How will Fernando Llorente fare today? He was at his best when he played under Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao. And despite his height, they didn’t just hoik the ball forwards to him. Bielsa got plenty of runners up in support and utilised his ability to hold the ball up from passes into feet so he could then involve his breaking midfielders. Eriksen, Alli and Lamela will have to use him like a wall and pop passes in and out of his feet. Also, Spurs have Sterling on the bench! Kazaiah Sterling. The 20-year-old will make his Premier League debut if called upon.
The teams!
Fulham: Sergio Rico, Odoi, Le Marchand, Ream, Christie, Chambers, Seri, Bryan, Schürrle, Mitrovic, Babel. Subs: Bettinelli, Ryan Sessegnon, Kebano, Cairney, Ayite, Vietto, Cissé.
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Trippier, Winks, Eriksen, Rose, Lamela, Alli, Llorente. Subs: Nkoudou, Dier, Foyth, Gazzaniga, Davies, Skipp, Sterling.
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
So Babel starts! Good or bad, given his red hairdo, we won’t miss him today.
Preamble
Afternoon. On paper 3rd v 19th in the Premier League should be a routine win for Tottenham, but Harry Kane’s injury and Son Heung-min’s departure for the Asian Cup means there is just a little uncertainty about how this game may play out. While Erik Lamela is a fine replacement for Son, Fernando Llorente will not turn and run with the ball as Kane is able to do, so one expects Spurs’ attacks to be a little slower than they might ordinarily be.
Fulham may just sense an opportunity to get something out of this game. Claudio Ranieri’s side certainly need the points after Newcastle’s victory over Cardiff lifted them out of the relegation zone and seven points clear of Fulham. Ryan Babel has been brought in to try and create more opportunities for Aleksandar Mitrovic, whose consistent form and regular goals offer hope that the Cottagers can turn things around, even if they ship goals with alarming regularity. Let’s hope the burly striker has put his yoga bust-up behind him and is ready to focus on today’s game.
And for what it’s worth, I think Babel is a decent addition. He’s been a more mature and hardworking presence on the flanks for the Netherlands in their return to form and does not appear to have lost much pace, even at 32. As for Spurs, with Arsenal and Manchester United lingering with intent outside the top four, they need to keep their nerve at Craven Cottage and show that they can hold it together during the run-in.
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