Dier or Sanchez? Pochettino’s big decision for Spurs v Real Madrid

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Will Mauricio Pochettino stick with Eric Dier despite his mistake at Manchester United or reinstate Davinson Sanchez when Tottenham host Real Madrid?

Dele Alli and Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur are dejected after the Premier League match against Manchester United.

Tottenham Hotspur’s impressive four-game winning streak in the Premier League was brought to an end at the weekend with a 1-0 defeat at Manchester United.

A late Anthony Martial goal was enough to seal all three points for the Red Devils as Spurs go into their huge Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday (November 1) on the back of a loss.

Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on during the Premier League match against Manchester United.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino surprised a few with his selection decisions at Old Trafford, such as not starting Fernando Llorente in the absence of Harry Kane and replacing Davinson Sanchez with Eric Dier in the centre of a three-man defence.

Dier was criticised for the part he played in United’s goal as well as he failed to react quickly enough to a Romelu Lukaku flick-on and allowed Martial in behind to score the winner.

Therefore Pochettino is left with a defensive quandary against Madrid at Wembley Stadium – reinstate Sanchez or stick with the England international?

Davinson Sanchez of Tottenham Hotspur attempts to tackle Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League group H match.

Dier impressed when Tottenham last played Los Blancos at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, with the 23-year-old part of a resolute display at the back that earned a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital.

However, Sanchez also played in that game as Jan Vertonghen was pushed out to wing-back because of an injury to Ben Davies. This time around Davies and Danny Rose are both available, so it would be a surprise if Vertonghen played there again.

Whether Pochettino sticks with Dier despite his slip up at the weekend, brings back Sanchez instead, or even plays both with another defender dropping out, remains to be seen.