TOTTENHAM and Chelsea face off at Stamford Bridge on Saturday both knowing the importance of their crunch clash in West London.
The Blues go into the match sitting in fourth – just one point clear of their rivals.
How Chelsea could line up against Spurs on Saturday
How Jose Mourinho could line up his team
Spurs last had the opportunity to leapfrog Chelsea when the two met in the reverse fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December.
Jose Mourinho’s side flopped badly, however, with his former player Frank Lampard schooling him tactically.
But with both sides now facing adversity in the form of extended injury lists, Lamps will be desperate to get another one over on his old boss.
Willy Caballero will again get the nod between the sticks for the Blues, with Kepa Arrizabalaga clearly having not shown enough of a reaction over the winter break to being dropped to warrant a recall against Manchester United.
As for Spurs, Hugo Lloris has looked a man reborn since returning from injury – with the Frenchman’s presence having made a huge difference for the Lilywhites.
In defence, Lampard could revert to the back three that served his side so well in N17 back in December.
But otherwise, with Andreas Christensen needing a protective mask after picking up a knock against United, Kurt Zouma could return to the starting XI to partner Antonio Rudiger.
Azpilicueta will in that case continue at left-back over the hapless Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso – with Reece James on the right flank.
A third game in eight days upon his return from long-term injury may be a big ask for Ben Davies – but Mourinho is likely to deploy an unchanged back four.
This means another outing for the Welshman, alongside Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez and Serge Aurier – with Japhet Tanganga and Jan Vertonghen on the bench.
Chelsea will deploy a midfield trio with Jorginho at the base.
And with N’Golo Kante again missing through injury, Jorginho will be flanked by Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount.
Fans could see the long-awaited return of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has finally returned from injury and is likely to be on the bench.
As for Spurs, Harry Winks is a certainty – and could be partnered in a two-man midfield by the in-form Giovani Lo Celso… with Dele Alli deployed further forward.
Tanguy Ndombele is fit, but not ready to play 90 minutes – but his compatriot Moussa Sissoko remains sidelined, despite having stepped up his rehabilitation outdoors this week.
With Christian Pulisic still missing, and Callum Hudson-Odoi a doubt – veterans Willian and Pedro will take to the wings.
That’s why he wasn’t available to start against Manchester United but the way he has worked this week, he is available to start. He just need to keep doing what he is doing.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard on Olivier Giroud
And they could be flanking Olivier Giroud, with the Frenchman set to finally be handed a start by Lampard.
Ahead of the crunch clash, the 41-year-old said: “He [Giroud] said himself, he needed a few weeks to get properly, properly fit. It was a difficult time.
“That’s why he wasn’t available to start against Manchester United but the way he has worked this week, he is available to start. He just need to keep doing what he is doing.”
Olivier Giroud had a goal disallowed on Monday night… but could get another chance against SpursCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Dele Alli will be a hoping for a better day than he had against RB LeipzigCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Tammy Abraham could feature from the bench though, with the young England man thought to be around 70% fit.
Tottenham new-boy Steven Bergwijn will continue on the left for Mourinho, while Erik Lamela could be recalled to play on the right – although is unlikely to last the 90 minutes.
Lucas Moura will yet again be forced to lead the line as a makeshift centre-forward in the absence of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
Jose Mourinho feels like ‘a gun with no bullets’ as strikerless Tottenham fail to break down Leipzig
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
