Tottenham Hotspur host Leicester City in the first of their double-header on Sunday, in arguably the blockbuster tie of the FA Cup third round.
Spurs also welcome the Foxes to White Hart Lane in the Premier League on Wednesday in a big match in the race for Champions League qualification.
Will Mauricio Pochettino stick with his regular lineup or risk rotating his squad? Here, CaughtOffside predicts the Argentine’s possible starting XI…
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GK: Hugo Lloris
Michel Vorm played in the FA Cup last season – Spurs were knocked out by Leicester in the fourth round – but has not had a look-in this year and Lloris is expected to start.
RB: Kieran Trippier
Unlucky to be dropped for the 1-1 draw with Everton but such has been Kyle Walker’s form. Suffered FA Cup elimination at the hands of Spurs while at Burnley last season.
CB: Toby Alderweireld
Whatever competition, whoever the opposition, Alderweireld is going to be one of the first names on Pochettino’s team sheet. He has missed only one game this campaign.
CB: Kevin Wimmer
Young Austrian Wimmer has done well on his few appearances this season and may get a chance to partner Alderweireld, giving regular partner Jan Vertonghen a rest.
LB: Danny Rose
He and Ben Davies have been battling for Tottenham’s left-back spot for 18 months. Davies is currently in possession in the league, and so Rose will likely get a cup runout.
CM: Eric Dier
Similarly to Alderweireld, Dier has been an indispensable cog in Pochettino’s Spurs machine this season, protecting his back four with remarkable strength and maturity.
CM: Nabil Bentaleb
With Mousa Dembele and Ryan Mason out, as Tottenham’s official website confirms, this is the perfect opportunity to give the talented Algerian a first start since August.
AMR: Erik Lamela
The Argentine did not get a breather over Christmas but won’t care because he’s been in good form. He has already scored five goals in cup competitions this season.
AMC: Dele Alli
The teenage prodigy scored his first Tottenham goal as a substitute in August’s 1-1 Premier League draw with the Foxes, and has gone from strength to strength ever since.
AML: Christian Eriksen
Nacer Chadli will be hoping for a start, but Pochettino is likely to want the classy Dane in his side, especially if one of Tottenham’s other match-winners is rested…
ST: Son Heung-Min
Harry Kane looked exhausted at the end of the Everton draw and Pochettino would be wise to give his only recognised striker a day off and start Son through the middle.
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