Chelsea fans’ preferred lineup against Tottenham: Kanté, Alonso, Christensen ahead of Kovačić, Chilwell, Silva!

Chelsea travel to North London in good form to take on Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Spurs may have recorded three wins already this season, but they’ve not convinced throughout. Thankfully, the Blues have enjoyed the fixture in recent times and can boast a nearly fully fit squad.

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE

As we’ve become accustomed to, the WAGNH community saw no need to make changes to the formation or in goal — and why should we? Édouard Mendy has been nothing short of phenomenal and the 3-4-3 simply works for this Chelsea squad, making Kepa Arrizabalaga (2%) and other formations like the 3-5-2 (20%) clearly second choices.

Marcos Alonso loves a goal against Spurs and so he’s preferred to Ben Chilwell (44%). Reece James returns from suspension and slots right back in, with César Azpilicueta moving more centrally and thereby sending Trevoh Chalobah (14%) back to the bench. Toni Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen complete the defense as Thiago Silva (57%) sits this one out.

Mateo Kovačić (48%) has arguably been our best player next to a certain striker, but a healthy N’Golo Kanté is simply too good not to play. Returning to full fitness this week, he therefore teams up with Jorginho in the pivot. Saúl Ñíguez (4%), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (2%) and Ross Barkley (1%) barely factored into the vote.

There were no surprises up front as the trio of Romelu Lukaku, Kai Havertz and Mason Mount have established themselves as the preferred early combination in big games. It seems very tough for Timo Werner (44%), Hakim Ziyech (14%) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (6%) to stake a claim. Christian Pulisic remains out with injury.

3-4-3 (74%)
Mendy (98%) | Rüdiger (97%), Christensen (64%), Azpilicueta (78%) | Alonso (52%), Jorginho (79%), Kanté (73%), James (79%) | Havertz (69%), Lukaku (98%), Mount (75%)

MY PREFERRED CHOICE

As good as we’ve been playing despite James’s suspension and Kanté’s injury, you always have to bring them back in if you have the choice. So I wholeheartedly agree with the community that they need to be given the nod. That’s obviously harsh on Kovačić, but at least we have a great option from the bench.

While Chilwell would probably be a solid choice to go up against the pacy Lucas Moura, Alonso has been coping well on the left and, most importantly, he loves a goal against Spuds. So I’m generally OK with either of the two starting here.

The one position I did take a bit longer to think about was the central centre-back. I completely trust Christensen to be his usual, imperious self he’s become under Tuchel, yet Thiago Silva once again proved against Aston Villa that he’s basically a cheat code at the back. I ended up going with his experience.

COME ON, YOU BLUES!!!

3-4-3
Mendy | Rüdiger, Silva, Azpilicueta | Chilwell, Kanté, Jorginho, James | Havertz, Lukaku, Mount