Harry Kane starts after recovering from illness and will look to get his 2018 off to a bang!
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane (Photo: AFP)
Tottenham Hotspur host London rivals West Ham United in what promises to be a fiery Premier League encounter and the lineups for the clash at Wembley Stadium have been revealed by their respective managers.
#THFC: Lloris (C), Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane. #COYS pic.twitter.com/oSJv9Fb2HK
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 4, 2018
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Mauricio Pochettino has sent out his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation with star striker Harry Kane returning to lead the line. The Premier League’s top scorer is supported by Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Heung-Min Son while Moussa Sissoko and Eric Der start in the in midfield pivot.
Serge Aurier and Ben Davies are the preferred fullbacks, while Jan Vertonghen continues to partner Davinson Sanchez in the heart of defence ahead of custodian Hugo Lloris.
3️⃣ changes for the Hammers and Chicharito starts… pic.twitter.com/R9YYyhjgD0
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) January 4, 2018
For West Ham, injuries seem to have forced David Moyes’ hand as Aaron Cresswell and Marko Arnaoutovic miss out from the matchday squads.
The Hammers are trotting out in a 3-5-2 formation, with Spanish custodian Adrian retaining his place between the sticks ahead of a three-man defence of Declan Rice, Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid.
Mark Noble anchors the midfield and is joined by Pedro Obiang and Cheikhou Kouyate with Pablo Zabalete and Arthur Masuaku featuring on the flanks while Manuel Lanzini plays just off frontman Javier Hernandez aka Chicharito.
Spurs have won four of their last five games and will bid to close within a point of fourth-placed Liverpool with a win against the Hammers. With the Premier League title out of their grasp, the Lilywhites are in the race to make the top-four and will know nothing less than three points will do at Wembley.
West Ham have shown signs of a revival under new manager David Moyes and the West Londoners know the tie against their crosstown rivals is a massive one as they are perilously close to the relegation zone at the moment.
In 16th place, a point head of 18th-ranked Stoke City, the Hammers could shoot to 11th place above Huddersfield Town if they are able to grab three points on Thursday.
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris (c), Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele, Son and Kane.
West Ham United: Adrian, Zabaleta, Reid, Rice, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Kouyate, Noble (c), Obiang, Lanzini and Chicharito.
Match kicks-off at 2000 GMT/01.30 IST.
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