This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Tottenham face a tough battle against Liverpool on Sunday and the selection of Serge Aurier could hinder their chances of success.
On the chalkboard
Spurs picked up a rare clean sheet in midweek – only their third of the season – but Mauricio Pochettino is far from solving Spurs’ defensive crisis and therefore there is a worry that his side could be exploited at the back.
They have conceded 12 goals in their previous five matches and the last occasion they came up against one of Europe’s top clubs, Bayern Munich, they fell to a 7-2 defeat.
Expressions Oozing believes “champagne football” is back flowing at Spurs in the video below…
With the quality Liverpool have in their front-three, and their recently rekindled goal threat – having put four past Genk on Wednesday – they pose a real threat to the visitors, and Aurier having to deal with the left flank pair of Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson is a troublesome thought.
The duo have produced a combined total of 15 goals and assists this term, with the Senegalese’s world-class ability highlighted by his nomination for the Ballon d’Or.
Aurier is not cut out for dealing with such a clever and talented player such as Mane, and therefore he must be dropped.
Vulnerability at the back
From a defensive perspective, Aurier has been a liability this season.
He has been caught out positionally too often. That has been exploited frequently by opposing teams – epitomised by Serge Gnabry scoring four for Bayern Munich at the beginning of the month – and Mane has the ability to replicate that.
Football London gave him a rating of 2/10 for that display, and the fact Juan Foyth put in a more accomplished display against the winger whilst playing at right-back for Argentina against Germant suggests he is the more solid defensive option.
The 21-year-old limited the winger to just the one goal in that match, and is therefore a more dependable option than the erratic Aurier.
The Ivory Coast international has been beaten by a dribble 1.3 times per game, on average, with his two quick-fire yellow cards against Southampton underlining his weakness – a sending off which could have cost his team.
Mane has achieved an average of 1.8 successful dribbles so far, and Robertson 1.1 in the league, which means if they are able to overload the wing like they often do – as shown best in Mane’s opening goal against Newcastle – then Spurs will probably concede.
As a result, it would be a risk to play Aurier, and Pochettino should exclude him if he wants to build on the performance and result against Red Star Belgrade.