Chelsea vs Tottenham combined XI: 3-4-2-1 for all-London team

Chelsea's Brazilian defender Thiago Silva (L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge in London on January 23, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Chelsea’s Italian midfielder Jorginho (L) and Tottenham Hotspur’s Brazilian defender Emerson Royal compete during the second leg of the English League Cup semi final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London on January 12, 2022. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images) /

Right wingback: Reece James, Chelsea

The argument with the wingbacks, as it stands, is that Emerson Royal and Ryan Sessegnon will not be regular starters for Conte once Matt Doherty and Ivan Perisic are back fit again. Emerson provided an assist against Southampton, whereas Reece James helped the Blues keep a clean sheet on the opening weekend. James is close to being the most complete right wingback in world football. He can do the attacking and defending aspects of the game extremely well, running up and down that wing. James’ crosses in the box are lethal and they can cause loads of problems.

Central midfielder: N’Golo Kante, Chelsea

The French World Cup winner has added a bit more attacking flair to his all-around game. He scored a goal in preseason where he ran a good distance with the ball and dispatched it well in the bottom corner. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is a very good defensive midfielder, but with his attacking play, N’Golo Kante is just a level above him. Kante can easily run past defenders in those little pockets of space and play a quick one-two to create a chance, whereas Hojbjerg is pretty set in being the link between the back four and the attacking players.

Central midfielder: Jorginho, Chelsea

The match-winner at Goodison Park during Chelsea’s opening match calmly despatched a penalty to the bottom left corner with ice through his veins. Jorginho is the Blues’ link from the defense to the attacking players. He can open up a team with a single pass should he seize an opportunity. The Kante-Jorginho partnership would work well in this team because it well and truly is an upgrade on Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur. Kante and Jorginho have excellent chemistry between them and there is barely any confusion between the Chelsea pairing because they know each other’s games extremely well.

Left wingback: Ben Chilwell, Chelsea

This is basically the same argument as with James and Emerson. Ben Chilwell is a starter and he did well to win the penalty for Chelsea by running through a couple of Everton defenders. Sessegnon will eventually be replaced with Perisic, as well. Sessegnon did have an impressive performance on the opening weekend, scoring a goal, but Chilwell is better overall. He now has competition with the arrival of Marc Cucurella in SW6.

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