Tottenham v Southampton: FA Cup fourth-round replay – live!

A bonus sprinkling of team news, because the FA Cup is special, isn’t it. Giovani Lo Celso misses out through injury, as does Erik Lamela. Dele Alli was only fit enough for the bench after picking up a knock at the weekend. Stuart Armstrong wasn’t expected to make it at all, thanks to a hip problem, but like Dele he’s in the dugouts tonight.

Tottenham make four changes to the team selected for the original tie at St Mary’s. Jan Vertonghen, Eric Dier, Tanguy Ndombele and Ryan Sessegnon are in; Dele Alli, Davison Sanchez and Gedson Fernandes drop to the bench, while Giovani Lo Celso misses out altogether.

Saints make three changes to the side named for that match. Oriol Romeu, Sofiane Boufal and Shane Long step up; Stuart Armstrong and Michael Obafemi drop to the bench, while Kevin Danso is left out altogether.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Tanganga, Dier, Winks, Ndombele, Sessegnon, Lucas, Son.
Subs: Gazzaniga, Sanchez, Cirkin, Skipp, Gedson, Dele, Parrott.

Southampton: Gunn, Ward-Prowse, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Romeu, Boufal, Redmond, Ings, Long.
Subs: Lewis, Vokins, Vestergaard, Smallbone, Armstrong, Obafemi, Adams.

Since Southampton returned to the Premier League in 2012, they haven’t enjoyed travelling to Tottenham Hotspur very much. There have been eight matches between the clubs in N17, and Spurs have won seven of them. If this recent history is any guide, then tonight’s FA Cup fourth-round replay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a shoo-in for the eponymous hosts.

But not all recent history is against the Saints. Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side may have depended on a late Sofiane Boufal equaliser at St Mary’s to force this replay, but they beat Jose Mourinho’s men down by the Solent in the league on New Year’s Day. They asked Spurs a few questions in defeat here back in September. And they’ve scored in each of their last ten matches against Spurs. The top-line stats may not make for great reading for today’s visitors, but all is not yet lost.

There’s also the historical FA Cup record between these two clubs. They’re level at three wins apiece, a story that stretches all the way back to 1902, when both teams were members of the Southern League. Saints won that tie after two replays, and went on to reach the final, where they lost to Sheffield United. They’re still the last non-league side to reach the final. (For the sake of completion, Spurs were the holders that year, and they’re still the last non-league side since the foundation of the Football League in 1888 to win the cup. Both records are likely to stand for a few years yet.)

Fast forward, and the last two FA Cup meetings between the teams have ended in routs. Ronnie Rosenthal smashing in a hat-trick in a 6-2 win for Spurs at the Dell in 1995; Gordon Strachan’s side, spearheaded by James Beattie, humiliating former manager Glenn Hoddle’s team 4-0 at St Mary’s in 2003.

All of which is a roundabout way of saying: this could be great fun! Spurs are favourites, but these two have history, so anything could happen. Including extra-time and penalty kicks. One way or another, we’ll have a blast finding out who’ll host Norwich City in the fifth round. It’s on!

Kick-off: 7.45pm GMT.