Tottenham predicted line-up vs West Ham with change in system as four ruled out for West Ham game

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou was dealt a blow just before the international break, as he watched his side throw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at Brighton and Hove Albion before his players jetted off to represent their various countries. Now that they’ve returned, he will have the chance to speak with his squad and prepare for a response against a West Ham side that has struggled under new manager Julen Lopetegui.

There are a few injury concerns that Postecoglou must manage, including those of club captain Son Heung-min, who missed the international break, and Richarlison. Additionally, there is the long-term injury to Wilson Odobert, who sustained an injury against Coventry and is now expected to miss much of the remainder of the season. Lucas Bergvall is also a doubt, though he was spotted in a club video that circulated after their return to training.

With those factors in mind, here is the team we anticipate Postecoglou will select:

Goalkeeper and Defenders

Guglielmo Vicario remains Tottenham’s first-choice goalkeeper, despite some doubts about his confidence when dealing with set pieces. The backline is likely to include Pedro Porro at right-back and the highly-rated Destiny Udogie at left-back. Cristian Romero will partner with the now-indispensable Micky van de Ven in central defence. However, the backline has shown vulnerabilities when they haven't performed well, leading to questions about why someone like Sergio Reguilón has remained on the sidelines.

Midfielders

The midfield selection is more complex. James Maddison showed signs of a return to form at the Amex, though his impact waned in the second half. He will likely get another chance to prove himself, alongside Dejan Kulusevski, whose strong performances have forced changes in the midfield. Kulusevski will likely play alongside Rodrigo Bentancur, who has pushed Yves Bissouma to the bench. This three-man midfield will be tasked with providing both grit and creativity as they face a tricky West Ham United side.

Forwards

The attack will be crucial for Spurs, with Dominic Solanke expected to lead the line. Son Heung-min is likely to feature on the left side of the attack, while the in-form Brennan Johnson will play on the right. Tottenham has mostly played a 4-3-3 formation under Ange Postecoglou, but it will be interesting to see how the combination of Son and Solanke works. They may interchange positions during the game and could even play as a front two at certain points.