Pape Sarr axed in two changes from Champions League clash – Tottenham predicted XI vs Brighton
Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend when they travel to face Brighton on Saturday.
The Lilywhites survived a second-half scare to open their Champions League campaign with a win on Tuesday night, as they edged past Villarreal with a 1-0 victory.
Spurs have made a bright start in the Premier League, and they will be hoping to see that continue in their trip to the South Coast, as they take on a Seagulls side who have struggled so far.
Thomas Frank is now facing the prospect of having to manage the squad across two major competitions, and with that in mind, Tottenham News predicts the starting XI that will turn out this weekend.
Pape Sarr the next in line for Thomas Frank midfield rotation
Lucas Bergvall has been excellent for Tottenham since he came into the team, and it would be a huge surprise if he doesn’t keep his place for the return to domestic action.
The 19-year-old came back into the fold with a goal and an assist at West Ham, before his cross led to the own goal that won the game for the North Londoners in midweek.
His inclusion is likely to see Pape Sarr drop to the bench for the game at the Amex Stadium, with Frank continuing to try and manage the minutes across all of his key midfield options.
The Senegal international completed just 77% of his passes against Villarreal in midweek, and that could make the manager’s decision a relatively straightforward one.
- Bentancur was an unused substitute against West Ham
- Palhinha was only introduced late on in the game with Villarreal
- Sarr has already played 345 minutes of Premier League football so far this term
Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha have both sat out in recent games, and it will likely now be Sarr’s turn, as he has started every competitive game so far this term.
Elsewhere in the side, the boss may finally be tempted to hand Destiny Udogie his first start of the season, as he continues to slowly build up his minutes after an injury-hit pre-season.
Djed Spence has performed well so far this term, but Frank may see this as a good opportunity to rest him and give Udogie a chance.
Midfield quartet crucial for Tottenham this season
Palhinha has settled in perfectly at Tottenham since his move in the summer, and he has added to some impressive depth for the Lilywhites in the middle of the park.
The quartet of him, Bentancur, Sarr and Bergvall has the perfect blend of experience and youthful energy, and they all bring their own qualities in the middle of the park for Frank’s side.
If the Dane can keep that group fresh for the majority of the campaign, then it could hold the key to Spurs achieving the rise up the table that they desperately desire.
However, that will require strong management from Frank to ensure that players don’t become disheartened if they are dropped after a good performance.
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