The long-awaited line-ups have been confirmed for our opening game of the season against Southampton. It is an identical line-up to our default XI from the latter half of last season – first choice back five, first choice midfield pairing, first choice front three. Places on the bench for new signings Forster, Lenglet, Spence, Perisic, and even Bissouma, who has recovered from a hamstring injury to feature on the nine man bench – remember, it’s five subs from now, so we may see some of the new faces in action.
So without further ado, our matchday squad is as follows:
Lloris (captain), Royal, Romero, Dier, Davies, Sessegnon, Hojberg, Bentancur, Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
Subs: Forster, Sanchez, Lenglet, Doherty, Spence, Perisic, Bissouma, Gil, Lucas.
Our visitors hand debuts to Gavin Bazunu, Romeo Lavia and Joe Aribo, and line up in what appears to be a back three of Jan Valery, Jan Bednarek and Mohamed Salisu with ex-Spur Kyle Walker-Peters on the right, Moussa Djenepo on the left. Their midfield trio comprises David Beckham tribute act and skipper James Ward-Prowse, new signing Romeo Lavia and hardman Oriol Romeu, with Aribo and Adam Armstrong up top. The chaps who scored in the 3-2 win here last season, Che Adams and Mohamed El-younoussi, find themselves on the visiting bench.
Saints: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Valery, Salisu, Bednarek, Djenepo, Ward-Prowse (captain), Lavia, Romeu, Aribo, Adam Armstrong,
Subs: Mccarthy, Perraud, Diallo, Stephens, Bella-Kotchup, Stuart Armstrong, Redmond, El-younoussi, Adams.
A solid line-up that got us top four…here’s hoping they get the job done!