Tottenham predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace - Premier League
A crisis is brewing in N17 after Tottenham were beaten handily by Aston Villa on New Year's Day. Antonio Conte's side have flattered to deceive for much of 2022/23 thus far, and now they're failing to earn the results that the Italian's style desperately requires to keep supporters onside.
The Lilywhites have slipped out of the top-four after picking up a point in their two games after the World Cup, and another tricky test awaits Conte's side on Wednesday night.
Spurs visit Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace in midweek and they need to produce a bounce-back performance to escape their current malaise. However, several crucial injuries makes their task tougher.
It'll be interesting to see what starting XI Conte will opt for on Wednesday in the wake of the New Year's Day humbling, and here's how the Tottenham boss could set his side up.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace (3-4-3)
GK: Hugo Lloris - The Frenchman's days in north London are numbered after he committed yet another fateful error to begin 2023. However, Lloris won't be usurped until the summer.
CB: Cristian Romero - A Romero that doesn't have a wandering eye for the World Cup will massively benefit Spurs during the second half of the season, that's for sure.
CB: Eric Dier - Dier was understandably dropped after his woes continued on Boxing Day but the England international, who has an admirer in Conte, could come back into the XI after Clement Lenglet struggled as the central centre-back against Villa.
CB: Clement Lenglet - Lenglet produced his worst performance in a Spurs shirt on Sunday, but he's been a steady performer for the Lilywhites so far this season. It'd be wise to keep him in the XI and shift him out to the left side of the back three.
RWB: Matt Doherty - The inclusion of Djed Spence in the starting XI on Wednesday would make many within the fan base happy, but it's hard to envisage Conte granting the young wing-back such an opportunity. With Emerson Royal falling down the pecking order, Doherty is likely to retain his place.
CM: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - Only Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris have racked up more Premier League minutes for Spurs than Hojbjerg this season. The Danish international is a key player for Conte, and he needs a bounce-back performance after struggling on New Year's Day.
CM: Pape Matar Sarr - Conte likes Sarr and the young midfielder looked assured enough during his New Year's Day cameo. With Yves Bissouma suspended and Rodrigo Bentancur out injured, Sarr could be gifted a huge opportunity to impress against Palace.
LWB: Ryan Sessegnon - Sessegnon returned from a spell on the sidelines against Villa and could make his first start since late October with Ivan Perisic potentially being used in the front three.
RW: Ivan Perisic - This is far from ideal, but Bryan Gil struggled to impress on his first Premier League start on Sunday. Conte's love for Perisic is obvious, and he could entrust the Croatian to play on the right side of the front three with Dejan Kulusevski likely to be missing.
ST: Harry Kane - Kane was barely involved last time out, but his status as Spurs' leading man will never be in question while he remains at the club. The forward has scored eight times in 16 Premier League games against the Eagles.
LW: Son Heung-min - The South Korean's form has fallen off a cliff, there's no other way of putting it. He looks like a shell of the superstar that claimed the Golden Boot last season. Nevertheless, with Conte's options in attack limited, the Italian must continue to put up with Son's current incompetence.