Tottenham Hotspur will look to put an end to their misery as they lock horns with Crvena Zvezda in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. It is a must-win game for the hosts, who are yet to secure a win in any of their two matches in the Group Stage so far.
However, the confidence will be low as the Lilywhites are coming on the back of a three-game winless streak in all competitions that have seen them concede 11 goals. They most notably endured a 7-2 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in their last match in this tournament.
Meanwhile, here is how the English giants may lineup against the minnows on Tuesday.
Formation: 4-3-1-2
Defence
Mauricio Pochettino is likely to revert to a four-man backline this midweek. That means Davinson Sanchez may have to settle for a place on the bench while Juan Foyth is poised to make his first start of the campaign. The young defensive gem has returned from injury and has also featured for Argentina during the international break.
It could be an ideal game for Foyth to kickstart his 2019/20 campaign. He would get the nod ahead of Serge Aurier at right-back after the Ivorian once again struggled to perform in the Premier League.
Ben Davies, meanwhile, is expected to return to the starting lineup, at the expense of Danny Rose on the opposite flank. And in central defence, Sanchez’s return to the bench could pave the way for Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen to retain their place at the heart of Spurs’ four-man backline.
Hugo Lloris is ruled out for the rest of the year due to a severe arm injury, meaning Paulo Gazzaniga will retain his place in between the sticks for Tottenham.
Midfield
Tanguy Ndombele was rested against Watford on Saturday. The Frenchman is expected to return to the side in midweek, at the expense of the extra defender Sanchez. He will be partnered by the ever-present figure of Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko in the three-man midfield setup for Spurs.
Both the midfielders looked shaky in dealing with the high press of Watford on the weekend. And it will be imperative that they recover their form against Crvena Zvezda.
Attack
Christian Eriksen missed the Watford clash due to a dead leg. It is still too early to assess as to whether or not he will be fit to feature against Red Star. The Dane is a guaranteed starter in the number ten slot if he returns to full fitness. But, if he doesn’t, Erik Lamela is lined up as an alternative.
And finally, the Tottenham attack will be led by Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, who will return to the side after starting on the bench against the Hornets. The South Korean made an immediate impact after coming on as a sub, and he will be hoping for more of the same against Crvena.
