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Tottenham vs Manchester United: Predicted Spurs XI with one MAJOR surprise

By Rucker Haringey

The Tottenham Hotspur players observe a minutes silence for the victims of the plane crash involving the Brazilian club Chapecoense prior to kick off during UEFA Champions League - Group E match between Tottenham Hotspur and CSKA Moscow at Wembley stadium 07 Dec 2016 (Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Tottenham Hotspur players observe a minutes silence for the victims of the plane crash involving the Brazilian club Chapecoense prior to kick off during UEFA Champions League - Group E match between Tottenham Hotspur and CSKA Moscow at Wembley stadium 07 Dec 2016 (Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Mousa Demble of Tottenham is substituted for Harry Winks during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on December 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Mousa Demble of Tottenham is substituted for Harry Winks during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on December 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) /

The Defensive Midfield

The only certainty in Pochettino’s double-pivot on Sunday is that Mousa Dembele will start the match (unless he picks up a knock between now and then). The Belgian has been the club’s best midfielder and thrives in big matches. You can bet he won’t miss the fixture at Old Trafford.

The question of who plays next to Dembele is much more interesting. Pochettino could realistically go in three different directions. He could select Harry Winks, Eric Dier or Victor Wanyama to play alongside Dembele.

Let me first disappoint many fans by saying that Winks isn’t ready to start this match. He’s off to a nice start to his Spurs career, but this match is out of his depth. I wouldn’t be completely surprised to see him omitted from the matchday squad entirely.

That leaves Pochettino to choose between Dier and Wanyama. Last year, Dier was one of the first names on Tottenham’s team sheet. This is a new season though. He’s been outplayed by the Kenyan so look for Wanyama to keep his place on Sunday. Dier might be able to seize a starting spot this season, but it won’t be on Sunday.

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