Predicted XI

Bale to return? - How Tottenham Hotspur will line-up against Leicester City

Jose Mourinho's side will be hoping to get back to winning ways against Leicester City after a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in midweek.

7:45am on Saturday 19th December 2020
By Stefan Bienkowski

After bitter defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday, Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho will be determined to bounce back and make up the lost ground in this season’s Premier League title race.

However, standing in his way is another formidable opponent in Brendan Rodgers and a Leicester side that seem intent on surprising and disappointing their supporters in equal measure this season.

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In order to ensure his side can put on a stern, defensive performance Mourinho is likely to make a few changes to his back line.

In goals Hugo Lloris will keep his spot between the sticks, with Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld in front of him as the preferred central defensive partnership.

However, it seems likely that Sergio Reguilon will retake his spot at left-back in place of Ben Davies, while Serge Aurier steps out of the side for Matt Doherty.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been one of Mourinho’s top performers this season, so he’ll almost certainly keep his spot in midfield but it seems like that Giovani Lo Celso will make way for Tanguy Ndombele to partner Moussa Sissoko just in front of the defensive Dane.

There’s little doubt over Harry Kane’s starting role up front for Mourinho’s side, but an illness to Gareth Bale ruled the Welsh international out of the midweek clash with Liverpool and looks certain to keep him out of action on Sunday too.

As such, it seems as though Lucas Moura will be tasked with partnering Son Heung-Min in supporting Kane up front.