14 points separate London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea after 10 Premier League games this season.
The sides meet in North London on Monday night, with Spurs hoping to maintain their 100% home record and dream start to the season.
Chelsea, on the other hand, are still searching for consistency, having won just twice in their last seven league matches. With derby day beckoning, here is our combined XI between the sides:
Tottenham vs Chelsea: London Derby Combined XI
Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario – Tottenham
Both Spurs and Chelsea have new men between the sticks this season, but Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario has undoubtedly made a better start than Blues ‘keeper Robert Sanchez.
Ange Postecoglou has vastly improved the Lilywhites’ defence; only Arsenal and Manchester City have better defensive records this term.
Italian summer signing Vicario has played a big role in that. Only Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone and Newcastle’s Nick Pope have kept more clean sheets than him, though each have played a game more.
Meanwhile, no Premier League ‘keeper has a higher save percentage (82.9%).
Right-back: Pedro Porro – Tottenham
Despite a rocky start following his January transfer from Sporting, Postecoglou is getting the best out of Pedro Porro.
When compared to full-backs across Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues, the Spaniard ranks in the 99th percentile for blocks (2.28 per 90), the 87th percentile for tackles (2.60) and the 89th percentile for shot-creating actions (3.05).
Porro has been a weapon at both ends for Spurs so far in this campaign.
Centre-back: Cristian Romero – Tottenham
Colwill and Silva has been a strong duo this season but not quite as strong as Spurs’ duo of Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
Their new Dutchman is incredibly unlucky to miss out but it’s hard to look past Romero, whose traits as a pure defender put him among the best in the world.
141 – Cristian Romero completed 141 passes against Crystal Palace tonight – the most by a Spurs player on record in a single Premier League game (since 2003-04). Initiative. pic.twitter.com/zwBegMQQjF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 27, 2023
A World Cup winner, the Argentine has been a rock over the past couple of years in north London, propelling himself to the vice-captaincy role under Postecoglou. Last week, he completed the most passes by a Spurs player in a Premier League game on record.
Centre-back: Levi Colwill – Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea have been fairly solid defensively too. 38-year-old Thiago Silva has formed a strong pairing with 20-year-old Levi Colwill, who has returned to the Blues’ first team after a successful loan spell at Brighton.
Colwill has been a force again this season, completing 10 progressive carries, tackling 77.8% of dribblers faced, while completing 28 tackles and interceptions – the second most in the entire squad. The Englishman certainly has a very bright future.
Left-back: Destiny Udogie – Tottenham
Another man thriving under ‘Big Ange’ is Destiny Udogie. Full-backs are pivotal to his system and like Porro, the Italian has shone this season.
After spending last year on loan at Udinese, the left-back has returned readier than ever for Premier League football. He is averaging 2.8 tackles per game and boasts a pass success rate of 88.4%.
The Spurs faithful will be hoping Udogie is fit enough to play a part in this huge derby clash.
Midfield: Conor Gallagher – Chelsea
Akin to the way his Spurs counterpart is utilising his players, Pochettino has also managed to get the best out of some of his squad. The most prominent example of this is Conor Gallagher, who struggled last season under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard.
???? Premier League players with 15+ tackles, 15+ interceptions and 15+ possession wins in the attacking third this season:
???? Conor Gallagher pic.twitter.com/aAGXXQxUKH
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 30, 2023
No Chelsea player has made more tackles in the league this season than the former Crystal Palace loanee.
Meanwhile, Gallagher is the only player in the league to win possession more than 15 times, while having made over 15 tackles and 15 interceptions.
Midfield: Yves Bissouma – Tottenham
Yves Bissouma also had a tough time of things during the 2022/23 season, with heavy expectations placed upon the Mali international after a fruitful stint at Brighton.
But this year, Bissouma has been bossing the Spurs midfield and he’s been key to Postecoglou’s system.
He also became the first player to win 20 duels and 10 tackles in the league this season.
Yves Bissouma is the first player to win 20+ duels and make 10+ tackles in the Premier League this season:
◉ 28 duels won
◉ 12 tacklesBossing the midfield. ???????? pic.twitter.com/EKuOLkl6EM
— Squawka (@Squawka) August 26, 2023
Midfield: Enzo Fernandez – Chelsea
Completing the midfield is another World Cup winner – Enzo Fernandez.
While his win record at Stamford Bridge has been ridiculed since making his British record transfer in January, the former Benfica man’s class has been clear for all to see.
With the ability to dominate a midfield and be a nuisance all over the pitch, Fernandez has been heavily relied upon by Pochettino thus far, making more blocks than any of his teammates.
Right-wing: Raheem Sterling – Chelsea
Another man whose 2023/24 form has already trumped that of his debut season is Raheem Sterling, who is starting to look like the man who won four Premier League titles with Manchester City again.
The England international is Chelsea’s top scorer across all competitions with four goals.
It isn’t just goals that Sterling has brought to the table for the Blues this season, though. He has been delivering some top class all-round performances and he really seems to be enjoying his role under Pochettino.
Left-wing: James Maddison – Tottenham
One signing who has been an instant success, however, is James Maddison.
???? Highest rated players in the Premier League this season:
???? James Maddison – 7.72
???? Bukayo Saka – 7.67
???? Erling Haaland – 7.62
???? Rodri – 7.59
???? Mohamed Salah – 7.58???? Spurs' new #10 leads the way! pic.twitter.com/bPBZScCV9n
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) November 3, 2023
The attacking midfielder, who has been shifted onto the wing in this 11, has the joint-most chances created in the Premier League (31) and only two players (Pedro Neto and Kieran Trippier) have registered more assists than the England international.
Ranking in the 99th percentile of players in Europe’s top leagues for shot-creating actions per 90 (6.56), Maddison’s £40m move from relegated Leicester is proving to be one of the best deals of the summer.
Forward: Heung-Min Son – Tottenham
Rounding out the combined XI is Tottenham’s top scorer and captain Heung-Min Son, who has taken the candle from Harry Kane and stepped up to the plate this season.
Replacing such a club legend and elite goalscorer was never going to be easy, but Son, who is into his ninth season with Spurs, has taken up that role and duly delivered, netting eight times in the opening 10 matches.
Arguably the first name on this team sheet, the South Korean has been the perfect man to lead the line for Postecoglou’s men this season. After the departure of his partner in crime, will this finally be the year he can win some silverware?
Read – Tottenham vs Chelsea – Premier League Match Preview
See more – Pochettino insists Spurs are title contenders
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