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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
TOTTENHAM  Friedel Walker, Gallas, King, Assou-Ekotto Lennon, Modric, Parker, Bale Van der Vaart Adebayor | SUNDERLAND  Westwood O'Shea, Bramble, Brown, Bardsley Larsson, Vaughan, Colback, Richardson Sessegnon Wickham |
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will be forced to re-jig his central defensive pairing in the wake of Younes Kaboul’s dubious sending off against Stoke last time out.
The Frenchman’s one-match suspension means captain Ledley King is likely to be given every chance to prove he is fit enough to partner William Gallas at the heart of the north Londoners’ backline.
Regarding his attack, Redknapp must decide whether to start with Jermain Defoe, who played and scored against Shamrock Rovers in the midweek Europa League tie, but will probably continue with Rafael van der Vaart in support of Emmanuel Adebayor.
Despite James McLean’s eyecatching display in Sunderland’s stirring comeback win over Blackburn last Sunday, boss Martin O’Neill is likely to stick with the same line-up which started that match as he prizes defensive solidity above all else at White Hart Lane.
Midfielder Craig Gardner and striker Nicklas Bendtner are also set to be included again after injuries, but both will probably start on the bench - although O'Neill may decide to omit Bendtner and club captain Lee Cattermole, who were both arrested on Friday. Both missed O'Neill's first game in charge, Bendtner with a groin strain and Cattermole who was serving a suspension.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Tottenham and Sunderland have met a total of 96 times in the league. The two sides boast 35 victories each, while there have been 26 draws.
- Prior to last weekend’s defeat away at Stoke, Tottenham had been on a run of eleven matches unbeaten in the Premier League, and six consecutive victories.
- Prior to their victory over Blackburn last weekend, Sunderland had only won one of their previous nine matches in the Premier League.
- Tottenham have only lost one of their last 23 Premier League home matches.
- Sunderland have won only one of their seven away matches in the Premier League this season.
- Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart have scored a combined 14 goals in Tottenham’s 14 Premier League matches this season.
- Sebastian Larsson (pictured) has scored more direct free kicks than any other player in the Premier League over the last five years. He has three to his name already this season.
- Tottenham are unbeaten in all nine of the Premier League matches in which captain Ledley King has played this season.
Sunderland will start the match in confident mood after victory over Blackburn last weekend, but a Tottenham side itching to set the record straight after a controversial defeat at Stoke last time out will overwhelm them with superior pace and guile on route to a comfortable win.
Editor's Prediction
Tottenham 2-0 Sunderland 
