Tottenham Hotspur predicted lineup vs Watford – Premier League

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Tottenham Hotspur travel to Watford’s Vicarage Road for their first Premier League outing of 2022.

Antonio Conte is yet to taste a top flight defeat since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo at the Spurs helm. However, his individual record against Watford is surprisingly flawed.

As well as losing 4-1 with Chelsea on his most recent visit to the Hertfordshire ground (the manager’s joint-heaviest defeat in England’s first tier), Conte has conceded more Premier League goals against the Hornets (ten) than any other team.

Here’s the XI Tottenham’s boss may deploy to rectify that record.

Hugo Lloris (GK) – Across eight top flight appearances against Watford, Tottenham’s long-term number one has never suffered a loss (W7 D1).

Davinson Sanchez (CB) – In the nine Premier League matches Sanchez has started this season, Spurs have conceded just six goals. Yet, Tottenham have shipped an average of 1.8 per game otherwise.

Eric Dier (CB) – No player has progressed the ball further towards the opposition goal (accumulatively) for Spurs than their deep-lying centre half this term.

Ben Davies (CB) – Tottenham’s Wales international has more goals for his country (one) than he has managed in his past four seasons of Premier League football.

Pierre-Emile HojbjergPierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has never lost against Watford in seven games / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

Emerson (RWB) – The former Real Betis full-back ended a run of more than 2,100 top flight minutes of football without a direct goal contribution with an assist in Tottenham’s previous home match.

Oliver Skipp (CM) – While on loan with Norwich City last season, Skipp lost home and away to Watford by the same 1-0 scoreline Tottenham recorded in their favour against the Hornets in August.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM) – The Denmark international has gone more games unbeaten against Watford (seven) than any other club in his career.

Sergio Reguilon (LWB) – Despite being hooked halfway through Tottenham’s frustrating draw away to Southampton in midweek, Matt Doherty’s painful predictability on his unnatural side may afford Reguilon a reprieve this weekend.

Lucas Moura (RW) – With four goals and as many assists already under Conte, Lucas is averaging a direct goal contribution every 77 minutes – compared to one every 458 minutes under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Harry Kane (ST) – When Conte admitted dropping Kane was ‚a bit difficult‘ at the start of December, Tottenham’s forward had only netted one Premier League goal all season – now on a scoring streak of three games, it’s all but impossible to leave out the England captain.

Son Heung-min (LW) – Tottenham’s top scorer this season provided the winning goal on his first and most recent appearances against Watford.

You can read 90min’s preview of Watford vs Tottenham here.