Chelsea vs Tottenham – Combined XI ahead of London derby | OneFootball

Chelsea and Tottenham go head-to-head in the Premier League this evening with more than local bragging rights at stake.

Mauricio Pochettino will need to forget old allegiances as he bids to end Chelsea’s campaign on a high, while Spurs are looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats and keep alive their Champions League hopes.

Ahead of the game, we’ve picked our Chelsea and Tottenham Combined XI from the players available.

Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario – Tottenham

Guglielmo Vicario has made a big impression since arriving from Empoli last summer. Stepping into the number one position after Hugo Lloris’ exit, Vicario’s agility and shot-stopping, alongside sweeper-keeper style, have impressed in North London.

Though he’s been targeted of late at set pieces, he’s been a shrewd signing for Spurs and was rewarded with an Italy debut in March.

Right-back: Pedro Porro – Tottenham

Pedro Porro’s first full season at Spurs has been a memorable one, bouncing back from a difficult first six months on loan last term to shine.

A front-footed full-back, he has provided seven assists in the Premier League this season and ranks among the division’s top players for dribblers tackled (2nd), tackles won (5th), and blocks (4th). With inversions into midfield and attacking threat, he’s been the perfect player for Ange Postecoglou’s adventurous system.

Centre-back: Cristian Romero – Tottenham

“I have got to get what is in him into some of the others,” Ange Postecoglou said of Cristian Romero last weekend after the defender helped lead Spurs back into the North London derby. Though the contest ended in defeat, it was not for the want of trying from the World Cup winner.

Romero has all the tools to be one of Europe’s best centre-backs, with an aggressive approach and elite distribution from the defensive line. A warrior at the heart of the defence, he is the leader without the armband and leads the Premier League this season for goals by defenders (5).

Centre-back: Micky van de Ven – Tottenham

Micky van de Ven has been an ideal complement for Romero at centre-back for Spurs, with his outstanding athleticism marking the Dutch defender out as a unique talent. Boasting a powerful physical frame and lightning recovery pace, Van de Ven has broken records this season with his speed across the ground.

The ingredients are all there for a long-term partnership at centre-back for Spurs, that could rival any in Europe.

Left-back: Levi Colwill – Chelsea

Left-backs are in short supply heading into the clash with first-choice options Ben Chilwell and Destiny Udogie sidelined for the respective sides. Levi Colwill claims the role in our Combined XI, ahead of the experienced Ben Davies and Marc Cucurella.

Though his preference is for a central position, Colwill has operated in a wide role for much of the campaign after returning to Chelsea from a successful loan at Brighton. His composure and quality on the ball stand out in each performance, and the 21-year-old is a player of immense promise.

Midfield: Yves Bissouma – Tottenham

After a tough first season at Spurs, Yves Bissouma has bounced back to become an integral part of the team under Ange Postecoglou.

Evasive when in possession and a prolific ball-winner, Bissouma ranks in the top eight per cent of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for attempted passes, pass completion (92.3%), tackles and interceptions across the last 12 months. Though discipline has been an issue on occasion, he’s been reborn this season.

Midfield: Conor Gallagher – Chelsea

Spurs are sniffing around Conor Gallagher ahead of the summer transfer window, as the club look to capitalise on Chelsea’s need to balance the books. The England international is a profile of player that would suit Spurs under Postecoglou, with endless endurance and the ability to regain possession in dangerous areas of the pitch.

Gallagher might not be the fanciest footballer in the Premier League but he can be mightily effective in the right role.

Midfield: James Maddison – Tottenham

Tottenham will be hoping that James Maddison can rediscover some of his early season sparkle across the run-in, with a serious ankle injury having halted a superb start to the campaign.

Maddison has four goals and seven assists from 23 league appearances and can be a match-winning maverick when at his best. He’s the sort of footballer Spurs fans love to watch, offering silk and swagger in the final third.

Right-wing: Cole Palmer – Chelsea

Cole Palmer has been one of the stories of the season at Chelsea. Amid a scattergun recruitment process, there was scepticism around Chelsea’s decision to spend £42.5m on the Manchester City prospect last summer. Unable to break in at the Etihad, he has proven Chelsea correct in that gamble with a stunning first campaign at Stamford Bridge.

The 21-year-old has 20 league goals, one behind Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot, and nine Premier League assists. He has shouldered responsibility in a dysfunctional team this season and shone.

Left-wing: Son Heung-min – Tottenham

Son Heung-min continues to write himself into Tottenham folklore and recently entered the club’s all-time top five goalscorers. Another fine season has seen the South Korean score 16 goals in the Premier League this season, reaching double figures for the eighth consecutive campaign.

Having inherited the captain’s armband in the summer, the 31-year-old will be determined to help end the club’s 16-year trophy drought next season.

One of the finest finishers in Europe, only Phil Foden (+5.66) has outperformed his xG by a higher margin in the Premier League (+4.88) this season.

Forward: Richarlison – Tottenham

Richarlison is another who has bounced back from a challenging first season at Spurs, to provide a reminder as to why he’s so often selected for Brazil.

The 26-year-old has scored 10 goals in 17 league starts for the North Londoners this season, offering hope that he can be the long-term solution at centre-forward. Mobile, hard-working, and versatile, he has scored 20 goals in 48 caps for the national team and will hope to cement his place as first-choice forward for this summer’s Copa America.

Read – Chelsea vs Tottenham – Premier League Match Preview

See more – Four talking points from the Champions League semi-finals

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