Five Tottenham changes vs Man Utd as Roberto De Zerbi axes Sandro Tonali to trial new midfield

Roberto De Zerbi would be well within his rights to make wholesale changes when Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester United this weekend.

Roberto De Zerbi could make as many as five changes to the starting lineup when Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester United. The Lilywhites are just one of three teams yet to taste victory in the Premier League this season, so they'll be desperate to leave Old Trafford with three points on Saturday evening.

Just before the international break, Spurs fell to the bottom of the table when the Red Devils drew with Fulham. Although the Cottagers have also only managed to secure two points in the opening weeks of the new campaign, they have a marginally better goal difference than Tottenham.

During an interview with Match of the Day the day prior, when Aston Villa stormed past the Lilywhites, De Zerbi accepted responsibility for the disappointing start to the season but questioned his players' behaviour.

"We have to be stronger," said the Italian in September, lighting a fire beneath his squad. "We have to put on the pitch something more than we are putting. Football is tactical, but it is blood, it is fighting, it is first one on the ball.

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"As a coach, I take responsibility. I can work better, harder and more. I can explain my opinion about the performance and about what we can do more. But in the end I can't change something more in the behaviour.

"I think we are not lucky in this period, but you have to deserve luck and the positive things, and we are not good enough to deserve luck in this moment," he added. "We will suffer until the next game, and we will try to do better in the future."

Tottenham duo face late fitness test

The Tottenham boss could make as many as three changes to the backline this weekend. With Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke recovering from knocks they sustained during the international break, and Pedro Porro nursing an injury, only Andy Robertson could keep his place in the starting lineup.

Porro suffered a hamstring problem during the first half of the defeat to Aston Villa last month, forcing him to withdraw from the Spain squad. Then, Van de Ven and Van Hecke each sustained knocks when the Netherlands faced Serbia in the Nations League.

The former accidentally had his hand stepped on by Luka Jovic and was unable to continue, while the latter picked up a foot problem, which he later aggravated in training. Xavi, the new head coach who replaced Ronald Koeman after the World Cup, claimed Van de Ven's problem was not serious and that Van Hecke was in 'a lot of pain'.

If neither of the centre-backs nor the right-back passes a late fitness test to face Michael Carrick's side, Spurs will have to make three changes to the backline. And, with De Zerbi hardly spoilt for options at the moment, he'll likely select Marco Senesi, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Archie Gray.

De Zerbi trials new double pivot

Sandro Tonali has started each of the first five games of the new Premier League season, and he's yet to warrant the club-record fee that Johan Lange paid Newcastle United in the summer. Rodrigo Bentancur, who's played alongside him in the double pivot for 356 minutes out of a possible 429, has hardly set the world alight either.

So, if De Zerbi wants to make a statement, he could bench the duo in favour of Lucas Bergvall, Mateus Fernandes, or even Conor Gallagher. Neither Tonali nor Bentancur has necessarily cemented a place in the starting lineup, so a couple of new faces could not only spark a reaction but also breed some healthy competition.

Marmoush set for new Tottenham role

Omar Marmoush has either led the frontline or played on the left since joining Tottenham from Manchester City in the summer, but he previously enjoyed a lot of success playing off the striker, especially towards the end of his spell at Eintracht Frankfurt, when he would combine with Hugo Ekitike.

So, De Zerbi should consider throwing the kitchen sink at Manchester United this weekend and play the Spurs forward in a support role behind Dominic Solanke. In doing so, the Lilywhites gaffer can then welcome Mohammed Kudus back into the frontline.

De Zerbi wants a reaction

De Zerbi will want to see a reaction from his players this weekend. Although the potential changes at the back are far from ideal, the new faces in midfield and up top could spark Tottenham into life against a deflated outfit, whose support could quickly turn...

Predicted Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup to face Manchester United: Antonin Kinsky; Andy Robertson, Marco Senesi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Archie Gray; Mateus Fernandes, Conor Gallagher; Mohammed Kudus, Omar Marmoush, Savio; Dominic Solanke.