Tottenham Hotspur begins the new year with a visit from Newcastle United, who will be looking to rediscover their Premier League form.
The Lilywhites host the high-flying Magpies in north London, who are winless in three games, and the mounting pressure on Ange Postecoglou could intensify if they fail to take three points again.
Spurs’ brutal injury list has been a major factor in their recent struggles and they will be without the majority of their first back four against Alexander Isak and Co. Defensive problems have plagued Postecoglou’s side this season, but they expect they can unsettle Newcastle at the other end of the pitch.
This is how Tottenham could play.
TW: Fraser Forster – After initially appearing confident when replacing the injured Guglielmo Vicario, Forster’s confidence has evaporated in recent appearances. Some shaky performances didn’t help a much-changed back four in front of him.
RB: Pedro Porro – Porro could well be the only first-choice player in Tottenham’s defense available to Postecoglou for Newcastle’s visit and he is likely to be pursued by the relentless Anthony Gordon.
CB: Radu Dragusin – The Romanian has struggled to assert himself since stepping into an injury-ravaged defense and now faces the daunting challenge of holding off Isak. The red-hot striker has scored eight goals in his last six Premier League games.
CB: Archie Gray – Considering he was only a stop-gap centre-back, Gray has handled his new role remarkably well. However, like Dragusin, his qualifications will be put to the test by Isak on Saturday.
LB: Djed Spence – Destiny Udogie is the latest injured at defense after suffering a hamstring injury that will keep him out for around six weeks. Spence, who missed the draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers due to suspension, will replace him at left-back.
DM: Yves Bissouma – Much of Newcastle’s strength comes from a midfield trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. Mali international Bissouma will be key to preventing the Magpies from overrunning Spurs in central areas.
DM: Pape Matar Sarr – Rodrigo Bentancur impressed against Wolves and even scored a goal in the draw, but is suspended again after his fifth yellow card of the season.
RW: Brennan Johnson – The Welshman inadvertently establishes himself with a reputation as a nerdy player who scores long goals before fading into the background. Scored his first goal in eight games against Wolves.
AM: Dejan Kulusevski – Once again the Swede was the standout player for Tottenham in their last game. Kulusevski is often Spurs’ beating heart in the final third and will be crucial in breaking down a defense that has kept three clean sheets in a row.
LW: Son Heung-min – Son’s missed penalty against Wolves proved costly and the South Korean hasn’t looked like himself of late.
ST: Dominic Solanke – Solanke has failed to score in his last two games but will look to take advantage of Fabian Schar’s suspension on Saturday. It could be a battle between two impressive and imposing centre-forwards in north London.