All Tottenham can do right now is win their final two games of the Premier League season and hope results go their way as they eye a European place. In the top four for the vast majority of the season before falling out of contention in recent months following a dire run of results, the Lilywhites are now in real danger of missing out on Europe altogether.
Brighton are very much in the driving seat for a Europa League berth due to their points advantage and extra game in hand, with Tottenham and Aston Villa both hoping that the Seagulls falter in the run-in and they can take advantage as a result. First up for Spurs is a tricky test against Thomas Frank’s Brentford, who travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the back of three wins from four games.
So how exactly will Mason’s Spurs side line up against Brentford in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off? Our football.london Tottenham correspondents have named the teams they believe the acting head coach will select below.
READ HERE: Arne Slot has £26m answer to transform Tottenham if Daniel Levy appoints him as next manager
Alasdair Gold – Tottenham Hotspur correspondent
Spurs need to finish their campaign at home with something for the fans to enjoy and Ryan Mason needs to make a couple of changes to liven them up.
Richarlison has been misfiring and has not been a threat in front of goal this season. If he is to stick with his 4-4-2 formation that becomes a 3-4-3 in possession then Mason could put Son Heung-min up front in the Brazilian’s place alongside Harry Kane. He can then bring in Ivan Perisic on the left of the midfield and the Croatian can step up to the left of the front three in possession with the South Korean on the right.
In the midfield, Mason could make a similar decision with Dejan Kulusevski coming in for Pedro Porro, while if he is fit enough then Yves Bissouma could come into the midfield after a positive half an hour or so at Villa.
Gold’s team: Forster; Emerson, Romero, Lenglet, Davies; Porro, Bissouma, Hojbjerg, Perisic; Son, Kane.
Rob Guest – Tottenham Hotspur reporter
Ryan Mason needs to tinker with his Tottenham team if they are to return to winning ways following last weekend’s defeat at Aston Villa. So poor in the first half at Villa Park and losing a crucial game in their European quest, Spurs must collect all three points against Brentford if they want to be playing in Europe come September.
Ivan Perisic should return to the Tottenham XI after playing a grand total of six minutes in the last two games after some impressive performances beforehand. That will then leave Mason with a decision between Clement Lenglet or Ben Davies for the left-sided centre-back spot.
Yves Bissouma, providing he is fit enough to start, should also come into the side after an impressive cameo appearances against Villa. Giving Tottenham some much-needed energy in midfield and using the ball extremely well, the Mali international could be partnered up with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
As Richarlison was poor at Villa and barely had a say on the game, it may be time to bring Dejan Kulusevski back into the team. Missing the Swede’s creativity when he doesn’t play, Spurs certainly need the youngster to be at his best in the final third as they look for an important win against the Bees.
Guest’s team: Forster; Emerson, Romero, Lenglet; Porro, Hojbjerg, Bissouma, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
READ NEXT:
Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust call for change and admit club’s owners have made mistakes
Feyenoord assistant coach drops Tottenham bombshell amid Arne Slot next manager talk
‘He misses nothing’ – Arne Slot verdict by those who know him as Tottenham eye next manager
Arne Slot’s Tottenham starting XI and the transfers Daniel Levy must finalise for next manager
Arne Slot has already completed what Daniel Levy will ask of next Tottenham manager