Ange Postecoglou starts £27m Tottenham player for the first time in 2024: Early Tottenham XI vs Burnley

08/05/2024 19:15

Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur will be bidding to get back to winning ways at home to Burnley on Saturday.

Spurs have lost four on the bounce in the Premier League for the first time since 2004 when they suffered six straight defeats.

Postecoglou will be hoping to avoid a similar run and with a home clash against Manchester City next Tuesday, Burnley represents a good opportunity for Tottenham to get back on track.

With a place in the top four looking unlikely at this stage, Spurs' attention will turn to ensuring they secure fifth place and a spot in the Europa League. 

Saturday's fixture is unlikely to be straightforward though, with Burnley needing a victory to keep their survival hopes alive. 

And after a difficult run of form for Spurs, we're expecting to see Postecoglou make some changes in the middle of the park. 

Tottenham predicted XI vs Burnley

Guglielmo Vicario has faced plenty of scrutiny of late due to Tottenham's weakness from set-pieces. But the Italian stood up well in that regard at Anfield and will continue between the sticks. 

As for the back four, three players pick themselves, with Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero very much preferred options. 

But Postecoglou has a decision to make when it comes to the left-back spot. Emerson Royal struggled at Chelsea and Liverpool, with the full-back looking particularly uncomfortable while playing on the opposite flank.

Oliver Skipp offered up a bright cameo display at left-back on Sunday and could get the nod.

Postecoglou has rotated his midfield heavily in recent weeks and seems to be struggling to find the right balance in there.

With James Maddison struggling for form and Dejan Kulusevski already getting a shot at filling in for the Englishman, the Aussie may turn to Giovani Lo Celso. 

Postecoglou to start Lo Celso?

The £27 million man hasn't started a Premier League game for Spurs since Maddison's return from an ankle injury, with his last start coming in a 3-1 win at Bournemouth on New Year's Eve where he grabbed two assists. 

You can't help but feel Lo Celso deserves a chance from the off with others struggling in his position at the moment. Alongside the Argentine, Rodrigo Bentancur could get another go as the No6 with Pape Matar Sarr in the No8 role.

Spurs looked much more dangerous after Richarlison's introduction at Anfield, which saw Brennan Johnson move out to the right and Heung-min Son out left. 

Here is our Tottenham predicted XI for the clash against Burnley on Saturday in full.