Both sides have perhaps lacked some consistency this season, but both AFC Bournemouth and Spurs will hope to make the most of the congested festive period of fixtures.
Former Cherries striker Dominic Solanke faces a late assessment to see if he is fit to face his old club for the first time since joining Spurs in the summer.
The Daily Echo previews the game at the Vitality Stadium.
Team News
The Cherries will be boosted by the return of Antoine Semenyo from suspension, while Lewis Cook, who missed the weekend’s game with a small muscle discomfort, will be assessed on Thursday.
They are without long-term absentees Alex Scott, Julian Araujo and Luis Sinisterra.
For Spurs, former Cherries striker Dominic Solanke is set for a late assessment before a decision is made on if he will face his former club.
Ange Postecoglou said the Englishman was ‘not 100 per cent’ but would be training on Wednesday before the trip to the south coast.
Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore and Guglielmo Vicario all remain sidelined.
Head-to-Head
Bournemouth do not have a good historical record against their visitors on Thursday.
The two sides have met a total of 15 times across their history, with Spurs winning 10, Cherries three and drawing two.
In the last six games between the two sides, the Cherries have won one – a 3-2 victory away at Spurs in April 2023.
(Image: Richard Crease) Besides a 0-0 draw at the Vitality Stadium in July 2020, Tottenham have won the other four meetings, including completing the league double last season.
The pair met in August 2023 at Dean Court, with Cherries falling to a 2-0 defeat, before they lost 3-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on New Year’s Eve.
In the home meeting, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski netted for Spurs in a comfortable victory for the visitors, as Iraola’s start to life as Cherries boss without a win continued.
But it was a different story headed into the game on the final day of 2023, as the Cherries came into the game off the back of four wins.
Spurs, though, produced a clinical display with goals from Pape Matar Sarr, Son Heung Min and Richarlison gave them the points, despite Alex Scott’s late consolation goal.
Last Time Out
The Cherries were victorious away at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, returning to winning ways after defeats to Brentford and Brighton.
It was a historic day for Justin Kluivert and Evanilson, with the Dutchman becoming the first player to score a hattrick of penalties in the Premier League, after the Brazilian became the first to win three in a Premier League game.
Milos Kerkez added a wonderful goal for the Bournemouth second as the Cherries returned to the south coast with all three points.
Spurs, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Fulham at the weekend, after Brennan Johnson’s opener was cancelled out by Tom Cairney, who was then sent off, but Spurs couldn’t make the most of the extra man.
This came after draws with Roma in the Europa League and a thumping 4-0 victory away at Manchester City.