Premier League Tactical Preview: Tadic v Sissoko and other key battles

Alex Keble
20 December 2016

Pochettino's Spurs will struggle to score against Southampton's mean defence

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Alex Keble returns with his regular analysis of four key tactical battles ahead of the Christmas action in the Premier League, including why Matty Phillips might deepen Arsenal's misery...

"Arsenal's defeats to Everton and Manchester City were defined by a sluggish tempo that was the result of a decline in morale and the overly lateral passing of Francis Coquelin and Granti Xhaka. Together, these two are too flat and static - which makes it easy for stubborn teams to nullify Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, who do not receive the ball until deep into an Arsenal move."

Southampton v Spurs

Tadic v Sissoko
Wednesday, 19:45, Live on Sky Sports 1

This match has a bore draw written all over it. Southampton have kept three consecutive clean sheets at St. Mary's and conceded 12 goals in their last 17 games, while Spurs have only scored three times in their last five away matches - winning none of them. The statistical likelihood of a low scoring game is backed up by the fact that both sides play predominantly through the middle with narrow, low tempo football; this should be a stodgy game won by one burst of ingenuity.

As such, super-subs Dusan Tadic and Moussa Sissoko might make the difference. Both players have been used this season in the final half hour of matches to add width, taking up positions on the touchline and driving directly at the opposition full-backs as they begin to tire. Tadic attempts 7.9 crosses per 90 minutes (10th highest in the division) and Sissoko has recorded an assist in two of his last three substitute appearances.

Southampton matches have seen fewer goals than any other team in the Premier League this season (1.94 per game). Their excellent defence, led by Virgil van Dijk, should cancel out Tottenham's laboured attack for the most part. As the two teams slog it out in the middle of a gruelling winter schedule, it will most likely be a "plan B" player that makes the difference.

Recommended Bet
Back the draw at 9/4

Arsenal v West Brom

Coquelin/Xhaka v Phillips
Monday, 15:00

Arsenal's defeats to Everton and Manchester City were defined by a sluggish tempo that was the result of a decline in morale and the overly lateral passing of Francis Coquelin and Granti Xhaka. Together, these two are too flat and static - which makes it easy for stubborn teams to nullify Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, who do not receive the ball until deep into an Arsenal move.

This should allow West Brom to nullify Arsene Wenger's team, and as the hosts become increasingly frustrated Matty Phillips should be able to cause damage to that struggling midfield pair. Phillips makes more key passes (1.6 per match), more dribbles (1.9 per match) and has more assists (five) than any other Baggies player. Cutting in from the left, he will ghost into pockets of space either side of Coquelin and Xhaka.

The Gunners desperately need a win to end their losing sequence, but the weight of history and the threat of another collapse will affect their game. If they are at all nervous, West Brom's stubborn system - coupled with another energetic display from Phillips - will be enough to cause a major upset.

Recommended Bet
Back double chance West Brom/draw at 21/10

Swansea v West Ham

Swansea's weak midfield v Payet
Monday, 15:00

Bob Bradley has been unable to correct Swansea's most glaring flaw; unless they can repair their woefully disorganised central midfield then the Swans are destined for relegation. Bradley's side have conceded 15 goals in their last five games largely because Jack Cork, Leon Britton, and Jay Fulton are allowing their opponents to walk through the middle. This should make it an easy game for Dmitri Payet to dominate.

West Ham's preference for attacking through the centre of the pitch made Hull City and Burnley surprisingly tough opponents. Swansea will not put up as much of a fight. A huge gap has opened up between Swansea's front three and back four, with the former remaining high up the pitch for the counter and the latter dropping ever deeper as nerves take hold. The result is a huge open space in the centre that the Swansea midfielders cannot cover successfully.

Expect Payet and Manuel Lanzini to overpower their opponents, particularly given that Aaron Cresswell's return to the side will prove distracting for the trio of central midfielders (Modou Barrow and Wayne Routledge do not track back consistently enough to help Cork and co. cover the flanks).

Recommended Bet
Back West Ham to win at 9/5

Man Utd v Sunderland

Pogba v Djilobodji
Monday, 15:00

Sunderland will sit deep and absorb pressure for long periods of this match at Old Trafford, and Manchester United will find it very difficult to break through the brick wall of bodies. Their most potent weapon against deep-lying teams is Paul Pogba, whose clipped crosses into the box from central midfield are a uniquely ingenious way of creating chances for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. How well Papy Djilobodji anticipates these passes could decide the match.

Pogba likes to chip the ball into the box from the middle of the park, finding Ibrahimovic's head from a seemingly harmless position in front of the defensive and midfield lines. The Frenchman's ability to create from this angle is becoming increasingly important as opponents become more fearful of Jose Mourinho's team and thus drop deeper.

Djilobodji (9.4 clearances per match, third highest in the Premier League) has been a rock for David Moyes in 2016/17, but up against the powerful Ibrahimovic he might not be able to cope. How he defends against the Swede will depend upon his ability to read Pogba's intentions.

Recommended Bet
Back under 2.5 goals at 13/10

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