Son from the left side after their productive linkup last weekend.
