Luton Town

The Africa Cup of Nations gets under way in January with potentially more than 40 Premier League players missing several weeks of the season as they head to the Ivory Coast.

Nottingham Forest will be the most affected as they could lose a league-high seven players who, so far, have played a significant amount of minutes this season.

Manchester United will lose three players including first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana, while Liverpool are set to lose star man Mohamed Salah.

Just two teams are likely to be unaffected, with defending champions Manchester City and Newcastle having no players involved at all as things stand.

Here's a full list of players who could be heading to next year's tournament, who have made at least one matchday squad for their respective clubs so far this season.

Read more on which Premier League players could be heading to the Africa Cup of Nations

• Nottingham Forest have lost just two of their last 18 Premier League home games (W8 D8), going unbeaten in the last six in a row (W4 D2). Those two defeats came against sides to finish in the top four of the table last season (Newcastle and Manchester United).

• Luton have won just one of their last 14 away games against Nottingham Forest in all competitions (D6 L7), winning 1-0 in the Championship in March 2021.

• 50% of Nottingham Forest’s Premier League goals this season have been headers (4/8), the highest ratio of any side in the competition this term. Their four headed goals so far is just two fewer than they scored in the whole of 2022-23 (6).

• Luton beat Everton 2-1 in their last Premier League away game, ending a 29-game winless run on the road in the top-flight dating back to March 1991 (D6 L23). The Hatters haven’t won consecutive such matches since November/December 1987.

• Luton’s Alfie Doughty has created more chances from set plays than any other player in the Premier League this season (14). Indeed, excluding penalties and direct free-kicks, only Brentford and Everton (both

  43) have had more shots from set pieces than the Hatters in the competition this term (32).

• Four of Nottingham Forest’s eight Premier League goals this season have seen at least one substitute involved. These substitute goal involvements have earned Forest five points so far, the joint-most of any side in the competition this term.

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From high-flying Tottenham to a Sheffield United side facing quite the task, the early Premier League stories are compelling.

The Football News Show has dug into the data on the season so far.

Watch it in full here

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Image source, Luton Town FC

Andros Townsend wants to bring "enthusiasm and experience" to Luton dressing room as he joins the club on a short term contract.

The 32-year-old has been looking for a club since leaving Everton at the end of last season where he struggled with injuries and will now be with the Hatters until January.

"I feel like it's a good fit and these last couple of weeks have been good for both parties. I think it had to be right and I feel over the last two weeks we've had a look at each other and done that," said Townsend.

"I've seen where I can help this team and on the flipside the manager has seen where I can help – whether that's on the pitch, in the dressing room or on the training field – with my enthusiasm and experience.

"Plus, Luton are my local team – I live 20-25 minutes away so I've kept my eye on their progress and watching the Championship play-off final and see them win promotion was great for the club.

"I never thought I'd pull on the Luton shirt, so it's a huge honour to play again in the Premier League for this club, and hopefully help this club get as many points as we can and see where it takes us."

Luton manager Rob Edwards said of the new signing: "Andros has undoubted Premier League quality, which he has shown in this league and on the international stage. Of course, he has had a difficult period with injury through no fault of his own – and we wouldn't be able to sign him if he'd had played in the last 18 months.

"However, we're in a position to help each other: he can come in and give everything, bring out those technical qualities to help us and we can give him a platform to show everyone what he's all about.

"He adds more competition at the top end of the pitch – an area we know at this level you need to come out on top in that battle. He's also got that bit of magic and hopefully we can get the most out of him.

"He's been brilliant and his attitude has been phenomenal. He's a humble, hard-working individual that we will benefit from having at the training ground on a weekly basis. Young players are going to look up to him and think 'they are the standards I need to be at'. He's been impeccable."

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Town have signed free agent Andros Townsend on a short-term contract until January.

The 32-year-old winger, who has been capped 13 times by England, was released by Everton in the summer.

Townsend came through Tottenham's academy and has made 264 Premier League appearances in spells at Spurs, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and the Toffees.

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

Luton are a fifth of the way through the season and one place above the relegation zone. If they are in that position on 20 May then it's job done.

The season is panning out how pretty much how I expected for the Hatters. They are finding it hard at times particularly against the better Premier League teams and have been outclassed in periods of matches.

But Luton are fighters and they learn on the job so it doesn't last long enough for them to get overwhelmed. And against the mid to lower Premier League teams Rob Edwards' side have competed well, won their first game, earned points and not conceded too many.

The players are learning to adjust to the step up in class as for most it's new to them. Plenty have made that jump and the hope is that more will follow.

There has already been lots to be positive about. Carlton Morris has stepped up brilliantly, Marvellous Nakamba has probably been the pick of the lot, Alfie Doughty is the one causing teams most problems with his crossing ability down the left and the Hatters recruitment team have unearthed a gem in Chiedozie Ogbene.

