Tottenham Hotspur are on a 10 match unbeaten run with seven wins and three draws in their last 10 matches. The wins came in the league and the FA Cup with a further draw against Newport County that will see Spurs play an extra match in the form of a replay. It will add further distress to the already tiring squad in the midst of a packed fixture schedule. Their inability to win any trophy despite playing excellent football over the last couple of years have left everyone questioning the credibility of the young Tottenham side to actually deliver when it matters.
Spurs are falling behind the chasing pack in the league with Manchester United pulling away and Manchester City already gone far off. Moreover, they also have Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal competing hard for the fourth spot and Leicester City on their heels of them and if Pochettino’s men want to keep playing in the Champions League next season, they must get their act together in and start winning matches irrespective of the competition.
Tottenham’s European form has been in sharp contrast to their domestic run in. Things in Europe have been very different. In what was considered to be one of the toughest groups, Tottenham has proved everyone wrong by sitting pretty at the top of the table. They were the only unbeaten side in the group. They dispatched Apoel Nicosia and Borrusia Dortmund before the doubleheader against Real Madrid. In what was considered to be Pochettino’s first big European test, Tottenham came out in flying colours. They fought Real Madrid to an evenly contested 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu before routing the reigning European champions 3-1 at Wembley.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side will look to set things in terms of their winning form, something they have been corrected in the last few games. This time around against Newport, they will be expected to win irrespective of the team they put out.
Here is how Pochettino will look to set his team up.
Formation: 3-4-3
Defence
Michel Vorm will be expected in goal for Spurs. The three-man defence is likely to be Eric Dier, Juan Foyth and Jan Vertonghen.
Kyle Walker-Peters is likely to play left wing back with Kieran Trippier as the right wing back.
Midfield
Victor Wanyama is likely to play alongside Mousa Dembele in the midfield.
Attack
Fernando Llorente will be expected to lead the line with Lucas Moura and Moussa Sissoko in behind.
