The Three Lions begin their World Cup campaign against Carlos Queiroz’s side in Doha today.
England enter the clash without a win in a competitive fixture for over a year and they failed to win a single of their six Nations League matches against Italy, Germany or Hungary.
For the first time in his stint with the national side, Southgate is experiencing pressure on his role.
Many feel the former Middlesbrough boss is too defensive and doesn’t get enough from the riches of attacking talent at his disposal.
He has tended to settle for a 5-2-3 or 3-5-2 formation in recent years but the Telegraph say fans will get their wish to see a more attacking line-up today.
Southgate is set to pick a 4-3-3 system, which will see captain Harry Kane spearhead the attack.
However, nine of their 11 players are the same that started against Italy in the European Championships defeat 18 months ago, with Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier and – most controversially – Harry Maguire set to start in a back four ahead of Jordan Pickford.
Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are set to start in a two-man midfield behind an attacking trio of Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka, with Kane up top.
Mount and Sterling’s inclusions are somewhat controversial, given their lack of form for Chelsea this season.
Sterling, in particular, has struggled since moving to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City.
England’s reported line-up against Iran: Pickford; Trippier, Maguire, Stones, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane.
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