If Aston Villa fans had wanted indications that Gerard Houllier would be looking to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window, the Villa manager’s statements this week have suggested a potential clear-out in the New Year, with fresh faces replacing them at Villa Park.

With the long-term futures of goalkeeper, Brad Friedel, and midfielder Steve Sidwell in major doubt, there is certainly hope that after a relentless period of games over the next few days that Houllier will be given licence to breathe life into a faltering campaign.

Tottenham have no such concerns over the strength of their squad, in fact chairman Daniel Levy has mentioned the need for offloading some squad players over the coming weeks.

Both sides need a result, however for slightly different reasons. Villa’s season has not yet been scuppered by an inconsistent start but games like these are important for building player confidence for a push up the table. Spurs have shown themselves to be the marauding entertainers of the division and will give Villa’s defence a torrid examination- particularly if Richard Dunne is risked at centre back after his recent run of poor form.

Apart from death and taxes, the one certainty in this most bewildering of Premier League seasons is that Spurs will score. The concern for Harry Redknapp is that they will probably concede as well. They must fix this problem if they are to challenge for the title into the home stretch.

Prediction: 1-1

You can get odds of 11/2 on a 1-1 draw