We’ve got a battle in the top four in the Premier League Wednesday, and it’s with two teams that few would have expected to be in such a clash coming into the season. Sure, maybe some fans could have seen Tottenham Hotspur spending some time in fourth place this season, but facing off with a Leicester City team that’s in second place, and has spent a fair bit of time on top of the table? No one saw that coming.
Tottenham vs. Leicester City 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
It’s a top-four battle in the Premier League as Spurs look to try to knock off the Foxes in an effort to climb further up the table.
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But, that’s exactly what we’re looking at this season, and thanks to the wacky nature of the Premier League it’s been a fun ride. That ride should certainly carry over into this match as two of the most entertaining teams in the league square off. Making things more interesting is that this is their second meeting this week, having just played on Sunday in the FA Cup -- and with a replay of that match scheduled for a week from today thanks to their first meeting ending in a draw. With Mauricio Pochettino and Claudio Ranieri both being cagey managers, seeing what they do to try to keep their now-familiar opponents off-balance will be interesting to watch.
Key player -- Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)
Mahrez’s skill set out wide is one that most teams in the Premier League have struggled with this season, and there’s not a whole lot of reason to think that Spurs will be much different. Their left back, Danny Rose, has often struggled against trickier players who move well on the ball like Mahrez does. They have an excellent defensive midfielder in Eric Dier to help slow Mahrez down when he cuts inside, but the Algerian has shown the ability to isolate on one way of playing -- mostly just staying wide or cutting inside instead of mixing it up -- depending on who he’s facing for the greatest positive impact for Leicester. Regardless, it’s going to be a long day for Tottenham to try to keep Mahrez at bay.
Key matchup -- Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) vs. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Arguably the two best-performing strikers in the league right now, Kane and Vardy will be eager to come out of this match proving which man is the better English striker. They certainly have the talent to put on quite a show if they get into a proper strikers’ duel, and could turn this match into a football version of H.O.R.S.E. They also both provide a lot off the ball and out of possession, so it’s not just going to be their shooting that these two players get judged on -- but you know people will eagerly compare any goals they score first and foremost.
Tottenham Hotspur injuries and suspensions
Out: Ryan Mason, Clinton N’Jie, Alex Pritchard In doubt: Moussa Dembélé
Leicester City injuries and suspensions
Out: Jeffrey Schlupp, Matty James In doubt: Jamie Vardy
Match Date/Time: Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. local
Venue: White Hart Lane, London
TV: Premier League Extra Time (U.S.), Sportsnet World (Canada)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada)
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