Couple of seasons ago perhaps but every time we've gone with 3 at the back this season it has been an unmitigated disaster. Sparing you the in-depth tactical analysis as you probably couldn't give a flying turd about our tactics but it boils down to our weakened CM since Dembele's departure and Wanyama's succumbing to injuries, combined with our RBs being utter ****e for an entire season. Danny Rose is near enough back to his best and would be effective in the WB role, but taking out an extra midfielder would allow you to overrun the centre and give your front 3 a buffet table of chances to feed off. It would also lead to whichever buffoon we start at RB (probably Trippier tbh, Aurier hasn't seen first team action in months now) getting caught out of position ever other minute. When we go with 4 at the back the FBs tend to be more disciplined and hold the line better, and we are able to press from the front with 3 AMs, with often one of Alli or Eriksen dropping deeper to support Winks and Goat when we're on the back foot. Which we will be a great deal against your front line.
I think the general consensus over on our board is to go with:
Hugo
Whoever Toby Jan Rose
Goat Winks/Dier
Lucas Eriksen Alli
Son
With Kane on the bench. Which means Kane will of course start and treat us all to his traditional "I've been rushed back too early" interpretation of 'man running through treacle'.