Southampton vs. Tottenham: Probable starting eleven
By Gary Pearson
Tottenham’s collective battery should be fully recharged after enjoying a week training in sunny Barcelona in the lead up to Sunday’s visit to Southampton.
After one of their best performances of the season, Mauricio Pochettino shouldn’t have too many pressing selection woes. There’s no reason to alter the starting team which dominated Everton last week.
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Spurs have enjoyed a full week off and don’t play again until next Saturday in what should be a comparatively easy match against Newport in the FA Cup.
Look for the gaffer to save Victor Wanyama for the FA Cup tie, leaving Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele to take their place in the heart of Spurs midfield once again.
Harry Winks suffered a setback and won’t be available until the middle of February, at the earliest. The best news of the week comes from Toby Alderweireld’s camp, who says the Belgian international is preparing for a Feb. 4 return, when Tottenham travel to Anfield in a behemoth fixture.
Danny Rose is still nursing an injury and won’t be available until February, though I prefer Ben Davies as Tottenham’s first choice left back. He’s solid in defence and has improved substantially going forward.
The only change from the team who dominated Everton I see Pochettino making is preferring Kieran Trippier to Serge Aurier. Though an uncertainty, Trippier’s crossing ability on the road against Southampton could prove crucial in leaving the south coast with all three points.
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Don’t be too surprised if Aurier remains in the starting team, though. Pochettino won’t make too many changes after watching his team put on a clinic at home against Big Sam’s side last weekend.
Hugo Lloris didn’t train today due to an illness, but I expect him to be fit for Sunday’s encounter. Pochettino was a bit more cryptic, commenting that “it’s difficult to say” whether he’ll play or not.
Manchester United and Chelsea should win their respective matches but Tottenham can continue putting pressure on the top four with another important road victory. Liverpool don’t play until Monday, when they travel Swansea, the Premier League’s bottom feeders.