Tottenham Hotspur are in a spot of bother at the moment, having endured a dismal restart to their Premier League campaign. They are coming on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United in their last game, and a win could be crucial as they lock horns with Everton on Monday. In this article, we will discuss what Jose Mourinho needs to do to ensure a win against Everton.
Start Jan Vertonghen & Toby Alderweireld
The lack of experience in the Tottenham backline was clearly evident in the last game against Sheffield United. The defensive duo of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez simply didn’t provide the composure that was needed, especially when the Blades pushed forward in the second half.
In this fixture, therefore, Mourinho should recall two of his most experienced defenders in Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. While the former can replace Dier at centre-back, Vertonghen is an able alternative for Ben Davies at left-back.
Vertonghen is an obvious upgrade over Dier in terms of build-up play and overall distribution. But, a key factor behind the potential introduction of these two individuals is that they have the physical and aerial defence that could be necessary when dealing against the likes of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Tanguy Ndombele over Moussa Sissoko
It’s about time Mourinho starts to put his trust on Tanguy Ndombele. Although the Frenchman has endured a dismal debut campaign in north London, he simply must start over Moussa Sissoko in central midfield on Monday and for multiple reasons.
While Sissoko, no doubt, is one of the most hard-working players in the Premier League, his lack of quality on the ball had been evident against Sheffield United. And it not only made Spurs more ineffective in the build-up play but also saw them scuff a lot of counter-attacking opportunities.
Ndombele, in that regard, should be an upgrade over his compatriot. The ex-Lyon star has the technical prowess that should enable him to compete with the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson as he looks to add a new dimension to Tottenham’s approach play.
Giovani Lo Celso in a more attacking role
Giovani Lo Celso endured arguably his worst game for Tottenham last time out when he was virtually ineffective against Sheffield United. A key reason behind his struggles was the fact that he was deployed as a number eight, alongside Sissoko. It means the Argentine had often been forced to operate deep and distribute possession.
Against Everton, Mourinho should deploy him further upfront. In fact, Lo Celso’s unrivalled technical prowess combined with his sharp movements should make him an ideal alternative for Lucas Moura at right-wing, with Dele Alli operating as a number ten. It could make sense if Tottenham are to embrace a more technical-oriented style of football.
