Dier sweating on England hopes as Sanchez shines for Spurs
Tottenham's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City last month fell like a low point this season after the astronomical high that came from the 2-0 win over Pep Guardiola's side in November that saw many consider them genuine title contenders. They were very much second best in the loss at the Etihad, encapsulated by Davinson Sanchez's attempts to deny Ilkay Gundogan his second and City's third of the evening. Operating alongside Eric Dier, Spurs' defence was all at sea and having watched on as the north London side fell to a 2-1 defeat to West Ham the following week, Jose Mourinho seemed to shelve the Sanchez-Dier centre-back experiment.
For the following league game against Burnley, Mourinho brought Toby Alderweireld back into the fold and Spurs have looked better defensively upon the Belgian's return. They have conceded just one goal in their last three league matches, although there has been an element of luck and poor VAR decision making for that lowly figure, but no less; two clean sheets in the last three, matching their return from the previous 13 matches, boosts confidence.
It was confidence that had been found wanting at the back of late, or at least that was the opinion of Mourinho. "I have to admit that recently our team makes little important mistakes that are punished in terms of our results. And Eric was there, he was one of them. They feel it. And I believe confidence, that drops a little bit," the Spurs boss said last month. While Dier was quick to bat away suggestions about a lack of confidence - "Confidence-wise, I don’t feel like I’ve been in a bad place all season," the defender responded - he has lost his place in the Spurs starting XI having been Mourinho's go-to centre-back in the opening months of the campaign.
Dier has started 21 of Spurs 27 league matches this season, but hasn't featured in a league game since the 2-1 loss to West Ham. In fact, Spurs have won just two of the last 11 top-flight games he has started, one of which was a 3-1 victory at basement boys Sheffield United. Conversely, Spurs have won their last four he has not started, with many a supporter praising Mourinho for the decision to drop the 27-year-old.
The issue hasn't been that Dier has turned into a bad player overnight, nor that Sanchez has become a world beater in the same, but rather the decision to bring Alderweireld back into the side has helped Spurs rediscover their defensive resolve. Spurs' goals conceded per game almost halves when Alderweireld starts, falling from 1.5 to 0.76, and with Sanchez featuring alongside him, it seems Mourinho has finally found his ideal centre-back partnership to see out the season.
Sanchez's four best rated Premier League performances this season have come in the last four games he has partnered Alderweireld in defence in a four-man backline, with the Spurs boss finally settling on a duo to see out 2020/21. But what does that mean for Dier? Unfortunately for him, his dip in form and playing time has coincided with the business end of the campaign and the first international break of the year.
With compatriots across the country all performing to a better standard than the Spurs man - John Stones, Ezri Konsa and Michael Keane, to name three, have all been playing regularly and to a greater consistency than Dier of late - he is in very real danger of losing his spot in the England setup. There was a period last year where Dier was considered one of the first names on Gareth Southgate's team sheet at the heart of the three-man backline, yet fast forward to the present and the defender's struggles has cost him playing time under Mourinho and, possibly, a spot in the England squad.
Credit must go to Sanchez, though, who has capitalised on Dier's woes to play his part in Spurs' improved showings of late. The likes of Harry Kane and Gareth Bale have hogged the limelight following wins over Burnley and Crystal Palace, but the Colombian has been an assured performer at the back to help Spurs out of their recent crisis and haul themselves back into the reckoning for a top four finish with 11 games still to play.
Sanchez may not be the finished article, and at 24 years of age, time is on his side as he seeks to iron out his defensive deficiencies. Playing alongside experienced Alderweireld will have done Sanchez the world of good, both in terms of form and morale, and it is reflected in a series of solid rearguard displays at the heart of the Spurs backline. Despite their issues at the back, Spurs still boast the fourh best defensive record in the Premier League having shipped 28 times in 27 matches and with Sanchez beginning to rediscover his best form alongside Alderweireld, that should continue until May.
Unfortunately for Dier, that'll leaving the England international watching longingly from the sidelines for both club and country.
