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Chelsea v Tottenham: Predicted Lineups, Porro Returns, Maddison Doubt and Penders Historic Start

Saturday evening at Stamford Bridge is about to get very interesting, and this time the story is written on the team sheets before a ball is kicked. Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 24 October 2026, kickoff 17:30 BST, with Chris Kavanagh as referee, and the predicted lineups tell you almost everything about where both clubs stand right now.

Chelsea are predicted to hand a first Premier League start to a 21-year-old goalkeeper. Tottenham are predicted to welcome back a key full back after a month out, while their most creative midfielder is a doubt after missing three days of training. That is a lot of drama before kickoff, and it is why this pre-match guide focuses on the predicted XIs and what they mean, rather than repeating a generic match preview.

The managers set the tone for the whole contest. Xabi Alonso leads Chelsea into this London derby, and Roberto De Zerbi leads Tottenham. Alonso has a side in fourth place and in strong scoring form. De Zerbi has a side still searching for consistency after a first Premier League win of the season. The predicted teams show Alonso backing youth in goal and De Zerbi backing experience and returning players in defence, with one major question mark in midfield.

If you want the full injury background behind these selections, read yesterday's guide: Chelsea v Tottenham derby injuries, kickoff and watch guide. For a completely different weekend sport read, here is yesterday's Formula 1 story: Verstappen, COTA bumps and 9g spine impacts at the United States Grand Prix.

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

Chelsea v Tottenham kicks off at 17:30 BST on Saturday 24 October 2026 at Stamford Bridge. The match is live in the UK on Sky Sports, and Chris Kavanagh is the referee for this London derby.

The kickoff time matters because this is a Saturday evening game in London, a lunchtime game on the east coast of North America, and a morning game on the west coast. Use the table below to find your local time, and do not rely on a generic listing that may still show an old timezone.

For viewers in Pakistan, this is a 21:30 PKT evening kickoff. For viewers in New York and Toronto, it is a 12:30 EDT lunchtime start. For viewers in Los Angeles, it is a 09:30 PDT morning start. European viewers outside the UK watch at 18:30 CEST.

What is Chelsea's predicted lineup?

The most widely predicted Chelsea XI in today's previews uses a 3-4-2-1 shape. It is a predicted team, not a confirmed team, and late changes are always possible on derby day. But as it stands, this is the side most previews expect Xabi Alonso to pick.

Read that team from back to front and the story is clear. Chelsea are predicted to trust a young goalkeeper, protect him with three centre backs, and then lean heavily on their attacking talent to win the game. Pedro Neto and Jorrel Hato give width in the midfield four, Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson give structure in the middle, and Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers sit behind Joao Pedro to create and finish chances.

This is not a cautious selection. It is a selection that says Chelsea believe they can outscore Tottenham, even with a debutant in goal. That belief is backed by recent form, which we will come to below, but it also puts real pressure on the three defenders in front of Penders. Acheampong, Lacroix and Colwill will need to be organised, vocal and disciplined, because a London derby rarely gives a young goalkeeper a quiet afternoon.

Why is Mike Penders starting, and why is it historic?

Mike Penders, 21, is set for his first Premier League start because Emiliano Martinez is out after jaw surgery. Martinez suffered the injury in a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite at Everton on 17 October, and his absence opens the door for Penders in the biggest game of his young career so far.

Penders is set to become Chelsea's youngest-ever Premier League starting goalkeeper. That record is the reason this selection matters beyond one match. A first Premier League start is a milestone for any goalkeeper. A first Premier League start in a London derby, in front of a home crowd expecting a win, is a test of nerve as much as technique.

Expect Tottenham to test him early. Expect crosses, set pieces and bodies around the six-yard box. Expect Chelsea's defenders to talk him through the early minutes. How Penders handles the first 20 minutes will shape the whole evening, for him and for the team in front of him. If he settles quickly, Chelsea can play their normal game. If the occasion gets to him, Tottenham will sense it and push harder.

There is also good news for Chelsea in the wider team news. Malo Gusto is fit to return after illness caused him to miss the Everton game. That gives Alonso another experienced defensive option around a young goalkeeper, which matters in a game where organisation is everything.

Who is out for Chelsea?

