Following Wednesday evening's embarrassing FA Cup fifth round exit against Sheffield United, Antonio Conte's Tottenham side have the opportunity to immediately put things right when they head to Wolves. It is very much now a must-win game for the Lilywhites as they look to try and at least end the week on a positive note.
That won't be enough to make up for their FA Cup humiliation at Bramall Lane, though, as they completely blew such a good opportunity to reach Wembley in their quest to finally end their trophy hoodoo. A top-four finish is quite simply a must and Tottenham also need to advance beyond AC Milan in next Wednesday's Champions League Round of 16, second leg tie to ensure that their season isn't in danger of completely collapsing.
Conte and Cristian Stellini will make changes to the Tottenham team to take on Wolves as those who came in for the cup game just didn't take their opportunity. Cristian Romero will be one of those to be reintroduced to the backline and he is likely to be joined in there by Clement Lenglet once again.
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That in turn would see Ben Davies take on the left wing-back role for the third successive Premier League game as Ivan Perisic had no influence on proceedings on his return to the team. Unfortunately, Conte won't be able to play his recent back three of Romero, Eric Dier and Lenglet when it comes to next week's European showdown against AC Milan.
That is because Dier will miss the game through suspension after picking up his third yellow card in the competition during last month's 1-0 defeat at the San Siro. Already without key players such as Hugo Lloris and Rodrigo Bentancur, it's really the last thing Conte needs at present as he aims to find a way past the Rossoneri and wrap up a place in the final eight of Europe's premier competition.
The FA Cup clash at Sheffield United was a golden opportunity for Davinson Sanchez to stake his claim for a starting spot against the Italian giants but he, like the vast majority of those on the pitch, was way off the top of his game. The Colombian has impressed on occasions this season when he's had a run in the team but Conte's lack of rotation has worked against him at times when he has been called upon.
It can't be easy for a player to come in from the cold and expect to perform at 100 per cent but Sanchez has just not helped himself at times. Although he did play a good pass into Richarlison for an opportunity in the first half, what Sanchez will be remembered for at Bramall Lane was a rather slapstick moment as his legs just seemed to give way after Pape Matar Sarr had passed the ball to him and it teed the hosts up to break in the process.
Always tending to have an error in his game each match, some of Sanchez's blunders have turned out to be slightly comical and unfortunately that's what he gets remembered for rather than if he has performed well at the back. His slip at Sheffield United falls into that category and it just summed up his night.
Needing to decide on his central man in the back three for the AC Milan game, Sanchez hasn't really done himself any favours at all ahead of next week's crucial tie. Romero could be one option to play in the middle of the back three but that looks unlikely, thus meaning Lenglet may have to shift across from his recent role on the left and play in the middle.
The Frenchman has taken up the position a few times this campaign and has done well when operating there. If that turns out to be the case, then Davies will move to the left of the back three and Perisic will get the green light to start at left wing-back.
Whoever Conte selects in his back three and the rest of the team against AC Milan, he needs a big performance from all as Tottenham look to avoid another early cup exit.
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