Jose Mourinho has sprung a huge surprise by handing 20-year-old defender Japhet Tanganga a senior league debut, as Tottenham host the runaway league leaders Liverpool.
Tanganga has only one previous senior professional match under his belt, featuring in the ill-fated Carabao Cup tie at Colchester United back in September.
Japhet Tanganga makes his Premier League debut against the league leaders
He was substituted that night for Son Heung-min, as Spurs chased a winner that ultimately never came.
The Lilywhites were embarrassingly knocked out of the cup on penalties, but Tanganga was certainly not to blame and acquitted himself well.
Tanganga has been regularly training with the first team squad this season.
And the six foot defender has been an unused substitute in recent matches against Brighton, Norwich, Southampton and Middlesbrough.
The decision by Jose Mourinho is certainly a left field one, however, with senior defender Jan Vertonghen left on the substitutes’ bench in favour of the Spurs academy graduate.
Eric Dier is another that Mourinho could have called on, but he too is consigned to the bench.
Given his involvement with the first team, Tanganga has scarcely even been playing Under-23s matches, having only played twice in the PL2 for Spurs this season.
That means that for all of the valuable experience gained by training with Spurs’ senior pros, the youngster has only played in three matches this season.
The 20-year-old will wear the number 39 shirtCredit: Getty – Contributor
Tanganga has been a regular in the England youth teams, and has gained seven caps for the Under-20s.
He will be joined in a back three against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds by Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld.
And the defensive trio will have the most deadly attacking trio in the league to contend with, as Liverpool field their regular front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
Jose Mourinho hints he needs some players in January but insists he can work with the squad he has available
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
