Gittens decision made as Maresca makes eight changes - Chelsea predicted XI vs Tottenham

Chelsea will be looking to take advantage of Tottenham's woes at home in recent times with a fifth successive victory over their London rivals.

The Blues have a terrific recent record against Spurs, and the north Londoners’ home form may give Enzo Maresca and his side even more cause for optimism this evening. Tottenham have picked up just 13 points from their last 18 Premier League games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with only one home win under their belt this season.

Maresca, meanwhile, will be desperate for his team to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointment at home to Sunderland in the league, with the Black Cats scoring a 93rd-minute winner to claim all three points at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea did get back to winning ways in midweek, beating Wolves 4-3 in a thrilling Carabao Cup fourth round tie at Molineux.

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The Blues fielded a second-string XI in Wolverhampton, and Maresca is expected to make wholesale changes to the line-up for this evening’s match, as Bobby Vincent discusses below in his predicted team:

Robert Sanchez

Filip Jorgensen got the 90 minutes on Wednesday as it was a cup tie, but Sanchez is expected to return in goal today. The Chelsea goalkeeper can expect plenty of pressure on him - particularly when he has the ball at his feet, so he will have to be on it from the very first minute in north London.

Reece James

The Chelsea skipper travelled to Wolverhampton in midweek but was an unused substitute at Molineux. James should be fresh and raring to go in a game where Chelsea will need their captain at his brilliant best.

Josh Acheampong

This would be his fourth start in the Premier League on the bounce. The 19-year-old has been tremendous recently and has looked like Chelsea's strongest central defender over the past few weeks.

Trevoh Chalobah

Alongside Acheampong is expected to be Chalobah. Not been at his best recently, but will be hoping to return to his best this evening for a fixture he knows the significance of.

Marc Cucurella

Cucurella was brought on around the hour-mark in midweek, with Maresca having one eye firmly on the trip to Spurs. The Spaniard continues to be one of the first names on the team sheet these days.

Romeo Lavia

Simply put, Chelsea look a much better side with Lavia in the midfield. He did start at Molineux, so it will be interesting to see whether Maresca believes he can pick the Belgian midfielder for back-to-back matches with little turnaround.

Moises Caicedo

Caicedo came on for the final few minutes in the west Midlands three days ago to try and help see the game out for Chelsea. The Ecuadorian, all things considered, should be relatively fresh for this evening's trip to north London.

Pedro Neto

Like Caicedo, Neto was used briefly towards the end at Molineux. There is, of course, a shout for Estevao Willian to start the game but Maresca may go for his tried and trusted in Neto instead.

Enzo Fernandez

Perhaps came on a little bit earlier than anticipated on Wednesday evening, but Maresca was looking to wrestle back control from a game that was slipping away from the Blues. No doubt Fernandez starts this one as he looks to score in a third consecutive game against Spurs.

Jamie Gittens

Gittens or Alejandro Garnacho? That is the big question. If he is going on merit, then it has to be Gittens. The 21-year-old winger was sensational in Wednesday evening’s win at Wolves and could not have done anything more to start this one.

Joao Pedro

The Brazil international was an unused substitute in midweek, which will be a big relief for Maresca, who recently admitted the forward was struggling with his fitness. Joao Pedro is without a goal in his last eight games for the Blues - in all competitions - and will be desperate to put that right later on today. Liam Delap is suspended.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Fernandez, Gittens; Joao Pedro