Key events
Big Angel will not hold back. After shouting out Timo Werner, claiming that the real thing happened against Rangers this week “Not welcome”The Tottenham boss claimed he was taking time out not to “push egos”.
It’s a difficult approach, but maybe it’s necessary. A bit of a kick up the rear to jumpstart the spitting season.
We’ll find out if it works.
Tottenham pain
Magnus Ange is still looking for his preferred starting XI.
Dejan Kulusekvski, Lucas Bergvall, Djed Spence, Pape Sarr and Dominic Solanke all start. Timo Guarnerius, after half a week of being chewed out by his boss, is on the bench next to a bunch of youngsters.
Tottenham 4-2-3-1; Forster, Gray, Dragusin, Spence, Udogie, Bergvall, Sarr, Maddison, Filius, Kulusevski, Solanke.
Subs: Austin, Porro, Lankshear, Dorrington, Olusesi, King, Hardy, Werner, Johnson.
Southampton team
Four changes for Saints from the team that lost at Villa last week.
Alex McCarthy returns in goal with Ian Bednarek in front of him. Joe Aribo and Kamldeen Sulemana also got a chance to show off their stuff from the start.
Southampton 4-5-1; McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Manning, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Sulemana, Downes, Aribo, Fernandes, Armstrong, Dibling.
Subs: Lumley, Bree, Wood, Sugawara, Amo-Ameyaw, Fraser, Lallana, Onuachu, Arrow.
The beginning
This is usually the case with football, but both of these teams could win this evening.
Southampton are rooted to the bottom of the table and haven’t won in over a month. Tottenham, in 12th, do that where they beat (or at least compete with) good sides, but then they stink up the place against everyone.
The wolves are howling outside the gates of both managers and they will only keep the positive effect on the south coast in the bay for a little longer.
Is this going to be a classic middle ground where the players fly into arms and every field is contested? There is certainly hope.
Kick-off at 7pm.
Teams and further updates to follow.