Champions League Live Reaction: Tottenham v AS Monaco

Tottenham and Monaco Lineups

And we’ve got confirmed lineups coming in right on time. Despite initial predictions here and elsewhere that Pochettino would prefer a somewhat rotated lineup, the Argentine has instead chosen almost any entirely unchanged team than the one that trounced Stoke City 4-0 on Saturday.

Perhaps the biggest shock is that Mousa Dembélé doesn’t earn his first start of the season after serving his six match ban. Tottenham summer signing Victor Wanyama has played in the Belgian’s role since the beginning of the season, but here Pochettino’s elected to use Dele Alli.

That’s a small but significant change, and hints that Pochettino will be going for an attack-first mentality against the visitors. Alli’s performance has steadily improved over his first four matches of the season, and it’s from central midfield where he’s proven most successful. He began his career as a box-to-box midfielder after all, and could prove that his greatest talents continue to lie in that role.

Heung-min Son reprises his spot in attack, as does Érik Lamela. With Christian Eriksen presumably playing through the middle, this is an attacking trident that could cause Monaco trouble. Harry Kane will be hoping to add to the goal tally he started against Stoke on Saturday.

Dembélé, Moussa Sissoko and Vincent Janssen all sit on the bench, waiting to be utilized as necessary.

Monaco’s lineup looks close to what most expected. Fabinnho — arguably Leonardo Jardim’s most influential player — will sit at the base of midfield, while Bernardo Silva and Radamel Falcao will be the principality’s primary threats to Tottenham’s backline.

This is shaping up to be quite an opening match between the two sides, both of which seem prepared to give everything they got to securing the first points of Group E.

Check back here shortly for some match reaction and analysis.

Next: Halftime: Tottenham 1 - 2 Monaco