Chelsea's absentees explain several of the predicted selections. Emiliano Martinez is out after jaw surgery. Reece James is out after a knee operation, with around three months out. Jamie Gittens is out with an ankle injury picked up on England Under-21 duty. Emmanuel Emegha is out with a hamstring injury and has still not made his debut. Pep Chavarria is out with a knock.

That is a long list, and it covers goalkeeper, captain, winger and striker options. Yet the predicted XI still looks strong in attack, and that is the key point for Chelsea fans. The absences hurt most at the back, where Martinez and James are missing, but the front end of the team is intact. Joao Pedro leads the line, Cole Palmer plays behind him, and Morgan Rogers adds another creative threat. Chelsea are not predicted to sit back and survive. They are predicted to attack.

What is Tottenham's predicted lineup?

Tottenham's most widely predicted XI in today's previews is listed below. Present it as predicted, not confirmed, because there is one major doubt in it and at least one variation across previews, both explained in the next sections.

That is a team built around returning players and established names. Porro comes back into the defence, Adarabioyo and Robertson are passed fit after going off against Coventry, and Marmoush is also passed fit. Kudus, Solanke and Marmoush give Tottenham pace and movement in attack, while Tonali gives the midfield its ball-winning presence.

There is, however, an important variation to flag. Some previews list Conor Gallagher in midfield and use a 4-2-3-1 shape instead. That means the exact shape and the midfield balance could still change before kickoff. The XI above is the most widely predicted version, but do not treat it as confirmed until the official team sheets arrive. Gallagher, in particular, is pushing for a recall against his former club, which adds another layer to the selection debate.

Why does Pedro Porro's return matter so much?

Pedro Porro returns after a month out with a hamstring injury suffered on 19 September against Aston Villa. Roberto De Zerbi confirmed the return on Friday, and Porro goes straight into the most widely predicted Tottenham XI.

A month out is a long time in a season, and a hamstring injury is exactly the kind of problem that needs careful management on return. Porro will not just be asked to defend. In a Tottenham side that needs width and attacking thrust, his runs down the right side are a major outlet. His crossing and his set piece delivery give Tottenham another way to hurt Chelsea, especially against a young goalkeeper making his first Premier League start.

There is also a psychological side to this return. Tottenham have been short of options for weeks, and getting a proven starter back for a derby lifts the whole squad. Porro knows this fixture, knows the intensity, and knows what Stamford Bridge feels like on derby night. That experience matters when so much else around him is uncertain.

Why is James Maddison a doubt?

James Maddison is a doubt because he has missed three days of training since the Coventry game. That is the key selection warning in Tottenham's predicted XI. He is listed in the most widely predicted team, but a player who has missed three days of training cannot be treated as a certain starter.

If Maddison plays, Tottenham have their most creative passer in midfield, a player who can unlock a defence with one pass and take responsibility for set pieces. If he does not play, or if he starts but is not fully sharp, Tottenham lose a big part of their creative plan. That is where the Gallagher variation becomes relevant. Gallagher pushing for a recall gives De Zerbi a high-energy alternative, but Gallagher is a different kind of midfielder, more about pressing and running than about delicate passing in tight spaces.

Watch the official team news closely for Maddison. His inclusion or absence changes how Tottenham build attacks, how they take set pieces, and how much of the creative burden falls on Kudus and Marmoush out wide.

Who else is fit, available or pushing for Tottenham?

Beyond Porro and Maddison, Tottenham's team news has several positive notes. Andy Robertson, Omar Marmoush and Tosin Adarabioyo all passed fit after going off against Coventry. That is important because all three appear in the predicted XI, and losing any of them late would force another reshuffle.

Dejan Kulusevski is available after more than 500 days out, and he trained individually early in the week. His availability gives De Zerbi another attacking option from the bench, even if a start in a derby would be a huge step after such a long absence. His return story has already been one of the bright spots of Tottenham's week, and his presence in the squad adds quality and experience to the bench.

Conor Gallagher is pushing for a recall against his former club. That storyline writes itself. A former Chelsea player returning to Stamford Bridge with a point to prove, in a game where Tottenham need energy and aggression in midfield, is exactly the kind of subplot that makes a derby feel personal. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, expect his name to be one of the first debated when the team sheets land.

