Tottenham projected XI at Brighton: Spurs will change shape again
Tottenham fans want to see a big response from their squad at Brighton on Saturday. Here are the 11 men Mauricio Pochettino will trust to do the job.
When Tottenham kick-off at Brighton on Saturday they’ll be doing their level-headed best to purge the pain of this week’s loss versus Bayern Munich. Spurs fans want to see massive personnel changes in the aftermath of the Champions League debacle, but don’t expect Mauricio Pochettino to give in to that sort of pressure.
Instead, the Argentine gaffer will focus his efforts on changing his club’s tactics. That doesn’t mean the starting XI will remain the same, but don’t look for Troy Parrott and other Academy prospects to take the pitch for Tottenham this weekend. Pochettino will be looking for an emotional response from quite a few veterans. Without any further delay, here’s the starting XI we expect to see from Spurs this weekend.
Striker-Harry Kane
Kane was clearly hurt by his side’s failure to compete in the second half on Tuesday. He’d rather die than sit out this encounter at Brighton. Look for the English talisman to try to will his side to victory on Saturday.
Winger-Erik Lamela
Lamela didn’t get the start against Bayern which makes him a great choice to start this weekend. He’s an ideal choice to play on the wing in the 4-3-3 formation we expect to see. Look for him to try to press his way into the starting XI on a permanent basis.
Winger-Heung-min Son
Son was one of Tottenham’s only solid performers on Tuesday. That means he’s a near lock to start the match on Saturday. The talented Korean will be expected to find the back of the net early to calm his squad’s nerves.
Midfielder-Tanguy Ndombele
Ndombele was another player who acquitted himself well during the week. In fact, it was his removal from the pitch that seemed to lead to Bayern’s assault. The Frenchman isn’t as fit as Pochettino would like, but he’s quickly become a crucial part of Tottenham’s first team. He has to start every match when he’s fit for the time being.
Midfielder-Harry Winks
Winks might be left out if Pochettino goes with a 4-2-3-1 setup, but we are projecting the three-man midfield for this match. Make no mistake though, he was poor against Bayern and needs to play much better this weekend to stay in the starting XI.
Midfielder-Moussa Sissoko
Sissoko is going to start this match, it’s just a question of where he might line up. It’s possible he could be the starting right back since Serge Aurier is suspended for this match. His talents are better utilized in the midfield though. The Frenchman can’t finish, but he can push the Tottenham attack forward with his determined runs through the middle of the pitch.
Left back-Ben Davies
It’s time for Danny Rose to get some rest. That means Davies gets a chance to atone for his horrendous performance at Colchester United. He’ll need to get forward and make something happen on the left wing to placate Pochettino. Otherwise, he’s going to be a backup for the rest of the campaign.
Centre back-Davinson Sanchez
When you give up seven goals it’s obvious that some changes need to be made in your defence. Dropping Jan Vertonghen might seem harsh to some Spurs fans, but he didn’t do much to stop Bayern in the second half. As such, Sanchez will get his chance to prove he’s ready to take on a starting role permanently at Brighton.
Centre back-Toby Alderweireld
Alderweireld could just as easily be dropped as Vertonghen, but he’s been the better player on the season. That will be enough to keep him in the starting XI on Saturday. Expect Alderweireld to try to play his trademark long diagonals to create space for his attackers.
Right back-Kyle Walker-Peters
Walker-Peters can’t seem to really grab hold of the starting spot at right back, but Brighton represents a good match-up for him. As long as he avoids the sort of catastrophic error that’s plagued him at times during his young career, he should enjoy a quality performance.
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Keeper-Hugo Lloris
Lloris may drive Tottenham fans insane with his occasional schoolboy errors, but he’s still the best keeper available to Pochettino. He’ll absolutely be trusted to come up big in a must-win match at Brighton.