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Tottenham Hotspur Projected XI vs Fulham on Sunday

By Aaron Coe

BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 04: Jesus Perez, Assistant Manager of Tottenham Hotspur (L) and Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur (R) looks on prior to the FA Cup Third Round match between Tranmere Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur at Prenton Park on January 4, 2019 in Birkenhead, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 04: Jesus Perez, Assistant Manager of Tottenham Hotspur (L) and Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur (R) looks on prior to the FA Cup Third Round match between Tranmere Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur at Prenton Park on January 4, 2019 in Birkenhead, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham’s Midfield

Midfield is definitely an area being punished at the moment for Spurs. Eric Dier is recovering and is likely to make the bench. Victor Wanyama is still out and we have no Moussa’s now, with Dembele sold and Sissoko injured.

This leaves the team with Dele Alli, Harry Winks, and Christian Eriksen as senior midfielders at the moment. Oliver Skipp is likely to continue his first team adventure to help fill in the ranks. All five are dressed with Alli and Eriksen doing more of the attacking while Skipp and Winks hold more. Although it wouldn’t surprise me to see only Skipp or only Winks really sit in front of the center halves to create more of an attacking push.

Spurs’ Attack

It is in the attacking third where Spurs are thinnest now, with Kane and Son definitely out and Moura’s availability questionable at best. Expect Fernando Llorente to start up top, along with Erik Lamela.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 08: Erik Lamela of Tottenham Hotspur reacts as Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea looks on during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on January 8, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 08: Erik Lamela of Tottenham Hotspur reacts as Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea looks on during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on January 8, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

The Spaniard provides a good target for the longer balls to the front and Pochettino seems to favor Lamela as an attacker over other players. Given Dele’s penchant for runs from the midfield and Eriksen’s ability to place the balls into the paths of players from midfield, having Lamela play as the second attacker makes the most sense for the squad.

If Lucas Moura is unavailable, expect under-23 player Kazaiah Sterling to be on the bench as a back-up striker. If Pochettino wants to give Toby some more rest or Dier a few more days to recover, Irish wonderkid and first-year academy player Troy Parrott could make the bench as well.

Line-up

4-4-2

Lloris – Rose – Vertonghen – Sanchez – Aurier – Dele – Winks – Skipp – Eriksen – Lamela – Llorente

Bench

Foyth – Davies – Trippier – Dier – Gazzaniga – Sterling – Alderweireld

Next. How Spurs can compete without Kane or Son. dark