Here is how Tottenham could line up against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Tottenham Hotspur’s fight for Premier League survival continues on Sunday when they travel to face Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The North Londoners recorded their first league win of the year against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, thanks to Joao Palhinha’s goal eight minutes from time. However, with West Ham United also winning against Everton, Roberto De Zerbi’s side remain two points adrift from safety with four fixtures remaining.
Every game is crucial for Tottenham as there is no margin for error left now. It will be the third time Spurs take on Aston Villa this season, with the previous two meetings ending in favour of Unai Emery’s men. The previous two meetings took place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in the league and the FA Cup, and Villa prevailed in both of them.
That said, here is the predicted Tottenham lineup for their upcoming clash against Aston Villa.
Goalkeeper: Antonin Kinsky
Antonin Kinsky made a heroic stoppage-time save against Wolves, denying Joao Gomes’ free-kick to seal Tottenham’s first league win of the De Zerbi era. Regardless of Guglielmo Vicario’s fitness, Kinsky is expected to continue in goal for De Zerbi’s side.
Defence: Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, Djed Spence
The Tottenham back four defended well throughout the 90 minutes against Wolves and helped register a rare clean sheet. Kevin Danso and Micky van de Ven kept Stuart Armstrong quiet before dealing well with the physicality of Tolu Arokodare.
Pedro Porro and Djed Spence are expected to continue as the full-backs. Even if Destiny Udogie is fit again, De Zerbi might give Spence the nod to start at left-back.
Midfield: Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Conor Gallagher
Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma have been solid at the base of Tottenham’s midfield in the past two games. De Zerbi will be unlikely to disrupt their growing partnership, thus allowing Bentancur and Bissouma to continue their good work.
Conor Gallagher is expected to be granted a free role once again, although the responsibility of creating chances in the final third will fall on his shoulders following Xavi Simons’ heartbreaking ACL injury. De Zerbi will expect more in terms of output rather than just pressing and work rate from Gallagher against Villa.
Palhinha, who netted the winner at Wolves, will hope to make another impactful cameo appearance from the bench in the Midlands. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall could get involved in the second half as well.
Attack: Mathys Tel, Richarlison, Randal Kolo Muani
Not only have Spurs lost Simons to an ACL injury, but there are also reports suggesting that Dominic Solanke will not feature again this season after sustaining a grade-2 hamstring injury vs. Wolves. This leaves De Zerbi in a spot of bother, and he has to find a solution to replace them in his XI.
Injuries to Solanke and Simons opens up spots for Richarlison and Mathys Tel in the first XI. Randal Kolo Muani, who was also rumoured to have sustained an injury, is fit to feature. The Frenchman should keep his place on the right flank.
