An early predicted starting 11 for Tottenham vs. Leeds
With their 2-0 win over rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon at home, Tottenham Hotspur are now winners of three straight and 8th overall in the Premier League. Next weekend, they will face a better team than Palace but still one they should be beating in Leeds United on Saturday, as the Peacocks sit in 11th, coming off a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth that has sent them crashing out of their hot start.
As Tottenham make their preparations for next weekend's Premier League encounter, here is a look at the starting 11 manager Roberto De Zerbi could roll with as Spurs look to strengthen their case for being a sleeper title contender.
Defense: GK Antonin Kinsky - LB Andy Robertson - CB Micky van de Ven - CB Jan Paul van Hecke - RB Archie Gray
Pedro Porro is probably ready to start after playing 45 minutes against Crystal Palace, but given the fitness issues he's had since the grueling World Cup, the cautious approach works best here. And Gray can get some "revenge" against Leeds and keep this form up, and he honestly fits better against a team that Spurs will have a lot possession against.
The rest of the back four is also unchanged from the Palace win. Destiny Udogie only got a few minutes against Palace anyway, and Andy Robertson should be able to toast Leeds as he did the Eagles, given he is going up against another team that won't have attacking players to threaten his lack of pace. Tottenham could rest one of the star center backs, but they also shouldn't take Leeds for granted either.
Midfield: DM Mateus Fernandes - DM Sandro Tonali - AM James Maddison
At some point, Tottenham Hotspur will have to learn to win without the general Sandro Tonali, but that will have to wait another day, especially with Gray slated to start at right back. James Maddison could also get rest after not getting minutes in his presumed return against Palace with the game already won, but Leeds have a great defense and Anton Stach at the 6, thus Madders's quality in the final third will be necessary. Plus, Spurs won't want to start Dominic Solanke again.
Forwards: LW Mathys Tel- ST Omar Marmoush - RW Mohammed Kudus
Until Savio is back, this is clearly Tottenham's best front three. Omar Marmoush replaces Big Dom at striker after the latter was horrendous against Palace - the only player on Spurs not to play well. Mohammed Kudus is dazzling in one on ones, while Mathys Tel has been even better on the left and will be itching to score against Leeds again, just as he did last season.
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