Follow live coverage of Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City

Tim Sherwood
Time Sherwood [Reuters]

Tottenham Hotspur face Stoke City in the last Premier League fixture of 2013 on Sunday at White Hart Lane.

Where to Watch

Kick-off is set for 4:00pm GMT. Catch the highlights of the game on Match of the Day 2 on BBC One and BBC One HD at 10:30pm GMT.

Overview

The Spurs's last game ended in a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day, which was Tim Sherwood's first game since his appointment as manger was confirmed. The north London club are currently eighth in the table with 31 points, having witnessed an inconsistent season coupled with the sacking of former manager Andre Villas-Boas this month.

The Spurs have failed to win their last four league games at home and have only won a total of three out of nine matches at White Hart Lane in the league from the start of the season. Sherwood will be hoping to end 2013 with all the three points and gain confidence as a visit to Old Trafford looms in the New Year.

Mark Hughes will be hoping for his side to bounce back from humiliating 5-1 defeat during their last away trip to Newcastle United. The game saw Stoke reduced to nine men just before half-time following the dismissal of Glenn Whelan and Marc Wilson.

Jonathan Walters
Jonathan Walters [Reuters] Reuters

The Potters are 12<sup>th in the league table with 21 points and a win could propel them into the top half of the table to 10<sup>th place. Stoke will be hoping to replicate the form that saw them snatch a win against Aston Villa and Chelsea in their previous wins in the league and end the year on a high.

What Managers Say

Tim Sherwood: "We know how important it is that we get three points. It is up to us to break Stoke down and if we can show the quality in the final third that we know we have within our squad, it will stand us in good stead to achieve the win."

Mark Hughes: "We are exasperated by the events of Boxing Day, but we have another game coming our way very quickly which I think is a good thing for us. Obviously we will be without a few players now, but we still have players who have the quality to go to Tottenham and cause them a lot of problems."

Form Guide

Tottenham Hotspur

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): D W L L W
  • Last Result: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

Stoke City

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): L W L D W
  • Last Result: Newcastle United 5-1 Stoke City

Team News

Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur players celebrate first goal against Fulham. [Reuters] Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur

  • Injured: Sandro (calf), Younes Kaboul (thigh), Andros Townsend (hamstring), Jan Vertonghen (ankle)
  • Doubtful: Jermain Defoe (hamstring), Mousa Dembele (ankle), Aaron Lennon (stomach)
  • Suspended: Kyle Walker

Probable Line-Up: Lloris; Naughton, Chiriches, Dawson, Rose; Capoue, Paulinho; Sigurdsson, Holtby, Eriksen; Soldado

Stoke City

  • Injured: Asmir Begovic (broken finger), Robert Huth (knee), Matthew Etherington (back)
  • Doubtful: N/A
  • Suspended: Glenn Whelan, Marc Wilson

Probable Line-Up: Sorensen; Cameron, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters; Arnautovic, Adam, N'Zonzi, Assaidi; Walters, Crouch