Tottenham Projected XI for Midweek Must Win versus Chelsea

Tottenham Full XI and Bench

Tottenham again revert back to the 4-2-3-1 and get away from the trickery to get back to basics. If they can defend in a line of four in the back, they have a chance to keep Chelsea under wraps. Likewise, if Spurs can get the offense going, they can take the game to Chelsea and help keep the pressure on the Blues, where it needs to be.

With a big bench and some injuries there are only a few decisions to make, such as how many defenders will be in the nine-man pine and do we see another youth player? The one thing we know for sure is that Joe Hart is the back-up keeper with Paulo Gazzaniga now out on loan.

Besides Hart, Spurs will have Matt Doherty, Davinson Sanchez, and Toby Alderweireld all in reserve for the defense. We know Mourinho likes to have cover and sometimes substitute defense on late, so this gives him both. On the offensive side, Steven Bergwijn, Lucas Moura, Harry Winks, and Erik Lamela are all in the squad. If Ndombele is out and Lamela ends up starting, expect his place to be taken by Japhet Tanganga as numbers are simply short.

This gives us eight bench players meaning there is one more spot, likely for a youth player. Tottenham had Alfie Devine on the bench in the last match and our thinking is we see Dane Scarlett on the bench for this one. As a true striker and a potential wildcard, with the injuries and lack of available players, Scarlett gets the call. Now whether or not he gets “the call” on Thursday and walks on the field to play is a different story but the possibility will exist.

Tottenham Starting XI

Lloris

Aurier – Rodon – Dier – Davies

Højbjerg – Sissoko

Bale – Ndombele – Son

Vinicius

Tottenham Bench

Hart – Doherty – Alderweireld – Sanchez – Bergwijn – Moura – Winks – Lamela – Scarlett