Tottenham predicted XI v Chelsea as £170k-a-week player drops out and Brennan Johnson decision made

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Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action on Sunday as they host Chelsea in North London.

Spurs once again go into a big game having a lot to prove in wake of another disappointing defeat to a team they were favourites to beat.

Tottenham were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in a game where the hosts saw one goal chalked off for offside and a penalty shout waved away.

Now, Spurs will be eager to make amends in a London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Spurs News looks at who Ange Postecoglou could name in his starting XI for the game against Enzo Maresca’s side.

READ MORE: Tottenham’s stance on Ange Postecoglou future amid calls for him to be sacked

Tottenham team news v Chelsea

Spurs defender Cristian Romero is set to train on Saturday, suggesting he’s in with a chance to feature against Chelsea on Sunday.

Micky van de Ven is back out on the grass and working his way back to fitness but he is not expected to be fit in time for the game.

Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended, while Guglielmo Vicario, Richarlison, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore are all recovering from injury or illness.

Ben Davies could potentially miss two to six weeks with a hamstring injury he suffered in midweek.

Tottenham predicted starting XI v Chelsea

Fraser Forster delivered a decent display against Bournemouth and, as Vicario is still injured, he’ll be set to continue in goal.

We predict – or perhaps you can say hope – that Romero will be fit enough to start against Chelsea, where he would partner Radu Dragusin at centre-back.

Destiny Udogie should retain his place at left-back, while Pedro Porro is likely to return in place of Archie Gray.

The £40million youngster was moved to centre-back after Ben Davies came off with a hamstring injury, but he should get a rest on Sunday.

Postecoglou shuffled his pack on Thursday, Dejan Kulusevski starting in midfield and Brennan Johnson playing on the left, but without much success.

We predict a revert to type on Sunday, with Kulusevski returning to midfield and Johnson returning to the right flank.

Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr could start in midfield, while captain Son Heung-min should return on the left flank and Dominic Solanke should lead the line again.

This would see James Maddison drop out, the £170,000-a-week playmaker having struggled against the Cherries in midweek.

Predicted Tottenham starting XI v Chelsea (4-3-3): Forster; Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Son