Team vs Liverpool

[Mouse!]

Lloris;
Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose;
Capoue, Bentaleb;
Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli;
Adebayor.

Kaboul unlikely to start after playing 90 minutes tonight. Same goes for Dembele. Rest of the team picks itself based on performances in the QPR game.

For positions on the bench it could be any combination of Davies/Naughton, Chiriches/Kaboul, Dembele/Sandro, Lennon Townsend, but these would be my picks:

Subs: Friedel, Davies, Chiriches, Dembele, Paulinho, Lennon, Kane.

Davies over Naughton as I feel Verts must be kept at CB, whatever happens. If Dier goes down, Kaboul or Chiriches can operate at RB.

Chiriches over Kaboul for me in case he's needed at RB (a better option there than Kaboul for me). Also more impressed with him tonight than by Kaboul in any game this season.

Dembele over Sandro as he is fitter and offers better ball retention. Also gives away fewer fouls, and Liverpool are a threat from set-pieces.

Townsend can't be trusted to hang on to the ball, Lennon can be brought on to offer support to either full-back.

 

[chinaman]

Think Kaboul will still start. And if he is knackered, will come off around 60 minute mark and either Fazio will replace him, or Dier will come inside with Naughton taking up RB.

 

[ClintEastwould]

A stretch, but a Vertonghen Chiriches pairing could be interesting. I don't think Fazio (from what I've read about him) is necessarily best suited for this game, plus as we all know, our recent signings are never thrown into the deep end.

Liverpool are all about neat intricate play and Vlad and Jan are pretty mobile and good tacklers so I think they'd be best suited to handle continho sterling and sturridge.

 

[Deleted member 22380]

I'm a bit uneasy giving Fazio's his debut against a top 6 side.
The pace of the premiership may catch him off guard in his first game so would rather not take a chance at a potential mistake.

 

[yankspurs]

Same team from QPR. No changes. I might go for a CM pairing change though with Dembele or Paulinho in for Bentaleb.

 

[Snarfalicious]

-------------------- Lloris -----------------------
Dier ----- Kaboul ---------- Vertonghen ----- Rose
--------- Capoue ------------- Bentaleb ---------
- Lamela ----------- Eriksen ------------ Chadli --
------------------- Adebayor --------------------

So, same team. I'm still not sure about Dier against that pacy side, though.

 

[fatpiranha]

-------------------- Lloris -----------------------
Dier ----- Kaboul ---------- Vertonghen ----- Rose
--------- Capoue ------------- Bentaleb ---------
- Lamela ----------- Eriksen ------------ Chadli --
------------------- Adebayor --------------------

So, same team. I'm still not sure about Dier against that pacy side, though.

He'll be fine. Kaboul tonight showed signs that he's getting his pace back so he can help Dier out.

 

[St José Dominguez]

Lloris

Dier Kaboul Vertonghen Rose

Bentaleb Capoue

Chadli Lamela Eriksen

Adebayor

Subs: Freidel, Davies, Chiriches, Dembele, Paulinho, Lennon, Kane.

So same team v QPR. Can't see Fazio making debut this quick let alone against top 4 team. A little concerned about how ready Kaboul is to play 3 games in a week. Also despite having good game v QPR I'd be tempted to play Dembele instead of Bentaleb in this game but not sure how fit Dembele is. Paulinho for Chadli at some point and dependent on how game going use Kane or Lennon.

 

[Antilokhos]

Fazio would be madness, defense is about knowing your teammates, you can't toss in a new guy after 3ish training sessions.

Only possible change from last week is Kaboul based on fitness.

 

[ralvy]

If it wasn't because we can't risk burning him out too soon, I might feel inclined of starting Paulinho instead of Eriksen, who has yet to make his mark this season.

Also, either of Dembele or Sandro could start over Bentaleb and I would be okay with it.

Other than that, it should be the same team as against QPR.

 

[Sweech]

Would be a strong message of Kaboul's fitness to see him start two games this close together.

I think everyone is pretty much in agreement that we should be starting the side that worked so well for us against QPR. It looks like that's how Poch feels as well as none bar Lloris and Kaboul played in the Europa match.

 

[ultimateloner]

Eriksen has to play.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

Adebayor
Chadli Eriksen Lamela
Bentaleb Capoue
Rose Vertonghen Kaboul/Fazio Dier
Lloris

Only real question is who plays CB. Playing Kaboul tonight was a bit strange...Veljkovic or even Fazio would have made more sense. Also would be nice to have Walker or even Naughton - who defended very well in the second half of last season against various pacy wingers - for this as I'm very worried about Dier against a pacy player...Remy beat him easily several times toward the end of the QPR game (after Zamora came on and Remy played wider).

 

[double0]

4-2-3-1
Lloris

Dier
Kaboul(c)
Vertonghen
Rose

Bentaleb
Capoue

Lamela
Eriksen
Chadli

Adebayor.

 

[Air Jordan 3]

4-2-3-1
Lloris

Dier
Kaboul(c)
Vertonghen
Rose

Bentaleb
Capoue

Lamela
Eriksen
Chadli

Adebayor.

Good news that pretty much all that team got a rest last night as well.

I would like to see Paulinho/Dembele come in for Bentaleb at some point.

 

[Good Doctor M]

Not a chance in hell Fazio (Peter Crunch ) is starting on Sunday. Pochettino's whole philosophy insists all the players are in tune. He won't be in the team until, I guess the first Europa League game or the Forest match.

Putting him in against Liverpool, frankly, is suicidal.

 

[spursram]

All eyes and hype will be on Balotelli this Sunday, which could be to our advantage. Reading the posts above it seems choice of a CB to partner Verts is the one that concerns most people. Throwing Balotelli into the mix makes it even more concerning. We can be sure he will be fired up, but will he start? I would choose Kaboul, but 3 games in one week? Or Dier at CB with Naughton at RB? Is Chiriches staying? Maybe we should trump Balotellis debut with one of our own...Fazio? Now that would be interesting, a real physical clash.

I think if he has no problems, Kaboul will start.

 

[Jamturk]

Balotelli is 1 big hype, he had the potential to be a superstar but hasn't or isn't going to fulfil it. The media is just hyping him because there is a real dearth of talent and charisma left in the league now.

We just need to concentrate on snuffing out Coutinho and Sterling and cutting the supply to Sturridge and we should be ok.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Dembele over Bentaleb for me, rest of the side same as QPR.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

Dembele over Bentaleb for me, rest of the side same as QPR.

The one question I was going to raise over the line up was Dembele or Bentaleb.

I thought Bentaleb was sloppy against QPR when I was at the Lane, but he also does the really important job of drifting into the positions left by our marauding wingers/full backs. He didn't have the best time against better teams last season and is only 19-I'd like to think that he is being managed properly.

Dembele might be a better physical match against Henderson, Bentalebs pressing might be preferred though. I guess with Poch it is about who he seems as the best partnership on the pivot alongside Capoue.

Interesting to see who he goes with.