Tottenham Hotspur XI to Bounce Back Against Leicester City
By Aaron Coe
José Mourinho will not be making major changes to the Tottenham team that lost midweek, although the shape and formation will certainly be different.
Tottenham Hotspur were in a 4-4-2 formation for the Liverpool match during midweek. While Leicester City has no problem playing possession football, they do not possess the same kind of dominance on the flanks to force Spurs into a different formation than usual. As such, Tottenham are back in the 4-2-3-1 for Leicester City as they look to get back to their winning ways.
Beyond the formation going back to normal the other big change heading into the weekend is the immediate implementation of the new expanded benches for each team. Instead of the seven players previously allowed by each team, squads can now keep nine players on the bench for each Premier League match.
The Premier League did not change the number of substitutes allowed; just how many were available. Regardless it is a welcome change, which gives coaches more options and more importantly more cover. While all teams can make do with the extra body – regardless of true depth at a club – Tottenham are sure to benefit with the positional competition currently at the club.
One thing that is rather certain going in – barring illness of course – is that the captain will be starting between the sticks.
Hugo Lloris – Goalie
Hugo Lloris will once again be starting and captaining Tottenham as they take the field on Sunday afternoon. Lloris was solid against Liverpool midweek, making nine saves in the loss. While many of the saves were routine for the French National Team captain, a couple were not. Almost as important was the fact that Lloris did not give up any rebounds either. He did parry a ball wide of goal for a corner, but that is not the same as a rebound. There was little Hugo could do about either goal leaving he and his team hoping for more luck Sunday against Leicester.