The spotlight at Wembley will fall on stellar buy Alexis Sanchez, but the tactical decisions of the Tottenham and Manchester United managers will have even more influence on proceedings.
How will Jose Mourinho utilise the livewire Chile forward in the Premier League? What formation will the flexible Mauricio Pochettino select?
These are just some of the selection issues examined ahead of Wednesday’s mega match.
SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE FOR SPURS
Precious little has worked for Tottenham against the Premier League’s top six this season.
A paltry three points have been mined from games versus Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Man United, at an aggregate score of 10-6 against. Pochettino has mixed up his tactics; playing four-man defences versus City and Chelsea, then variations of 3-5-2 against United, Arsenal and – for their only win – Liverpool.
What was noticeable about the brilliant Liverpool victory was the positive mindset applied. This was in stark contrast to the miserly match at Old Trafford, for example.
To avoid history repeating, they should go for the jugular – whatever the shape.
Anthony Martial celebrating October’s winner against Spurs.
SANCHEZ PROVIDES A WELCOME PROBLEM
After the excitement of signing Sanchez, now comes the difficult part – working out how best to utilise him.
In recent seasons, he’s wrought devastation coming in off the left flank for Arsenal. But Anthony Martial has nine goals and four assists in the 2017/18 Premier League doing just that.
If played behind centre forward Romelu Lukaku, it could kill Jesse Lingard’s hot streak. Sanchez hasn’t regularly played as an orthodox right winger since his days at Udinese and Barcelona, though Juan Mata is the player who most deserves to be benched.
A 4-3-3 could keep Lingard central, while allowing easy rotation between Sanchez and Martial.
Alexis Sanchez on debut at Yeovil Town.
THE SISSOKO OR LAMELA DILEMMA
Spurs had a miserable last outing in the Premier League, drawing 1-1 at struggling Southampton.
Audible groans were sparked by the decision to go for France utility – or futility – man Moussa Sissoko at right wing, rather than returning Argentina forward Erik Lamela.
It is hard to ascertain Sissoko’s value to the team. He has just one goal and one assist in 1,104 2017/18 Premier League minutes, with his average tackles (0.9) and interceptions per match (0.4) being less than attackers Christian Eriksen (1.3 and 0.7) and Dele Alli (1 and 0.7).
Lamela has been out for more than a year, yet has two assists in 273 minutes.
Moussa Sissoko has an unsuccessful shot against Newport County.
MOURINHO HAS TO BE SHAW
‘The Special One’ has a conundrum to solve at left-back.
Ashley Young offers experience, while Luke Shaw’s increasing application makes him an option of rare talent. Young provides reliable delivery, although Shaw’s lightning pace on the overlap is a true asset.
On past precedent, Mourinho is likely to go with Young – a game changer against Spurs from 2011/12.
Yet with right-backs Serge Aurier and Kieran Trippier so essential to the host’s attacking options, a strategic call could see Shaw picked.
Fear of his speed on the overlap would peg them back, denying striker Harry Kane a profitable supply of crosses.
Luke Shaw started at Yeovil Town.
