After successfully deploying a 4-4-2 in the first leg against Spurs last week, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will likely stick with the formation when they travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight.
Kepa will start in goal, with Edouard Mendy still away at the African Cup of Nations. Captain Cesar Azpilicueta is expected to play at right-back, with Marcos Alonso on the opposite flank.
With doubts over the fitness of Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen may partner Antonio Rudiger in the centre of defence, with both Malang Sarr and Lewis Hall taking their places on the bench.
Mateo Kovacic could partner Jorginho in midfield. Saul Niguez has been playing better recently but, unlike Kovacic, the Spaniard wasn’t substituted against Chesterfield at the weekend, which gives us a clue about Tuchel’s team selection for this evening.
Romelu Lukaku may well be partnered with Timo Werner, meaning Kai Havertz could be left out of the starting lineup. Hakim Ziyech performed well on Saturday so the Moroccan may keep his place ahead of Christian Pulisic, with Mason Mount coming back into the eleven.
Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Face Tottenham:
Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Alonso, Ziyech, Jorginho, Kovacic, Mount, Lukaku, Werner.
