Tottenham v West Ham lineups

A strong Tottenham side will take to the pitch in Wednesday’s EFL Cup match against cross-London rivals West Ham.

Mauricio Pochettino will have looked on this fixture with some unease. Tottenham only just completed a tense — but ultimately successful — week that pitted them against Real Madrid and Liverpool. With Manchester United looming on Saturday, this derby is crammed firmly in the middle of more important matches.

Never one to name truly weakened sides, Pochettino clearly didn’t hesitate here. While key names do get dropped to the bench — or out of the matchday squad entirely — there is still a healthy representation from Spurs’ usual starting XI.

There’s a sense that perhaps Pochettino knows that it is going to take more than Academy kids in periphreal players to beat this West Ham side. While Slaven Bilić’s side is suffering so far this season — they are separated from the relegation zone at present only on goal difference — they still came close to a comeback when these two sides met in September.

To help reign in their visitor’s ambitions, Pochettino has included some of the side’s bigger guns. Toby Alderweireld starts in defense, Eric Dier in central midfield and Dele Alli in attack.

Around those players, though, are some faces we don’t see quite as often. Juan Foyth is set for his second ever start in Spurs colors. He will feature in a three man defense, presumably opposite Ben Davies as Alderweireld occupies the middle sweeper role.

The Welshman will be in that position because, for the first time in nearly nine months, he isn’t needed at left-back or left wing-back. Danny Rose makes his first start after his January injury, and will likely be looking to recreate his usual bombastic form on the left flank.

Kieran Trippier will again fill in for Serge Aurier on the right, while Moussa Sissoko will fill the void left by the absence of Harry Winks in through the middle.

In attack, Alli will be aided by the dual presence of Heung-min Son and Fernando Llorente. The two forwards represent very different interpretations of the role, and we can expect Alli to try to emulate Christian Eriken’s playmaker role just behind that pair.

It feels unlikely that anyone gets fired on the basis of an EFL Cup fourth round result, but it’s clear that Bilić is keenly aware that his future is in the balance at West Ham following their loss to Brighton on the weekend.

Consequently, it should come as no surprise that the Croatian names arguably his strongest squad possible here to take on Tottenham.

Pochettino will be wary of the speed and invention of Manuel Lanzini, while also keeping a close eye on Aaron Cresswell’s attempts to perhaps get around the easily circumnavigable Trippier on the right-flank.

Next: Carabao Cup Preview: Home vs West Ham

Curiously though, Bilić has named Andy Carroll into his starting XI. Seeing as how the towering former Liverpool striker was indirectly involved in both of Spurs’ opening goals in September, it seems an especially ominous selection.