Tottenham v Burnley official lineups

Mauricio Pochettino seems set to return to a back-to-basics approach when Tottenham face Burnley at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.

After last week’s adventurous tactics against Chelsea, it’s possible that not all is as it seems with this Tottenham line up. With Burnley hardly presenting as formidable a challenge though, it’s safer to assume something more tame.

A win in Wembley is hugely important, if only to dispell the notion that somehow Spurs are unable to play on their temporary home pitch. This lineup is perhaps the best choice available to Pochettino if he wants a result.

There are real surprises here all the same.

Victor Wanyama is a surprise scratch from the matchday lineup after playing last week against Chelsea. He struggled with a back issue throughout the summer, so that would be the go-to assumption about his absence here.

It appears as if Eric Dier will push up into a conventional defensive midfield role in the Kenyan’s place. Next to him will feature the dynamo that is Mousa Dembélé, making his 200th appearance for Spurs.

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Another surprise awaits us in attacking midfield. Heung-min Son makes his first start of the season after appearing as a sub in the matches against Newcastle and Chelsea. His presence here strongly suggests a return to Pochettino’s once-favored 4-2-3-1 formation, with Son on the left wing, Dele Alli through the center and Christian Eriksen on the right.

Harry Kane, naturally, leads the line. He’ll be hoping to break his own hoodoo surrounding his supposed inability to score in August.

More notable inclusions can be found on the bench. After his work permit was granted on Friday, Spurs’ record signing Davinson Sánchez might just make his first appearance today. He’s joined on the bench by Tashan Oakley-Boothe, a Spurs youngster who enjoyed some decent performances in midfield during the preseason.

Burnley are set to run out their usual team, virtually identical to the one that beat Chelsea 3-2 on opening day then succumbed to West Brom 1-0 last weekend. Scott Arfield earns a place in midfield as Jeff Hendrick is dropped.

Compared to last week’s tactical master class between Pochettino and Antonio Conte, Sunday’s match looks to be a much more pedestrian affair. Spurs will press their advantage high up the pitch, while Dier will help protect the backline from Burnley’s long balls and attempts at a counter-attack.

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Spurs fans might enjoy the added thrill of seeing the debuts of Sánchez and/or Oakley-Boothe, though the latter is much more likely than the former.

Check back here after the match for a full report, plus Spurs’ man of the match and full player reviews.