In a surprising turn of events on Monday night, Tottenham Hotspur faced a dramatic unraveling that left even the most pessimistic fans stunned. The match against arch-rivals Chelsea, which started on a high note with Spurs leading 1-0, took an unexpected twist, leading to a 4-1 defeat and marking the end of their unbeaten start to the season.
As Heung-Min Son’s apparent goal to make it 2-0 was disallowed by the assistant referee, Tottenham’s fortunes took a downturn. By halftime, defender Cristian Romero received a straight red card, his center-back partner Micky van de Ven suffered a potential long-term injury, and talisman James Maddison was withdrawn with an ankle knock. To add to their woes, Destiny Udogie received a second yellow card, leaving Spurs with only nine men on the field.
Chelsea capitalized on the numerical advantage, scoring three late goals and securing a convincing victory. The impact on Ange Postecoglou’s squad is evident, raising questions about Tottenham’s ability to maintain a title run, especially considering the loss of key players in defense and attack.
The injury list continued to grow as striker Richarlison announced he would undergo pelvis surgery. With several defensive players sidelined and Richarlison’s absence, the question arises: who does Postecoglou have left to face Wolves?
In goal, Guglielmo Vicario remains standing, while the defensive options are limited, with Pedro Porro being the only available right-back. Eric Dier, initially not in Postecoglou’s plans, may find himself starting alongside inexperienced youth players, Ashley Phillips and Alfie Dorrington.
The timely return of Rodrigo Bentancur provides some relief in midfield, and he is expected to partner with Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma. Despite the possible loss of Maddison, options like Oliver Skipp, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Giovani Lo Celso offer depth.
Upfront, Postecoglou can maintain an unchanged front three with Son, Dejan Kulusevski, and Brennan Johnson. However, concerns linger about Son’s ability to maintain his excellent form amid the team’s challenges.