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Tottenham Hotspur welcome Chelsea to North London on Thursday as Jose Mourinho gets ready to get one over his former side and city rivals Chelsea. It will be the first match-up between the Portuguese and new Blues boss Thomas Tuchel.
Mourinho witnessed his team suffer back-to-back Premier League defeats in their last two games, while Chelsea got a much-needed boost from their win over Burnley. Tuchel, though, still has a lot of work to do to turn Chelsea into a side that can compete with the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, and Liverpool.
In injury news, Harry Kane will be sidelined for a couple of weeks after he limped off against Liverpool. Tanguy Ndombele was forced off through injury against Brighton and is a doubt for the Chelsea game.
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Summer signing Sergio Reguilon and Giovani Lo Celso are both out due to injuries. Chelsea don't have any major injury issues. There are minor concerns over Hakim Ziyech's fitness but everyone else is fit for the derby. Midfielder N'Golo Kante has also fully recovered from a hamstring problem and is likely to start in midfield.
Keeping all that in mind, let us take a look at the Combined XI of these London giants:
Formation (3-4-3)
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris will be between the sticks in this combined playing eleven. The World Cup-winning captain has been instrumental in the Spurs' success this season and has often bailed them out in difficult situations.
The Frenchman boasts lightning reflexes and is a formidable opponent in one-on-one situations. Tottenham have the second-best defense in the league and Hugo Lloris should get most of the credit for that.
Chelsea's Edouard Mendy is also having a terrific season but Lloris edges him in this one.
Defenders: César Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Toby Alderweireld
César Azpilicueta will take the right side of the three-man defense. The ever-reliable Spaniard had little game time under Frank Lampard who preferred young talent, Reece James. But under Tuchel, Azpilicueta seems to have become an important part of that Chelsea back three. The Blues Captain rarely has an off day and always gives his best when he is on the pitch. He might be an old-fashioned defender but he is still one of the best in what he does.
There was a lot of talk regarding Thiago Silva and if he could deal with the pace of the Premier League in the late stages of his career.
Not only has the Brazilian answered those questions, but he's also passed almost all the challenges with flying colors. Chelsea needed a leader at the back who could organize the defense and Thiago Silva has used his leadership qualities to do that. He is the biggest reason why Chelsea have conceded only 23 goals (3rd lowest in the league) this season.
The third and final man in that back three is Spurs' center-half Toby Alderweirld. Consistency and dependability have made Alderweireld a solid defender and an essential part of Spurs's eleven.
The Belgian excels in almost every defensive attribute and usually comes out on top in ground duels. His ability to regularly spray pinpoint long balls and start attacks is also why he is one of the best defenders in the league
Midfield: Calum Hudson-Odoi, Ngolo Kante, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Marcos Alonso
It was confusing to see Calum Hudson-Odoi starting as a wing-back under Tuchel. Surprisingly Hudson-Odoi has flourished in both the games in that role, getting the man of the match in the first game and providing an assist in the second game. Odoi's game time was a major talking point when Frank Lampard was in charge but the 20-year-old seems to have found his stride under the German manager.
N'Golo Kante is the first name on the team-sheet wherever he plays. The Frenchman is one of the best in the world and has a skillset only a few can match. Kanté is known for his relentless energy and excellent ball-winning abilities. With never-ending stamina and inch-perfect tackles, interception, and blocks, Kante is the perfect defensive midfielder.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has hardly put a foot wrong since leaving Southampton to join Jose and Tottenham this season. The Ex-Bayern Munich player has been the midfield marshal in almost every game for the Spurs and has led by example. The Dane is the only Spurs player who makes it in this midfield.
The left wing-back position will be occupied by Marcos Alonso. The Spaniard had a tough time getting into the playing eleven with summer acquisition Ben Chilwell cementing his position. Alonso, however, seems to have revived his Chelsea career under Tuchel and could very well start his second game in a row. The 30-year old has fond memories of playing against Spurs, and once scored a brace against them at Wembley which included a stunning free-kick.
Attack: Hakim Ziyech, Olivier Giroud, Heung-min Son
With the likes of Gareth Bale, Steven Bergwijn, and Lucas Moura in contention, the competition wasn't stiff and Hakim Ziyech takes the right-wing spot in the combined eleven. Hakim Ziyech took the Premier League by storm after he gave a dazzling display against Sheffield United.
The Moroccan has been unlucky with injuries till now but will hope to be fit for this important clash against the London rivals. Chelsea's summer signing has had a bitter-sweet memory regarding Spurs after he scored against them for Ajax in the Champions league semi-final but could not help his team qualify for the final.
The center-forward position would have been the easiest to pick had Harry Kane not been injured. The Englishman is head and shoulders ahead of every striker in the Premier League this season. With limited choices, Olivier Giroud seems to be the best pick. The Frenchman started the game against Wolves and might very well start against Spurs as well.
The final pick to complete this eleven is a very easy one. Heung-min Son has arguably been the best player in the Premier League this season. Consistency and versatility and lethality in front of goal make Son a threatening player. With 12 goals and 6 assists to his name, the South Korean has been the focal point of Mourinho's side alongside Harry Kane.
