Premier League Showdown: Relegation-Threatened Burnley Host Injury-Hit Tottenham in Crucial Clash
Relegation-battling Burnley will host an inconsistent and injury-plplagued Tottenham Hotspur at Turf Moor this Saturday. With Burnley desperate for points to escape the drop zone and Spurs aiming to reignite their European qualification push amid their injury crisis, this match holds significant importance for both sides.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
For Burnley, the 2025-26 season marks their return to the Premier League following relegation in the 2023-24 campaign [1]. However, their comeback has been challenging, with the team currently sitting in 19th place in the Premier League table as of January 20, 2026, deep within the relegation zone [1]. This home fixture is crucial for them to secure vital points and avoid another swift return to the Championship.
Tottenham Hotspur are in their 34th consecutive season in England's top flight [2]. Despite winning the UEFA Europa League last season and thus qualifying for the Champions League, showcasing their ambition for European football [2], Spurs find themselves in 14th place in the Premier League table as of January 20, 2026 [2, 19]. This match is pivotal for Tottenham to reverse their inconsistent form and climb back into contention for European qualification spots.
Recent Form
Burnley's recent form is a significant concern; as of January 22, 2026, they have failed to win any of their last 13 consecutive matches and have lost 63.64% of their games this season [3]. Their last five Premier League matches show a record of two draws and three losses (D-L-L-D-D) [3].
Tottenham's form has also been inconsistent. In their last five Premier League matches, they have recorded one win, two draws, and two losses. These results include a 1-2 defeat to West Ham on January 17, a 2-3 loss against AFC Bournemouth on January 7, a 1-1 draw with Sunderland on January 4, a 0-0 draw against Brentford on January 1, and a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on December 28 [18, 35, 27].
Key Players & Injury News
Burnley's attack will heavily rely on their top league goalscorers, Jaidon Anthony and Zian Flemming, who each have five goals this season [1, 13, 26]. Midfield linchpin and captain Josh Cullen is also a crucial player [1, 13]. However, Burnley is grappling with significant injuries; captain Josh Cullen is sidelined until late 2026 due to an ACL injury [5, 9, 17]. Forward Zeki Amdouni is out until April 2026 with a cruciate ligament injury [1, 5, 9]. Mike Tresor is recovering from an ankle injury and is expected back in mid-February 2026 [5]. Jordan Beyer (knee injury) and Connor Roberts (strain) are both aiming for a late January 2026 return [5, 9]. Joe Worrall and Zian Flemming are carrying knocks but might be available for this match [5, 9].
For Tottenham, Richarlison is the leading scorer this season with 7 league goals [2, 23]. Captain Cristian Romero and vice-captain James Maddison are key figures in the midfield [2]. However, Tottenham is currently facing a significant injury crisis [31], with several key players out. James Maddison (ACL) is out until June 2026, effectively ending his season [4, 6]. Mohammed Kudus (quad tendon) is expected to be out until mid-April 2026 [4, 6]. Richarlison (hamstring) will miss several weeks, projected to return in late February or early March 2026 [4, 18, 27]. Ben Davies (fractured ankle, surgery) is sidelined until mid-April 2026 [4, 11, 18, 27]. Lucas Bergvall (ankle injury) is expected to miss 2-3 months [6, 11, 18]. Rodrigo Bentancur (hamstring) is out until May 2026 [4, 6]. Dejan Kulusevski (complicated knee injury) might return in late February 2026 [4, 11]. João Palhinha is carrying a knock but is potentially available for this match [4, 11, 18, 27].