Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Aston Villa - prediction, team news, lineups

Seeking to consolidate their hold on sixth spot in the Premier League table, Tottenham Hotspur welcome Aston Villa to the capital for Wednesday evening's top-flight battle.

The Lilywhites eased to a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, while Villa's rut continued with a 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Match preview

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The team honours may have passed Tottenham by for the 13th season running, but Harry Kane is still after another individual accolade of his own, as the England captain took his tally to 22 Premier League goals for the season with his side's opener on the stroke of half time against Wolves on Sunday.

Kane finds himself level with Mohamed Salah - who also made the net ripple in gameweek 36 - as the race for the Golden Boot hots up, and a rare goal from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg wrapped up the three points for Tottenham in the 62nd minute against Nuno Espirito Santo's side.

Amid increasing speculation surrounding the imminent appointment of Jose Mourinho's successor - with new names being linked with the job week after week - Ryan Mason has guided Spurs to three victories from his four Premier League games in charge as the Lilywhites lie sixth in the rankings, but only ahead of West Ham United on goal difference.

Fifth-placed Liverpool could move out of sight should they get the better of Burnley in midweek, but Spurs will be desperate to sign off with a positive result at home for the final time this season, and the hosts can boast six wins from their last seven league games at their headquarters.

Spurs ought to be lifted by the voices of 10,000 fans cheering them on as coronavirus restrictions ease - although a fair few of them may simply be there to protest against Daniel Levy - and a fourth home win on the bounce will be no less than their supporters desire when an out-of-sorts Villa pay a visit.

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The long-awaited return of talisman Jack Grealish did little to lift Villa's spirits at Selhurst Park, as Dean Smith's side slumped to a 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace, despite going into the half-time interval with a 2-1 lead.

John McGinn and Anwar El Ghazi struck either side of Christian Benteke's header to propel Villa into the ascendancy, but Wilfried Zaha equalised before Tyrick Mitchell's chested winner settled the tie in the 84th minute, and Grealish could not impact the game during a 30-minute substitute cameo.

The West Midlands outfit now run the risk of ending a previously promising season with a whimper, as two defeats and a draw from their last three Premier League outings have seen Villa slump to 11th in the standings - four points behind 10th-placed Leeds United and six adrift of Arsenal.

Had Villa been able to hold on to a top-half place with Grealish fit and firing on all cylinders we will never know, but with only two wins to boast from their last 12 top-flight outings, there can be no denying that the attacker's absence has played a significant part in the visitors' downturn in form.

Spurs eased to a 2-0 win over Villa when the sides met back in March, and the West Midlands outfit have suffered defeat in 12 of their last 13 meetings with the capital side - the outlier in that sequence being a 1-0 victory under the tutelage of ex-Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood in 2015.

Team News

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Tottenham boss Mason has effectively ruled Ben Davies out for the remainder of the season with a calf problem, and his fellow full-back Serge Aurier will need to be assessed after struggling with groin pain.

The hosts have no selection concerns otherwise, and Mason could very well opt to name an unchanged XI following a professional showing against Wolves, although Harry Winks is pushing for inclusion over Giovani Lo Celso.

Kane will be out to score for the fifth game in a row against Villa, and Sunday's game will also mark his 400th appearance in an illustrious, albeit trophyless career so far.

Villa captain Grealish may be deemed ready for a start after appearing from the bench against Palace, but with three goals in his last five Premier League games, El Ghazi will not want to be dropped.

Matty Cash has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, but Smith has eased concerns over Tyrone Mings's shin injury sustained against Everton, and the England international should demote Kortney Hause back down to the bench here.

Smith is hopeful that Morgan Sanson will return from a knee problem before the campaign concludes, and while Wednesday's game may come too soon for him, Jacob Ramsey's place could still come under threat from Marvelous Nakamba.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Tanganga, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Hojbjerg, Lo Celso; Bale, Alli, Son; Kane

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Luiz, Nakamba; Traore, McGinn, Grealish; Watkins

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Aston Villa

With Grealish potentially returning to the team in the capital, Villa will have that extra edge going forward, and Tottenham's defence is not exactly impenetrable.

However, Mason will be determined to sign off his short-lived time in charge in perfect fashion as Spurs bid to confirm qualification for Europe, so we cannot look past a comfortable home win.