Bournemouth vs Spurs: Match Preview, Latest Team News and How to Watch | OneFootball

Spurs search for lift on south coast

There is a familiar tension around Tottenham right now, the kind that comes when expectation and delivery begin to drift apart. A run of one win in five has left Thomas Frank exposed to the mood of a support growing restless, audible in the boos that followed recent draws with Sunderland and Brentford. The visit to Bournemouth therefore carries more weight than the league table alone might suggest.

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Frank’s task is not simply to secure three points, but to reassert direction. Tottenham can move into the top half of the Premier League with victory, yet the broader need is for a performance that restores faith. Bournemouth, winless in 11 matches since October, offer an inviting opponent on paper, though Spurs have often shown a tendency to revive struggling sides.

Pressure and opportunity collide at Vitality Stadium

The fixture takes place at the Vitality Stadium, with kick off scheduled for 7.30pm GMT on Wednesday January 7, 2026. In the UK, the match will be shown live on Sky Sports Golf, with coverage beginning at 6pm. Live streaming will also be available via the Sky Go app and website.

For Frank, this trip feels like a moment to reset the conversation. A convincing display on the south coast would soften the edges of recent discontent and allow Tottenham to frame their season more positively. Failure, however, would deepen scrutiny of a project that has yet to fully convince.

Injuries test Spurs depth as returns offer hope

Team news once again shapes the narrative. Tottenham arrive with a growing list of absentees, particularly in attack. Mohammed Kudus is expected to miss out after sustaining a thigh injury off the ball in the draw with Sunderland. Frank said he would “most likely” miss the trip to Bournemouth, though the winger has undergone a scan ahead of the match.

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There are reasons for optimism. Lucas Bergvall returned from injury in that Sunderland game, and Xavi Simons is available again after serving a three match suspension following his red card against Liverpool. Destiny Udogie is also edging closer to full fitness as he recovers from a hamstring problem. These returns could lend Spurs a sharper edge in wide areas.

Still, the list of long term absentees remains significant. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke are all sidelined, limiting Frank’s options in the final third and placing greater emphasis on cohesion rather than flair.

Bournemouth’s concerns are hardly lighter. Andoni Iraola will be without Justin Kluivert, who is set to undergo surgery on a knee injury.

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Ben Gannon Doak is also absent after injuring his thigh on international duty in November, while Tyler Adams and Ryan Christie remain out with knee problems. Veljko Milosavljevic is pushing to return from a knee issue described by Iraola as “not big”, and will face a late fitness test. Antoine Semenyo, meanwhile, is poised to make what could be a farewell appearance.

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Fragile form points towards fine margins

Neither side enters this match in confident mood. Bournemouth’s defensive record underlines their vulnerability, conceding 14 goals in their last five outings, yet Spurs have struggled to impose themselves with authority. This shapes expectations of a cautious contest, one where momentum may hinge on a single moment.

Frank will look to the energy of Simons and Bergvall to inject urgency into Tottenham’s play, exploiting spaces against a Bournemouth side short on confidence. There is an argument that this is as favourable a fixture as Spurs could hope for, given recent struggles elsewhere.

Prediction leans narrowly in their favour.

Tottenham to win, 2-1.

Head to head record

Tottenham have not won any of their last three meetings with Bournemouth, last beating the Cherries on New Year’s Eve in 2023.

Bournemouth wins: 5Tottenham wins: 10Draws: 3