The XI Who Should Go for Tottenham Sunday at Brighton

Tottenham Defense

Despite what turned into a stunningly poor defensive performance against Liverpool, Tottenham are back in a back three. Part of this is because unless Japhet Tanganga plays, we certainly hope there is not other real right fullback in the team. Both Serge Aurier and Matt Doherty deserve LONG, stints in the doghouse and Spurs are better in a back three anyway.

Hugo Lloris (GK) 

Hugo Lloris did not necessarily have a howler on Thursday, but he did little with all three goals and certainly could have done better with two of them. His lack of willingness to cut the cross or even shout for a clear cost Spurs on the first goal. Then on the third goal, his save was lazy and the parry of the ball to Alexander-Arnold was about as bad as it gets. That said, Mourinho does not really have a legitimate option to replace Lloris, only cover for lesser teams or injury, so Hugo Lloris starts as usual.

Davinson Sanchez (RB)

Davinson Sanchez is not Jose Mourinho’s favorite player by any stretch of the imagination, but right now there are not really a lot of options to play right back in a back three. Clearly Matt Doherty and Serge Aurier can barely play right back in a back four playing either in a back three is like giving the opponent a 1 goal advantage. Toby Alderweireld is not athletic enough to play in that much space, meaning it is either Joe Rodon or Davinson Sanchez. We have Sanchez here, because Rodon plays on the left, so we go with what is available.

Toby Alderweireld (CB)

Had Toby Alderweireld been playing in the middle of the back three, we definitely do not think Liverpool would have scored that first goal. Alderweireld is not nearly as athletic as he once was, but he still does a few things very well defensively. One is communicate, Toby would have had Davies up in line for the trap and likely would not have let Aurier fall asleep. Second Toby is a safety first player defensively who has NEVER seen a ball he could not or would not clear. There is no doubting Toby puts that ball into the 20th row that Dier let role to Firmino.

Joe Rodon (LB)

Joe Rodon is going to play, José Mourinho said as much in his post-match interview. Tottenham sticks with a back three and Rodon is back on the left side of the defense. This is not so much because Ben Davies played poorly, rather it is a move that allows Ben Davies to push up in the midfield. Rodon played well overall on Thursday and a shout from either his captain or Matt Doherty, both with clear views of the play and within 5 yards of Rodon could have avoided the mistake. Rodon made the wrong play, but two veterans did nothing to help him when all they needed to do was open their mouths.