Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 13/01/21...

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Jose Mourinho and Tottenham have the perfect chance to send out Man United and Liverpool warning

Here we take a look at some of the main talking points ahead of Tottenham's Premier League clash against Fulham

Team selection

The games keep coming thick and fast for Jose Mourinho and his Tottenham side with Fulham making the trip across the capital this evening.

Initially down to travel to Aston Villa instead for the league match between the sides, it was announced on Monday that the fixture at Villa Park had been postponed following a coronavirus outbreak at the Midlands club last week.

That means the Lilywhites will play their game in hand against the Cottagers this evening, with Scott Parker labelling the decision as "scandalous" after they were only given 48 hours' notice of the rearrangement.

While Spurs did play a day later than Fulham in the FA Cup after taking on non-league side Marine on Sunday, Mourinho will be able to field a fresh team following the changes he made in Crosby a couple of days ago.

Hugo Lloris, Serge Aurier, Eric Dier, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Harry Kane will all come in after not making the trip north at the weekend, with Steven Bergwijn also a possibility to do likewise if his recent injury problems, which Mourinho announced after the Leeds win, aren't hampering him.

You would imagine that Davinson Sanchez and Harry Winks will also do the same, although Toby Alderweireld and Moussa Sissoko will be hoping that isn't the case as they look to get the nod.

It may be a hectic period for Spurs at present in terms of fixtures but the XI Mourinho named at Marine means that the majority of his players will be fit and raring to go after just over a week without minutes since the Brentford win.

More minutes for Dele

One player who will be pushing for a starting spot against the west London club is Dele Alli.

The 24-year-old impressed on Sunday against Marine with a mature display and he played an important role in Carlos Vinicius' first two goals of the night.

Mourinho was very happy with his player's showing as he hailed his "very professional attitude and good performance" when speaking to the media after the 5-0 victory.

It has been a tough few months for Alli but he's definitely put himself in a good position to get more minutes after taking his chance with both hands at the Marine Travel Arena.

The ex-MK Dons man was actually tipped to start against Fulham just after Christmas and he could well be given his opportunity in the XI either from the start or off the bench tonight given how he impressed his boss in Crosby.

Alli desperately needs more minutes at Spurs and Mourinho will find it hard to deny him them if he continues to catch his eye when given the chance.

Send out warning to Man United and Liverpool

Much has been made over the past 24 hours of a potential title race between Manchester United and Liverpool.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men are now three points ahead of their great rivals at the top of the Premier League and the sides meet at Anfield on Sunday afternoon in a mouthwatering game.

It's extremely tight towards the top at present with the likes of Leicester City, Everton, Spurs, Man City and Southampton riding high.

Spurs have played one game less than the four sides ahead of them in the table at present but they can move into third this evening with a win over Fulham.

That will leave them a single point behind Liverpool in second and four off Manchester United at the summit, although Mourinho and Spurs fans will feel that they should currently be a lot higher after dropping points against Newcastle United, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Wolves in recent months.

While the Lilywhites are going to have a hectic fixture schedule to deal with over the next few weeks with an FA Cup tie away at Wycombe also coming up, the team do have a nice set of games on the horizon in the league.

Four of their next six matches are against Premier League strugglers Fulham, Sheffield United, Brighton and West Brom, with Liverpool and Chelsea, who have both endured a dip in form of late, to play at home.

The next month is going to be key for Spurs and they can send a message out to both Manchester United and Liverpool that they really do mean business between now and May.

Spurs have started 2021 in fine form and it could well continue when you take a glance at the upcoming fixtures.



https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/fixtures-results/mourinho-tottenham-man-united-liverpool-19620681