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Chelsea v Tottenham: Who Is Actually Fit for Saturday's Derby?

The London derby does not usually need extra fuel, but this one arrives with both dressing rooms half empty. Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 24 October 2026, kickoff 17:30 BST, and the buildup is dominated by two injury crises rather than the usual bragging rights.

Chelsea sit fourth in the Premier League after seven games, with 13 points from four wins, one draw and two defeats, 17 goals scored and 13 conceded. Tottenham are 16th on six points, with one win, three draws and three defeats, six goals scored and ten conceded. The visitors finally got their first Premier League win of the season on Monday 19 October, a 3-1 home victory over Coventry City. History says the home side should be confident: Chelsea have won the last six league meetings, and Spurs have won only one of their last 15 Premier League games against Chelsea, with two draws and twelve defeats. Across the Premier League era, Tottenham have won just seven of 59 meetings.

Add in the manager battle, Xabi Alonso on the home bench against Roberto De Zerbi in the away dugout, and the ingredients are there. But the team sheets will tell the real story. Here is everything we know about who is fit, who is out, and what it all means.

When is Chelsea v Tottenham and where can I watch it?

The match kicks off at 17:30 BST on Saturday 24 October 2026 at Stamford Bridge, London. It is live in the UK on Sky Sports, and NBCSports and DAZN Canada carry the game for North American viewers.

One important detail for this weekend: the UK clocks go back overnight from Saturday 24 October into Sunday 25 October at 02:00 BST. That means Sunday's games are played on GMT, but Saturday's derby is unaffected, and all the times below apply to Saturday's kickoff.

If you are watching from the US East Coast or Canada, this is a lunchtime kickoff at 12:30, while the West Coast gets a 09:30 morning start. European viewers outside the UK are at 18:30, and it is a 21:30 evening game in Pakistan.

Who is injured for Chelsea?

Chelsea's injury list is genuinely alarming because it hits the spine of the team. The headline loss is goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who fractured his jaw in a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite during the 2-0 win at Everton on 17 October. Martinez has undergone surgery, and he misses the derby. His return timeline is genuinely conflicted: some reports say a few weeks, while Argentine outlets have mentioned 40 plus days. Nothing is settled, so treat any specific return date with caution.

That means 21-year-old Mike Penders is expected to make his first Premier League start in goal. A debutant keeper in a London derby is a test of nerve as much as technique, and it will shape how Alonso sets up his defence.

The captain is also missing. Reece James has had a knee operation and is out for around three months, which points to a return around mid-January. Losing the club captain and the first-choice goalkeeper in the same fortnight is the kind of double blow that defines seasons.

Elsewhere, winger Jamie Gittens is out with an ankle injury picked up on England Under-21 duty, with a return expected in November. Emmanuel Emegha is out with a hamstring injury and has still not made his competitive debut. Pep Chavarria is a doubt after a knock in training. The better news is that Malo Gusto is back after missing the Everton game through illness, which matters because he is the natural deputy at right back for the absent James.

The table below lays out Chelsea's absence picture as verified on 22 to 23 October.

Who is injured for Tottenham?

Tottenham's list is longer and, in two cases, season-ending. Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert both suffered ACL injuries and are out for the rest of 2026. Losing two attacking players to long-term knee injuries in the same spell is brutal for a squad that has scored only six league goals in seven games.

Lucas Bergvall is out with a knee injury for two weeks. Savio has a muscle injury and is out for some weeks. Destiny Udogie missed the Coventry win with a knee problem and could return for the derby. Pedro Porro has a hamstring issue and has only a slim chance of making it.

Mykhailo Mudryk is out with an ankle injury until next weekend, and he would be ineligible against his parent club anyway. Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended, serving the second of a three-match ban.

There is also a small mystery from Monday night. Andy Robertson, Tosin Adarabioyo and Omar Marmoush all went off in the second half of the 3-1 win over Coventry, which raised fears of fresh problems. Roberto De Zerbi played it down after the match, saying, "No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important." That is his claim, not a medical assessment, so it is worth watching the teamsheets on Saturday for any late changes.

The brighter news is Dejan Kulusevski, who came off the bench on Monday after more than 500 days out injured. A derby is a bold stage for a returning player, but his minutes against Coventry suggest he is genuinely available again.

How do the two injury crises compare?

Chelsea's crisis is concentrated at the back and in goal. Losing a first-choice goalkeeper and the club captain at the same time damages leadership and organisation, and handing a 21-year-old his first Premier League start in a derby is the biggest selection gamble of the weekend. The attacking unit, by contrast, is relatively healthy, and Joao Pedro arrives in form after his brace at Everton.

Tottenham's crisis is concentrated in attack. Six goals in seven league games already suggested a blunt front line, and the ACL losses of Simons and Odobert remove two of the players who might have fixed it. With Bergvall, Savio, Porro and possibly Udogie also in doubt, De Zerbi's options to change a game from the bench are thin.

