Tottenham vs. Monaco: Spurs Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info

Tottenham's Europa League group stage campaign ends with Thursday's meeting with Monaco. 

Having already secured progress, Spurs are playing only for top spot while the visitors must better Anderlecht's result to join them in the next round. 

Mauricio Pochettino has preferred a strong side to rotation in Europe so far, but he may opt to switch his team around on this occasion. 

Monaco are no soft touch. Unbeaten since their last Europa League fixture, a 2-0 reverse against Anderlecht, the visitors took a well-earned point from their previous meeting with Spurs. 

Set up to counter-attack, Monaco may be more comfortable as the visiting team, but their need of a victory will compel them to attack more than they'd like. 

Spurs Team News

Tottenham welcome back two of last season's most used players, Nabil Bentaleb and Nacer Chadli, for this fixture. Both have endured frustrating campaigns so far, limited to just four and 11 appearances respectively. 

In less positive news, Mousa Dembele is out and Ryan Mason also remains on the proverbial treatment table.

Harry Kane seems likely to be rested for this fixture. When questioned, Pochettino answered, per BBC Sport, "Is it a chance to rest him? Maybe yes." Given the Argentinian's renowned reluctance to give too much away, this is tantamount to confirmation. 

Clinton Njie is the obvious replacement at centre-forward. However the return of Chadli and the availability of Heung-Min Son give Pochettino options. 

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

Form Lines

Tottenham

West Brom 1-1 Tottenham

Tottenham 0-0 Chelsea

Qarabag 0-1 Tottenham

Tottenham 4-1 West Ham

Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham

Monaco

Bastia 1-2 Monaco

Monaco 1-1 Caen

Marseille 3-3 Monaco

Monaco 0-2 Anderlecht

Monaco 1-0 Nantes

Predicted Lineups

Monaco are tactically flexible and have battled significant injury problems this season, but they are likely to line up in some variation of the 4-3-3. 

Goalkeeper: Daniel Subasic—He's been the ever-present for the Monegasques this season and is a certainty to start at White Hart Lane. 

Defence: Almamy Toure, Wallace, Ricardo Carvalho, Uwa Echiejile—The Portuguese-speaking core gives Monaco's back line stability, while the exciting Toure provides a real attacking threat on the right flank. 

Midfield: Joao Moutinho, Fabinho, Tiemoue Bakayoko—This was the same approach taken in the recent 3-3 draw with Olympique Marseille

Attack: Stephan El Shaarawy, Guido Carrillo, Bernardo Silva—Pace, pace and more pace will make this attacking trio tough for Spurs to handle. 

The hosts are seeking to balance the demands of domestic football with their aspiration of finishing top of Group J and avoiding the Champions League drop-outs in the next round.

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris—When the Frenchman is fit, he plays. 

Defence: Kieran Trippier, Jan Vertonghen, Kevin Wimmer, Ben Davies—Pochettino has consistently rotated his full-backs in this competition but Wimmer should get his chance here as well. 

Midfield: Nabil Bentaleb, Eric Dier—The return of Bentaleb should reduce the impact of Dembele's absence, while Dier is likely to play despite looking a little fatigued against West Brom.  

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

Attack: Heung-Min Son, Erik Lamela, Nacer Chadli, Clinton Njie—An exciting attacking quartet all capable of filling in as the striker, this lineup will give Pochettino a chance to experiment. 

Live Stream, TV Info

UK: 8:05pm, BT Sport Europe

USA: 10:05pm (East coast), ESPN Deportes TV 

Player to Watch

Nabil Bentaleb was among Spurs' finest performers last season but, after an injury-ravaged beginning to this campaign, he is now on the outside looking in. Dembele, Dier and Dele Alli have all snatched their chance in his absence. Bentaleb must prove his form and fitness in this fixture or risk spending even more time on the sidelines. 

Monaco's man of the match in the reverse fixture was Bernardo Silva and his ability to fashion chances for a team that is very much in transition will be key. If Silva can perform at his best at White Hart Lane, Monaco will be in with a chance of reaching the next round. 

Key Battle

Tottenham dominate the ball in most matches, especially at home. Monaco are a pacey, young team that will set out to play on the break. 

The key to the result here will be Spurs' ability to resist the Monegasques' counters. Full-backs Trippier and Davies both struggled in their last appearance against Qarabag, and they must lift their games if Spurs are to prevail. 

Odds

According to Oddschecker, Spurs are even money to win this fixture, so that provides little value. The visitors are as long as 3-1 but seem unlikely to pull off such a shock result. 

Njie and Son are both 6-1 to be first goalscorers in this match. Those are long odds for a reasonably likely outcome. Backing Njie to break his duck seems like a handy money-spinner.