Tottenham predicted XI v Burnley… Ange Postecoglou to trust ‘quietly excellent’ outcast as £25m flop benched

Tottenham Hotspur’s penultimate home game of the season takes place on Saturday against a Burnley side who are on the brink of relegation.

Ahead of the much-anticipated visit from Manchester City on Tuesday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, there’ll be a real opportunity to end this dreadful run of defeats.

Ange Postecoglou’s men were on the end of another drubbing on Sunday in their visit to Anfield which saw late consolation goals from Richarlison and Heung-min Son.

To Tottenham‘s defence, the previous four games have provided stern competition, but it is clear the performances have worsened considerably.

Sunday will provide Spurs with a big opportunity to put three points on the board for the first time in over one month.

Just three games remain in Tottenham’s season and fifth spot is by no means guaranteed at this point with Newcastle United picking up some serious momentum.

And that may limit Postecoglou’s ability to experiment over the final few games despite several youngsters like Mikey Moore entering his thinking on a matchday.

Emerson Royal’s spot at left-back at risk after shaky display

One of the headaches which Postecoglou has had over recent weeks were the hole in the starting XI at left-back.

Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies are both sidelined for the remaining games through respective injuries, leaving Spurs without a natural left-back.

And that has been evident with Emerson Royal filling in against Chelsea and Liverpool over the last two games.

The £25m Brazilian has not been a like-for-like replacement for either of the two full-backs and looked massively out of place at Anfield.

However, when he was replaced by central midfielder Oliver Skipp, the issue at left-back looked to be resolved.

Here is a summary of his display on Sunday on Merseyside.

Statistics via SofaScore.

This is a player who has not really featured under Postecoglou this season having only racked up a mere 600 minutes of action in the league.

When he has been handed the opportunity, Skipp has been “quietly excellent” under the 58-year-old.

And on the back of his display at Anfield, Postecoglou could well consider him from the start against a Burnley side who could be relegated at full-time.

It may also offer Skipp an opportunity to salvage his Spurs career as he’s struggled to establish himself under Postecoglou this term.

James Maddison may return to provide much-needed creativity

The game on Sunday against Liverpool saw Spurs struggle in the final third with no real creative spark coming from the midfield.

On the same note, the midfielders who did start for Spurs also struggled to provide the defence much protection as Liverpool netted four times within the hour.

Many Spurs fans are calling for Giovani Lo Celso to be offered an opportunity, however, the Argentine was only handed the final 15 minutes on Sunday.

It is looking more and more apparent that the 28-year-old is not in Postecoglou’s plans with reports claiming he is looking to leave in the summer.

James Maddison has now spent two games out of the starting XI having struggled to find his best form since returning from injury.

But with Tottenham’s struggles in attack continuing as they come up against the side second-bottom in the table, maybe it is time he makes his return from the start.

Richarlison in from the start

Having come off the bench and found the back of the net, Richarlison simply has to start for Spurs.

It is clear there are certain games when Son really struggles as the number nine and the Brazilian’s introduction on Sunday made a huge difference.

Statistics via SofaScore.

He is another player who could well be playing for his future with The Spurs News understanding the club could look to move him on over the coming months.

Predicted Tottenham XI v Burnley (4-3-3): Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Skipp, Bissouma, Bentancur, Maddison, Johnson, Richarlison, Son**