The Central Defense
The aforementioned absence of Toby Alderweireld is going to put a ton of pressure on whoever Pochettino selects as his centre back pairing on Tuesday. Both men will be under intense scrutiny to make up for the Belgian’s absence.
Most of that pressure is going to land squarely on Jan Vertonghen’s shoulders. He’ll retain his usual place in the starting XI, but will need to be much more of a leader than normal. Frankly, that’s a role he’s struggled with in the past.
The real question here is who Pochettino will select to partner with Vertonghen. He brought Eric Dier to replace Alderweireld on Saturday, but Kevin Wimmer and Cameron Carter-Vickers are possibilities as well. Expect Pochettino to stick with Dier.
Some Tottenham fans will clamor for Wimmer’s inclusion, but he’s the least likely of the trio to get the start. Pochettino isn’t likely to start two left-footed centre backs together. Dier gets the edge over Carter-Vickers due to his experience.