The changes Ange should make to the XI for the trip to Southampton
By Tom Vinall
3) Pape Sarr for Yves Bissouma
The first of two enforced changes. Despite being a tenacious, ball winning midfielder, Sarr is not a defensive midfielder. Because of those traits, people automatically think that's the player he is. But his energetic style of play is much more suited to a box-to-box role, both on and off the ball.
However, Spurs do not have much choice. Both the players who regularly play as the pivot are suspended for this game. So, the way to compromise this is by playing Sarr with Bergvall in the midfield on Sunday.
We saw Ange trial them both in midfield together against Rangers, no doubt with a view to this game. Whilst we have seen Kulusevski thrive as a right sided number eight, you would feel pretty confident that he can impact the game as a number ten, with a double pivot of Sarr and Bergvall.
Failing that, he could play Bergvall as the pivot, and Sarr as the eight in possession, whilst setting up vice versa out of possession. But the double pivot and Kulusevski as the ten feels like the play, and that is why Bergvall starting over Maddison feels like it could be a smart move.
Whilst Maddison has qualities in deeper areas, he doesn't feel the most suited playing next to Sarr in a two. Meanwhile, Bergvall has experience playing there for Sweden, and of course played very deep on Thursday. It just feels like something worth doing.