Huddersfield Town vs. Tottenham Hotspur: match preview, projected lineups, predictions, and how to watch

Tottenham have notched two straight victories after their disappointing home draw to Swansea thirteen days ago. A glorious and clinical sixty minutes saw Spurs take a 3-0 lead over rival West Ham, before Serge Aurier saw red, and the Hammers pulled two back. Tottenham still took three away points from the match and did so again on Tuesday — though it was in more of a provincial cup competition. Spurs defeated APOEL Nicosia 3-0 in Cyprus to sit atop Champions League Group H with Real Madrid, level on points and goal differential with the Spanish giants.

With the win at the London Stadium, Spurs have now moved into fourth place in the Premier League, ahead of Liverpool and Watford with their +5 goal differential. Spurs are two points behind Chelsea and five points behind both City and United at the top of the table. The newly promoted Huddersfield Town has had a grand start to the season as they sit in eighth place with nine points and only one loss to their name in the nascent campaign.

Huddersfield Town’s lineup card won’t bedazzle many a football fan, yet they’ve cranked out some fine results. Draws to Southhampton and Leicester City are nothing to scoff at and August wins against Newcastle and Crystal Palace already look to be vital as the Terriers look to stay afloat in the shark infested Premier League waters.

While Tottenham and Huddersfield don’t have much in common, the Terriers’ grit and camaraderie is something Spurs can relate to and must respect. Aaron Mooy, joining Huddersfield on a permanent deal from City this summer, is a lung-busting center midfield who exhibits ceaseless energy in the pitch and can create too. Two other summer signing represent the Terriers’ greatest threat going forward. Belgium striker Laurent Depoitre, signed from FC Porto, and Benin center forward Steve Mounie, joining from Montpellier, have accounted for the majority of scoring this season.

Christopher Schindler has been Huddersfield’s most outstanding defender thus far and was the club record signing from 1860 Munich in 2016. Lastly, a few fun names on the roster for you: Danny Williams, capped twenty-two times by USA, plies his trade in West Yorkshire, while Robert Green, savior of USA soccer’s 2010 World Cup draw with England (and thus an eternal friend to its support), is the Terriers’ backup goalkeeper.

It’s another grueling week for the legs of Tottenham Hotspur and with continued injuries and suspensions, the task on Saturday won’t be easy. The opponent will surely clock in a great effort, but will struggle to add quality to their energy. If Tottenham can weather the home crowd and a vigorous side, they should add three points by the final whistle.

How to Watch

Date/time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. (UK), 7:30 a.m. ET (USA)

Venue: John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield, UK

Official: Neil Swarbrick

TV: NBCSN (NBC Sports Live Extra), Sky Go UK, Sky Sports Premier League, BBC Radio, BBC Radio 5 Live (UK), TSN1, TSN 4, TSNGO (Canada), Optus Sport, SBS, SBS Live (Australia), other listings at livesoccertv.com

Streaming: NBC Sports Live Extra (USA)

Radio: Audio streamed at tottenhamhotspur.com, also often at BBC Radio London,BBC Radio 5 Live, and TalkSport

Projected Lineup

Christian Eriksen is confirmed to return, YAY! Yet the long term trio of Danny Rose, Erik Lamela, and Victor Wanyama are joined by Mousa Dembélé on the sideline, who is still nursing an ankle injury. The injury is said to be minor, but he is out for Huddersfield. Serge Aurier will also miss out due to suspension.

It is tempting to put Spurs in a 4-2-3-1 to get Son Heung-Min, Dele Alli, and Christian Eriksen on the pitch at once. I personally would love to see that formation Saturday as it gets more attackers on the field and suits Kieran Trippier's style of play better. Poch could do a 3-4-3 with Sonny as left wing-back, but that experiment has had mixed results and Ben Davies is fit. The last question in the lineup is whether Moussa Sissoko or the upstart Harry Winks features. Sissoko has done enough this term to garner his continued place in the team so I think he’ll get the start.

For these reasons the lineup will be Hugo Lloris in net, Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez, and Jan Vertonghen across the backline, with Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies in the wing-back positions. Eric Dier will partner Moussa Sissoko in the middle, with Dele, Christian Eriksen, and Harry Kane in front of them. Sonny will be reserved as a impact substitute.

Prediction League

Menno and Nathan Giannini were incorrect in predicting a draw and loss respectively. West Ham’s financial future will suffer without those £9.99 commemorative DVDs, right Nathan Giannini? Thank god we won. Everybody else predicted a victory, nobody guessed a 3-2 result.

Dustin Menno: Of all the promoted teams this season, Huddersfield is the one that is probably the most fun to watch. I like them. Just not this weekend. Spurs 3-1.

Matthew Pachniuk: Tough match for the legs, playing against a side who will be up for it. Quality wins out in the end though, but Spurs will have to fight for it. Harry is too hot to handle right now and he'll nab AT LEAST one. Spurs 2-0.

Jake Meador: Spurs 2, Huddersfield 0

Joe Patrick: Couple a midweek fixture in a far-away land with us relying on the same players so early in the season... fatigue catches up with us and this game is gonna be gross. 1-1.

Ed F: Huddersfield, it's nice to have you up here in the Prem and we're all enjoying your company, but I'm afraid it's time for us to crush you. 3-0 Spurs.

Skipjack: TBD

Earl of Shoop: Did you guys know that the Huddersfield area was home to the first ever Yorkshire Terrier, the very unfortunately-named Huddersfield Ben? In addition to being cursed with the objectively worst male first name in the English language, Ol' Ben was sadly "run over by a carriage and killed" at the ripe age of six in what sounds like an extremely British accident. Just like Ben, Huddersfield Town AFC had a great first six. And just like Ben, things are about to take a sudden and dramatic turn for the worse. Huddersfield's brief and illustrious life near the top of the Premier League comes to a brutal end this weekend, when the role of carriage is played by Tottenham Hotspur FC. Spurs run over the Yorkshire Fighting Bens though midfield, then back up and run over them again in a truly dominant performance. Spurs 3-0.

Bryan A: I'm 100% certain Earl of Shoop made all of that up. 0-0 Draw.

GN Punk: I have no idea if Huddersfield have been good or lucky. I know we're good and we'll have Christian Eriksen back. 2-0 Spurs.

Salmon Chase: Guys, Harry Kane is Ronaldo now, we cannot be beaten. Unless he does it to himself. Wait...god damn it. You get it 2-1 Spurs.

Pardeep Cattry: Spurs are away, Christian Eriksen is alive, and Harry Kane is Harry Kane. Tottenham 3-0.

Nathan Giannini: Eriksen is back, all is well. 3-1 Spurs.

Alex Greenberg: Sissoko in CM finally, truly catches up to us. Fear the Terriers. 2-2 draw.

Joel Wertheimer: This one feels like a walk as Huddersfield come back to earth and Eriksen finds Dele for a brace. 4-0 Spurs.