While news surrounding Spurs’ season continues to be dominated by Gareth Bale’s inevitable departure, the team is actually playing games. And with today’s visit from Swansea, both teams’ second match of the season, Tottenham has a chance at a six-point start, something that would place them no lower than fifth come the end of round two.
Of course, Bale won’t be in the team today, the Welsh international still nursing an ankle injury that’s kept him from playing for the better part of a month. His absence was felt last week, with Spurs unable to score from open play in their 1-0 win at newly promoted Crystal Palace. Though Tottenham kept 58 percent of the ball, they were only able to put three shots on target, the same as their hosts.
It will be up to Roberto Soldado, last week’s goal scorer, to change that. Likewise, Nacer Chadli and Andros Townsend, starting in place of the injured Aaron Lennon, will have to find a way to carry over some of the team’s Europa League form, with Spurs having won 5-0 at Dinamo Tiblisi mid-week. Etienne Capoue, who like Townsend was brought into the team in Georgia, maintains his place in the starting XI, with Gylfi Sigurdsson dropped from the team that faced Palace.
Swansea, who’ve lost their last three meetings with Tottenham, are coming off a 4-1 loss to Manchester United in their home opener, a match where clinical finishing from Robin van Persie and failings in Swans’ defense doomed Michael Laudrup’s side to a disappointing start. Like Spurs, though, Swansea moved on from their first week problems in Europa League, posting a 5-1 win over Petrolul Ploiesti on Thursday.
Laudrup’s made two changes to the team that faced Manchester United last Saturday. In midfield, Jonathan de Guzman comes in for Leon Britton at the base of midfield while Pablo Hernandez is in for Nathan Dyer on the wing. That means Ivorian attacker Wilfried Bony, the team’s much-hyped summer signing from Vitesse, won’t get his first Premier League start despite scoring on his debut.
If you’re not near NBCSN for the 11:00 a.m. Eastern kickoff, head over to NBC Sports Live Extra to check out streaming options for this as well as the league’s other 11:00 a.m. kickoff: Cardiff City vs. Manchester City.
Starting Lineups
Tottenham: Hugo Lloris; Kyle Walker, Michael Dawson, Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose; Etienne Capoue, Moussa Dembele, Paulinho; Andros Townsend, Roberto Soldado, Nacir Chadli.
Swansea: Michael Vorm; Angel Rangel, Chico Flores, Ashley Williams, Ben Davies; José Cañas; Jonathan de Guzman; Wayne Routledge, Jonjo Shelvey; Pablo Hernandez; Michu.