please log in to view this image Tuesday 18th October 7.45pm Champions League Group Stage BayArena Another game against West Brom, another frustrating draw and we're back to the Champions League. Our first game in the competition this season saw us lose 2-1 to Monaco at Wembley. It was our first loss of the campaign and the only one so far, but it already left us playing catch up. The win in Moscow corrected it somewhat, but we really need a result in this game, too. Our hosts have had a mixed start to their season and lie 10th in the Bundesliga. 3 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw, scoring 11 and conceding 9 is something of an underwhelming start for them. Their defeats were to sides that they'd expect to get results against, too. One of their victories was against Dortmund though, so it seems they're a little unpredictable. Their two Champions League games were both draws and they took the lead in each game. Seemingly coasting in their opener against Moscow, they cruised to 2-0 within 15 minutes. CSKA looked to be on the ropes and struggling badly, but they hit back to shock the Germans. Dzagoev pulled one back with ten minutes to go in the first half and they were level by the break. Eremenko got the equaliser and an easy victory turned into a real battle, but nobody could nick it. Their second game took them to Monaco, where they largely outplayed their hosts in a close game. Javier Hernandez put them into the lead with around 15 minutes left, but they couldn't hold onto it. Kamil Glik, a centre-half, grabbed an equaliser in the 94th minute with virtually the last kick of the game. We have a slightly strange record against Leverkusen, as we've only played them in one competitive game. The unusual format of the 06/07 UEFA Cup is behind that, as it featured groups of five teams. Each team played the rest once with no return leg. Very odd. Our game was at the BayArena and Berbatov scored the only goal, as we topped the group with a 100% record. Who are their danger men? The obvious one is Hernandez, who's had a great record since joining from Utd. He got 26 goals in all competitions last season and already has 7 in this one. Veteran and club legend Kiessling is a contrast to breakthrough Finn, Joel Pohjanpalo as their other options. The former's played ten seasons for them, scoring 158 goals along the way. The latter has only played 30 minutes of football from the bench, but already has four goals, including this hat-trick: He broke his toe just after this though, so he'll miss our games. They're a talented side and will be a real test for us. It'll be a very different game to the one against West Brom too, as their style of play is closer to ours. Son will be looking to impress on his return to his old club. We have no suspensions for this game, but Kane is still injured and Alderweireld will definitely miss it. Dembele was only fit enough for the bench against West Brom and Rose missed out entirely. No news on the likelyhood of either starting this one, unfortunately. Leverkusen have no suspensions either, but they also have a few injuries. Yurchenko, Bellarabi and Pohjanpalo all miss out, while Bender is a doubt. Lineups for each team's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertoghen, Davies; Wanyama; Sissoko, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela; Janssen. Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Dier, Dembele, Onomah, N'Koudou, Son. League form: DWWWWD. Leverkusen: Leno; Heinrichs, Tah, Toprak, Wendell; Brandt, Aranguiz, Kampl, Canhhanoglu; Volland, Hernandez. Subs: Ozcan, Dragovic, da Costa, Baumlartlinger, Havertz, Mehmedi, Keissling. League form: WLDWWL. Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (TUR). Experienced ref who's already had a Champions League final. History of sending off English-based players, though. Our performance against West Brom wasn't up to scratch and I expect changes, but who's out? Who replaces Alderweireld and do we need to adjust anything else in his absence? Should we start Son up front or did Janssen do enough to keep his place? Maybe play both?
It makes sense, though - Wimmer is Verts' understudy, Dier is Toby's (until CCV is ready to step up for more regular football) The issue is that, with Toby injured, Verts is now pretty much undroppable - and that's what Wimmer should be annoyed about.
I wouldn't be surprised if this was the team: Lloris Walker vertonghen Dier Rose Wanyama Dembele Alli Eriksen sissoko Son Vorm, Davies, trippier, wimmer, NKD, lamela and Jansen as subs Shows good strength in depth despite losing Kane and Alderweireld
Don't really know much about how Leverkusen play so it's tough to predict who I think will work well against them. I'll go with what I think is just the best, fit team right now though. Hugo Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose Wanyama, Dembele Son, Eriksen, Alli Janssen Vorm, Tripps, Davies, Kev, Lamela, Sissoko, GKN Lamela and Sissoko were dog awful against WBA and both looked laboured so I'd definitely bench them. Walker amazingly still bombed it back and forth on Saturday and his athleticism makes me believe he'll be OK for tonight but I'd bring Tripps in against Bournemouth. Bring Rose back if he's OK, I presume he was left out against WBA for rest reasons? Son will surely want to do well against his former side and it'd be great if Janssen could make an impact on the scoreline, he's pretty much done everything else since joining, feel quite sorry for him as his performances have merited goals. COYS! EDIT: Apparently Walker's not travelled and is being rested, so Tripps to start.
Read somewhere that Walker was being rested , otherwise same team as everyone else has posted. Still mystified why Wimmer is so out of favour not even on the bench? Can anyone shed some light on it.
Walker hasn't even traveled, apparently. Wimmer was injured on the preseason tour, Carter-Vickers stepped up in his absent and now he has to earn his place back. Both will probably play against Liverpool.
Squawka excitedly announced that, because Marcus Edwards isn't in the squad for our UEFA Youth Cup match tonight, that means he'll be in the squad tonight Reputible sources them brought up that Edwards is injured, hence he'll be missing that match Got to laugh at sites so desperate to get some form of scoop that they regularly expose how much of their content is literally putting two and two together and getting Belarus...
We're ahead 1-0 at half time in this game. It's being shown live on BT Sport 1 for those who are interested.