Football Today
·19 December 2024
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·19 December 2024
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in all competitions when they take on Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup on Thursday evening.
Tottenham will head into the Carabao Cup tie against United on the back of a 5-0 victory over Southampton away from home at St. Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League.
It followed a draw with Rangers at Ibrox in the UEFA Europa League and successive defeats to Chelsea and Bournemouth in the league.
Tottenham were superb against relegation-threatened Southampton last weekend, and head coach Postecoglou will be keen on his players maintaining that high level against United, who beat Manchester City in the Premier League in their last game.
With first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario still injured, Fraser Forster will keep his place in goal. Forster has done well for Tottenham this season when he has stepped in for Vicario, and against United, the former Southampton and Celtic goalkeeper has to be on top form.
Postecoglou may not risk Destiny Udogie against United, and it is likely that Djed Spence will replace him at left-back. Spence did well against Southampton last weekend.
Pedro Porro will be deployed at right-back. With Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero still injured, Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray will keep their places in central defence.
Rodrigo Bentancur is still suspended, but Yves Bissouma is back from his ban. The £25 million (Sky Sports) Mali international midfielder is likely to replace Lucas Bergvall and will be deployed alongside Pape Matar Sarr in holding midfield.
Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Son Heung-min will be the three attacking midfielders. Dominic Solanke will lead the line for Spurs.
Predicted Tottenham predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke.