Tottenham Hotspur’s incredible Champions League quarter-final victory over Manchester City may have come at a cost.
Already without Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Serge Aurier, Harry Winks, and Erik Lamela, manager Mauricio Pochettino also lost Moussa Sissoko to injury, a groin issue forcing him off in the first half at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
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Sissoko’s injury could see Spurs ring the changes.
Spurs somehow managed to make it through the match, dropping Dele Alli into a deeper role and using Fernando Llorente as a target man, where the Spaniard made a vital contribution with their ‘winning’ goal in the tie, despite being relatively poor when he took to the field.
With Sissoko being assessed and unlikely to play, or start at least, Pochettino now must make some big decisions which could ultimately alter the course of the Premier League title.
Liverpool’s run-in leaves them as favourites, just, but should City get revenge on Tottenham Hotspur, the ball would firmly be in Pep Guardiola’s court.
The Reds and the Anfield faithful, though, may fear the team Spurs might turn out on Saturday afternoon as they possibly rotate.
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“The Premier League is different and we are fighting for different things,†said Pochettino. “Manchester City are trying to win the Premier League and for us, it’s so important to be in the top four for next season.
“We need to assess the players and need to be sure we are going there competing with fresh legs with the possibility to fight and challenge them again. That’s why we’re working so hard now to try to assess the players in the right way and try to mix players who can be competitive and have the possibility to win.
“City have an unbelievable squad, they can change and rotate the starting 11 and keep the same level on the pitch. With all the circumstances and some injuries, maybe we need to think about playing with younger players, not without experience, but with plenty of energy and keeping the same ideas – to be brave and try to compete.
“It’s going to be tough but we need to think about recovery and try to design the best strategy to try to be competitive.â€
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Pochettino leads Tottenham’s celebrations in Manchester
First of all, with Sissoko out, along with Winks, and possibly Dier too, Oliver Skipp may be given his biggest test yet.
The teenage central midfielder was heavily involved around December and January, starting two Premier League games and making five substitute appearances in total but is highly-rated, despite his inexperience at 18 years old.
His scuttling performances, could be aided with the friendly face of fellow younger star Kyle Walker-Peters, who seems a shoo-in to play given Kieran Trippier seems to be playing through the pain with a groin issue.
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Skipp has become a member of the first-team squad at 18.
Walker-Peters is a favourite amongst fans, with many feeling he hasn’t had the chances he should have this season, although conceding the free-kick against Southampton which condemned Spurs to defeat earlier this year lost him some admirers.
Juan Foyth is also likely to get his biggest test but as part of a back-three in a rotated backline and while his ball-playing can get him into trouble he’s got the potential to throw in a superb display.
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Foyth has his shaky moments but overall has the potential to be a superstar.
And with Heung-Min Son and Lucas Moura running themselves into the ground, one might get rested for the match with Brighton – and this could see Irish starlet Troy Parrott make a Premier League debut, although this is the most unlikely of the changes.
You can see the XI we’ve predicted could make an appearance but give Spurs have a top four spot on the line too there is still a chance Pochettino will squeeze every last drop out of his star men on Saturday.
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