Wolverhampton Wanders have lost the joint-second fewest matches in the Premier League this season, having picked up zero points on just two occasions. They play Tottenham Hotspurs on Sunday, and Jose Mourinho will have spent the last couple of days analysing how to leapfrog the side one place and a single point above them in the league. The best way to go about doing so would be to take advantage of Wolves rampaging right-back Adama Traore by starting the inform Son Heung-Min as wide as possible on the left, ready to pounce into the space Traore leaves behind.
In Son’s last five starts this season, all since Jose Mourinho took charge, the South Korean has two goals and five assists. Only Kevin De Bryne has registered more assists in the Premier League this campaign. Son will play an essential role if Tottenham are to return home with all three points. So far this season Son has featured just once as a left forward, instead his managers have tended to deploy him in a deeper role to make the most of his explosive speed in behind. Though at the weekend it is almost certain Wolves will use a back five with the wing-backs pushed up high. Therefore it makes sense for Son to utilise that space in behind without having to worry about being caught offside.
Furthermore, Son’s presence right up against the touchline would spread the three central defenders Nuno Espirito Santo selects. Further width form Lucas Moura on the right channel would give more space for Harry Kane and Dele Alli to operate in the centre where Wolves may have previously had an extra man.
With Traore’s weak positional discipline giving Son an abundance of space, he could then cut in on his favoured right foot. In turn Son’s movement inside wrong-footing Leander Dendoncker, who has been preferred on the right of a back three, allowing the South Korean to strike efforts on goal.
If Mourinho is to continue his excellent return to the Premier League, one of the key battles will be the tussle between Son and Traore down the channel. If the Spurs star can get the better of his opposite number, it will be crucial to their success on Sunday.