That contrast shapes the tactical battle. Chelsea are likely to press high and attack with confidence, trusting that their firepower can cover for a makeshift defensive setup. Tottenham, who have conceded only ten goals despite sitting 16th, may try to stay compact and turn it into a scrappy, low-margin contest. A derby with a debutant goalkeeper at one end and a blunt attack at the other points toward goals, but both managers know the margins are thin.

What is the form guide?

Chelsea's last two league games have been their best of the season. They won 5-1 at home to Bournemouth on 10 October and then 2-0 at Everton on 17 October, with Joao Pedro scoring both goals on Merseyside. That is seven goals scored and one conceded across two matches, and the mood around the club is rising after a mixed start.

Tottenham's season has been the opposite story until this week. The 3-1 win over Coventry City on Monday 19 October was their first Premier League victory of the campaign, ending a run of one win, three draws and three defeats. Scoring three goals in one game was a relief for a side that had managed just three in the previous six, and the return of Kulusevski gave the night an extra lift.

The league table after seven games reads: Manchester City first on 21 points with seven wins from seven, Arsenal second on 18, Brighton third on 16, Chelsea fourth on 13, Liverpool fifth on 12, and Tottenham sixteenth on 6. A Chelsea win would keep them in the top-four hunt; a Tottenham win would be their biggest result of the season and might finally kick-start their campaign.

What does the head-to-head record say?

The head-to-head record is emphatically in Chelsea's favour. Chelsea have won the last six Premier League meetings with Tottenham. Spurs have won only one of their last 15 league games against the Blues, with two draws and twelve defeats. Across the entire Premier League era, Tottenham have won just seven of 59 meetings.

Derbies can defy form, and Tottenham's new-manager energy under De Zerbi plus their first win of the season might count for something. But the historical weight is heavy, and it is one more reason the home crowd will expect a result on Saturday evening.

What are the key battles?

First, Mike Penders against the occasion. A 21-year-old goalkeeper making his first Premier League start in a London derby will be tested by crosses, set pieces and Tottenham's running. How Chelsea's back four protects him will be decisive, and expect Spurs to target him with high balls and bodies in the six-yard box.

Second, the right-back slot. With Reece James out for around three months, Malo Gusto steps in after missing the Everton game through illness. His battle with whoever plays on Tottenham's left will be crucial, particularly with Udogie's availability still uncertain.

Third, the midfield without Bentancur. Tottenham lose a suspended midfielder to a three-match ban, and with Bergvall also out, De Zerbi's midfield balance will be stretched. Chelsea's midfield should dominate possession on paper, but derbies rarely follow the script.

Fourth, Kulusevski's return. More than 500 days out is an eternity in football, and his cameo off the bench on Monday was one of the stories of Tottenham's win. If he gets meaningful minutes on Saturday, his quality on the ball could be the visitors' best route to something.

Finally, the touchline. Xabi Alonso against Roberto De Zerbi is a heavyweight tactical matchup, and both managers are dealing with depleted squads. The one who adapts best to his absentees, Alonso with a debutant keeper and no captain, De Zerbi with a gutted attack, will likely decide the game.

Sources

football.london, Sky Sports, sportsmole.co.uk, 101greatgoals, NBCSports, DAZN Canada.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Chelsea v Tottenham?

Saturday 24 October 2026, kickoff 17:30 BST at Stamford Bridge. That is 18:30 in Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome and Amsterdam, 12:30 ET in New York and Toronto, 09:30 PT in Los Angeles, and 21:30 PKT.

Is Emiliano Martinez playing in the derby?

No. The Chelsea goalkeeper fractured his jaw in a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite at Everton on 17 October, has undergone surgery, and misses the game. His return timeline is unsettled, with reports ranging from a few weeks to 40 plus days.

Who starts in goal for Chelsea against Tottenham?

Mike Penders, 21, is expected to make his first Premier League start in place of the injured Emiliano Martinez.

Which Tottenham players are out injured for the derby?

Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert are out for the rest of 2026 with ACL injuries. Lucas Bergvall, Savio and Pedro Porro are also out or doubtful, Destiny Udogie could return, and Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended for the second of a three-match ban.

What are Chelsea and Tottenham's league positions?

After seven games, Chelsea are 4th with 13 points (4 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats) and Tottenham are 16th with 6 points (1 win, 3 draws, 3 defeats). Manchester City lead with 21 points from seven wins.

What is the recent head-to-head record between Chelsea and Tottenham?

Chelsea have won the last six Premier League meetings. Tottenham have won one of the last 15 league games against Chelsea, with two draws and twelve defeats, and only seven of 59 Premier League meetings overall.