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

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to open the new season with three successive Premier League victories for just the second time in 12 years, when they host newly-promoted Watford on Sunday.

The Hornets, meanwhile, have a dismal away record in London, winning just two of their last 22 league games in the capital and failing to win in each of their last 10.

Match preview

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Nuno Espirito Santo has made an assured start to life in the Tottenham dugout, claiming three wins and three clean sheets from four matches across all competitions.

Successive 1-0 Premier League victories against Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers were followed by a comfortable 3-0 win against Pacos de Ferreira in their Europa Conference League playoff on Thursday night.

Spurs fans were delighted to see club legend Harry Kane in the starting lineup for the first time this season, following the talismanic striker's confirmation that he is to stay in North London this summer.

Kane captained the side and made an instant impact, scoring a brace in the first 34 minutes. Vitorino Antunes's 70th-minute own goal wrapped up the victory as the Lilywhites overturned their 1-0 first-leg deficit to reach the group stage.

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With Kane's transfer saga finished, for now, Nuno will be fully focused on what could prove to be a challenging run of fixtures over the next couple of months, with league games against London rivals Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham United, as well as a clash against Manchester United.

Firstly though, they must face newly-promoted Watford this weekend, a side who they have lost to just once in their last 16 league meetings, going down 2-1 at Vicarage Road in September 2018.

Indeed, Spurs have an impressive record against newly promoted teams, suffering defeat in just one of their last 27 home league games, with that loss coming against Nuno's Wolves side in December 2018.

Claiming all three points on Sunday will see Nuno become just the second Tottenham manager in the club's history to win each of his first three league games in charge, after Arthur Rowe did so back in August 1949.

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Watford began life back in the top flight with an impressive 3-2 victory against Aston Villa on the opening weekend, though they were quickly brought back down to earth when they suffered a 2-0 away defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion last Saturday.

Xisco Munoz's men did, however, bounce back from their defeat on the South Coast with a narrow 1-0 League Cup victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday, with Ashley Fletcher's 86th-minute winner rewarding the Hornets with a third-round tie against Championship outfit Stoke City next month.

After conceding four goals in their first two games, the Hornets boss was pleased that his side kept a clean sheet in midweek and showed signs of improvement defensively.

Improvements away from home are now required for Watford if they are to stay clear of the relegation zone this season. The 'Orns have lost each of their last seven Premier League away games, failing to score on five occasions during this run.

Watford also have a poor record away at Tottenham; despite winning their first three away league matches against Spurs between 1982 and 1985, the Hornets have since lost nine of their last 10 league visits.

They did, however, come close to ending this run when they last visited the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Dele Alli scored a late equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw for the hosts in October 2019. Watford impressed on this occasion and Munoz will need a similar performance from his side if they are to have any chance of success on Sunday.

Team News

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After Kane starred for 73 minutes on Thursday night, the 28-year-old is in line to make his first start in the Premier League this weekend, with Steven Bergwijn set to drop out from the side that faced Wolves.

Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura are expected to join Kane in a three-man attack, while Alli could keep his place in an advanced midfield role, playing just in front of Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Hugo Lloris, Sergio Reguilon and Japhet Tanganga are all set to return to the starting lineup after being rested in midweek, while club-record signing Cristian Romero will be hoping he can start his first league game for Spurs ahead of either Davinson Sanchez or Eric Dier.

Joe Rodon and Cameron Carter-Vickers will both be absent due to injuries, while Tanguy Ndombele will not be involved in the squad amid speculation surrounding his future.

As for Watford, midfielders Juraj Kucka (leg injury) and Nathaniel Chalobah (illness) will both be assessed ahead of the trip to North London, while forward Joao Pedro is ruled out as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

Munoz made seven changes in Tuesday's win over Crystal Palace and is set to revert back to the side that played away at Brighton last week.

The Hornets boss praised Danny Rose for his work ethic after the left-back made his debut in midweek, and the former Spurs defender could therefore be in line to start ahead of Adam Masina.

Tom Cleverley could return to the centre of midfield and start alongside summer signings Imran Louza and Peter Etebo, while new recruit Moussa Sissoko – who has joined on a permanent deal from Spurs – is not expected to make his debut on Sunday.

Star man Ismaila Sarr is also set to return after being rested on Tuesday and the winger will likely join Ken Sema and Emmanuel Dennis up front.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Tanganga, Romero, Dier, Reguilon; Hojbjerg, Skipp, Dele; Lucas, Kane, Son

Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Rose; Cleverley, Etebo, Louza; Sarr, Dennis, Sema

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Watford

Tottenham are on a high after a bright start in the Premier League as well as progression in Europe, and another positive result is to be expected this weekend.

Spurs have an impressive record against Watford and we can see them extending this run with a routine victory on home soil.