Later this evening, Tottenham Hotspur will take to the field against Southampton in the Premier League, taking up the lesser spotted 19:00 GMT slot. It appears this game was picked for the 12:30 GMT early kick off slot, but with Spurs playing in the Europa League on Thursday, it was not possible. Checks out, as there was no early kick off in today’s slate of Premier League games.
Not sure how the Premier League didn't notice that in the first place, but never mind. As it is, Spurs will showdown with Southampton on the South Coast this evening. After another disappointing result in midweek, making it five without a win, Ange is under pressure to get back to winning ways.
The starting XI he has tasked with doing just that, is as follows; Forster; Spence, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Bergvall, Sarr, Maddison; Kulusevski, Solanke, Son.
On the bench; Austin, Porro, Dorrington, King, Hardy, Oluesi, Werner, Johnson, Lankshear
Ange has made five changes to the team that drew with Rangers on Thursday evening, as Spence, Sarr, Bergvall, Kulusevski and Solanke replace Porro, Bentancur, Bissouma, Werner and Johnson.
Many fans had been clamouring for Spence to be given a chance ahead of the out of form, and clearly shattered Porro. In midfield, a lot of people were hoping for Bergvall to get an opportunity. Both players are starting in the Premier League for the first time in their careers.
In goal, Forster, who has, incredibly, arguably been Spurs’ best player - comes back to St Mary’s, having spent seven years on the South Coast between 2014-19 and 2020-22, before moving to North London that following summer.
Meanwhile, in the home dugout, Russell Martin, who has a similarly depleted squad – has opted for a starting XI of; McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Downes, Fernandes, Aribo; Dibling, Armstrong, Sulemana.
Academy graduate Kyle Walker-Peters returns to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where he will link up down the right side with Spurs linked Tyler Dibling.
Cannot shake off the Spursy feeling about this game. Please please try and show otherwise. The game in midweek against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup is more important, but this would be more humiliating to lose. Hard to shake off the feelings of the Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town games ahead of this game - albeit both of those sides are better than Southampton.