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 robust 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 type too, having picked up simply 4 factors from their final 4 Premier League video games.
Spurs are at present looking down Aston Villa who occupy the fourth and remaining Champions League qualification place. They’re at present seven factors behind Unai Emery’s facet, though they’ve a sport in hand.
It might properly be the case that Postecoglou decides to rotate the Spurs facet forward of the journey to Liverpool this Sunday. There are three potential modifications the Lilywhites supervisor might make forward of the crunch conflict…
1
GK – Guglielmo Vicario
There are honest arguments to say that the signing of Guglielmo Vicario has been the very best piece of switch enterprise Spurs carried out final summer season. They signed him from Empoli for an preliminary price of £17.2m, and he’s to this point proving his price.
The 27-year-old has made some incredible saves and has stored six clear sheets within the Premier League to this point 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 below Postecoglou, he has taken his sport to an entire new degree.
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 possibilities, 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 firstly of the season by making him one of many two Spurs vice-captains. He has performed an enormous function this season, that includes 29 occasions and scoring a powerful 5 objectives.
The Argentine is a tricky defender and may be very dominant in duels. Based on SofaScore, he wins a median of two.9 floor duels and a couple of.7 aerial duels per 90 minutes this season.
4
CB – Radu Dragusin
The primary of the three Spurs modifications might 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 this point, making two begins, in back-to-back video games in opposition to Fulham and Luton. He may very well be in line to start out this week on account of a tactical tweak from Postecoglou.
5
LB – Mickey van de Ven
The rationale Dragusin might begin is as a result of Mickey van de Ven might 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 properly flip to Van de Ven.
Certainly, Van de Ven has performed at left-back 15 occasions in his profession, though by no means for Spurs. His tempo and wonderful capability on the ball will stand him in good stead for that function.
6
CM – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
The second change Postecoglou might make is to start out Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg within the centre of midfield, forward of Yves Bissouma.
The Dane, who has performed 33 occasions within the Premier League this season for Spurs, will carry a lot of expertise to their midfield. As per SofaScore, he averages 3.5 ball recoveries and wins a median of 1.7 floor duels per 90 minutes this season.
7
CM – Pape Matar Sarr
Possible retaining his place in midfield from the defeat in opposition to Chelsea is Pape Matar Sarr. The younger midfielder has left an amazing 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 laborious, profitable a median of 4.4 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, in response to SofaScore. He’ll little doubt proceed to be a key participant below Postecoglou.
8
AM – James Maddison
Since getting back from harm, James Maddison’s early season type has taken a little bit of a nosedive, resulting in Postecoglou dropping him in opposition to Chelsea final season. Nevertheless, in opposition to Liverpool, he might properly come again into the facet as a substitute of Richarlison – who had simply 19 touches earlier than being booked on the hour mark throughout the midweek defeat.
With that being stated, 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 remains 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. Nevertheless, he might properly shift again out to the suitable 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 sport as per SofaScore. Not solely that, the 13 huge possibilities 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 some other 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 title on the teamsheet for Spurs is their skipper. The 31-year-old is having a stellar season to this point and has comfortably been his facet’s finest participant.
To date 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 profitable 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
Associated
Ange should now drop Spurs’ 5/10 dud who was as unhealthy as Emerson
This Tottenham star price his facet within the struggle to safe a top-four end.
