Tottenham Hotspur get their new Premier League season underway this afternoon as they host champions Manchester City.
The game is being overshadowed by the situation surrounding Harry Kane, with the Tottenham hero potentially on the move this month.
The most likely team to sign him? Well, that would be Manchester City – today’s opponents in North London.
There is a new start for boss Nuno Espirito Santo following his appointment, as well as the likes of Pierluigi Gollini, Cristian Romero and Bryan Gil.
Nuno has plenty of decisions to make ahead of today’s opener, and here is our predicted lineup for the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side…
Despite the arrival of Italian international Gollini, Hugo Lloris will surely start the season as Tottenham’s first-choice goalkeeper but now has very real competition for his place.
Cristian Romero has signed, but after returning to Atalanta’s pre-season late following Copa America and missing Tottenham’s pre-season games, it’s unlikely that he will start today.
That means Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez look best-placed to start in the heart of Nuno’s defence today having featured together in the final pre-season game against Arsenal last week.
Sergio Reguilon looks nailed-on to start at left back, whilst Japhet Tanganga could start at right back – even though Nuno has reunited with his former Wolves star Matt Doherty at Tottenham.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg will be the key man in Tottenham’s midfield, and Oliver Skipp looks to be in contention for a start after excelling on loan at Norwich City last season.
Tanguy Ndombele isn’t in favour right now and Giovani Lo Celso was only a substitute against Arsenal last week.
Dele Alli seems likely to start in the number 10 role, with Lucas Moura on the right and Steven Bergwijn on the left as the Dutchman attempts to rejuvenate his Tottenham career.
With Kane unlikely to start due to the rampant rumours over his future and no other striker brought in, Son Heung-min will surely lead the Tottenham attack today.
Kane may well be on the bench, alongside Gollini, Cristian Romero, Matt Doherty, Serge Aurier, Harry Winks, Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil, with Ryan Sessegnon, Dane Scarlett and Ben Davies also fighting for inclusion.
Tottenham predicted lineup: Lloris; Tanganga, Dier, Sanchez, Reguilon; Hojbjerg, Skipp; Moura, Alli, Bergwijn; Son.
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