EPL Result: Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Burnley

Tottenham Hotspur have lifted themselves up to sixth in the Premier League table after goals from Harry Kane and Erik Lamela helped secure a 2-1 win against Burnley this afternoon.

The game started in a lively fashion and Burnley came close to scoring the opening goal.

Good play from Kieran Trippier allowed him to whip in a deep cross to the back post, but Scott Arfield's volley went over the crossbar.

The encouraging start for Burnley soon dropped off and Spurs took control of the match by keeping hold of the ball.

Kane eventually gave Spurs the lead with a header from close range after getting on to the end of Nacer Chadli's cross.

Burnley grabbed an equaliser just three minutes later through Ashley Barnes, who received the ball from George Boyd on the edge of the box before smashing past Hugo Lloris and into the top corner of the net.

The exciting few minutes saw the game burst into life and Lamela added to the drama by curling in from 25 yards to give Spurs the lead at half time.

Following the restart, the visitors immediately went on the attack as Barnes fed Danny Ings. The striker was forced wide before he forced a save from Lloris.

The French keeper then had to deny Ings for a second time after the striker again combined with Barnes.

Spurs thought that they scored a third goal after 64 minutes, but the flag went up for offside and the goal was disallowed after Chadli converted Kane's pass from close range.

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EPL Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Burnley

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino could have striker Emmanuel Adebayor available for the match with Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

Adebayor has been absent in recent weeks through injury and personal reasons, but he has returned to London ahead of the fixture against the Clarets.

However, with Harry Kane continuing his hot streak in front of goal during the past seven days, the 30-year-old is unlikely to start at White Hart Lane.

Pochettino came in for criticism earlier in the season but three wins from five Premier League fixtures have taken Spurs to within four points of fourth-placed West Ham United.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche has revealed that striker Sam Vokes is scheduled to feature in the club's development squad but the Welshman won't be considered for a top-flight appearance until the start of next year.

Dyche is unlikely to tinker with his team after seeing them beat Southampton last weekend to extend their current run to 11 points from six games.

That run has taken the North-West club out of the relegation zone but with rivals Hull City and Queens Park Rangers playing at home, Burnley could find themselves back in the bottom three unless they earn a result in North London.

Tottenham Hotspur:
Form in Premier League: LWWLDW

Possible starting lineup: Lloris; Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Bentaleb, Mason; Eriksen, Kane, Lamela; Soldado

Burnley:

Recent form: WWDDLW

Possible starting lineup: Heaton; Mee, Shackell, Keane, Trippier; Boyd, Jones, Marney, Arfield; Barnes, Ings

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EPL Result: West Ham 0 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Defender Eric Dier's composed finish in injury time condemned West Ham United to a Premier League opening-day defeat as Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0 at Upton Park.

The home side set out to give their opponents little space in the opening stages of the game, and nearly caught out goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the first few minutes when Carlton Cole pressed down on goal.

On the half-hour mark, there was drama as Kyle Naughton was judged to have deliberately struck the ball with his hands in the Spurs box.

The 25-year-old was sent off, and Mark Noble stepped up to take the ensuing penalty, but his effort from 12 yards flew wide.

Nevertheless, West Ham were able to find their way back into the game towards the latter stages, as Ricardo Vaz Te fired just wide following a dangerous cross.

In the 53rd, Lloris had to be at his sharpest, pulling off a double save from the Hammers front line.

The home side found themselves a man down just a few minutes later when James Collins clashed with Emmanuel Adebayor and earned himself his second yellow of the game.

With both sides down to ten men, Christian Eriksen fired a dangerous shot from the resulting set piece, which just swerved over the bar.

In the 70th minute, Andros Townsend struck two quick chances in succession, both of which were thwarted by Adrian.

With Spurs on the ascendency, the Hammers found themselves with their backs to the wall for the remainder of the half, although Noble troubled Lloris after a surge from midfield.

Just as it seemed that the game would end all square, Dier, thrown upfield in an ambitious attempt to cause havoc in the Hammers box, raced onto a through-ball, rounded the keeper and slotted into the unguarded net to break the home crowd's hearts.

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NEWS: Aguero Set To Miss Month For City

Manchester City's leading scorer Sergio Aguero is likely to be sidelined for around a month due to a hamstring injury, manager Manuel Pellegrini has revealed.

The Argentina international, who recently missed eight matches with a calf problem, was forced off in the first half of City's 5-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League on Wednesday. "The doctor is seeing him - maybe one month, but we are not sure absolutely," Pellegrini told reporters.

The injury to Aguero, who has scored 26 goals this season, arrives at an unwelcome juncture in City's campaign, with the 2012 English champions having just taken over from Arsenal at the top of the league table.

He stands to miss the first leg of City's UEFA Champions League last 16 tie with Barcelona, as well as key league and FA Cup games against Chelsea. However, with City having already amassed 115 goals in all competitions this season, Pellegrini believes that his team can cope with Aguero's absence.

"It is very difficult. Sergio is a top player for us, but I think we can replace him," said the Chilean. "As with the other injury, we hope we can continue to do it. But, of course, he is a very important player for us. Sergio is just coming back from an injury -- one month that he couldn't play. All the other strikers - Alvaro Negredo, Edin Dzeko and now Stevan Jovetic - replace him."

Source: Fifa.com

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SPORTS: Tottenham Sacks Manager Andre Villas-Boas

Tottenham have sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas in the wake of Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool.

The defeat was the club’s worst at White Hart Lane in 16 years and left Spurs seventh in the Premier League – eight points behind leaders Arsenal.

Villas-Boas, 36, took over at Tottenham in July 2012.

“The club can announce that agreement has been reached with head coach Andre Villas-Boas for the termination of his services,” said a Spurs statement.

“The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties.”

