Chelsea travel to Wembley this Sunday to take on local rivals Spurs knowing they must put in an improved performance from the opening day of the season.
The Blues lost 3-2 to Burnley, while Spurs picked up where they left off with a 2-0 win away at Newcastle the following day.
Both sets of squad boast an array of talent, so we’ve put them together!
Ignoring the current injury status of some of the players, we’ve picked a combined XI made up of Spurs and Chelsea’s best stars using a 3-4-3 system.
GK – Thibaut Courtois
It’s tough choice between the sticks when arguably two of the league’s best goalkeepers are available.
The two battled for the Golden Glove last season and it was the Belgian who came out on top, for that reason, he finds his name in this combined XI.
RWB – Victor Moses
Having sold Kyle Walker to Manchester City earlier in the window, Spurs are a little light down the right. Despite the successful debut of young Kyle Walker-Peters, Moses gets the nod here.
He’s made the position his own at Chelsea, offers tremendous pace and power down the right and continues to improve defensively.
CB – Toby Alderweireld
The Belgian was linked with Chelsea before he made the move to Tottenham after a successful spell at Southampton.
The former Atletico Madrid man has been a fantastic signing for Spurs and has gone onto become a key part of their backline.
CB – David Luiz
The Brazilian was one of the best central defenders in the Premier League last season. He’d slot into the heart of what, on paper, looks like a very strong defence back three.
CB – Gary Cahill
Cahill, while he may have been sent off on the opening day, was named club captain at Chelsea over the summer, if you needed a reminder of how highly he is rated by not only Antonio Conte but by his club.
LWB – Danny Rose
Danny Rose may not be at Tottenham by the end of the window, he could possibly even be at Chelsea, but for now, he makes for the best option in the left wing-back position.
If Chelsea were able to complete a deal to sign Rose this summer from Spurs, he would not only add depth to the defence at Stamford Bridge, but he’d be an upgrade on Marcos Alonso.
CM – Mousa Dembele
Dembele often goes under the radar at Tottenham. His powerful and combative style of play is often key to allowing their more exciting forward players the freedom to attack.
CM – N’Golo Kante
The tireless French midfielder would be one of the first names on the team sheet in a combined XI. He and Dembele would form a very strong midfield pivot.
RW – Dele Alli
Admittedly, we’re shoe horning him in a little here. Despite that, Alli is one of England’s brightest young players and is clearly destined for great things in the future.
For the sake of this team, he’s playing out of position, but he could probably still do a decent job there!
LW – Eden Hazard
The Belgian is one of the best players in the Premier League and would be one of the first names on this team sheet.
ST – Harry Kane
While Diego Costa is still under contract at Stamford Bridge, mentally, he clearly does not feel like a Chelsea player anymore, so we’ve taken him out of this equation.
With Alvaro Morata an unknown quantity in the Premier League, Harry Kane is an easy choice.
The England international scored 29 league goals in the Premier League last season on his way to picking up the Golden Boot, further squashing claims that he’s a ‘one season wonder’.
Even Antonio Conte revealed his admiration for the striker over the summer, claiming he’d be his dream striker.
