Chelsea will face Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium today with Thomas Tuchel looking to join Liverpool at the top of the table heading into the next Matchweek.
The Blues are in good form and have shown recently they can notch up wins despite not being at their best. Fortuitous 3-0 and 1-0 wins over Aston Villa and Zenit respectively holds them in good stead heading into the encounter tonight, where Tuchel will hope his side can express themselves more freely.
The Lilywhites, on the other hand, have been brought back down to earth with a 3-0 thumping by Crystal Palace and a 2-2 draw against Rennes, where Nuno Espirito Santo had fielded a very strong starting lineup.
While on paper Chelsea are the favourites, a London derby is never easy and the Blues will have to be in top gear to thwart the challenge of a defensively resolute Spurs side under Nuno.
Christian Pulisic will miss today’s game but Tuchel has been boosted by the return to full fitness of midfield engine N’Golo Kante.
Reece James returns to the fold after serving a one-match ban.
DEFENCE
Edouard Mendy will retain his place in the Chelsea lineup. A midweek encounter against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup is likely to be his off-day.
Antonio Rudiger has made five consecutive starts for club and country in the month of September but he is unlikely to be handed a rest today. The back three consisting of Azpilicueta, Christensen and Rudiger is likely to feature in the Chelsea lineup.
MIDFIELD
Reece James should return to the right wing-back position after serving his suspension while Marcos Alonso should retain his place at left wing-back in the Chelsea lineup.
The midweek Villa game is likely to see the return of Ben Chilwell to the starting XI.
Jorginho is likely to start in central midfield but Mateo Kovacic could be handed a breather with the return of N’Golo Kante to the fold. It all depends on the levels the two players have trained at all week but Kovacic has been relentless in the month of September and could be preserved by his manager against Spurs.
ATTACK
We expect Hakim Ziyech to make way for Kai Havertz who will be partnered by Mason Mount in attack in the Chelsea lineup.
Romelu Lukaku will feature up top and will look to continue his fine form in front of goal.
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