Tottenham Hotspur travel to Southampton for Premeir League action on Sunday afternoon.
Claudio Ranieri he is not, but Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is liable to some rotation.
That is to be expected at a top-six club nowadays, with Spurs still fighting it out in three competitions and having the depth of squad – in most areas – to bring in full internationals when other players are afforded a rest.
As this Twitter graphic demonstrates, Pochettino averages 2.5 lineup changes per Premier League match, which puts him roughly in the middle of the pack when it comes to rotation among his top-flight contemporaries.
Pochettino’s most common alterations are to switch his full-backs and midfielders – with Mousa Dembele in and out of the team on fitness grounds – while formation can dictate whether Son Heung-min gets the nod from the start.
With the South Korean in blistering form – six goals and four assists in his last nine league matches – Dembele injury free and no midweek game, Pochettino has little reason to make changes for Sunday’s trip to Southampton. Although, Hugo Lloris has given him a late scare by going down with illness, according to the Evening Standard.
So could the Tottenham boss name an unchanged lineup in the league for the first time this season?
The only threat to this would be the Argentine’s decision at right-back, where Serge Aurier is the incumbent and Kieran Trippier knocking on the door. Danny Rose’s injury means there is no dilemma on the other flank.
Considering that Aurier has started four of Tottenham’s last five league matches, and next weekend’s FA Cup tie with Newport County may be more suited to Trippier, there is every chance that Pochettino breaks his habit of the season at St Mary’s.
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