Destiny Udogie and Yves Bissouma are suspended and Giovanni Lo Celso returns to the team.
Tottenham will be looking to make it three wins in a row when they take on Everton at home on Saturday afternoon. Spurs, who are in good form after returning to winning ways, will take on Everton, who are also enjoying an impressive season.
The Toffees have won their last four Premier League matches, stretching their perfect run to ten wins in their last 15 matches in all competitions. This will not be an easy game for the Lilywhites and Sean Dyche’s team should not be underestimated.
With Manchester City not playing in the Premier League this weekend due to their participation in the Club World Cup, Spurs could finish fourth in the standings on Boxing Day if they take all three points at home to Everton. So what will Tottenham’s line-up look like? Our Tottenham Hotspur reporters at football.london give their thoughts below.
Alasdair Gold – Tottenham Hotspur correspondent
Despite injuries and suspensions in Ange Postecoglou’s team, he has some decisions to make in his squad coming in midfield and up front.
At the back, Destiny Udogie’s one game suspension means Emerson Royal will probably come in at left back unless Eric Dier has come in from the cold with Ben Davies going back out on the wing. However, the Welshman’s impressive performances as a central defender make that decision unlikely.
With Yves Bissouma out for a while after a red card at the City Ground and then at the African Cup of Nations, Postecoglou has to decide whether to use Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s experience or finally give a role to Oliver Skipp in his natural number six position. The experience of the Dane might be better suited against the crafty players of Sean Dyche with all their knowledge.
Giovani Lo Celso could return to the game, but since Dejan Kulusevski is so good in a deeper role, the Swede could be preferred on the left. Brennan Johnson should play okay despite his head injury in the Forest game.
Gold team: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Emerson; Sarr, Hojbjerg, Kulusevski; Johnson, Richarlison, Son.
Rob Guest – Tottenham Hotspur reporter
Ange Postecoglou will have to make changes to Tottenham’s team that beat Nottingham Forest last weekend as Destiny Udogie and Yves Bissouma have been suspended. As for the Italian’s replacement, the boss’s decision is quite simple, as Emerson Royal will start at left-back.
However, when it comes to replacing Bissouma, things are a bit more complicated. If Giovani Lo Celso is healthy enough to return to the matchday squad after missing last Friday’s game at the City Ground, three players could compete for Bissoume’s role.
Although it would be nice if Lo Celso gets a chance in the team again, the midfield trio of the Argentine, Pape Matar Sarr and Dejan Kulusevski could provide an attacking solution. This could lead to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp fighting for the starting role.
In attack, Brennan Johnson will have a week to recover from a nasty head injury and hopefully return to the starting eleven. Former Tottingham Forest player and Son Heung-min will start either side of Richarlison.
Visiting team: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Emerson; Sarr, Hojbjerg, Kulusevski; Johnson, Richarlison, Son.