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Chelsea v Tottenham: Projected Spurs starting XI

By Rucker Haringey

ENFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur during a training session at the clubs' training ground on November 24, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
ENFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur during a training session at the clubs' training ground on November 24, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 19: Mousa Dembele of Tottenham Hotspur (L) and Dimitri Payet of West Ham United (R) battle for possession during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at White Hart Lane on November 19, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 19: Mousa Dembele of Tottenham Hotspur (L) and Dimitri Payet of West Ham United (R) battle for possession during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at White Hart Lane on November 19, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /

The Defensive Midfield

There might not be a more frustrating player in the Spurs midfield than Mousa Dembele. Many of his teammates believe he’s the most talented player in the squad, but his production generally fails to live up to those expectations.

Even playing at his current rate is good enough to make him an easy starter for Pochettino in the double-pivot. My usual criticism of Dembele is his failure to do enough for the Spurs attack. He likely won’t have to worry about that against Chelsea’s dynamic attack.

Instead, Dembele and his partner, Victor Wanyama, will have their hands full trying to shield Tottenham’s soft back four. Fortunately, both men excel while playing in the defensive half of the pitch. They will be tested mightily on Saturday.

If Spurs are going to earn a quality result against Chelsea, both Dembele and Wanyama will have to play absolute blinders. If either has even an ordinary match, Tottenham are likely to leave Stamford Bridge with a disappointing defeat.

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