Alan Shearer believes Son Heung-min should have started Tottenham Hotspur’s latest Premier League clash.
Alan Shearer told Match of the Day (broadcast on BBC One; 15/09 from 22:20) that Mauricio Pochettino surprised him with his team selection for Tottenham’s clash with Liverpool on Saturday, and suggested that Son Heung-min should have started the game at Wembley.
Spurs were beaten 2-1 by the Reds, with Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino capitalising on some questionable defending to put the visitors 2-0 ahead before Erik Lamela’s drilled finish handed Tottenham a lifeline late on.
The equaliser was not to come, but perhaps Tottenham should have been given the chance to level the game from the spot when Son was brought down by a clumsy challenge. The penalty was not given and Liverpool held on.
It was a lacklustre performance from Spurs, and Shearer hinted that the tactics may not have worked and added that Son only featuring as a substitute was a mistake.
“I was surprised with the team selection, because he played Dier on the right of a three in midfield and he looked very uncomfortable all game. And if there was ever a time to play Son, he’s won a trophy, he’s avoided national service, he’d be on an incredible high so it’s a game to put him in,” he said on Match of the Day.
While in hindsight playing Son from the start may have been a smart idea, it is not a surprise that Pochettino decided against throwing him in straight away.
The forward’s schedule over the past 12 months has been gruelling, especially during the last month, so bringing him back into the fold gradually appeared to make plenty of sense.
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