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Dejan Kulusekvski, Lucas Bergvall, Djed Spence, Pape Sarr and Dominic Solanke all start. Timo Werner, after getting chewed out by his boss midweek, is on the bench alongside a bunch of youngsters.
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Tottenham 4-2-3-1: Forster, Gray, Dragusin, Spence, Udogie, Bergvall, Sarr, Maddison, Son, Kulusevski, Solanke.
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Subs: Austin, Porro, Lankshear, Dorrington, Olusesi, King, Hardy, Werner, Johnson.
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Four changes for the Saints from the team that lost to Villa last week.
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Alex McCarthy returns in goal with Jan Bednarek in front of him. Joe Aribo and Kamaldeen Sulemana are also given an opportunity to show their stuff from the start.
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Southampton 4-5-1: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Manning, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Sulemana, Downes, Aribo, Fernandes, Armstrong, Dibling.
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Subs: Lumley, Bree, Wood, Sugawara, Amo-Ameyaw, Fraser, Lallana, Onuachu, Archer.
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Admittedly this is usually the case with football, but both these teams could really do with a win this evening.
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Southampton are rooted to the foot of the table and haven’t won in over a month. Tottenham, down in 12th, have been doing that thing they do where they beat (or at least compete with) good sides but then stink the place up against everyone else.
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The wolves are howling outside the doors of both managers and only a positive result on the south coast will keep them at bay a little longer.
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Does this mean we’ll get a classic encounter where players fly into tackles and every blade of grass is fought over? That’s certainly the hope.
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Kick-off at 7pm.
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Teams and further updates to follow.
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main events
Big Ange isn't holding back. The Tottenham manager insists he has no time for “bruised egos” after criticizing Timo Werner, saying the German's performance against Rangers this week was “unacceptable”.
It's a heavy approach, but it's probably what you need. Kick up your rear a little and get your hectic season started.
We'll see if it works.
tottenham team
Big Ange is still searching for his preferred starting lineup.
Dejan Kulusekski, Lukas Bergvall, Jed Spence, Papu Sarr and Dominic Solanke will start. Timo Werner is on the bench along with a number of youngsters after being bitten by the manager in midweek.
Tottenham 4-2-3-1: Forster, Gray, Dragusin, Spence, Udogi, Bergvall, Searle, Madison, Son, Kulusevski, Solanke.
Subs: Austin, Polo, Lankshear, Dorrington, Orcesi, King, Hardy, Werner, Johnson.
southampton team
Saints made four changes from the team that lost to Villa last week.
Alex McCarthy returns to goal ahead of Jan Bednarek. Joe Aribo and Kamarudeen Slemana were also given a chance to show their stuff right from the start.
Southampton 4-5-1: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Manning, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Slemana, Downs, Aribo, Fernandez, Armstrong, Dibring.
Subs: Lumley, Bully, Wood, Sugawara, Amo Ameyo, Fraser, Lallana, Onuachu, Archer.
preamble
Sure, this happens a lot in soccer, but either team could really be okay with a win tonight.
Southampton are languishing at the bottom of the table and have not won in over a month. Tottenham, who sit in 12th place, have a habit of beating (or at least competing with) good teams but muddying the table against other teams.
Wolves are howling outside both managers' doors and only a good result on the south coast will keep them at bay for a little longer.
Does this mean we'll see a classic matchup where players dive into tackles and scramble for every blade of grass? That's certainly hope.
Kickoff at 7pm.
Team and upcoming updates.
