3 biggest keys to victory for Tottenham vs. Wolves | OneFootball

Tottenham will travel to the Molineux on Sunday to take on Wolves in the Premier League after drawing Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 on Thursday night in the Europa League. Nothing less than the full three points will be expected from Spurs, as manager Ange Postecoglou finds himself under increasing pressure after repeatedly subpar displays in the league.

Here are the biggest keys to victory from Tottenham in order to get the win they need on the road at Wolves.

Young talent must step up

Tottenham have a handful of young talents in their squad who have the potential to develop into some of the best players in the Premier League, but they are already important pieces in the first team who need to be playing at or near a starting-caliber level in order for Spurs to reach their goals.

Midfielder Archie Gray and forwards Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel come to mind as three players with legitimate world-class potential who are key rotational pieces for Tottenham and may be important to a victory at the Molineux.

Tel is in a precarious position as a loan acquisition from Bayern Munich with little future in Bavaria but such an onerous price tag at 60 million euros that his future at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is just as cloudy. Perhaps, as with the less promising Timo Werner, Tottenham can renegotiate a new loan agreement with Bayern for Tel, but Tel has to start showing more end product for that to happen.

This game against Wolves could very well come down to which team's key players are able to execute their chances, and Tottenham are going to need the young standouts to actually stand out on Sunday afternoon. The microscope will be on Tel and Odobert whether as starters or impact subs off the bench, because Spurs need to see some real game-changing passes and shots to justify their valuations.

Trust Djed Spence

Destiny Udogie drew the start on the left flank in the Europa League against Eintracht Frankfurt, and while he was active at getting up and supporting the attack, his end product was left significantly wanting in the end.

Therefore, I'd expect Djed Spence to get back into the starting XI for Ange Postecoglou against Wolves, and he has a ripe matchup against Wolves veteran right wing back Nelson Semedo, who isn't always the most aware player defensively.

Spence is an underrated fullback who is a good athlete and exhibits solid all-around play at the position. Tottenham need to trust what he can do offensively and defensively and allow him the freedom to choose how he wants to balance the two and when he wants to get into the box. Wolves are going to be very defensive this weekend, and Spence's delayed runs forward could be the leverage point to tip the numbers balance in favor of Tottenham in certain attacking situations.

Think fast

Tottenham have one of the most inconsistent midfields in the Premier League, because, on paper, they should be an above-average bunch but are often the culprit in some humbling defeats. Wolves have Andre and Joao Gomes as a tough, athletic, and defensive duo in the middle of the park and with a back three behind them, they are going to hunker down and make life difficult for Spurs in the passing game.

So what Tottenham need to do is avoid getting into a battle of attrition in midfield. They can't get sucked into a plodding slugfest that plays into Wolves hands, because Wolves are going to be happy to watch them aimlessly pass the ball sideways before eventually committing all men forward, making one lazy pass, and then getting hit on the break by Jorgen Strand Larsen up top.

Tottenham must play fast. Carry the ball out quickly in wide positions, use Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma to make initial progressions and then get rid of the ball as soon as possible to the forwards and James Maddison. Utilize Maddison as the main attacking impetus but force the issue for the wide forwards, even if it's Tel and Odobert, and put the focus on the main attacking players to playmake rather than getting trapped in a high-risk, low-reward game of threatless passing in the middle of the park.