Best Combined XI: Tottenham v Leicester City

By the end of last year, it would have been a genuine contest to find balance between Tottenham and Leicester’s starting XIs. Now, not so much.

That’s not to say that Leicester still doesn’t have quality in their side. They can claim one of the most talented players in the league, after all, and still have some phenomenally under-rated players despite their Premier League title win.

Indeed, based on current form you might even struggle to name a few of Tottenham’s bigger stars into a combined XI for these two sides. That’s down to injury or unavailability — all of Harry Kane, Toby Alderweireld and Moussa Sissoko will miss out on Saturday’s match for one reason or another — but also lack of form.

And so it is that we have some tricky decisions to make. In the end, they’re not all going to be popular. Despite Tottenham’s undefeated run in the Premier League, there are still plenty of (justifiable) reasons to doubt that this team is actually anywhere close to their peak. And Leicester, of course, currently sit 12th in the table with just 11 points from the opening nine matches.

Let’s plow right in.

Hugo Lloris

– Kasper Schmeichel is a very good keeper, but this is Lloris hands down. Tottenham’s defense remains perhaps its best quality, but the whole team’s leaned on their French captain at times and he hasn’t disappointed yet.

Christian Fuchs – Leicester’s attack is almost as reliant on having aggressive full-backs as Tottenham’s attack is. Fuchs does not disappoint in this regard, and like Danny Rose often adds that extra element that can help crack opposition defenses.

Jan Vertonghen – An injury over the summer did absolutely nothing to slow Vertonghen down. He recovered ahead of schedule and, if anything, slightly improved on his already immaculate game last year. He’s a huge reason why Tottenham have yet to concede a goal from open play thus far this season.

Wes Morgan – Perhaps some of the luster has fallen away from Leicester’s captain, but he remains a formidable force ahead of Schmeichel’s goal. Expect the Jamaican to offer a robust physical challenge to whomever starts up from for Tottenham.

More from Match Previews

• Carabao Cup preview: Who should Tottenham start against Fulham?
• Tottenham projected starting 11 for opener at Brentford
• Premier League Preview: Tottenham faces Everton with Stellini in charge
• Premier League Preview: Tottenham face banana skin at Southampton
• Tottenham projected XI to face Sheffield United in FA Cup

Kyle Walker – The England right-back’s game continues to evolve this season. Perhaps he lacks some of the same penetration he had when he worked in tandem with a pacier player like Aaron Lennon or Andros Townsend ahead of him, but he’s made up for that in composed and determined play both with and without the ball

Victor Wanyama – Eric Dier is unquestionably one of those aforementioned “slumping” Tottenham players, and Wanyama is reaping all the benefits. The Kenyan’s made the defensive midfield spot his own over the last month, and we can expect that trend to continue through Saturday.

Danny Drinkwater – With N’Golo Kanté having departed this summer, it’s fallen on Drinkwater to replicate the Frenchman’s tireless efforts in midfield. Kanté is a singular talent, so Drinkwater can be forgiven if he’s not quite playing up to his standards. But he’s still a big piece of any chance Leicester has to get a result on Saturday.

Heung-min Son – A month of indecision — will he play on the wing or at striker? — seems to have sapped the goals from Son, but he still represents the best chance for Tottenham to score in any given game.

Christian Eriksen – Perhaps the Dane hasn’t had the steadiest start to the season. He’s growing into a newer, deeper role than the one he’s played over the previous three seasons, and hopefully with time the goals and assists will come.

Next: Tottenham: Kane and Alderweired Still Out

Riyad Mahrez – Like Eriksen and Dele Alli, Mahrez’s suffered through a bit of a dry spell to start the season. Also like those two Tottenham players, his quality is undeniable — he remains Leicester’s best player and can turn any match he’s involved in around on a dime.

Islam Slimani – In truth, it’s no contest here. With Kane out and Vincent Janssen struggling to find his first goal from open play, Leicester’s newest striker is clearly the strongest likely to be on display Saturday. The Algerian’s scoring record in Portugal was unimpeachable, and he seems set to make up for the faltering Jamie Vardy as Leicester’s season wears on.