A bumper Gameweek 34 kicks off with two sides vying for Europa League spots, as Southampton welcome Tottenham to St Mary’s Stadium for the lunchtime clash. The hosts succumbed to a 2-1 loss away to Stoke City last weekend but will be looking to get one over former boss Mauricio Pochettino, who makes the trip to the south coast off the back of 3-1 victory at Newcastle.
Harry Kane recovered from a two-match goalless patch with a late goal against the Magpies, boosting his tally to 20 for the campaign. The Fantasy Premier League’s most popular recruit has registered more shots on target (five) than any other forward in the past two Gameweeks. Kane starts to give those who benched or even sold the Spurs asset a nervous few hours. Meanwhile, Pochettino is able to welcome back skipper Hugo Lloris in goal but is without the services of Danny Rose through injury and Paulinho, who is reportedly attending the birth of his child. Ben Davies earns a rare start, while Ryan Mason is recalled to the starting XI.
The Saints have yo-yoed in recent weeks, with each home victory followed by defeat on the road over the last four. Graziano Pelle failed to net at the Britannia Stadium but, having scored in his previous home appearance, will fancy his chances against a Spurs rearguard that’s kept just one clean sheet in their last ten outings. Elsewhere, Southampton’s high ownership defenders have kept out their opponents in 11 of 17 home matches this term – a statistic that will give some comfort to those without Kane for this encounter.
The Saints make just one change, as Ronald Koeman recalls James Ward-Prowse with Dusan Tadic dropping to the bench. Toby Alderweireld is fit to start in the holding midfield role, despite being stretchered off at Stoke.
