Tottenham Hotspur take on Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon in a huge game in the race for European football – with Ange Postecoglou and Unai Emery both aiming to climb the Premier League table and avenge their poor results from last weekend.
Villa endured a last-minute, disappointing draw at home to Bournemouth as they led against the Cherries on home soil in a result that saw them fail to leapfrog Arsenal in the Premier League table into third – whilst Tottenham handed Crystal Palace their first win of the season to remain in eighth-place in the standings. With the duo finishing fourth and fifth in the top-flight table last season, they’ll be keen to uphold those standards once again come the end of the campaign.
Neither team will find it easy to gain all three points with injuries plaguing both sides, and so both bosses will have to act accordingly to set their sides up for maximum points – and GIVEMESPORT takes a look at how both clubs could line up in the capital.
Whilst Tottenham beat reigning Premier League champions Manchester City 2-1 in the League Cup in midweek, the Lilywhites were handed a huge blow when Micky van de Ven was substituted just 15 minutes of the clash.
He and Cristian Romero have formed a solid partnership at the back, but the Dutchman will not take part against the Villans and that could force Radu Dragusin into action alongside the World Cup-winning Argentine.
It’s not just Van de Ven who is injured; Wilson Odobert remains injured after picking up an injury in the League Cup against Coventry City, whilst Djed Spence is likely to be out.
Even Romero could be out with Postecoglou stating that he ‘has a chance’ at the weekend, but if not that could see Ben Davies move into centre-back – whilst attacking duo Timo Werner and Son Heung-min face late fitness tests.
With Van de Ven ruled out, Radu Dragusin will get the opportunity to stake his claim in the starting lineup alongside Romero at the back, while Pape Mate Sarr should start in midfield after some impressive performances in recent weeks.
With Son likely to be fit enough to feature, he will start ahead of Timo Werner and Mikey Moore on the left.
