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Matchday Live: Tottenham v Leicester City

By Ryan Wrenn

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Poppies are stuck to the Tottenham Hotspur badge ahead of the Rememberance Day outside the stadium prior to kick off during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at White Hart Lane on October 29, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Poppies are stuck to the Tottenham Hotspur badge ahead of the Rememberance Day outside the stadium prior to kick off during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at White Hart Lane on October 29, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
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Lineups Announced!

Mauricio Pochettino names something of a throwback side for Tottenham as they take on Leicester.

Érik Lamela doesn’t even make the 18 — no word on injuries or if it’s just rest — but the rest of the team looks very familiar.

Tottenham return to what looks like last season’s 4-2-3-1 formation. Eric Dier is again in for Alderweireld, while Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembélé are set to operate at the base of midfield. Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Heung-min Son occupy the attacking midfield spot behind Victor Janssen.

It’s a formation that speaks to just an added level of caution. Leicester City might have had a rough start, but they still represent a huge threat on the break. Having Dembélé operating through the center of the pitch frees up Wanyama’s movement as well as taking Tottenham’s pressing game to Danny Drinkwater and Andy King.


Ranieri’s named both to Leicester’s extremely adventurous XI. They will operate in the center of what is essentially an advanced 4-4-1-1, with Riyad Mahrez and Ahmed Musa on the wings and Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki stacked up in the centre-forward positions.

For a team on the road in a fortress like White Hart Lane, this is bold to say the least. Kyle Walker and Danny Rose will have their work cut out for them on the flanks.

That said, a top-heavy Leicester might fall right into Pochettino’s plans here. He’s added bulk to the midfield in Dembélé, but all four of the attacking players ahead of him have goals in them — even Janssen.

This could very well be a particularly open contest, full of chances for both sides. Let’s hope Tottenham ends up with the better of them.

Check back at half-time for some quick thoughts on what’s come before and how Pochettino can change things up after the interval.