Others have also impressed. The future looks bright already for next season with continued development.

Whether Luton have the strength in depth is going to be the big question. When injuries and suspensions kick in will the Hatters have enough players who believe in themselves and can prove they are good enough for the Premier League's high standards?

Short term and for Luton to survive in the top flight, they are going to have to be more clinical in front of goal, which is easier said than done. More pertinently, they must address this regular problem of coming off the pitch feeling they deserved better and should have got more. The Premier League is brutally unsympathetic in terms of hard luck stories.

Luton must find a way to win more points - become totally ruthless - if only it was as simple as that.

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BBC Sport statistician Chris Collinson looks at how the promoted sides are getting on.

You can watch more on the subject on The Football News Show here

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We asked for your views on Saturday's game between Luton Town and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Luton Town fans

Sue: Tottenham thought they were going to have an easy afternoon. Thanks to excellent play from the Hatters, after 30 minutes Spurs lost their shape and started to panic. The sending-off for diving was deserved. We bossed most of the second half - just tired legs and wrong decisions from the referee beat us. We are keeping the experts quiet. We're going to do it!

Ant: It's coming together slowly - we are showing character and improving with each game. We need to start taking our chances and, if possible, we should be looking at bringing in a forwards coach to help our attackers make the most of the opportunities we're creating.

Gordon: No lack of effort in every match. Lack of composure in front of goal cost them dearly, but they could have been three or four goals behind in the first 10 minutes. They are on a massive learning curve and, if they keep improving, surely there’s some good times to come.

Tony: Plenty of endeavour from Luton, but seriously lacking Premier League quality in our play. Slower in thinking at times, as Luton switched off from the corner that Spurs scored from. Luton let their guard down while waiting for Maddison to take the corner. Luton switched off and Spurs scored.

Tottenham fans

Pazza: Brilliant that we're not being considered for the title even though we're top. We will see at Christmas where we stand, but up until now we have been awesome, possibly the best team in the Premier League. Consider a new manager and losing Kane, and it ramps up to unbelievable.

Alan: Excellent start playing the Tottenham way - attacking, exciting football. Just need the board to support the manager and get more depth in the squad, which is too thin at the moment. As a fan of over 60 years, I'm not getting carried away as I've been disappointed many times before. I'm just enjoying the football being served up and the fighting spirit of the team.

Jim: Same old problem of not being able to put defensive teams away. Far too many missed chances, we should have been three up by half-time. Richarlison is currently a waste of a shirt.

Stephen: Steel determination and grit. When have we been able to say that about Spurs before? This is what Ange has bought to the club, and the players are going with him. Great victory - would've lost this game before going down to 10 men. Long may it last.

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Town will go into the international break sitting just above the relegation zone, but the newly-promoted team are still winless at Kenilworth Road this season after falling to a narrow defeat against Tottenham.

Cheltenham Town defender Curtis Davies, who previously played for the Hatters, says his former club's start to life in the Premier League has gone "as expected": "If you look at Luton's recruitment, they haven't gone gung-ho and thought, 'We're going to buy this player from this club, and that player from that club', and spend silly money.

"Almost similarly to what Norwich did, they've bought players that are probably at the lower Premier League or higher Championship level. They're giving them a chance to play Premier League football and they know that ultimately, if they do go down, they will be in a lot better position to come back up next year.

"None of them will be on scary, astronomical wages that are going to mean they're going to have to sell them when they do go down to the Championship, but they'll still be able to hang around and potentially come back up.

"My opinion when Luton got promoted was, if it isn't to be this year that they stay up, which I really hope they do, I wanted it to be that the infrastructure at the club allows them to be able to be the team that are one of the favourites to come back up next year."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Image source, BBC

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis of Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, then fear not- you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

And Match of the Day 2 brings you a round-up of Sunday's games here.

Listen back to Saturday's commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

• Burnley 1-4 Chelsea

• Crystal Palace 0-0 Nottingham Forest

And Sunday's commentaries are available here:

• Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2 Liverpool

• West Ham United 2-2 Newcastle United

• Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

Luton boss Rob Edwards speaking to TNT Sports: "They started strongly, we rode our luck for the first ten minutes or so, then we found our way into the game. I think we then started to look a threat. Out of possession we were solid and did really well.

"The sending off before half-time changed the game a little bit. We made a slight tweak, we felt we could put three against their two in the middle, be man for man everywhere else, and then make that overload count.

"We had a big, big chance to score and didn't take it. If you switch off for one moment, don't defend the corner well enough, and go one nil down, then even with ten men they have so much quality. We can pressure these players but they were able to see the game out.

"I'm proud of my players and how they played today. We gave absolutely everything against a top team. I feel disappointed because I felt if we had got that first goal we could have actually gone on and won the game.

On whether Luton are left ruing missed chances: "Yes. We've been saying that a lot recently. We're creating some good chances and not taking them. Unfortunately that has cost us today.

