Two clubs desperately searching for their first Premier League victory of the season meet in North London on Saturday lunchtime, as Tottenham Hotspur welcome Aston Villa to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Roberto De Zerbi’s difficult start continued with an EFL Cup defeat at Liverpool in midweek, while Villa finally appear to be rediscovering some attacking confidence after scoring seven times across their last three matches. Neither can afford to let a poor opening month develop into something more damaging, giving this encounter significance well beyond the three points available.

Analysis

Tottenham’s biggest problem is becoming impossible to ignore

Conor Gallagher finally scored against Premier League opposition on Tuesday, but Tottenham supporters had little reason to celebrate it.

His close-range header came during a 3-1 EFL Cup defeat at Liverpool, where goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai ended another potential route to silverware and extended Spurs’ winless sequence to four matches in all competitions.

The uncomfortable reality for De Zerbi is that Tottenham still haven’t scored a single Premier League goal. Four games have produced two points and a place in 17th, with last weekend’s 0-0 draw against Everton becoming the first goalless Premier League fixture ever played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It was another afternoon when Tottenham’s possession failed to translate into sufficient penetration. De Zerbi’s arrival promised a more adventurous approach, but implementing his ideas has proved difficult with several important attacking players unavailable. Spurs have not suddenly become incapable of moving the ball; the problem has been what happens once they reach areas where matches are actually decided.

There is a historical indication of just how unusual their start has been. Before this season, Crystal Palace in 2017-18 were the only Premier League team to fail to score in each of their opening four fixtures.

Tottenham desperately need to avoid extending that comparison. Saturday at least brings some encouraging team news. Sandro Tonali missed the Liverpool defeat with a minor problem but is available again, while Pedro Porro has recovered from his muscular issue.

James Maddison could also be approaching his first start after appearing from the bench against both Everton and Liverpool. De Zerbi may still restrict him to around an hour, but even a partially fit Maddison would provide some much-needed imagination between midfield and attack.

Mohammed Kudus played 75 minutes at Anfield and may consequently be protected, particularly with Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Mykhaylo Mudryk all remaining long-term absentees.

There is one recent result Spurs can use for encouragement. When these clubs last met in May, Tottenham earned an important 2-1 victory at Villa Park. They could certainly use something similar now.

Villa’s results remain poor, but their attack is finally waking up

Villa’s league table makes grim reading, but their last few performances have at least provided Unai Emery with something tangible to build upon.

Their first four Premier League matches produced only one goal and a solitary point. Last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat against Nottingham Forest extended their winless start despite Alysson finally ending Villa’s top-flight scoring drought.

The result left them with three defeats from four, an extraordinary opening for a team simultaneously preparing for Champions League football.

Yet the attacking picture has begun to change. Villa have scored seven times across their last three games in all competitions, culminating in Wednesday’s 3-1 EFL Cup victory at Coventry City.

Tammy Abraham was responsible for two of them and has presented Emery with a genuine selection decision for Saturday. Nicolas Jackson has been the preferred option through the middle, but Abraham could hardly have done more in midweek to argue his case.

That competition for places arrives at an opportune moment. Villa’s attacking struggles earlier in the campaign were particularly surprising given their quality in the final third, and converting their recent cup improvement into Premier League goals is now the priority.

João Gomes should help. The midfielder is available again after completing his three-match suspension and recovering from the calf issue that prevented him from returning against Coventry.

Johan Manzambi is also edging closer to his first start following consecutive appearances from the bench. Emery still has a substantial injury list to negotiate. Brian Madjo, Pau Torres, Leon Goretzka, Ian Maatsen and Amadou Onana remain unavailable, while Marco Bizot picked up a back problem in midweek. Zion Suzuki was expected to return in goal regardless.

The visitors can nevertheless travel with more optimism than their league position suggests. Villa have won four of the last five meetings with Tottenham, with May’s 2-1 defeat the exception, and their recent attacking improvement provides a clear contrast with a Spurs side still waiting for its first league goal.

Verdict

The league table presents this as a meeting between two struggling teams, but they are not necessarily struggling in the same way.

Tottenham’s defensive performances have at least allowed them to collect a couple of points, yet their inability to turn possession into goals has become the defining issue of De Zerbi’s first few weeks.

Villa have experienced problems at both ends, but seven goals from their last three matches suggest something is beginning to click. Abraham’s midweek brace and the return of João Gomes also give Emery more options than he had earlier in the campaign.

Spurs have an extra day of recovery and the potential return of Maddison to the starting lineup could finally add some creativity around the penalty area. Villa, meanwhile, look increasingly capable of causing damage themselves.

Neither side has yet done enough to inspire complete confidence, and Saturday may end with both still searching for that elusive first Premier League victory.

Our prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Aston Villa.

Tip

Our tip: Both teams to score.