Premier League: Spurs and Fulham Have London Style

Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham

Arsenal may be top of the Premier League after five games but the rest of the London contingent is looking strong, with Tottenham Hotspur in third place and newly promoted Fulham in seventh.

And the two meet on Saturday afternoon in a mouth-watering clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw away to West Ham while Fulham pulled off another impressive result in midweek, beating an in form Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1.

The latest Premier League 2022 betting odds here at SBOTOP have moved Tottenham in to 19.00 to win the league, fourth favourites, and they have moved Fulham out to 4.00 to get relegated, also fourth favourites. While Spurs boss Antonio Conte might settle for a Champions League slot, I suspect his Fulham counterpart, Marco Silva might be aiming significantly higher than 17^th.

Talking Points

Kane vs Mitrovic

Fulham fans just love the idea that England centre forward Harry Kane is striving to keep up with their striker in the early stage of this campaign. Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored five goals already while Kane is one behind on four. Of course they are both trailing Manchester City’s scoring sensation, Erling Braut Haaland, but Mitrovic stands alone in second place in the top scorers chart, dispelling any thoughts that he may struggle to replicate his Championship form in the Premier League.

He scored his fifth of the campaign, sneaking in at the back post to set Fulham on the way to victory over Brighton on a night in which the high flying Seagulls would have gone top with a victory. Mitrovic is a fox in the box and a powerful header of the ball, not unlike his opposite number Kane.

The main difference between the two players, in terms of style, is that England captain Kane can operate in a deeper role and has a superb range of passing, as well as being one of the best finishers on the planet, from distance or in the six yard box and equally lethal with either foot. He scored his 200^th and 201^st career goals for Spurs against Nottingham Forest last week and almost certainly would have had another against West Ham on Wednesday night, had VAR not overturned a penalty decision given following an Aaron Cresswell handball.

His manager was furious…

Conte vs Silva

…and it is unbridled passion which has been a hallmark of Antonio Conte during a glittering career as a head coach. The 53 year old Italian has won four Scudettos as a manager and the Premier League with Chelsea in 2017. In the opposite dugout, at 45 years of age, Silva has time on his side. He won the Greek Superleague with Olimpiacos and the EFL Championship with Fulham last season. He has Premier League experience with Hull City, Watford and Everton and now manages a team which can compete, particularly after the deadline day signing of former Chelsea and Arsenal star Willian.

Conte is a master of grinding out results and Spurs overcame a spirited Nottingham Forest last week to make it three wins from five. They also beat Southampton and Wolves while drawing with London rivals Chelsea and West Ham. But Spurs relied on an own goal from Thilo Kehrer to take the lead against the Hammers before Tomas Soucek levelled the scores.

Kane is a world class striker and in Ivan Perisic and Dejan Kulusevski, who have two assists each, he has a good supply of crosses, but so far Spurs have been over reliant on their talisman and Conte must address that.

Fulham’s early Premier League 2022 results have been as good as they could have expected. After drawing 2-2 with Liverpool on the opening day of the campaign the Cottagers followed that up with a point against Wolves. Silva’s side has lost just once, a 2-1 reversal to Arsenal and that was sandwiched by wins over Brentford and Brighton.

Fulham’s start has certainly put more pressure on the likes of Everton and Brentford and Silva has the confidence in himself and his players to help the Cottagers to thrive.

History

Spurs have won 19 of the 35 encounters with Fulham since the turn of the century, eight have been drawn and the Cottagers have won eight as well. When the two teams met in the 2020/21 season, they drew 1-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and then Spurs took all three points in a 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage.

Betting Tip

Spurs are at a price of 1.43 to win and 4.07 to draw, while the Cottagers are at 6.95 to pull off another great result.

I think the hosts should have enough quality to beat the newcomers but Silva’s side will put up a good fight, as Liverpool discovered not so long ago.

 

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