Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has predicted that Tottenham’s visit to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City on Tuesday evening will end in a 1-1 draw.
Spurs travel to the Midlands looking to return to winning ways after a disappointing home draw against managerless West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
An early goal from Salomon Rondon pinned Spurs back before a late equaliser from Harry Kane rescued a point at Wembley.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men need a win against the Foxes if they are to keep pace at the top, with Arsenal’s last-gasp win against Burnley seeing them drop out of the top four.
Spurs’ visit to the King Power last season was a fruitful one, with four goals from Harry Kane seeing them run out 6-1 winners, but Merson does not see that happening again.
Merson has instead predicted that Spurs will again only take a point against Midlands opposition, and thinks the score will again end 1-1.
In his predictions on Sky Sports, Merson said: “A shocking result for Spurs on Saturday (against West Bromwich Albion). I just think with Tottenham that if teams do not have a go at them, they struggle. If you do not have a go at them and just sit back into shape, they do not have anybody who can break you down.
“Harry Winks is not one of those players who is going to put a ball through an eye of a needle, nor is Eric Dier and Dele Alli is better running off the ball. So they just have Christian Eriksen and if he has an off day, I just do not see where it happens for them.
“Tottenham slaughtered Leicester last season, absolutely ripped them to shreds, but I think Leicester will stay in their shape, sit back and make it tight for Spurs and then they will go from there, so I am going to go 1-1 again.”
OPINION
On paper, a trip to Leicester to face the former champions would seem a tougher ask than beating West Brom at home. However, Spurs’ away form this year has exceeded expectations, and they will still be confident of securing a positive result at the King Power. Kane’s return to goalscoring form against Dortmund and West Brom is a good sign, and Pochettino will also have Erik Lamela available after 13 months out with a hip injury. Whatever happens, it should be a cracking match between two teams who like to attack at speed.