Ange benches Kulu in predicted Spurs lineup vs West Ham

Tottenham Hotspur know that they’ll leapfrog Aston Villa into fourth place within the Premier League with victory at West Ham United on Tuesday night, with Unai Emery’s aspect visiting title-chasing Manchester Metropolis sooner or later later.

Ange Postecoglou has earned reward for his work in stabilising the Spurs ship and whereas enhancements have been made since his appointment final summer season, there may be little query that Champions League qualification is now the prize.

Reaching this feat depends on Tottenham’s consistency, their verve. Postecoglou will gladly welcome again Micky van de Ven to the beginning line-up after the Dutchman’s absence throughout the previous two matches, and he will definitely be wanted towards the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and centre-forward Michail Antonio, with Lucas Paqueta pulling the strings.

With no European or FA Cup soccer to consider for Tottenham, full focus can and should be invested into securing a spot in subsequent season’s elite membership competitors in Europe. That’s to say, Spurs should defeat West Ham in midweek, incentivised by their dwelling loss towards David Moyes’ males in December.

With Van de Ven returning and mere days since profitable towards Luton, Postecoglou may be satisfied to make three adjustments to his beginning lineup.

1
GK – Guglielmo Vicario

Guglielmo Vicario has proved himself to be fairly the improve on veteran Hugo Lloris, who misplaced his place on the finish of the 2022/23 marketing campaign.

The Italian hasn’t missed a minute within the Premier League this season and you may guess your backside greenback he’ll be between the sticks on the London Stadium.

2
RB – Pedro Porro

Pedro Porro is a few participant. He arrived at a difficult level in January 2023 and whereas he supplied glimpses of brilliance, his early exploits in London had been marred by errors and inconsistency. That is all modified this 12 months.

As per Sofascore, the Spain worldwide has clinched seven assists from 26 league video games, averaging 1.7 key passes, 2.8 tackles, 5.8 ball recoveries and 5.0 profitable duels per recreation.

3
CB – Cristian Romero

Whereas Cristian Romero is an imperfect centre-half, he is a heck of a very good one. Tottenham supporters would argue that he falls into the identical bracket as Virgil van Dijk and William Saliba, and there is positively a case there.

As per Sofascore, the 2022 World Cup champion has scored 4 objectives from 24 Premier League matches this season, finishing 92% of his passes, averaging 2.0 tackles and 6.0 ball recoveries per recreation and profitable a noteworthy 70% of his duels.

4
CB – Micky van de Ven

It is fairly easy: when Van de Ven performs, Tottenham are much better geared up to safe victory.

His athleticism and tempo mix completely with Romero’s tough-tackling aggression, and he might be important in nullifying the West Ham attacking efforts.

5
LB – Future Udogie

Future Udogie seems to be like he is been thriving on the peak of the Premier League for a few years, however he solely made his debut within the competitors again in August.

As per FBref, he ranks among the many high 10% of full-backs throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous 12 months for cross completion, the highest 13% for progressive passes, the highest 9% for progressive carries, the highest 12% for profitable take-ons, the highest 19% for tackles and the highest 7% for interceptions per 90.

Vladimir Coufal had a poor recreation as West Ham had been swarmed late on towards Newcastle United on the weekend – branded with a 4/10 match score by The Night Normal – and also you would not guess towards Udogie capitalising on this.

6
CM – Rodrigo Bentancur

Rodrigo Bentancur continues to be trying to find his pre-injury type, and he’ll discover it. He could properly begin towards West Ham after Yves Bissouma’s persevering with lack of type led to a 5/10 match score towards Luton.

The Uruguayan hasn’t began in a few month and might be itching to make an impression and reclaim his place on the peak of the pecking order.

7
CM – Pape Matar Sarr

Bissouma may not retain his beginning spot however Pape Matar Sarr merely has to, with the Senegalese midfielder’s vitality and infectious enthusiasm so vital for Tottenham’s productiveness and level of course on the pitch.

The 21-year-old has began 21 Premier League video games this time period, not too long ago sitting in a deeper position that might maintain his Malian teammate out of the crew on Tuesday.

8
RW – Brennan Johnson

Signed for £47.5m from Nottingham Forest final summer season after one top-flight marketing campaign, eyebrows rose when Brennan Johnson moved to Tottenham. Some brows are nonetheless raised now.

This does not matter to Postecoglou, to his Tottenham crew and the membership supporters, who’ve recognised the Welshman’s electrical tempo, directness and creativity. It makes such a distinction.

He deserves a beginning berth to terrorise the hosts and hand his aspect back-to-back victories, with Dejan Kulusevski the person to offer approach after being changed on the interval final day out.

The Swede – who has began 26 league video games this season – has been the common decide on that proper flank, though with Johnson choosing up his seventh help of the season final day out, a change must be made.

9
AM – James Maddison

Whereas, but once more, James Maddison did not take pleasure in his most interesting efficiency in a Tottenham shirt final day out, nobody does it like he. His playmaking prowess, eagle-eyed imaginative and prescient and dynamism craft attacking sequences for his friends and he has been described as a “nightmare for defenders” by The Occasions’ Henry Winter.

10
LW – Heung-min Son

Heung-min Son scored his fifteenth Premier League purpose of the marketing campaign towards Luton and is flourishing as his crew’s talismanic pressure, including eight assists for his teammates.

The 31-year-old has been in fantastic type at centre-forward not too long ago however Timo Werner labored exhausting on Saturday and Son will return to his pure left-wing place, the place he’ll hardly have to deliver himself up to the mark.

11
CF – Richarlison

Richarlison did not make the lower on the weekend and performed simply 5 minutes of motion towards the Hatters. The Brazilian has scored 9 objectives from ten top-flight fixtures earlier than choosing up a minor knee damage and might be determined to rekindle his Midas contact.

Described as a “nuisance” by Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold, the 5 foot 10 Richarlison’s physicality and thorniness might be key in subduing a shaky Irons backline.

Predicted Tottenham line-up in full: (GK) Guglielmo Vicario; (RB) Pedro Porro, (CB) Cristian Romero, (CB) Micky van de Ven, (LB) Future Udogie; (CM) Rodrigo Bentancur, (CM) Pape Matar Sarr; (RW) Brennan Johnson, (AM) James Maddison, (LW) Heung-min Son; (CF) Richarlison