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How Tottenham Hotspur should set-up and play to beat Leicester City

By Aaron Coe

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 20: (l-r) Harry Kane , Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Eric Dier , Jonny Evans of Leicester City , Toby Alderweireld , Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur compete during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 20, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Andy Rain - Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 20: (l-r) Harry Kane , Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Eric Dier , Jonny Evans of Leicester City , Toby Alderweireld , Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur compete during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 20, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Andy Rain - Pool/Getty Images) /
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 16: James Rodriguez of Everton shoots under pressure from Joe Rodon of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on April 16, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 16: James Rodriguez of Everton shoots under pressure from Joe Rodon of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on April 16, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /

The defensive formation Tottenham should use

There are two changes Tottenham should make to the normal defensive formation – before we even get into the actual players. First, it starts by playing a more traditional back four. Yes, in possession the fullbacks can push up but in a supporting role. Instead of starting up near midfield, the fullbacks should be wide just north of the 18 to provide outlets to the center-halves.

By playing a more traditional role as fullbacks, the center-halves can be a bit closer in possession and not be so hard to split. If Tottenham can manage what basically amounts to a flat back four when in a set defensive formation that would be good.

Besides pulling the fullbacks back toward the goal, Tottenham should play with only one hold midfielder, Pierre Højbjerg. By having Højbjerg as the lone holding midfielder if nothing else it keeps him in the middle of the pitch where he is more likely to help defensively. To protect the backline, you have to be in front of the backline and too often this season Højbjerg has been covering for someone else instead of protecting the defense.

Also by having Højbjerg more committed defensively, when Spurs do get into possession, he can drop between the two center-halves to create a back three providing real cover for the fullbacks. We have seen with time Højbjerg can be a good passer so why not have him there in the middle pinging balls around.

If you look at the average position map from the Villa game, Højbjerg and Harry Winks were in nearly the same position anyway. You cannot even see Pierre’s number 5. So why not just play one player there and open space in the middle of the park?

With five organized players in front of Hugo Lloris, Tottenham should be in a position to handle both the striking duo and a dynamic midfield. More importantly, they will be in a position to move the ball forward to the front or attacking five to create that counter Spurs will need against Leicester.