We already know Tottenham’s likely starting XI for opener against Brentford

Tottenham’s Starting XI for Brentford Clash Could Look Unrecognizable from Last Season

The Premier League returns this weekend, with Arsenal kicking off the action against newly promoted Coventry. But all eyes will turn to west London on Saturday evening, where Tottenham Hotspur close out the day’s fixtures with a trip to the Gtech Stadium to face Brentford.

For Roberto De Zerbi, it marks the beginning of his first full season in charge of Spurs—and he’ll be desperate to start with a win. But the team he names may bear little resemblance to the one that finished the previous campaign.

Pre-Season Form Points to Major Shifts in De Zerbi’s Lineup

Tottenham fans will be watching closely to see how the starting XI shapes up, and there’s plenty of reason to expect change. This summer has seen a significant squad overhaul, with ten players departing and six new faces arriving in north London.

Add to that the influence of pre-season fitness and form, and De Zerbi has plenty of food for thought. Based on the summer friendlies, we’ve mapped out the lineup we believe he’ll go with on Saturday evening.

A Fresh Backline—With a New Captain?

Between the sticks, Antonin Kinsky looks set to be the number one. The Czech youngster has been given a new contract this summer and is now firmly ahead of Guglielmo Vicario, who appears to be edging toward the exit door.

In defence, Tottenham are likely to stick with a back four—but for the first time in over two years, we could see a completely new set of names across the line.

Regulars like Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven aren’t expected to feature, and with Cristian Romero now sold to Atlético Madrid, the spine of the defence looks entirely different. Djed Spence has also moved on, joining Inter Milan, while Destiny Udogie remains a major doubt after sitting out all of pre-season.

That opens the door for a back four of Archie Gray (captain), Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, and Ethan Robertson—all of whom saw heavy minutes during the summer and look primed to start.

Midfield Shuffle and a New Creative Hub

The engine room could also have a fresh look. New signing Sandro Tonali is expected to anchor the midfield after an impressive pre-season that included a goal against Chelsea. Alongside him, Mateus Fernandes—Tottenham’s second most expensive signing ever—should take up a box-to-box role, despite a stop-start summer disrupted by injury. If he isn’t deemed ready, Lucas Bergvall is waiting in the wings.

Further forward, Conor Gallagher is poised to start as the number ten. The Englishman featured heavily in pre-season and was consistently deployed in that advanced role. James Maddison, by contrast, logged only a single appearance over the summer and looks unlikely to be thrown in from the start.

Attack Takes Shape—But Transfers Could Yet Intervene

Up front, De Zerbi may stick with the trio that started against Hoffenheim in Tottenham’s final friendly: Mikey Moore, Richarlison, and Mathys Tel. That front three impressed that day, with Moore netting twice, Richarlison adding another, and Tel providing two assists.

Injuries have thinned the attacking ranks—Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, and Dejan Kulusevski are all sidelined—so options are limited. However, the picture could change before kickoff if Spurs finalize moves for reported targets like Cody Gakpo or Savinho, with speculation rife that another forward could still arrive.

Predicted Tottenham XI vs Brentford
Kinsky; Gray (C), Van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson; Fernandes, Tonali, Gallagher; Moore, Richarlison, Tel.