How will Tottenham line-up against Everton this weekend?

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Keeper: Hugo Lloris (C)

Why: Really goes without explanation, doesn’t it? Lloris, the squad’s Captain, is the best sweeper-keeper in the Premier League and perhaps one of the finest all-around keepers in Europe. While his goals against took an unintended upswing during Match-week 38 after a 5-1 thumping away to Newcastle, Lloris conceded just 34 goals in 37 matches in 15/16, while keeping 13 clean sheets (good for fifth in the Premier League). He saved 71% of the 119 shots on frame he faced, slightly up from a 14/15 season in which he saved 69% of the shots on his goal (48 goals conceded / 153 SOG). A stingier backline in 15/16 certainly led to the decrease in shots put on-frame. The French national captain led his squad to the finals of Euro 2016, only conceding five goals in the tournament – including the gut-wrenching match winner in the final versus Portugal (Eder 109’).

Left-back: Danny Rose

Danny Rose > Ben Davies. Period. What Ben Davies excels at most is pushing Danny Rose to give 110% when he’s out on the pitch. Rose has been with Spurs since 2007, but only in the past several years has he become a mainstay First Team player. After winning the 2010 Goal of the Season for what was described as a “thunderous volley” in his Premier League debut against Arsenal, former boss Harry Redknapp started Rose on 7 May 2011 at left back to offer cover for the injured Benoît Assou-Ekotto. The former winger has adjusted to what Redknapp called his “permanent position” at left-back. It was 13/14 before Rose would earn first-team minutes on a consistent, regular basis (after early injuries and a long run of loan spells), and many considered Davies’ arrival as Rose’s replacement. Except for one thing: Rose kept getting better and better. In 15/16, he crossed the ball in nearly 100 times, with more effective service than Kyle Walker. Davies is a viable understudy to Rose, but he has not eclipsed his skill set. What Rose and Walker bring to this Spurs XI is effectively adding two more players to the attack. Rose and Walker both have the pace and ability to create chances, AND to recover quickly on the counter. Rose is especially adept at interfering with the run of play with dynamic tackling and with the “professional fouls” that are sometimes necessary.

Center-back: Toby Alderweireld

The addition of Toby Alderweireld to Spurs back four in 15/16 was one of the keys, if not the key, to a top three finish for the Lilywhites. With 3419 minutes played (good for second in the Premier League among defenders and good for fourth among all players), Alderweireld brought the stability to the backline that had been expected from Federico Fazio (and we know how that went). The Belgian international has terrific chemistry with his countryman, Jan Vertonghen, as the pair play side-by-side for their national team; he has similar chemistry with countryman Mousa Dembélé. He netted four goals for Spurs in his first season, with all four coming against top opponents (Man City, West Ham, Man United and Arsenal). Perhaps the greatest asset that Alderweireld brought to Spurs upon his transfer from Ajax was the almost telepathic relationship between he and Vertonghen. We will see if he can develop a similar telepathy with Carter-Vickers, as he looks to be partnered with Alderweireld until Vertonghen returns to full fitness.

Center-back: Cameron Carter-Vickers

Perhaps not the obvious (nor popular) choice to fill Vertonghen’s shoes in his absence, but indeed the best choice among the options for Mauricio Pochettino. The 18-year-old American international has impressed at all levels of late, including his performance at the International Champions Cup. One of the most exciting prospects on the horizon in the Premier League (yes… not just for Spurs), Cater-Vickers brings energy and pace onto the pitch with him. He is young and needs to mature, but that fits well with Poch’s youth movement, and defensively, he’s just a better choice (and a better fit) than Wimmer. That’s not to say Wimmer is a bust, but rather to say that my confidence in Carter-Vickers’ ability to fill Vertonghen’s shoes outweighs the experience of Wimmer.

Right-back: Kyle Walker

Why: Also an easy first choice. Walker, who along with Dier and Rose, was one of England’s few shining stars in Euro 2016, was the most productive, effective right-back in the Premier League in 15/16. Some may argue that Hector Bellerin (Arsenal) or Danny Simpson (Leicester) would come out ahead, but for my money, it’s clearly Walker. On top of his hard-nosed, stingy play on Spurs back line, the 11/12 PFA Young Player of the Year winner brings pace, creativity and a deft touch in the attack. He is lethal in the attacking half of the pitch, making quality runs both on and off the ball. Pochettino’s style of training has accelerated Walker’s growth into one of the most valuable, fit and sturdy players on the pitch. With 96 passes intercepted and 116 tackles, Walker needs only to improve the quality of his crosses to be spoken about in the same conversation as a Dani Alves.