Villas-Boas had come under increasing pressure in recent weeks as his side struggled to keep pace with the top four in the league.

His side lost 6-0 to Manchester City on 24 November and, despite a draw against Manchester United and wins at Fulham and Sunderland, the defeat by Liverpool proved the final straw for the Spurs hierarchy.

“We wish Andre well for the future,” added the Spurs statement. “We shall make a further announcement in due course.”

The early names being linked with replacing the Portuguese include current Russia boss and former England manager Fabio Capello, ex-Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo, Swansea boss Michael Laudrup and Tottenham’s current technical director Franco Baldini.

Source: Punchng.com

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SPORTS: United Stop Skid, Liverpool Crush Spurs

Manchester United and Liverpool each enjoyed breezy victories in the English Premier League on Sunday, United sinking Aston Villa 3-0 and Liverpool returning to second place by outclassing Tottenham Hotspur 5-0.

Beaten by Everton and Newcastle United in their previous two league outings, United were at risk of losing three successive games for the first time since 2001, but they were dominant in a 3-0 win at Villa Park.

A quick-fire brace from Danny Welbeck put United in control after only 18 minutes and they added a further goal through Tom Cleverley as they closed to within ten points of leaders Arsenal.

Victory left the champions seven points below the UEFA Champions League positions in eighth place, but it was a timely win for manager David Moyes after a desperate run of four games without victory.

Marc Albrighton worked United goalkeeper David de Gea twice in the early stages, but a pair of goals from Welbeck put United in command.

Deputising for the injured Robin van Persie, the England forward broke the deadlock in the 15th minute when he slammed home after Adnan Januzaj had headed against the post from a Rafael da Silva cross.

Villa were unable to contain United's right-sided players and three minutes later the visitors scored another goal from that flank, with Antonio Valencia crossing for the sliding Welbeck to score.

Wayne Rooney, playing in his 500th club game, and Welbeck both went close to extending United's lead before Cleverley added a third in the 52nd minute with a first-time finish from Rooney's pass.

It was the England midfielder's first goal for a year and United were able to celebrate another milestone later in the game when Darren Fletcher came on to make his first appearance after a year out with a chronic illness.

Villa, who have not beaten United at home since 1995, remain 11th in the table.

Having seen Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton steal in front of them on Saturday, Liverpool returned to second place with a very impressive success over ten-man Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Captain for the day in the absence of Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez put Liverpool ahead in the 18th minute when he took the ball past Michael Dawson and Kyle Walker before curling home a low shot.

Philippe Coutinho hit the bar, Glen Johnson shot just over and Hugo Lloris blocked from Suarez before Jordan Henderson doubled the visitors' lead in the 40th minute.

Lloris stood up to save from Henderson and then blocked Suarez's follow-up, but he was beaten at the third attempt as the former Sunderland midfielder crashed a volley into the bottom-right corner.

Spurs' hopes of a comeback were effectively ended when Paulinho was sent off in the 63rd minute for catching Suarez in the chest with his foot.

Full-back Jon Flanagan made it 3-0, slamming a difficult half-volley off the bar and into the net from Suarez's cross, and Suarez added a fourth with a delicate lob before teeing up Raheem Sterling for the fifth.

Liverpool finished the weekend two points behind leaders Arsenal and above third-place Chelsea on goal difference, with Spurs five points below the Champions League places after a first defeat in four league games.

In the day's other fixture, Swansea City drew 1-1 at Norwich City in a match overshadowed by an injury to visiting goalscorer Nathan Dyer.

He broke the deadlock with a 12th-minute lob but had to be stretchered off and taken to hospital with a suspected fractured ankle after injuring himself in a duel with Sebastien Bassong. Gary Hooper earned Norwich a share of the spoils in first-half stoppage time, finding the net from 25 yards with a sumptuous, dipping volley.

Source: Fifa.com

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SPORTS: Townsend Sinks Villa, Sends Spurs Fifth

England breakthrough star Andros Townsend continued his fine form by inspiring Tottenham Hotspur to a 2-0 win at Aston Villa in the English Premier League on Sunday.

The 22-year-old winger, who starred as England booked their place at the FIFA World Cup™ earlier this week, scored the opening goal with a 31st-minute cross that crept past Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Roberto Soldado added a second after half-time as Spurs moved up to fifth place in the table, three points below leaders Arsenal, and began to atone for their shock 3-0 home defeat by West Ham United.

Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor put a half-volley over the bar from an early Leandro Bacuna cross, but heavy rain made for a slippery surface and the game suffered as a result.

Sandro shot straight at Guzan from 30 yards and Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had to scramble away a free-kick from Ashley Westwood, before the visitors made the breakthrough.

Townsend claimed the goal, but it owed to a certain degree of good fortune. Picking up the ball wide on the right, he cut onto his left foot and attempted to pick out a team-mate in the centre, but his cross eluded both Holtby and Soldado, only to sneak in at the far post.

Andreas Weimann flashed a shot just wide as Villa pushed for an equaliser, but Spurs came close to going 2-0 up in first-half stoppage time when Guzan produced a smart low stop to thwart Townsend.

Another fine save from the American prevented Paulinho from doubling the visitors' advantage early in the second period and the introduction of Benteke gave Villa further reason for optimism.

The burly Belgian international planted a header from a Bacuna cross narrowly over the bar shortly after coming on, but five minutes later, Spurs struck again.

Paulinho's intelligent first-time pass freed Soldado and the Spain striker took a touch before lifting the ball over Guzan to claim his third league goal in a Spurs shirt.

Villa's fight faded, but Townsend refused to leave them in peace. He dispatched a curler that cleared the crossbar by millimetres and then flashed a ball across the face of goal that Paulinho was unable to convert.

Fifa.com

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