Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action following the World Cup at Brentford on Boxing Day. So, HITC Football has predicted Antonio Conte’s likely XI to take on the Bees.
Spurs will go from north to west London carrying a few injuries with Richarlison and Lucas Moura sidelined. The former returned with a hamstring injury after representing Brazil at Qatar 2022. While his compatriot is still struggling to overcome his own fitness problems.
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Richarlison had played a key role in Tottenham’s earlier Premier League run after a £50m, rising to £60m, move from Everton. He helped Spurs sit fourth in the table with 29 points after 15 games. The 25-year-old laid on three assists over 10 appearances, starting in five.
Rodrigo Bentancur also returned from the World Cup after he sustained a small tear to his adductor muscle. The Uruguay midfielder is unavailable at Brentford through suspension, as well. But Conte expects he will have Bentancur fit to face Aston Villa on New Year’s Day.
Croatia star Ivan Perisic, Cristian Romero of Argentina and France captain Hugo Lloris face different roles when Tottenham face Brentford, however, following their respective World Cup campaigns. Conte has confirmed, via football.london, that only Perisic is likely to play.
Tottenham will have Lloris on the bench after France lost the Qatar 2022 final to Romero and Argentina. The World Cup winner will return to contention at home to Aston Villa. So, HITC Football has now predicted what the Tottenham XI will look like away to Brentford…
Conte makes four changes in our predicted Tottenham XI vs Brentford
HITC Football has predicted that Conte will make four changes at Brentford from the last Premier League Tottenham XI that beat Leeds United 4-3 on November 12. One of those changes will come in goal with Lloris only occupying a spot on their bench on Boxing Day.
Fraser Forster will come in for the France captain against the Bees to make his top-flight debut for Spurs. Conte signed the shot-stopper following his release by Southampton in June. But the 34-year-old made his only appearance in the EFL Cup at Nottingham Forest.
Conte confirming that Romero will not feature at Brentford will likely see Tottenham field the same defence that faced Leeds. Eric Dier, Clement Lenglet and Ben Davies guarded the Spurs net against the Whites. Forster will now hope the trio can help him avoid a busy day.
But HITC Football has predicted that Conte will make a change at wing-back with Emerson Royal axed for Matt Doherty. The Brazilian has continued to struggle in north London this season. While the Republic of Ireland international can pose a greater threat on the right.
On the left, meanwhile, Perisic will expect to retain a place after returning from the World Cup in contention to feature. Conte will surely welcome his presence with Richarlison and Bentancur out. Yves Bissouma should start in the engine room with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The final change in our predicted Tottenham XI to face Brentford comes from Richarlison’s absence. Conte will surely bring Son Heung-Min back into the line-up after missing their last two Premier League games. He returned from a facial injury to feature at the World Cup.
HITC Football’s predicted Tottenham XI vs Brentford: Forster (GK); Dier, Lenglet, Davies; Doherty, Hojbjerg, Bissouma, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
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