Tottenham Hotspur kick off the 2024/25 Premier League season with a trip to Leicester City on Monday evening.
Spurs have endured mixed fortunes on their last two visits to Leicester. They were beaten 4-1 in 2022/23 despite the Foxes being relegated at the end of the campaign but securing a famous 3-2 victory last season, with Steven Bergwijn netting in the 95th and 97th minutes to secure a surprise victory.
Ange Postecoglou, fresh into his second pre-season at the helm, will be hoping for an uneventful outing on Monday, with the Australian aiming to build on the solid foundations laid during his first campaign in the dugout.
Spurs have struggled defensively since the Celtic manager took over and pre-season games suggest it will be the same this time around. However, the return of key defensive personnel ahead of the trip to the Midlands gives the supporters a boost.
Here’s how Tottenham can prepare for their opening game.
GK: Guglielmo Vicario – An impressive first season saw Vicario quickly gain the trust of Postecoglou and the Tottenham fans. He will be looking to build on an encouraging start to life in England.
RB: Pedro Porro – Questions may be asked of the Spaniard defensively but there can be no doubting his influence in the opposition. One of the most consistent attacking full-backs in the division, he will continue to be a key part of the Lilywhites’ squad in 2024/25.
CB: Cristian Romero – There may be a temptation to rest this Argentinian player, who has just returned from winning the Copa America. However, Romero is integral to the way Spurs want to play on and off the ball, making him a starter when available.
CB: Micky van de Ven – Similarly, Van de Ven has had limited time with Spurs in pre-season due to Euro 2024 but his pace and athleticism make him an incredibly valuable member of the top line.
LB: Destiny Udogie – Having recently returned from a long-term injury, it is unclear how fit the Italian is for the opening round of games. Djed Spence or Ben Davies could be rested but Udogie is Tottenham’s best left-back when fit.
DM: Archie Gray – The £40m summer signing knows all about Leicester from his time at Leeds United last season, winning both games against the Foxes in the Championship. Maybe a little confidence can grow before the start of the possibility.
DM: Pape Matar Sarr – Yves Bissouma’s suspension means Sarr is likely to start on Monday night. The 21-year-old showed plenty of promise last term with three goals and multiple assists in 34 Premier League outings.
RW: Dejan Kulusevski – The Swede has operated as a false nine during pre-season but should return to right back at the King Power Stadium. He managed three goals and an assist during the summer friendlies, including a recent goal against Bayern Munich.
AM: James Maddison It will be interesting to see what kind of reception Maddison gets when he first returns to his old place. One would expect it to be very good – unless he plays very well, of course.
LW: Son Heung-min – The acquisition of an orthodox number nine in the market means Son should get consistent minutes on his left side this season. Even during his poor spells he is a constant provider.
ST: Dominic Solanke – A minor foot injury has caused doubts but Tottenham’s record signing has a strong chance of starting according to Postecoglou. After 19 goals in the league last season, there will be a lot of attention on the former Chelsea, Liverpool and Bournemouth star.
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