Double blow for Spurs’ Anfield visit
TOTTENHAM Hotspur will be without Eric Dier and Serge Aurier for tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Liverpool, manager Mauricio Pochettino has said.
Dier suffered a groin injury in England’s 5-0 win over Czech Republic last week and was forced to withdraw from Gareth Southgate’s squad for their visit to Montenegro.
“He (Dier) has been ruled out. It’s not a big issue but he needs to recover from the problem he suffered against the Czech Republic with the national team,” Pochettino said yesterday.
“One week, 10, days, two weeks. We’ll see how it is going to improve. He was running today but we need to wait for the evolution (of the injury).
“Him, Harry Winks and Serge Aurier are going to be out for the weekend.”
Midfielder Winks is continuing on-field rehabilitation after a groin injury, while right-back Aurier is undergoing assessment after sustaining a hamstring problem on international duty with Ivory Coast.
Third-placed Spurs are facing a battle to hang on to a top-four spot, having suffered three defeats in their last four matches.
Pochettino believes the international break came at the wrong time for his players.
“It’s a bad thing because after the defeat against Southampton, the last feeling is not good and three weeks without competing becomes a little bit boring,” the manager added.
“But that is the situation, we need to accept it and we cannot change that. I’m happy that we are going to compete Sunday and we are going to start a very busy period until the end. I am happy when we are competing.”
Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool are looking to preserve their Premier League lead and stay unbeaten at home this season, while Spurs are chasing a first win at Anfield since May 2011.
Meanwhile, winger Callum Hudson-odoi will stay at Chelsea next season regardless of whether he signs a new contract at Stamford Bridge, manager Maurizio Sarri said yesterday.
Hudson-odoi, whose current deal expires at the end of next season, was linked with a move to Bayern Munich in January and reports have since indicated the player is still looking to leave Chelsea at the end of the campaign.
“I’m not able to say if he’s going to sign a new contract or not, but I think he will stay here with us in every case,” Sarri said. | Today: Fulham v Manchester City (2.30pm SA time kick-off); Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton, Burnley v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town, Leicester City v AFC Bournemouth, Manchester United v Watford (all 5pm); West Ham United v Everton (7.30pm) Tomorrow: Cardiff City v Chelsea (3.05pm); Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur (5.30pm)
Monday: Arsenal v Newcastle (9pm) Tuesday: Watford v Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United (both 8.45pm)