‘Postecoglou baffles with Porro decision’ as Tottenham XI confirmed v Liverpool
Ange Postecoglou could regret his decision over Pedro Porro as Tottenham prepare to face Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-final on Thursday.
Despite a torrid run of results in the Premier League, the under-pressure manager has the chance to lead Spurs to the final of the EFL Cup after taking a 1-0 lead against the Reds in the reverse fixture.
The Lilywhites head into the crucial tie following back-to-back victories against Brentford and Elfsborg, but before this, they had recorded just three wins in their last 10 fixtures.
Arne Slot’s side, however, have lost just twice since mid-September, once against Spurs in the EFL Cup and the other when fielding a young side against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
Postecoglou’s side could advance to the final for their first piece of silverware since the 2007/08 season, but the team may already be at a disadvantage at Anfield on 6 February.
Pedro Porro drops to Tottenham bench
Porro is one of two changes from the side which beat Brentford 2-0 last time out, with Mikey Moore also dropping to the bench, though Kevin Danso comes in for his debut.
The Spaniard, while out of form in the past few matches, often shows up when it matters most and Postecoglou could regret his decision to axe him from the lineup to face the Reds.
Up against Cody Gakpo, Porro ranks in the top 68, 75 and 90 percentiles for tackles [FBref], interceptions and blocks, which could have been vital in such a key game for the Lilywhites.
In the reverse fixture, the right-back won 100 per cent of his tackles, and 100 per cent of his aerial duels, which could be important against Gakpo’s stature, and made four recovering in defence [FBref].
He also has a 32 per cent shot accuracy in the Premier League, unleashing eight accurate shots in total this season, showcasing his importance in the final third too.
Archie Gray ready to cover
Having Archie Gray is certainly not the worst replacement, though his inexperience against top opposition like Liverpool could see him struggle up against a Dutch star.
Postecoglou will be eager to get through to the final of the EFL Cup and face Newcastle United, but he needs all his players focused on Thursday night’s fixture before getting carried away.
Only time will tell whether the manager has made the wrong choice. At least he has the chance to change the team around once the game kicks off.