Tottenham vs Aston Villa – LIVE!
After the setback of their 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace last weekend, Tottenham bid to get back on track in the Premier League when they host Aston Villa. Spurs followed up that loss at Palace with an impressive 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, but Ange Postecoglou’s side have struggled for consistency this season and will kick off all the way down in 10th place.
Villa have made a flying start under Unai Emery and a win will take them third behind Liverpool and Manchester City. Even at this early stage in the season, defeat would be a major blow for Spurs and their top-four ambitions. But victory would move them within two points of Arsenal and could kickstart their campaign.
This is a huge game for both sides at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Heung-min Son returns from injury for Spurs. In-form Jhon Duran will be targeting more goals for Villa. Follow all the action LIVE with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!
Tottenham team news: Son returns
Aston Villa team news: Emery names unchanged XI
Kick-off: 2pm GMT | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
How to watch: Sky Sports
14:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
31 min: Villa take the lead through Morgan Rogers.
14:31 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
30 min: Villa corner as Ramsey’s effort is deflected.
Vicario deals with the ball initially but the ball is sent back in and Onana rises highest to meet it but sees his effort hit the post.
14:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
27 min: Ollie Watkins gives away a free-kick but avoids a yellow card despite pulling back Sarr.
14:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
It’s not been a classic but Spurs are beginning to grow into the game, control the ball and threaten the Villa goal.
The visitors won’t mind too much if the hosts push on and open up space for the counter, though.
14:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
24 min: Free-kick to Villa as Sarr brings down Rogers.
14:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
22 min: Rodrigo Bentancur tries his luck again, he gets a bit closer this time but the effort wasn’t really troubling Emi Martinez.
14:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
20 min: Sarr’s effort from range is deflected goalwards by Johnson who was offside in any event.
14:19 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
18 min: Rodrigo Bentancur shoots over following a decent spell of pressure from Tottenham.
14:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
17 min: Johnson does well to win a corner for Spurs after Kulusevski overhit the pass to him.
The set-piece is played short but Villa eventually clear their lines.
14:16 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
It’s been a cagey start here, as both teams search for some rhythm.
The biggest cheer so far has been for Destiny Udogie’s late challenge on Matty Cash, who is public enemy No1 today after injuring Bentancur in the corresponding fixture last season.
14:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
13 min: Son lifts the ball into the box but Dominic Solanke mistimes his header. Half a chance that.
14:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
13 min: Jacob Ramsey is penalised for a foul on Pedro Porro, resulting in a Tottenham free-kick.
14:12 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
11 min: Close!
Aston Villa almost get caught playing out from the back as Brennan Johnson intercepts a pass from Emi Martinez but can’t keep the ball in play.
14:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
9 min: Game has settled down now, Spurs pressing well from the front but Villa do carry a threat going forward.
14:06 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
5 min: Pedro Porro has Spurs’ first attempt of the game but he blazes the ball over as he ran on to Son’s deflected cross.
14:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
3 min: Decent opening for Villa as Lucas Digne looks to pick out Ollie Watkins but the striker can’t make contact with the ball.
14:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
2 min: First attempt of the game is for Villa but Morgan Rogers shoots over the bar.
14:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
1 min: Loads of possession for Spurs so far, pushing Villa back into their own half.
14:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
We are underway in this Premier League clash.
13:56 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Players walk through the tunnel and out onto the pitch.
Time for the player handshakes and then kick-off.
13:51 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Ange Postecoglou couldn’t hide his delight at welcoming back captain Son Heung-min after a three-game absence.
“Great, last time he played here he scored a couple of times. Great to have him back.”
13:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
There’s a good case that this is Spurs’ best possible XI at the moment. James Maddison remains a key player but Spurs have tended to look more functional with Pape Matar Sarr in the side.
Plus, the Senegalese’s running power could be important against an Aston Villa side who are full of energy in the middle of the park. Rodrigo Bentancur is less tenancious than Yves Bissouma but I think the Uruguayan brings more poise and control to the No6 role.
13:43 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Under 20 minutes to go until kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Two teams with Champions League qualification hopes, this should be an entertaining game.
13:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Aston Villa have won on their last two visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, should they make it three in a row they’ll move above Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League table.
That’s quite the incentive for Unai Emery who celebrates his 53rd birthday today.
13:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Tottenham have been inconsistent in the Premier League so far this season, winning four and losing four of their opening nine games.
Just the one defeat at home though.
13:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Well, that’s the analysis on Manchester United appointing Ruben Amorim covered.
Perhaps they’ll shift attention towards today’s 2pm kick-off.
13:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Here are the pre-match thoughts of the Aston Villa manager.
“It is a very difficult match. The style they have is so, so strong. They have, individually, very good players.
Of course, it is a very motivating match, very exciting match for our supporters, for us, for me as a coach, the players, the club. It is a really, really great match on Sunday.”
13:06 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Aston Villa are quietly going about their business this season. They’re unbeaten in the Premier League since losing to Arsenal in August, stretching back seven games.
13:01 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Cristian Romero has made it for Spurs after he emerged as a doubt due to coming off early against Man City in midweek.
He will be partnered in defence by Radu Dragusin who is making just his second Premier League start of the season.
12:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Unai Emery has named an unchanged side from Aston Villa’s last Premier League game – the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth eight days ago.
That means Jhon Duran is among the substitutes as Ollie Watkins leads the line.
12:52 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The Tottenham team shows three changes from the side that started against Man City in midweek.
Son Heung-min, Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro all return as Timo Werner and Archie Gray drop to the bench whilst Micky van de Ven misses out through injury.
12:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Maatsen, Carlos, Mings, Kamara, Philogene, Buendia, Bailey, Duran
12:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Tottenham XI: Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Udogie; Bentancur, Sarr, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Son (c).
Substitutes: Forster, Davies, Gray, Bissouma, Bergvall, Maddison, Moore, Werner, Richarlison.
12:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
All the team news from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is coming up.
The hosts are set to welcome back captain Son Heung-min but will be without Micky van de Ven, whilst the visitors have midfielder Ross Barkley unavailable for selection.
12:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Ange Postecoglou has heaped praise on his opposite number Unai Emery as the pair prepare to do battle in North London.
“Yeah, great appointment. But it shouldn’t surprise anyone, he was an outstanding manager before he got there.
“He’s done an outstanding job and another cautionary tale about writing people off because when he was at Arsenal, people were quick to be dismissive of him.
“Lots of other people’s memories have faded.”
12:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
In a huge boost for Tottenham, captain Son Heung-min is with the squad for today’s game against Aston Villa.
12:19 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Despite the five-point gap between the two sides at the start of play, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is wary of the threat posed by Tottenham.
“Tottenham is playing really very well. They deserve more points than they have now.
“They played on Wednesday against Manchester City at home and they played with a lot of players who are going to play on Sunday.
“It is a very difficult match. The style they have is so, so strong. They have, individually, very good players.”
12:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The Tottenham squad have arrived ahead of the big game.
12:08 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Tottenham start the day in 10th but victory will lift them up to 7th – above Brighton by virtue of a superior goal difference.
12:01 , Giuseppe Muro
Head to head history and results
Tottenham wins: 78
Draws: 36
Aston Villa wins: 60
12:00 , Giuseppe Muro
Spurs are up against it here. Villa are one of the form teams in the division and have the firepower to punish a leaky Spurs defence, which has just been made weaker with the expected absence of Van de Ven.
Spurs won 4-0 at Villa Park last season, in one of the most eyecatching results of Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge, but that ended a run of three defeats against Villa, two of which came at home. That trend should continue on Sunday.
Aston Villa to win, 3-1.
11:53 , Giuseppe Muro
Ross Barkley is out for a couple of weeks because of a minor injury.
The midfielder is Villa’s only absentee.
11:47 , Giuseppe Muro
Tottenham are set to welcome back captain Heung-min Son.
Son has missed three of the last four Premier League games, including last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
But Postecoglou said on Friday: “Sonny has sort of trained today. If he gets through training tomorrow [Saturday], he should be okay.”
Micky van de Ven is expected to be out until the November international break with the hamstring injury that forced him off in Wednesday’s 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Manchester City. Radu Dragusin is expected to be handed a run of games in his place.
“The boys worked out the other night,” Postecoglou said, referring to Wednesday.
“The main one out of that is Micky. He has strained a hamstring. It is not too serious, but probably after the international break for him.
“The other ones who are a bit sore [are Cristian] Romero and [Timo] Werner. But at the moment there is still a chance for the weekend.”
11:41 , Giuseppe Muro
TV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Sky Go app.
11:40 , Giuseppe Muro
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Tottenham vs Aston Villa!
It’s a huge clash in the Premier League, as Spurs bid to build on Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win over Manchester City and boost their top-four hopes.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 2pm GMT from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
