Tottenham line-ups vs Sunderland decided as Roberto De Zerbi picks first starting XI

football.london reporters have picked their Tottenham starting XI for Sunday's Premier League trip to Sunderland

Tottenham are ready to wipe the slate clean under new boss Roberto De Zerbi when they travel to Sunderland in the Premier League this weekend.

Spurs have just seven games to preserve their top-flight status and the clock is now ticking for the Europa League winners in their quest to beat the drop.

De Zerbi has already lost forward Mohammed Kudus to a fresh injury setback while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario won't be ready to face the Black Cats following recent hernia surgery.

football.london reporters Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor have had their go at selecting the Tottenham XI De Zerbi should pick against Sunderland.

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Alasdair Gold - Chief Tottenham Reporter

Antonin Kinsky will be the goalkeeper with Guglielmo Vicario still recovering from his hernia operation and the Czech stopper will be looking to put that night in Madrid far in his rear view mirror.

De Zerbi has spoken about Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie in glowing terms and looking to recreate their impact in Ange Postecoglou's season so that looks to be his first choice back four.

He also named Dominic Solanke as another crucial senior player with the first three of those defenders, while also praising various attackers and the midfield youngsters Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Xavi Simons. De Zerbi admitted that he had tried to sign Mathys Tel while at Marseille so he is someone he will look to further up the pitch.

The key is finding balance and whether he can fit them all in as well as a fighter like the versatile Richarlison and the same goes for the midfield with plenty of options in there, including Yves Bissouma back in training and a player in Conor Gallagher who he also wanted to sign in the past..

The Italian will likely go to his favoured 4-2-3-1 and it's going to be key to get the right blend and balance of players for it.

Gold's team: Kinsky; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Gray, Palhinha; Kolo Muani, Xavi, Tel; Solanke.

Ryan Taylor

Antonin Kinsky obviously starts between the sticks but it's hard to envisage what system De Zerbi will go with given he usually pivots between two different formations: 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-2-1, which he utilised at Marseille.

I'm going to go for the latter as it's important Spurs sure things up defensively. Micky van de Ven, Cuti Romero and Kevin Danso make up the back-three with Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro operating as wing-backs.

Archie Gray (No.6) and Lucas Bergvall (No.8) play in midfield with Mathys Tel and Richarlison feeding off Dominic Solanke in attack.

It feels a tad unbalanced but ultimately, some players just do not suit this system and the lack of a right-sided attacking player is an issue De Zerbi must navigate.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Xavi Simons start either, in my opinion, it would work better with both him and Tel behind Solanke as both are slightly more mobile than Richarlison, who is a natural striker.

Taylor's Tottenham XI to face Sunderland: Kinsky; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Bergvall, Udogie; Tel, Richarlison; Solanke.