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Tottenham projected starting XI vs West Brom

By Rucker Haringey

ENFIELD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 13: Vincent Janssen, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Toby Alderweireld and Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham during the Tottenham Hotspur training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on October 13, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
ENFIELD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 13: Vincent Janssen, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Toby Alderweireld and Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham during the Tottenham Hotspur training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on October 13, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) /
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Tottenham Hotspur’s Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld (C) celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League group E football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Monaco at Wembley Stadium in north London on September 14, 2016. / AFP / Ben STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur’s Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld (C) celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League group E football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Monaco at Wembley Stadium in north London on September 14, 2016. / AFP / Ben STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) /

The Central Defense and Keeper

To be very honest, I’d like to be wrong about my prediction here. I believe Pochettino needs to provide Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld some rest in advance of Tuesday’s match. Unfortunately, I don’t think he’s going to give either man a rest on Saturday.

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I can understand his hesitancy to do so if he starts two backups at the fullback positions. It’s also a reasonable play if Pochettino elects to utilize a 4-1-4-1 formation. Playing either Kevin Wimmer or Cameron Carter-Vickers with only one defensive midfielder to shield them would be a significant gamble.

Count on Poch playing it safe and starting his usual centre back pairing. I can hardly blame him given their consistently excellent play. It would be a hard choice to sacrifice that sort of stability in the back four.

The keeper selection makes itself whenever Hugo Lloris is fit. Tottenham won’t worry about resting him in advance of Tuesday’s match. He’s just a keeper, after all.

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