Son Heung-min is expected to return from injury against Aston Villa this weekend, making him an appealing option to be fouled at least once. The Spurs skipper has drawn a minimum of one foul from the opposition in four of his six Premier League appearances this season. He was also pretty adept at earning his side free-kicks last term. The South Korean star was drawing an average of 1.16 fouls per 90 in the Premier League last season.

In direct opposition to Son is likely to be Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash. The Poland international has fallen foul of the referee once or more in four of his five Premier League appearances this season, not to mention he picked up his first yellow card of the campaign against Bournemouth last weekend. It’s also worth noting that Cash was averaging 1.26 fouls per-game in the top-flight last term.

Another Tottenham player who looks like a prime candidate to be fouled during Sunday’s contest is Dejan Kulusevski. The Swedish ace has found himself on the receiving end of some rough treatment from top-flight opposition this term. Kulusevski has won his side a minimum of one set piece in eight of his nine Premier League appearances this season. He was also fouled once during Spurs’ 2-0 win over Man City in the EFL Cup in midweek. On top of that, Kulusevski has drawn a foul in his last two appearances for Sweden.

Thriving as a central playmaker this season, Kulusevski should draw plenty of attention from Aston Villa midfield duo Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans. The Villains pair have committed a combined total of 27 fouls between them in the Premier League this season.

No Aston Villa player has committed more fouls than Youri Tielemans (16) in the Premier League this season. The Belgian international has got on the wrong side of the referee on at least one occasion in each of his nine top-flight outings this term. In fact, Tielemans has tackled himself into trouble twice or more in a sizeable six of his nine Premier League appearances this season so far. Thus, the Villa midfielder stands out to commit multiple fouls against what is a top-heavy Tottenham team that always look to play on the front foot.

Tielemans will likely be tasked with keeping tabs on both Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison. The Spurs duo have both drawn two or more fouls in three of their last four respective Premier League outings.

Look to Morgan Rogers to be fouled at least once at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. The Aston Villa forward’s direct style of play has led to him being fouled at least once in seven of his nine Premier League appearances this season. The 22-year-old has also earned his side free-kicks in each of his three outings in this season’s Champions League, including two against Bayern Munich.

Villa will carry plenty of counter-attacking threat and it may require a few tactical fouls from Spurs to stem the flow. Yves Bissouma, who is likely to be the deepest of Tottenham’s midfield three, will be tasked with breaking up the play and keeping Rogers quiet. Bissouma committed two fouls and picked up a yellow card against Man City in midweek despite being on the field for just 45 minutes.

Aston Villa look overpriced on Sunday and that presents an opportunity to support them with a +2 start on the handicap. Unai Emery’s side are currently in the midst of a seven-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. Furthermore, their only league defeat this season so far came against Arsenal back in August.

In contrast, Tottenham have already lost four times in nine top-flight outings this term. Ange Postecoglou’s side have been a Jekyll and Hyde team recently and they are unlikely to have things all their own way against Aston Villa.

The Villains have scored multiple goals in each of their four Premier League away games this season, and they are more than capable of landing a blow on a Tottenham defence with just two clean sheets in nine in top-flight outings this term. It therefore makes sense to back Aston Villa with a two goal head start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Given the attacking intensity that Tottenham play with, they merit support to rack up at least seven corners on Sunday. Ange Postecoglou’s team boast a formidable 9.33 flag-kicks per-game average in the Premier League this season, a tally only marginally bettered by Man City (9.78). Spurs’ flag-kick per 90 average increases to a whopping 10.25 per-game when playing in front of their own supporters.

They have earned seven or more corners in all four of their league games at home this season, as well as four of their five top-flight road trips this term.

Aston Villa conceded exactly seven corners in their home game with Bournemouth last Saturday. It’s also worth pointing out that Villa gave up 10 flag-kicks in their recent away game at newly-promoted Ipswich.

With a competitive and fiery fixture anticipated in the capital on Sunday, over 5.5 cards should be within range. Tottenham are averaging a shade over 2.5 yellow cards per-game in the Premier League this season, while Aston Villa’s tally is closer to three per 90.

Both of these sides were involved in particularly card-heavy games last weekend. Spurs shared eight yellow cards with Crystal Palace, with both teams picking up four cautions apiece. As for Aston Villa, their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth saw no fewer than 13 yellow cards handed out. In fact, four of Villa’s last five league games have featured six or more match bookings.

Craig Pawson has the whistle for this contest. He is averaging five yellow cards per-game in the Premier League this season, flashing eight during Leicester’s fixture with Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Dejan Kulusevski should pose Aston Villa plenty of problems on Sunday afternoon. Kulusevski’s dribbling skills and explosive bursts forward make him a strong contender to be fouled twice or more during this clash.

The 24-year-old has earned Tottenham a combined total of eight free-kicks across his last four Premier League appearances, including two or more in three of those matches. He was also fouled twice during Sweden’s 3-0 win over Estonia in the Nations League last month.

Expect to see Kulusevski pit his wits against Youri Tielemans, who has committed multiple fouls in six of his nine Premier League appearances for Aston Villa this season.