Should Tottenham Hotspur Persevere With Three At The Back Against Manchester United?  

Tottenham’s perfect start to the season will face its biggest test yet when they travel to Manchester United on Monday night.

Jose Mourinho’s side are on the ropes following their error-strewn 3-2 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX.

Nevertheless, Mauricio Pochettino will be well aware that Spurs’ history at Old Trafford does not bode well – they have won just twice in the last 29 years at the Theatre of Dreams.  

In the early stages of the new season, United’s attack has been lacklustre, with only Huddersfield, Brighton, and West Ham mustering fewer attempts on goal.  

That might tempt Pochettino to persevere with three at the back, the system he started with in the 3-1 win over Fulham at Wembley.

It was telling, though, that once the newly-promoted outfit had given the north Londoners a scare, it was the introduction of Mousa Dembele in place of Davinson Sanchez and a shift to a back four that steadied the ship.

Against United, the Lilywhites will also be wary of their wide-men being overrun. What to do with Ben Davies poses a further question, with the Welshman struggling with his positioning somewhat in the Fulham game, even if he was consistently involved going forward.

Kieran Trippier looks to be continuing the form that made him so influential at the World Cup and the two full-backs’ ability to track back will be key to determining which system Spurs opt for long-term.

Of course, the advantage of a three-man defence is that it would allow Pochettino to incorporate Sanchez, Jan Vertonghen, and Toby Alderweireld, the latter brought in from the cold with a surprise start last weekend.

It will also depend on Tottenham’s first-choice defenders being fit. Eric Dier has privately made his feelings known about being used on the right side of a three, instead seeing himself as a holding midfielder. Alternative options Juan Foyth and Cameron Carter-Vickers are being linked with loan moves away from the club before the end of the month, the former potentially joining up with Pochettino’s ‘football father’ Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United.

United, in theory, should pose a more potent threat to a Fulham side still feeling their way in the top flight. Long gone is the aura of invincibility surrounding Mourinho’s men and yet there still seems to be a psychological burden that dogs Spurs whenever they play the top six away from home.

A temporary shift to a back four may be one way of shoring things up. Based on the substitution at Wembley, it would be Sanchez who is sacrificed.

Though it would be a conservative approach with United seemingly there for the taking, Spurs could live to regret leaving themselves too open.