Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur go head to head in a top six clash as both of the sides look to consolidate their position and push for a UEFA Europa League spot. Spurs have been extremely inconsistent this season and a win against the Swans after going down in the last three minutes against Everton at Goodison Park last weekend will get their season and charge for Europe back on track. Mean while, Swansea has been one of the revelations of the Premier League after their exploits of last season, which many termed as one-off and could not be repeated.

In Michu, Swansea and manager Michael Laudrup has a brilliant goal threat and an able support cast has helped the Spaniard a lot as he has set the Premier League on fire in his first season in England. Right winger Pablo Hernandez, signed in the summer from Valencia should be in line to making his comeback to the side after a spell on the sidelines but if Spurs need to be watchful of one player, it is Michu. Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas will remember how the Spaniard single handedly beat their North London rivals Arsenal and that too, at the Emirates Stadium and he is one player that he needs his side to watch out
for.

The ghosting run that the Spaniard makes has prompted many to make comparisons with his boss, especially due to the fact that he plays in a position that is reminiscent of the Dane’s playing position during his days at Barcelona and Real Madrid. But Spurs also have their own answer to the Michu problem with Jermain Defoe slowly but steadily regaining his form and Clint Dempsey, the new summer signing from Fulham also getting into the groove for his new side.

With Moussa Dembele still missing from action and Gareth Bale uncertain for the match, Villas Boas will have to depend on a strong defensive display and then a counter attacking play to catch the Swans on the break, just like they caught Everton out last weekend. Although their defensive frailties came to the fore in the last minutes of the game against the Merseysiders last weekend, the Portuguese manager is adamant he doesn’t need any more defensive reinforcements in the January transfer window and will be looking for a decent striker and midfielder available on the cheap for his side’s engine room.