Date: 7th May 2013 at 5:00pm
Written by:

Tottenham1Rafael Benitez is hopeful that Eden Hazard will be available for selection for tomorrow night’s clash against Tottenham after the Beglian missed out on the trip to Old Trafford at the weekend because of a calf injury.

But he has no fresh concerns to worry about and will probably opt to rotate the squad, especially as players like John Terry, Fernando Torres and Gary Cahill were among the substitutes at the weekend.

Both Mousa Dembele and Aaron Lennon were forced off with injuries during Tottenham’s narrow victory over Southampton on Saturday and are rated as doubts ahead of tomorrow. Former Chelsea and West Ham midfielder Scott Parker is also doubtful as he missed the game against the Saints because he has been suffering with an ankle injury.

It will be the first time that Andre Villas-Boas has been back to Stamford Bridge since he was in the home dugout last season, so it will be interesting to see what sort of reception he will receive from the supporters.

The XI I’d pick:

P. Cech

C. Azpilicueta – G. Cahill – J. Terry (c) – A. Cole

Ramires – D. Luiz

V. Moses – J. Mata – E. Hazard

F. Torres

Hopefully Hazard will be fit as we missed his spark against Manchester United and like Juan Mata he is capable of that something special. Victor Moses has performed better than Oscar has in the last two matches, in my opinion, even though neither have been incredible and depending on how things are going, we could put Frank Lampard into an attacking position latter in the game and have Mata go on the right.

I’m undecided whether I prefer David Luiz as a defender or midfielder but he seems to be having more influence in the middle of the park these days so I’d start him there tomorrow night. Wherever he plays he cannot neglect his defensive duties, especially in relation to the threat of Gareth Bale.

I thought Ashley Cole was really poor against Manchester United as he committed himself and was beaten often, even by Phil Jones, and I’d have Ryan Bertrand in there as he hadn’t put a foot wrong whilst standing in through Cole’s injury but I doubt Benitez will think the same.

Torres may be the preferred option up front as the manager continues his rotation policy. Both of our forwards have blown hot and cold but I feel as though the Spaniard’s best form is better than Demba Ba’s. Rafa has also made good use of the two on the same pitch in the cases of emergency a few times and that option will remain.

Although I wouldn’t start him I think it’s written that Lampard will come on and score at some point against Spurs and his old adversary Villas-Boas.

Who would be in your Chelsea XI against Tottenham on Wednesday night? – Have your say in the comments section below

 

6 responses to “Match Preview: Chelsea v Tottenham, who’d be in your XI to play Spurs?”

  1. mistaspringer says:

    Lloris – BAE – vertonghen – Dawson – Walker – Lennon – Dembele – Hudderstone – Hoilby Bale – Ade (433)

  2. OOAH says:

    _______________ Cech_____________

    Azpilicueta__Ivanovic__Cahill___A. Cole

    _________Ramires______ Luiz_______

    Moses__________ Mata________Hazard

    ________________BA______________

  3. abdi zubeer says:

    Abdi Zubeer

    Cech

    Azpelicueta cahill Luis Cole

    Ramires Lampard

    Oscar mata hazard

    Torres

  4. mary hinge says:

    cech
    ivanovic-luiz-terry-cole
    ramires-lampard
    moses-mata-hazard
    ba

  5. abdi zubeer says:

    Abdi Zubeer

    Cech

    Azpelicueta cahill Luis Cole

    Ramires Lampard

    Oscar mata hazard
    Torres

    Oscar mata hazard

    Torres

  6. Arham says:

    cech
    ivanovic cahill terry cole
    lampard Luiz
    ramires mata hazard
    Ba….