Tottenham Hotspur look set to shake up their successful defensive set-up as they prepare to take on Manchester City in a crucial Premier League clash.
In form Tottenham Hotspur currently sit in second place in the Premier League standings and travel to Manchester hoping to extend their three point – and three place – lead over opponents Manchester City this weekend.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has cultivated one of the most reputable defensive units of English football in recent months, whilst simultaneously facilitating an attacking style that has claimed 43 goals in 21 league games – in addition to significant praise for the way the likes of Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Mousa Dembele have been performing this season.
However, having conceded a division low of just 14 goals over their 21 games, the Premier League’s tightest defence is facing perhaps its biggest test of their title credentials this weekend.
Not only do Spurs have to travel to the home of Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva et al, but they do so with the absence of defensive stalwart Jan Vertonghen – who has been ruled out for a number of months with an ankle injury.
Consequently, Pochettino has a defensive dilemma to address. If the Spurs manager is eager to retain the three-man defensive system – that appears to cater perfectly to Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Eriksen and Alli – then the inclusion of Kevin Wimmer or Ben Davies as Vertonghen’s direct replacement could be anticipated.
However, if Wimmer’s clear lack of Premier League exposure is deemed too much of a risk (the 24-year-old defender has played just three times this season, including an own goal against Arsenal), then a return to a back four – enabling an additional midfield component – would suffice for Spurs.
The likelihood is that goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris will play behind a reverted back four – subsequently seeing Walker, Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld and Rose completing the defensive line.
Victor Wanyama is set to be deployed behind the ball, as the defensive midfield option alongside the more penetrative Dembele.
The change away from a back three would see either the skilfully mobile Son Heung-Min or the physical power of Moussa Sissoko included in an attacking midfield role in order to supplement Eriksen and Alli.
Alli’s ten goals from 20 games this season is made all the more impressive by the fact that the 20-year-old has scored 7 goals in his last 5 appearances – meaning that the midfielder and lone forward Harry Kane have scored all of Spurs’ last ten Premier League goals between them, helping secure a six game winning streak in the process.
Here is the predicted Tottenham Hotspur line-up in full:
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