- Eriksen has scored four goals, added three assists in his last four PL games for Tottenham
- Spurs have yet to lose a game from a winning position, Man United are the only other PL team to do that
- No side has taken fewer points from London derbies this season than Fulham’s six
Tottenham welcome Fulham to White Hart Lane on Saturday (Watch live on NBCSN, 7:45 a.m. ET and online via Live Extra) as the London rivals clash with both teams in need of three points.
Spurs are still in the hunt for a top four spot — seven points off fourth placed Arsenal with four games to go — but know they can’t afford to slip up between now and the end of the season. As for Fulham, they have won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since October and are dragging themselves towards safety.
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Tim Sherwood saw his side battle back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at West Bromwich Albion last weekend, yet Sherwood knows his team must do better against a fired-up Fulham. Felix Magath has worked wonders at Craven Cottage but isn’t taking anything for granted, even though the Cottagers are just two points behind Norwich City after they beat the Canaries 1-0 last Saturday.
In team news Tottenham will be without the injured Roberto Soldado, Etienne Capoue, Jan Vertonghen, Kyle Walker, Michael Dawson and Erik Lamela. Fulham’s on loan midfielder Lewis Holtby won’t be allowed to play against his parent club, while record signing Kostas Mitroglou is out injured with his long-term knee injury.
What they’re saying
Felix Magath on Fulham’s recent revival: “It’s not the time for celebrating because our aim is to stay in the league. You see, there are a lot of days between the time we can celebrate and now. Now we go to Tottenham and have a very tough game ahead and so we have to try to win. Nobody can be safe. If you realise the results, especially Sunderland who were close to getting a win at Manchester City, at the end of the season almost everything is possible. Everybody has a chance, so we can go to Tottenham and try to win.”
Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood on Spurs keeping their focus: “They’re fighting for their lives and we know it will be difficult. But as I keep saying, our need is as great as theirs. There are no easy games but it’s always been the aim to just get as many points as we can and finish up as high as we possibly can, so we’ll continue in that vein on Saturday.”
Prediction
Spurs need to stay in touch with the top four and if they’re going to have any chance of pulling off a shock late surge into the Champions League spots they need to beat Fulham. I think the Cottagers have turned the corner and are now hard to beat and capable of recording shutouts. My pick would be a draw here, as Fulham will frustrate Tottenham in their own backyard.
