While England was the only country to place two teams into the UEFA Champions League semifinals, the prospects for either to advance to the final are not good. Tottenham Hotspur stand a much better chance than Liverpool, as they only have to overturn a one goal deficit, not three.
They travel to the Johan Cruyff Arena on Wednesday night, for the second leg of their semi-final tie/one of the biggest matches in recent club history. Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for both sides, starting with the visitors.
Striker Harry Kane has been ruled out for the season due to an ankle injury. Another Harry, Winks, is also done for 2018-19, after the midfielder had surgery to repair his injured groin. Defender Serge Aurier and midfielder Erik Lamela are both doubts, as the pair continue recovering from their hamstring injuries.
Central defender Jan Vertonghen missed the first leg to due to a head injury that most thought was a concussion, but has been found not to be a concussion.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is hopeful that Vertonghen will get the opportunity to face his former club.
In switching over to the hosts, they have only two known injury absentees- striker Hassane Bande and midfielder Carel Eiting.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Ajax UEFA Champions League Leg 2/2 (Ajax up 1-0 on aggregate) FYIs
Kickoff- Wednesday May 8, Johan Cruyff Arena 8pm
Starting XI Predictions: Tottenham Hotspur Ajax
Google Result Probability (90 minutes) Tottenham win 30%, Draw 26%, Ajax win 44%
Odds via Betfair- Tottenham win 12/5, draw 11/4, Ajax 6/5
Odds to qualify- Ajax 2/7, Tottenham 5/2
Prediction: Tottenham 1, Ajax 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.