Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Norwich City - prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to record a third Premier League home win on the trot, Tottenham Hotspur welcome Norwich City to North London on Sunday afternoon.

The Lilywhites saw off Brentford 2-0 in midweek, while Dean Smith's side could not get one over 10-man Newcastle United in a game that finished 1-1.

Match preview

© Reuters

Swapping humiliating Europa Conference League nights and frozen Turf Moor pitches for a vibrant Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Antonio Conte oversaw yet another Premier League home victory as his side dispatched Brentford 2-0 on Thursday night.

Sergi Canos's own goal in the 12th minute of the contest put Spurs into the ascendancy before Son Heung-min finished off a sweeping counter-attack for 2-0, with Tottenham's first-choice XI showing the fringe players who were embarrassed in Slovenia how it is done.

Having now taken seven points from a possible nine in the Premier League since taking over, Conte has suddenly propelled Spurs right back into European contention as they lie sixth in the table - just one point below bitter rivals Arsenal with a game in hand.

The Lilywhites have also recorded three home wins on the bounce in all competitions since the Premier League and Serie A winner took charge - scoring at least two goals on each occasion - which is no mean feat considering Harry Kane's continuing struggles to find his shooting boots.

With only two points separating them from fourth-placed West Ham United, things are starting to look up for Tottenham - domestically at least - but the same can arguably be said for Norwich and Dean Smith.

© Reuters

Despite boasting an extra man for 81 minutes after Ciaran Clark saw red for Newcastle, Norwich were unable to make that advantage count as their basement battle with the Magpies ended in a 1-1 stalemate at St James' Park.

The 10 men of Newcastle rallied and took the lead just after the hour mark, with Callum Wilson tucking away his penalty following Billy Gilmour's handball, but Canaries talisman Teemu Pukki finished with aplomb to rescue a point for his side.

Now unbeaten in four Premier League games - including all three during Smith's reign so far - Norwich have at least climbed off the bottom of the table and occupy 19th spot, but they sit three points adrift of safety, and 18th-placed Burnley do have a game in hand.

Failure to beat the Premier League's basement side with an extra man for the majority of the game is alarming, though, and Norwich travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having conceded a league-high 17 goals in away games this season.

Norwich did stun Tottenham on penalties in the capital during the fifth round of the 2019-20 FA Cup, but they have lost three of their last four Premier League games with Spurs and most recently prevailed away from home in this fixture back in 2012.

Team News

© Reuters

Conte has conceded that Giovani Lo Celso will not be ready to return from injury this weekend, and Cristian Romero's hamstring problem will keep him out until 2022.

Dane Scarlett is also struggling with an ankle issue but was never going to come into contention for this game, with Conte poised to name an unchanged XI from the Brentford victory.

Kane has scored from the spot in his last three Premier League games with Norwich and could now become the first player in the history of the competition to register four times in a row from 12 yards against a single opponent.

As for Norwich, Milot Rashica is unlikely to be ready before 2022 due to a groin problem, but Todd Cantwell is raring to go after a COVID-19 scare.

Midfielder Mathias Normann will not be fit for this game either, and the Norwegian joins Sam Byram and Christoph Zimmermann in the visitors' treatment room.

Cantwell could now come into consideration for a start on the left over Christos Tzolis, but other than that it should be as you were for the Canaries.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Reguilon; Lucas, Kane, Son

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Krul; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Williams; McLean, Rupp, Gilmour; Sargent, Pukki, Cantwell

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Norwich City

Norwich's new-found resilience under Smith has been welcomed, but having failed to beat a 10-man Newcastle team, they will not harbour hopes of getting one over a full Tottenham contingent.

The Lilywhites are still finding their feet under Conte but are already benefitting from his no-nonsense approach, and this should be a routine triumph for the capital outfit.

Previews by email