Walker-Peters continues to grow as Tottenham’s first choice right back
Taking charge of the main uncertainty in the Tottenham squad, Kyle Walker-Peters is coming of age in his new starting role.
Given his second consecutive start of the new Premier League season on Saturday, Walker-Peters matched head-to-head with one of the world’s best wingers. The lethal Manchester City attack, led by Raheem Sterling, looked to exploit the young Spurs fullback.
On the first match day, KWP was inconsistent, failing to convince supporters, even after a decent preseason. However, Pochettino kept faith and left Walker-Peters in the first XI.
Only his 11th PL appearance, the City match proved to be the English defender’s largest test of his budding career.
In the first half, KWP and Spurs were pinned deep, forced to absorb City’s pressure and look to counter. Walker-Peters did his utmost to get forward and supply the box with crosses. Of course Spurs were starved of possession, making his forward largely ineffective. Working with Moussa Sissoko, the two were given the responsibility of trying to suppress Raheem Sterling, a rather unenviable task.
He was positionally sound, blocking shots and trying to intercept balls on the wing. Although not as experienced as Serge Aurier, KWP is fast and athletic enough to make things difficult for opposing attackers.
However, Sterling found acres of space at the back post to nod home City’s opener. Sterling, for the most part, had his way with the younger, inexperienced right back in the first half, partly due to breakdowns between KWP and Sissoko.
In the second half Mauricio Pochettino made a subtle defensive tactical switch, with KWP wholly responsible for tracking runners, instead of handing them off to Sissoko. This change, along with KWP’s ability to suffocate space, quashed Sterling’s ability to run in behind the back line, making him largely ineffective in the second 45.
From half time, KWP grew more into the match and was a vital outlet for Hugo Lloris and the two central defenders. He also tried, with limited success, to progress the ball or take it down the wing for an attack.
Overall it was a solid performance in incredibly adverse conditions, a learning experience to grow from. It was a performance that Kieran Trippier would have been envious of. Walker-Peters showed braveness and maturity beyond his years. It was a match that will serve the young right back well for the rest of the season.
Getting a long run of matches is exactly what Walker-Peters needs. Lucky for him, Pochettino is the type of manager who knows how, and when, to nurture the young Englishman. The question is whether Walker-Peters can hold off the challenge of Juan Foyth, who will return from injury in September. Based on this performance, he has every chance of solidifying his place as the club’s first choice right back.
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August 25 at home against Newcastle will provide Walker-Peters another great chance to showcase his talent, this time being able to run more freely in an attacking sense, as Spurs are expected to dominate the Magpies. With the price of defenders on the rise in the market, Tottenham will be happy to develop a prime talent of their own while remaining in the hunt to win the Premier League title.