Given their current form, Tottenham would be the last team Sunderland would want to host. They are winless in their last 13 Premier League games against Spurs, which definitely won’t help their confidence. Here’s how the home side could line up for the game.
Defence
Vito Mannone will start under the bar. Jordan Pickford had some great displays there this season, but now that he is out till mid-February with a cruciate ligament injury, the Italian has a chance to prove his mettle.
Surprisingly, we expect Sunderland to have a good set of back four on paper at least to face Tottenham. Lamine Kone is expected to return to the game after the early exit from the African Cup of Nations. And this comes as a huge sigh of relief for Moyes, who has lost his centre-half Papy Djilobodji to a four-match suspension.
Kone is expected to start alongside John O’Shea in the central defence. After starting with three at the back against West Bromwich Albion backfired, Moyes is expected to fall back to a four-at-the-back setup. Patrick van Aanholt is closing in on a move to Crystal Palace and we don’t expect the Dutch defender to feature in the game. New recruit Joleon Lescott is could start (wait, is he fit?) on the left-flank with Donald Love on the right defensive role. Moyes will undeniably have an experienced backline to face Spurs.
Midfield
Sunderland is lacking serious quality in their central midfield. The two experienced midfielders, Jan Kirchhoff and Lee Cattermole, are out until March and failing to bring in any reinforcements in the ongoing transfer window means Moyes will have to stick with Jack Rodwell and Sebastian Larsson. Both have been quite drab for the Black Cats so far and will have an uphill task at their hands stopping the likes of Alli, Eriksen and Son.
George Honeyman is expected to take the number 10 role. Although Moyes doesn’t have many options in that position currently, the English midfielder has shown signs of positivity in his displays and could do a decent job in the attack.
Attack
Fabio Borini is expected to start on the left flank with Adnan Januzaj on the right. And Jermain Defoe will lead the attack. Victor Anichebe’s injury has been yet another blow for Moyes in the attacking third.
