Pape Matar Sarr to be dropped from Tottenham’s starting lineup against Everton, according to Ange Postecoglou.
Tottenham Hotspur welcome in-form Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, December 23rd, with a chance to make it three Premier League wins in a row.
Spurs have begun to regain their early-season form after a terrible five-match winless stretch, with back-to-back triumphs over Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in recent weeks.
They return home this weekend for a festive clash with the Toffees, which will undoubtedly be a difficult job.
Sean Dyche‘s squad is currently flying high, having won their last four Premier League games without surrendering a goal. As a result, Ange Postecoglou understands that his players will need to perform at their peak, with his work made much more difficult by yet another selection issue.
Yves Bissouma was sent off for the second time this season at The City Ground and will be unavailable for the match while serving a four-match suspension, while left-back Destiny Udogie is also suspended for the game after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against the Reds, though his suspension is only for one match.
This indicates that modifications will be required, and the Australian must ensure that these changes are implemented.
Guglielmo Vicario will undoubtedly start in goal, having made a superb save last time out while also completing an excellent 85% of his passes (Sofascore). Pedro Porro is also expected to stay in the lineup following another strong performance against Forest, in which he made two tackles, three interceptions, and produced three vital passes.
Postecoglou is in a quandary with the remainder of his backline. The 58-year-old, however, will be hesitant to shake up what has become a very established back-two in the form of Ben Davies and Cristian Romero, who helped their team to a clean sheet in the 2-0 win in Nottingham, making four tackles, eleven clearances, and blocking three shots between them.
Pape Matar Sarr could be demoted in midfield after another strong performance in which he completed 90% of his passes, won four ground duels, and made five clearances. After picking up his fourth yellow card of the season against Forest, the Senegal international midfielder is one booking away from a one-match suspension, and with two games in quick succession following Christmas, Postecoglou will be keen to avoid losing the midfielder and may therefore spare him for this match.
With Bissouma already suspended, Postecoglou is expected to turn to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, while Skipp replaces Sarr, despite the 23-year-old’s struggles after coming on against Forest, where he won only two of his six ground duels and lost the only aerial duel he contested, while also being dribbled past twice.
Dejan Kulusevski has rediscovered himself in the number ten role, making five key passes in that position during the 4-1 win over Newcastle (10 December), and while he shone on the right with a goal and an assist after Johnson was forced off, the Swede will likely step back into that role now that Johnson is expected to start.
Richarlison has finally found his feet in north London, scoring three goals in his last two games, and will aim to continue that form against his former club, with captain Son Heung-min starting on the left, as he has done in the previous two games.
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