"We're a strong unit in the dressing room and we will pull together and go again in the next few weeks. A little bit of a break now, but we will learn and get better.

"We are competing with anyone and everyone. We have come out on the wrong end of things quite a few times, so now we have to try and find that final piece. It comes down to both boxes in football, so we need to keep working hard and getting better."

Jess Anderson, BBC Sport

Luton have managed just four points in eight games so far this season and remain without a win at Kenilworth Road.

But they can take heart from another good performance where they challenged a top-of-the-table side and made life difficult for Tottenham.

After a dominant opening period from the visitors, which saw the Hatters string together just 11 passes, the home side began to make the one-sided affair more of a contest but could not manage a shot on target until their 40th-minute disallowed goal.

Spurs midfielder Yves Bissouma was sent off just before the break for a foolish dive before Micky van de Ven put Spurs ahead on 52 minutes.

But, with a one-man advantage, Luton had chances to get back in the game.

They missed a glorious opportunity when Chiedozie Ogbene's measured pass seemed to have teed up Elijah Adebayo, who only had to slide in and connect for a tap-in, but could not sort his feet out and muddled it past the post.

Alfie Doughty also scuffed a good opportunity wide and Carlton Morris was denied by the arm of Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario as Luton probed for an equaliser.

But, despite their best efforts, the wait for a first top-flight victory at Kenilworth Road since 1992 goes on.

• Tottenham have registered 20 points from their opening eight Premier League games this season (W6 D2), only in 1960-61 (21 points in first seven games) have they done so in fewer games to begin a top-flight campaign.

• Luton are now the fourth different Premier League side to suffer as many as six defeats in their first eight Premier League games (W1 D1) after Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest.

• All seven of James Maddison’s Premier League goal involvements for Tottenham this season have been away from home (2 goals, 5 assists). He is the first player for the club whose first five Premier League assists have all come on the road.

• Luton’s 33.4% possession was the lowest figure by a home side in a Premier League game, in which the opposition had received a red card, since Aston Villa against Chelsea in May 2021 (28.8%).

• Micky van de Ven became Tottenham’s 167th different goalscorer for the club in the Premier League (excluding own goals). It’s the most of any side in the competition (Newcastle United and West Ham are both on 166).

Ten-man Tottenham Hotspur maintained their unbeaten record as a narrow win at Luton saw them go top of the Premier League.

After going down to 10 men when Yves Bissouma was sent off just before half-time, Micky van de Ven poked in his first goal for the club after 52 minutes when James Maddison cut the ball back from a short corner.

Luton, who had made it through a difficult opening period, saw captain Tom Lockyer's low header chalked off when Elijah Adebayo was deemed to have fouled Cristian Romero while heading Mads Andersen's free-kick across goal.

A more positive approach in the second half saw them create plenty of opportunities but Tottenham held on to leave Rob Edwards' side without a win at home this season.

Ange Postecoglou's Spurs are now unbeaten in eight Premier League games and sit two points ahead of Manchester City, who face Arsenal on Sunday.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?

Luton fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Tottenham fans?

Follow all the reaction here

There are six games being played in the Premier League on Saturday and we'll bring you every moment.

Follow all the action and reaction here

Live commentaries:

• Burnley v Chelsea - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest - BBC Radio 5 Live

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

His opponents for this weekend's fixtures are YouTuber KSI and boxer Tommy Fury.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Luton's defeat by Burnley on Tuesday will have left the Hatters feeling a bit deflated after the high of their victory at Everton last weekend.

Getting back-to-back wins would have been massive for Rob Edwards' side, but even a draw would have left them unbeaten in three league games and with something to build on.

It is hard to see them getting anything against Tottenham, who are playing well and creating lots of chances. I am going with Ange Postecoglou to continue his strong start.

KSI's prediction: 0-4

Tommy's prediction:1-2

Read the rest of their predictions here

Image source, Reuters

Ange Postecoglou is not changing Tottenham's style of play for the trip to Kenilworth Road on Saturday but at the same time is aware of the threat posed by Premier League newcomers Luton Town.

Spurs could go top of the league if they win the early kick-off and yet he knows just how difficult that will be to achieve.

"I think Luton will be resilient," he said. "Their results have not been as positive but all their games have been really tight.

"Rob [Edwards] did a fantastic job to get them promoted on the back of resilience and competitiveness and they are bringing that to the Premier League. They fight for everything.

"They are a fantastic story. Having been among the big boys for a long time, they fell down the pecking order but to fight back up is great for the town. Any team playing them is in for a tough game."

Postecoglou's Spurs have drawn praise for their high-intensity style and he intends to deploy that against the Hatters.

"We have got to play our football and try to bring the game to the kind of things we want to dominate in," he said. "We are still learning aspects of our game so to improve we have to focus on ourselves, irrespective of the challenge.

"If we don't, it will be a difficult game for us."