Chelsea fans’ preferred lineup against Tottenham Hotspur: Strongest XI with Havertz and Ziyech

It’s a top-three clash this afternoon as Chelsea look to take three important points off José Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur. Both teams have been in fine form recently, but Frank Lampard will be itching to get revenge over his former boss for getting knocked out of the Carabao Cup. Strongest eleven it is, then.

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE

While Chelsea have had success with the 3-4-3 (5%) against José’s Spurs, for the WAGNH community there is only one choice, the 4-3-3 (82%) that has served as so well during this unbeaten run. The 4-2-3-1 (11%) is little more than a distant memory at this point.

Speaking of distant memories, it’s become somewhat redundant to list Édouard Mendy in goal — others need not apply with him collecting 97% of the votes.

Similarly, everybody’s favourite back four has been firmly established, with Reece James, Thiago Silva, Kurt Zouma and Ben Chilwell all receiving well above the 90% of votes. Antonio Rüdiger (4%) and César Azpilicueta (8%) were the only ones receiving any non-negligible number of the remaining vote.

Mateo Kovačić (43%) has been playing well in the midfield three, but with Kai Havertz healthy, he’s the one picked instead to start alongside the usual duo of N’Golo Kanté (who led all players in voting) and Mason Mount. Jorginho barely tips the scales at 5% in the meantime.

Christian Pulisic (19%) is also set to return, but the community was in no hurry to rush him, which is unsurprising given his apparent fragility. So it’s the usual trio of Timo Werner, Tammy Abraham, and Hakim Ziyech, despite both Callum Hudson-Odoi (13%) and Olivier Giroud (15%) scoring midweek.

4-3-3 (82%)
Mendy (97%) | Chilwell (98%), Silva (99%), Zouma (96%), James (95%) | Mount (92%), Kanté (99%), Havertz (63%) | Werner (87%), Abraham (62%), Ziyech (98%)

MY PREFERRED CHOICE

Call me reactionary, but I just love having a striker up front who dominates a defense and can hold up the ball effectively all the time. Olivier Giroud might be well on the wrong side of 30, yet he offers something that could prove vital against a Mourinho team. Tammy’s done well of late, but I’m all for him sitting this one out.

Otherwise I made no changes as this is without a doubt the most capable and competitive team Chelsea and Frank Lampard are able to field so why make any unnecessary changes — well, apart from the one.

COME ON, CHELSEA!!!

4-3-3
Mendy | Chilwell, Silva, Zouma, James | Mount, Kanté, Havertz | Werner, Giroud, Ziyech