Spurs have five matches to avoid relegation and maintain their Premier League status
Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox
Sign up
Thank you for signing up!
Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Submitting...
There are just 450 minutes of football left for Tottenham to avoid the unthinkable - relegation to the Championship for the first time since 1977. A truly torrid Premier League campaign has seen the north London side go through three managers in a matter of months, with none of them able to break the side’s grim - even grimmer than that leaked kit - streak of dismal results.
For Roberto De Zerbi’s newly inherited team, it’s now a simple matter of treating their remaining games as five cup finals. They’ll not only need to pick up plenty of points, but also hope that either Nottingham Forest or West Ham fail to do so, with both clubs currently ahead of the Lilywhites in the safe haven above the relegation zone.
Next up, it’s a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers, whose drop down to the Championship was finally confirmed earlier this week. While on paper it should be an easy win for Tottenham, the freedom a side can play with once their fate is decided can’t be underestimated, and it’s worth noting the side defeated Premier League champions Liverpool at Molineux just last month.
Ahead of Saturday afternoon’s crunch clash in the West Midlands, we take a look at the starting XI De Zerbi could field against the Old Gold:
Spurs predicted line-up vs Wolves: goalkeeper and defence
GK - Antonin Kinsky: Tottenham are still waiting for first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to return, after he had hernia surgery during the last international break. Kinsky has filled in in the meantime, and could well keep the gloves for another week as Spurs will be cautious not to rush Vicario back too hastily.
RB - Pedro Porro: Despite being renowned for his crossing ability, the ex-Sporting CP right-back has only managed two Premier League assists this season. However, he scored a crucial goal in Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Brighton last weekend, and will be looking to carve open the vulnerable Wolves defence with some trademark bombing runs down the right flank on Saturday.
CB - Micky van de Ven: The rapid Netherlands international is among a host of Spurs players who could leave the club this summer. He’s been part of a defence who’ve struggled hugely this season, and will need to step up as stand-in skipper to drag his side away from danger over the coming weeks.
CB - Kevin Danso: With Cristian Romero out for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury, Danso will once again partner Van de Ven at the back. He’s played over 1000 Premier League minutes for Spurs this season, and will play a key role in Austria’s World Cup campaign this summer.
LB - Destiny Udogie: His season has been plagued by both knee and hamstring injuries, but he’s now fit, firing, and ready for the run-in. He looks to be De Zerbi’s left-back of choice over Djed Spence, and is expected to start once more against Wolves.
Spurs predicted XI vs Wolves: midfield and attack
CM - Conor Gallagher: The tireless midfielder has struggled to make the desired impact following his January move from Atletico Madrid, but could cause carnage against a lacklustre Wolves engine room this weekend. He’ll likely be part of a midfield three, as De Zerbi looks to line up plenty of passing options in the centre of the park.
CM - Rodrigo Bentancur: Having made an encouraging comeback in his first match since January last weekend, the Uruguay international will look to press on at Molineux. He’s another Spurs player with half an eye on building fitness for the World Cup, with his side set to take on Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde and Spain in Group H.
CM - Archie Gray: Given Wolves’ defensive vulnerabilities and must-win nature of the game, Gray could well be brought in for Pape Matar Sarr. Having largely been farmed out at right-back under previous managers, the ex-Leeds United wonderkid looks set to finally be given the chance to shine in his favoured position - one where he can showcase his creative talent.
AMR - Randal Kolo Muani: With Mohammed Kudus out for the rest of the season after sustaining a serious thigh injury, it’s a toss up between Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel on the right wing. The former could be given the nod here again, with the latter only being handed half-hour appearances from the bench under De Zerbi so far.
AML - Xavi Simons: After scoring a stunning goal and providing an assist against Brighton, Simons will be one of the first names of the teamsheet to face Wolves. The Netherlands international, who also bagged a brace in Spurs’ 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid last month, will be looking to add to his modest goal tally of five for the season so far.
ST - Dominic Solanke: The ex-Bournemouth striker will be leading the line for Tottenham once again this weekend. Like half the team, he’s missed a large chunk of the season through injury, and will now be looking to end his run of four matches without scoring a goal.