LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20 : Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur during the Emirates FA Cup match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur at King Power Stadium on January 20, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Tottenham v Leicester City: 5 Spurs talking points
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 20 : Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur during the Emirates FA Cup match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur at King Power Stadium on January 20, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Tottenham will be taking on Leicester City without several key stars
Tottenham weren’t able to catch Leicester City in the race for the Premier League title last season, but they’re a full eight points clear of the Foxes this year. Don’t let that margin fool you, Claudio Ranieri’s squad are just as dangerous this season as they were on their match to the title in 2015-16.
One need only look at how the Foxes have played in their Champions League group to see their real quality. Their Premier League performance might be suffering as a result, but Leicester are unbeaten in Europe. Expect them to treat Tottenham just like one of their more challenging matches on the continent.
Unfortunately for Spurs, they will enter the match without their two most important players. Striker Harry Kane and defender Toby Alderweireld will both miss the encounter due to injury. Their absence will challenge Mauricio Pochettino’s squad to defend White Hart Lane without their usual stars.
Even without Kane and Alderweireld, Tottenham have enough quality to dispatch Leicester City. Read these five key talking points ahead of the match to find out what Spurs need to do in order to top the Foxes.
miss the encounter due to injury</a>. Their absence will challenge Mauricio Pochettino’s squad to defend White Hart Lane without their usual stars.</p>
<p>Even without Kane and Alderweireld, Tottenham have enough quality to dispatch Leicester City. Read these five key talking points ahead of the match to find out what Spurs need to do in order to top the Foxes.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/10/29/tottenham-v-leicester-city-5-spurs-talking-points/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 5. Can Tottenham score a goal? </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur warm up prior to kick off during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>5. Can Tottenham score a goal?</h3>
<p>Breaking news here Spurs fans: Tottenham will not defeat Leicester City unless they’re able to score a goal. Unfortunately for Pochettino’s side, goals have been hard to come by as of late.</p>
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<p>In the immediate aftermath of Kane’s injury, Son Heung-Min played his best football in a Spurs shirt. He picked up the goal scoring slack entirely on his own and got his club through several matches without their best centre forward.</p>
<p>Lately, Son’s magic seems to have dried up. He’s struggled mightily in his last two starts. It’s not a coincidence that both of those matches have ended in 0-0 draws. The Korean forward simply has to be better if Spurs are going to win this match.</p>
<p>Of course, he’ll also need some help from the attacking midfield. There will be intense scrutiny applied to the probable starting trio of Dele Alli, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen, if Spurs go scoreless again. One of those men may need to find the back of the net today if Tottenham are going to come away with a victory.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 25: Eric Dier of Tottenham in action during the EFL Cup fourth round match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on October 25, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>4. Can Eric Dier hold up?</h3>
<p>It’s expected that Eric Dier will start another match in place of Alderweireld. There will be intense pressure on the young defender to stand up to the pressure of Leicester’s talented attackers.</p>
<p>It’s not as if Dier can win a foot race with the likes of Jamie Vardy or Riyad Mahrez, so his positioning is going to need to be excellent. He’ll need to fight the urge to go too far forward in attack. Staying at home will be key for Dier.</p>
<p>Tottenham will probably enjoy long spells of possession during the match, but Dier and Vertonghen are going to be tested mightily on several occasions via the Foxes’ vaunted counter attack. If Dier can hold up on those occasions, he’ll give his chance an excellent opportunity to win.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if Dier can’t break up Leicester’s fast break when he’s called upon, it could be disastrous for Spurs. One or two individual errors from the young Englishman could be enough to send the Foxes home with all three points.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 21: Christian Eriksen of Tottenham is substituted for Georges Kevin Nkoudou during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Gillingham at White Hart Lane on September 21, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images )</p>
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<h3>3. Will Tottenham’s bench contribute?</h3>
<p>Spurs might need to do the majority of their work in the first half of today’s match. The injuries to Kane and Alderweireld combined with Moussa Sissoko’s three-match ban leave the Tottenham bench very weak against Leicester.</p>
<p>Vincent Janssen is the only player I really feel comfortable saying will definitely make it onto the pitch from Pochettino’s bench. It’s not as if the Dutchman has been a bastion of excellence this season either. Other than him, only Josh Onomah and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou figure to register as reasonable attacking options off the bench.</p>
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<p>Perhaps even more concerning, will be the club’s thin options in the defensive midfield. If Victor Wanyama or Moussa Dembele have to come off the pitch, it may equal the introduction of either Harry Winks or Cameron Carter-Vickers. Both starlets have plenty of long-term potential, but they aren’t ready for this kind of challenge.</p>
<p>It’s imperative that Tottenham get off to a good start today. They can’t afford to wait around and hope that a substitute will swing the match in their favor. That level of player won’t be on Pochettino’s bench today.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur fails to block the header by Robert Huth of Leicester City to allow Leicester’s first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at White Hart Lane on January 13, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2. Spurs must defend in the air</h3>
<p>Leicester City are most dangerous when attacking on the break, but they also can be a real threat on set pieces. Tottenham haven’t dealt well with corners or free kicks this season, which could be a key point for today’s match.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>More specifically, Spurs have a nasty habit of not dealing very well with the ball in the air. You can bet that Ranieri will push his centre backs to try to take advantage of that deficiency. The likes of Robert Huth and Wes Morgan are certainly capable of scoring from a set piece.</p>
<p>If Ranieri, as expected, opts to start Islam Slimani alongside Vardy, he also presents a real aerial threat. That’s part of the reason he works so well in concert with the pacy Englishman.</p>
<p>Tottenham cannot afford to cede a goal from a set piece if they want to win this match. That means the Spurs defenders will need to effectively clear the ball with their head against the Foxes.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Dejected Spurs players walk of the pitch as Leicester City are crowned champions following the 2-2 draw during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on May 02, 2016 in London, England.jd (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>1. Revenge is a factor</h3>
<p>I don’t care if every Spurs player and official swears up and down that revenge won’t play a role in this match. Every single player from last year’s squad remembers how it felt the day Leicester City won the Premier League. Winning this match wouldn’t erase that, but it would certainly help dull the pain.</p>
<p>That may not manifest itself into any real animosity on the pitch, but it could give Tottenham an extra edge. It’s a lot easier to play as the hunting club rather than being the hunted. Ironically, the Foxes are definitely the hunted club in this match.</p>
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<p>I suspect that Leicester’s lukewarm start to the Premier League is partly due to the weight of defending their crown. They get every club’s best shot every week. Tottenham won’t act any differently towards the defending champs today.</p>
<p>Today’s match isn’t just another Premier League fixture for Spurs. They want their pound of flesh from Leicester City. That slight bit of extra emotion might mean the difference between winning and losing for Tottenham.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
