Having both failed to win their final Premier League games of 2022, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa will aim to get 2023 off to a victorious note in Sunday's battle in North London.
Antonio Conte's men came from behind to draw 2-2 with Brentford on Boxing Day, several hours before Unai Emery's side went down 3-1 to Liverpool on their own turf.
Match preview
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The same fate that befell Arsenal on the opening day of the 2021-22 Premier League season - much to the amusement of Tottenham fans - very nearly happened to Conte's men, who quickly found themselves 2-0 down to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium courtesy of strikes from Vitaly Janelt and Ivan Toney.
However, a couple of days after being given a vote of confidence by Conte in the wake of his World Cup penalty heartache, Harry Kane's header restored parity for Tottenham before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - facing a few of his Danish counterparts - levelled the match six minutes later.
The Lilywhites looked the more likely to steal all three points as the game entered its dying embers, but a draw was enough to see Spurs retain their grip on fourth place in the Premier League table, although Manchester United - who have a game in hand - have now cut the gap down to just one point.
Many of those proudly wearing white at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are already licking their lips in anticipation of a busy transfer window, as Conte seeks to address recent defensive deficiencies that have seen his side concede at least two goals in each of their last six Premier League matches.
However, only Manchester City (30) and Arsenal (22) have amassed more Premier League goals on home soil than Tottenham's 21 this term, while only one of their last eight New Year's Day matches has ended in defeat, and the visiting manager can expect the most hostile of hostile welcomes.
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Much-maligned former Arsenal manager Emery departed the Gunners with an unbeaten record from Premier League North London derbies, posting one win and two draws between 2018 and 2019, and his Aston Villa side certainly gave Liverpool a scare or two on Boxing Day.
However, profligacy against a Jurgen Klopp-led team will almost always prove fatal, and Villa succumbed to strikes from Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Stefan Bajcetic, despite managing to pull one back through Ollie Watkins in between Van Dijk and Bajcetic's efforts.
Following a pattern of winning one then losing one in all competitions since taking the reins at Villa Park, Emery enters 2023 with his side occupying an unspectacular 12th place in the table - five points clear of the relegation zone but six adrift of a possible European berth.
The Lions had not posted a single Premier League away win in 2022-23 before Emery oversaw a 2-1 success at Brighton & Hove Albion just before the World Cup break, but the capital is not kind to Villa, who have suffered five successive top-flight losses on London territory.
The Lilywhites did the double over Villa by an aggregate scoreline of 6-1 last season - including a barnstorming 4-0 success at Villa Park - but the visitors' only win from their last nine against Spurs did come on North London turf as recently as May 2021.
Team News
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Tottenham attacker Richarlison is still facing another few weeks out with his hamstring issue, but Conte could be boosted by a couple of returns for New Year's Day, namely Cristian Romero from World Cup duty.
Djed Spence (illness) could also apply for a place in the squad, but Rodrigo Bentancur's groin injury is yet to fully heal, while Lucas Moura is still trying to find a solution for his long-standing tendon problem.
Fraser Forster and Japhet Tanganga both featured from the off in the clash with Brentford, but Hugo Lloris and Romero can expect to displace the duo here, unless the fit-again Ben Davies is preferred in the three-man backline.
With regard to Villa, Emery ought to have an Argentinian World Cup hero of his own back in Emiliano Martinez, who remains at the centre of controversy in the wake of his torment of Kylian Mbappe during the Albiceleste celebrations.
Emery is even reported to be considering parting ways with Martinez, who will renew hostilities with Lloris here either way, while Diego Carlos and Jacob Ramsey remain on the sidelines.
The Spaniard will likely keep changes to a minimum for the trip to North London, but Ashley Young was found wanting at right-back against Liverpool and could now cede his position to Matty Cash.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Doherty, Hojbjerg, Bissouma, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Kamara, Luiz; Buendia, Watkins, Bailey
We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Aston Villa
Clean sheets have not been Tottenham's forte in recent weeks, and while the returns of Lloris and Romero should improve the Lilywhites' fortunes in that regard, Villa pose more than enough of a threat to trouble Conte's backline.
The one consolation goal was all that Emery had to cheer against Liverpool, though, and it should be a similar story here, with Tottenham's penchant for attacking in front of their own fans surely enough to see them to a crucial triumph.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
