Following a disappointing defeat to Manchester United last weekend, Tottenham Hotspur will look to bounce back when travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Sunday.
Tottenham are now 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool and can’t afford any more slip-ups if they are to challenge for the title.
Tottenham team news
Harry Kane has been ruled out for three months after sustaining an ankle ligament injury last weekend while Heung-Min Son is unavailable due to international duty.
Moussa Sissoko and Lucas Moura are also likely missing out with the latter facing a late fitness test.
Predicted Tottenham lineup vs Fulham
Defence
With so many players unavailable, Mauricio Pochettino will be forced to deploy a three-man backline where three of his trusted defenders in Jan Vertonghen, Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld are likely to start in central defence.
Club captain Vertonghen returned from a long injury layoff last weekend and will play a key role against Fulham on Sunday.
Rotating is a big part of Pochettino’s gameplan and therefore, we could expect Serge Aurier to return and replace Kieran Trippier. Danny Rose could also return in place of Ben Davies. Hugo Lloris will start in goal.
Midfield
Pochettino has confirmed that Eric Dier could feature on the bench against Fulham, meaning the Argentine will have to choose between Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks.
Winks, here, is the likelier option as he has played a lot of late and is up to speed. The 22-year-old will be partnered by Christian Eriksen, who will operate in a deeper role, as he has often done throughout the course of this season.
However, the Dane will be key in providing the creative spark nonetheless, having averaged 1.8 key passes per game this season.
Attack
Dele Alli and Erik Lamela happen to be the only reliable attacking options available for Pochettino at the moment. The two should be deployed in an attacking midfield position, although it is expected that either one of them could operate as a false nine or a secondary striker, which is warranted given the absence of Kane.
Fernando Llorente is the default option upfront, with the Spaniard poised to make his first start in the Premier League this season.
The former Juventus forward has done well in the cup competitions so far, notably scoring a hat-trick against Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup. But replicating that performance against the Premier League new boys will be a tougher ask.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
