Tottenham face Aston Villa on Sunday in what could be a very difficult game for the north London club.
Aston Villa have been flying as of late, and they look like one of the most dangerous attacking forces in the league right now.
Meanwhile, Spurs have hit a stumbling block in their season, and many of their key players are out injured or suspended.
Tottenham are currently missing their two first-choice centre-backs, and, therefore, Eric Dier is likely to start at the back for Spurs on Sunday.
Dier hasn’t necessarily been at his best over the past 12 months, and speaking on Premier League Productions, Zesh Rehman has theorised that the £4m man will be targeted by Aston Villa tomorrow due to his lack of pace.
Dier will be targeted
Rehman spoke about the Tottenham defender.
“Yeah, we were talking about Dier who can play at the back or in midfield which is an asset, but if you’re the opposition manager you’re looking at who you’re going to press and who can you target, who’s the slower one and who’s the smaller one, where’s the space going to be? I wouldn’t be surprised if they targeted that side of the pitch where Dier was playing. Ollie Watkins plays on the shoulder and Eric Dier is not renowned for being the quickest, so the opposition will do their homework and Ange will have a plan for that as well,” Rehman said.
Watkins could run riot
Rehman isn’t wrong, Dier isn’t the fastest and that will lead to a big opportunity for Ollie Watkins and Aston Villa.
Watkins is often at his best when he’s able to run in behind, and Spurs combination of a high line and a slow centre-back will certainly have the striker licking his lips.
Tottenham have lost their last two games, and we wouldn’t be shocked at all if they make it three defeats on the bounce on Sunday if Dier is targeted in the way Rehman thinks he will be.