Tottenham return to Premier League action on Saturday evening when they make the trip across the capital to take on Brentford. Seeing their fine run of form come to an end in their previous game after falling to a 1-0 defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, Antonio Conte's side need to respond in the right manner as they look to achieve their goal of a Champions League finish.
The Premier League table could look slightly different, however, before the game in west London as Arsenal and Manchester United are in action twice before then. With the Red Devils facing Liverpool on Tuesday night and Arsenal travelling to Chelsea 24 hours later, the teams then meet at the Emirates on Saturday in the early kick-off.
So what exactly will be on Conte's to-do list before Spurs face Brentford? football.london takes a look.
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Restore confidence
Tottenham have been playing some eye-catching football in recent weeks, but there was unfortunately none of that in Saturday's defeat against Brighton as they failed to muster a single shot on target. Credit has to go to Brighton for the way they frustrated Conte's side throughout by remaining strong at the back, although it also needs to be said that Spurs just didn't have that bit extra about them to create something out of nothing and find a way past them.
Spurs' confidence may have taken a knock as a result and now they need to get back to the football they were playing beforehand that saw them climb up the league table. Conte and his coaching staff will be working on their attacking play this week and all will have their fingers crossed everything clicks into place against Brentford.
Make left wing-back decision
On a day when Tottenham's front three were extremely quiet and did very little to trouble Brighton, the same can also be said about the wing-backs. The wing-backs have been a key component in Conte's Spurs side since he took on the job but there was very little attacking play from them.
Emerson Royal did not put a single cross into the box nor did he make a single attempt to dribble the ball forward, while Sergio Reguilon also did not attempt a single dribble forward and his one attempted cross did not find its intended target. As Emerson is likely to remain at right wing-back in Matt Doherty's absence unless the head coach makes a bold decision, it's only really on the opposite flank where there could be a change.
Reguilon's struggles last time out may indeed open up the door for Ryan Sessegnon to return to the pitch for the first time since picking up a hamstring injury against Everton. A regular in the side prior to hobbling off in the big win, the ex-Fulham man is more suited to the role than his teammate and certainly deserves a chance after the Spaniard offered very little last Saturday.
Eriksen discussion
Saturday's game in west London will not be straightforward at all going on Brentford's recent upturn in form. Looking like they could get sucked into the relegation battle only a few weeks ago, the Bees are now one point off the top half following five wins from their last six games.
Brentford have beaten Chelsea 4-1 and West Ham 2-0 so far this month, with Christian Eriksen playing a pivotal run in their top form. It will be the first time Spurs have come up against the Dane since his Tottenham exit and he is sure to get a huge reception from the travelling faithful.
With one goal and two assists in his last four games for Thomas Frank's men, Spurs are going will need to have a discussion and come up with a plan to nullify the 30-year-old. Conte will know his game inside out having worked with him at Inter Milan, while Tottenham still have a number of players who played alongside him in N17.
Push for Skipp return
Saturday will mark three months since the last time Oliver Skipp was on the pitch for Tottenham. Introduced in the 56th minute in the 2-0 defeat away at Chelsea, the England U21 international has been in the treatment room with a pelvic problem ever since.
Conte is desperate for his player to return and has made it clear numerous times in his pre-match press conferences. Having returned to outdoor training at the start of the month as he trained individually, Skipp was back indoors two days later after suffering a slight setback.
The boss has always pushed his medical staff for the return of the player and he will be once again be doing likewise as he looks to have him in his squad before the end of the season with some huge games coming up. Conte will issue another update on the youngster when he speaks to the media on Thursday to preview the Brentford game.
