Spurs will face Manchester City for the second time in just a few weeks looking for an improved showing.
It was a game that most Spurs players and fans would like to forget … leading two nil at half time. They succumbed badly as Riyad Mahrez bagged a brace in a 4-2 triumph.
Spurs have since beaten Fulham and entered the next round of the FA Cup after a comfortable win over Preston. Missing from Sunday’s fixture will be manager Antonio Conte.
The Italian has confirmed that surgery has “gone well” and he is “already feeling better” after an operation to remove his gallbladder. On Wednesday morning it was confirmed by Tottenham that the head coach would undergo surgery following a diagnosis of cholecystitis.
A statement on the club’s official website read: “Antonio Conte recently became unwell with severe abdominal pain. Following a diagnosis of cholecystitis, he will be undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder today (Wednesday) and will return following a period of recuperation. Everyone at the Club wishes him well.”
Assistant head coach Cristian Stellini will step up once again and take the reins while his fellow countryman recovers from surgery.
The Lilywhites face a hectic month with Premier League and Champions League football on the agenda. Hosting Man City this weekend. Spurs then have back-to-back away games at Leicester City and AC Milan before finishing February at home to West Ham and Chelsea.
Pedro Porro has completed his long-touted move to Tottenham from Sporting, with the right-back joining on loan before the £39.7 million transfer is made permanent in the summer.
City have won three in a row since losing the derby including a hard-fought 1-0 cup win over Arsenal. They are determined to close the gap on the Gunners as they trail by 5 points with the league leaders having a game in hand.
Arsenal are away at Everton on Saturday and an expected win would leave them 8 points behind.
Time is running out for Pep Guardiola, who appears increasingly tense on the touchline with his defending champions likely to be dethroned.