Tottenham predicted line-up vs. Ipswich: six changes made with Richarlison among seven injury worries

Tottenham Hotspur will aim to secure back-to-back Premier League victories when they host relegation-threatened Ipswich Town this Sunday. However, manager Ange Postecoglou is facing a mounting list of injury concerns, with as many as seven players either unavailable or doubtful for the match. Among the most significant concerns is Richarlison, who sustained a potentially serious hamstring injury during the impressive 4-1 victory over Aston Villa last weekend. This injury is expected to sideline him for at least a month.

The list of injury worries extends beyond Richarlison. At centre-back, Spurs are already without Micky van de Ven, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury and won’t return until after the international break. Cristian Romero, another key defensive figure, is also a doubt due to a toe issue that kept him out of the midweek defeat to Galatasaray. Postecoglou has suggested that Romero might still have a chance of making it to the Ipswich game, but his fitness remains uncertain. In the absence of these two, Radu Drăgușin is expected to step into the central defensive role, despite his challenging performance against Victor Osimhen in the Champions League. If Romero is unavailable, Drăgușin will likely be partnered with either Ben Davies or, in the worst-case scenario, another makeshift defender. Djed Spence is another injury doubt, with a groin issue complicating the team’s options for full-back, although both Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie are expected to start on the flanks.

In midfield, Postecoglou might find some stability, as the central midfielders are largely fit, though the rotation of players recently has made the selection process tricky. Spurs have a few potential tactical setups to choose from, such as opting for a double pivot or a more aggressive system, with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski playing on either side of a sole defensive midfielder. Yves Bissouma, who featured in the full 90 minutes against Galatasaray, is unlikely to start, especially after Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr were preferred for the Villa game. Maddison, who was substituted in the second half of the midweek clash, looks likely to retain his spot in the starting XI for the weekend.

Tottenham’s forward options are also heavily impacted by injury. Besides Richarlison, who is expected to miss a month of action, summer signing Wilson Odobert is recovering from a hamstring issue, and his return timeline remains unclear. Timo Werner is dealing with a minor groin problem, and Mikey Moore missed the trip to Turkey due to illness. While the injuries to Werner and Moore are less severe, their status for Sunday remains uncertain. As a result, it is expected that Son Heung-Min and Brennan Johnson will once again occupy the wide positions, with Dominic Solanke playing as the central striker. Solanke, who scored after coming on as a substitute against Galatasaray, will likely lead the line with the hope of contributing further to Spurs’ attacking efforts.

With a host of injuries in key positions, Postecoglou’s options are limited, but the team will still be expected to defeat Ipswich, who are struggling at the bottom of the Premier League table. Given the context of the game and the need for consistency, Tottenham will aim to keep the momentum going following their recent victory over Aston Villa. Despite the injury troubles, Postecoglou will look to field a competitive side, relying on players like Maddison, Kulusevski, and Son to provide the creative spark in what will likely be a makeshift lineup. The game against Ipswich will be an important test for Tottenham as they look to maintain their position in the league and challenge for higher honors as the season progresses.