Aston Villa v Tottenham predictions: Spurs can land a blow in top-four race

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Aston Villa v Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 5.30pm

Best bet

Tottenham
1pt 5-4 general

Team news

Aston Villa
Danny Ings was absent last week after becoming a father but is set to return along with Lucas Digne. Marvelous Nakamba, meanwhile, is out and Kortney House is a doubt.

Tottenham
Antonio Conte is set to welcome back Sergio Reguilon and Ryan Sessegnon but Japhet Tanganga and Oliver Skipp remain sidelined.

Match preview

Only eight matches remain for Tottenham in the Premier League this season but they are approaching the home straight in superb form and can add Aston Villa to their latest list of scalps when they visit Villa Park.

Having been 9-4 to achieve a top-four finish at the start of April, Spurs are now odds-on in places to make the Champions League places.

Their recent resurgence will have left many Arsenal fans fearful they could lose out on a place in the top four to their north London rivals, especially after the Gunners lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace on Monday, a day after Spurs spanked Newcastle 5-1.

That was Tottenham's fifth win in six league assignments and even in the game they lost as part of that run - a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United - they were somewhat unlucky.

Aston Villa backers would be quick to point out the strength of Tottenham's recent opponents has not been the greatest but it is hard to dispute that Antonio Conte has had a positive impact on the club.

Since the Italian's arrival, Tottenham have taken the third-most points in the Premier League and talisman Harry Kane in particular has looked sharp with 12 goals and six assists in the league this season.

The incentive in this contest is definitely with the visitors given Villa are clear of relegation but also highly unlikely to mount a challenge for any kind of European football.

And Steven Gerrard may find it difficult to motivate a group who are on a poor run of form.

Villa have lost each of their last three matches to West Ham, Arsenal and Wolves and although none of those sides should be considered easy opponents, Tottenham will provide as much of, if not more of, a threat in the Midlands.

Villa Park has also been far from a fortress this season.

Gerrard's side have recorded only five wins in 14 home league contests this term and they came against Southampton, Leicester, Brighton, Everton and Newcastle.

They have made life tough for some of the division's biggest hitters, limiting Liverpool and Manchester City to one-goal victories in December but those were nonetheless defeats and Villa could also come away from this fixture pointless.

Gerrard is sure to once again place emphasis on a disciplined defensive performance but Tottenham have the attacking armoury to pry open the Villa rearguard.

While Kane is excelling, his team-mate Heung-Min Son also finds himself among the Premier League's leading goalscorers this season with 14 strikes and six assists in 27 matches and Tottenham's attacking firepower should give them the edge.

Key stat

Tottenham have scored at least twice in each of their last six Premier League contests.

Inside info

Aston Villa

Penalty taker Danny Ings
Free-kick wizardPhilippe Coutinho
Set-piece aerial threatOllie Watkins
Card magnetTyrone Mings

Tottenham

Penalty taker Harry Kane
Free-kick wizard Eric Dier
Set-piece aerial threat Harry Kane
Card magnet Cristian Romero

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