After two disappointing defeats in a row, Tottenham Hotspur will likely be hoping to bounce again with a win in opposition to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Ange Postecoglou’s facet suffered back-to-back defeats in opposition to London rivals, shedding 3-2 in opposition to Arsenal within the North London Derby final Sunday, earlier than struggling a 2-0 defeat by the hands of Chelsea on Thursday night.
Their powerful run continues this weekend at Anfield, as they attempt to put the ultimate nail within the coffin of Liverpool’s failed title problem. Certainly, the Reds have been in patchy kind too, having picked up simply 4 factors from their final 4 Premier League video games.
Spurs are presently searching down Aston Villa who occupy the fourth and closing Champions League qualification place. They’re presently seven factors behind Unai Emery’s facet, though they’ve a recreation in hand.
It may effectively be the case that Postecoglou decides to rotate the Spurs facet forward of the journey to Liverpool this Sunday. There are three potential adjustments the Lilywhites supervisor may make forward of the crunch conflict…
1
GK – Guglielmo Vicario
There are truthful arguments to say that the signing of Guglielmo Vicario has been the most effective piece of switch enterprise Spurs performed final summer season. They signed him from Empoli for an preliminary payment of £17.2m, and he’s to date proving his value.
The 27-year-old has made some improbable saves and has saved six clear sheets within the Premier League to date this season, in addition to one within the FA Cup.
2
RB – Pedro Porro
Since becoming a member of Spurs final January on a loan-to-buy deal from Sporting, Pedro Porro has impressed, however beneath Postecoglou, he has taken his recreation to an entire new stage.
The Spaniard has one purpose and 7 assists this season for Spurs, which, as per SofaScore, is the second-most assists for Spurs this season, bettered solely by captain Son Heung-min, who has 9. He has additionally created the third-most huge probabilities, with solely Son with 17 and Dejan Kulusevski with 13 having greater than Porro’s 12.
3
CB – Cristian Romero
Postecoglou confirmed nice religion in Romero initially of the season by making him one of many two Spurs vice-captains. He has performed an enormous function this season, that includes 29 instances and scoring a powerful 5 objectives.
The Argentine is a troublesome defender and may be very dominant in duels. In accordance with SofaScore, he wins a mean of two.9 floor duels and a pair of.7 aerial duels per 90 minutes this season.
4
CB – Radu Dragusin
The primary of the three Spurs adjustments may see January signing Radu Dragusin get the nod at centre-back. The Lilywhites paid Genoa £26.7m to amass his companies 5 months in the past, though his alternatives have been few and much between.
The Romanian has made simply six appearances in a Spurs shirt to date, making two begins, in back-to-back video games in opposition to Fulham and Luton. He could possibly be in line to begin this week as a consequence of a tactical tweak from Postecoglou.
5
LB – Mickey van de Ven
The explanation Dragusin may begin is as a result of Mickey van de Ven may fill in at left-back. Since Future Udogie’s harm, Spurs have performed each Ben Davies and Emerson in his place, however each have struggled. Thus, Postecoglou would possibly effectively flip to Van de Ven.
Certainly, Van de Ven has performed at left-back 15 instances in his profession, though by no means for Spurs. His tempo and glorious means on the ball will stand him in good stead for that function.
6
CM – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
The second change Postecoglou may make is to begin Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg within the centre of midfield, forward of Yves Bissouma.
The Dane, who has performed 33 instances within the Premier League this season for Spurs, will carry numerous expertise to their midfield. As per SofaScore, he averages 3.5 ball recoveries and wins a mean of 1.7 floor duels per 90 minutes this season.
7
CM – Pape Matar Sarr
Possible conserving his place in midfield from the defeat in opposition to Chelsea is Pape Matar Sarr. The younger midfielder has left an excellent impression in his first full season of Premier League soccer.
Sarr has contributed to 6 objectives this season, scoring three and registering three assists. Off the ball, he works very onerous, successful a mean of 4.4 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, in keeping with SofaScore. He’ll little doubt proceed to be a key participant beneath Postecoglou.
8
AM – James Maddison
Since coming back from harm, James Maddison’s early season kind has taken a little bit of a nosedive, resulting in Postecoglou dropping him in opposition to Chelsea final season. Nonetheless, in opposition to Liverpool, he may effectively come again into the facet as an alternative of Richarlison – who had simply 19 touches earlier than being booked on the hour mark through the midweek defeat.
With that being mentioned, Maddison’s high quality is clear, and he was described as a “magician” by pundit Jamie O’Hara. This season, he has 4 objectives and 7 assists, which continues to be the fourth-most mixed purpose involvements for Spurs this season.
9
RW – Dejan Kulusevski
Swedish worldwide Dejan Kulusevski performed as a quantity 10 in opposition to Chelsea, in behind his captain Son. Nonetheless, he may effectively shift again out to the proper wing in opposition to Liverpool, to accommodate Maddison.
The 24-year-old is a silky dribbler, who averages a contest of 1.6 dribbles per recreation as per SofaScore. Not solely that, the 13 huge probabilities he has created for Spurs this season are bettered solely by Son.
10
LW – Brennan Johnson
It has been a profitable first season for Brennan Johnson in a Spurs shirt, following his £47.5m transfer from Nottingham Forest on deadline day final summer season.
The Welsh worldwide has 12 mixed purpose involvements within the Premier League, which is greater than another participant facet from Son with 25 and Richarlison with 13. That is already Johnson’s finest return within the Premier League, beating his tally from the 2022/23 season.
11
CF – Son Heung-min
The primary identify on the teamsheet for Spurs is their skipper. The 31-year-old is having a stellar season to date and has comfortably been his facet’s finest participant.
Up to now this season, Son has 16 objectives and 9 assists in 31 video games, along with his most up-to-date purpose coming in opposition to Arsenal within the North London Derby. He will likely be hoping to spur the Lillywhites on in opposition to Liverpool and get themselves again to successful methods.
Predicted Spurs lineup in full vs Arsenal: (GK) Guglielmo Vicario; (RB) Pedro Porro, (CB) Cristian Romero, (CB) Radu Dragusin, (LB) Micky van de Ven; (CM) Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, (CM) Pape Matar Sarr; (RW) Dejan Kulusevski, (AM) James Maddison, (LW) Brennan Johnson; (CF) Heung-min Son
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