Who is out for Tottenham?

Tottenham's out list is long, and it explains why De Zerbi's options are stretched. Lucas Bergvall is out with a knee injury. Savio is out with a muscle injury. Destiny Udogie is out with a knee injury. Xavi Simons is out with an ACL injury for the rest of 2026. Wilson Odobert is out with an ACL injury for the rest of 2026. Mykhaylo Mudryk is out with an ankle injury, and he is also ineligible against his parent club. Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended, serving the second of a three-match ban.

The ACL losses of Simons and Odobert for the rest of 2026 are the most serious long-term blows. They remove two attacking players from a squad that has scored only six league goals in seven games. Bergvall, Savio and Udogie remove further midfield and wide options. Bentancur's suspension removes a senior midfielder at exactly the moment when Maddison is also a doubt. Put together, that is why the predicted XI leans so heavily on returning players and why the bench options matter so much.

The table below summarises the absence picture for both sides, based only on today's previews and yesterday's verified log.

What is the form and league table before kickoff?

Chelsea go into this derby in fourth place, and Tottenham go into it in 17th place. That gap tells you how different the two seasons have been so far, but derbies have a habit of ignoring league positions for 90 minutes.

Chelsea's recent form backs up the confidence in their predicted XI. They beat Bournemouth 5-1 on 10 October, and then they won 2-0 at Everton on 17 October, with Joao Pedro scoring twice in that Everton win. That is seven goals scored and one conceded across two league games, and it explains why Alonso is predicted to pick an attacking side even with a young goalkeeper behind them.

Tottenham's recent form is different, but there is a turning point to note. Spurs claimed their first Premier League win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Coventry City on 19 October. Before that win, they had one win, three draws and three defeats in the league, with only six goals scored. Scoring three goals in one game against Coventry was a relief for a blunt attack, and it gives De Zerbi something to build on. Whether that win was the start of a run or just a single good night is one of the big questions on Saturday.

Two individual form notes stand out for Chelsea. Cole Palmer has been directly involved in five goals in five league appearances against Tottenham, with three goals and two assists. That record against this opponent is why Palmer's place in the predicted XI matters so much. Joao Pedro arrives after scoring twice at Everton, and his confidence will be high leading the line against a Tottenham defence that is itself welcoming back players from injury.

What does the head-to-head record say?

Chelsea have won the last six league meetings between these sides. Tottenham have won seven of 59 Premier League meetings overall. The last meeting finished Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham on 19 May 2026.

That record is a heavy weight for Tottenham to carry into Stamford Bridge. Six straight league defeats against the same opponent is not just a statistic, it is a psychological hurdle. Every Tottenham player in the predicted XI knows it, and every Chelsea player knows it too. The home crowd will remind the visitors of it from the first whistle.

History does not decide games on its own, and Tottenham's first win of the season plus Porro's return give them genuine reasons for hope. But the head-to-head record explains why Chelsea are predicted to play on the front foot, and why Tottenham will need to be disciplined and brave to change the story. A derby win for Tottenham would not just be three points, it would break a run that has defined this fixture for years.

What are the key battles in the predicted lineups?

The first key battle is Mike Penders against the occasion and against Tottenham's attack. A 21-year-old goalkeeper making his first Premier League start, set to become Chelsea's youngest-ever Premier League starting goalkeeper, will be tested in the air and from set pieces. Tottenham's predicted attack of Kudus, Solanke and Marmoush will run at him, crowd him and test his decision making. Chelsea's three centre backs must protect him, communicate constantly, and clear danger early rather than letting pressure build.

The second key battle is Pedro Porro against Chelsea's left side. Porro returns after a month out, and his attacking runs will be a major outlet for Tottenham. If he gets forward freely, Tottenham can stretch Chelsea's midfield four and create crossing chances. If Chelsea pin him back, Tottenham lose width and become easier to defend against. His fitness after a hamstring injury will be watched closely, especially in the second half.

The third key battle is in midfield, and it depends on James Maddison. If Maddison starts and is sharp, Tottenham have a creator who can find Solanke and Marmoush in dangerous areas. If Maddison is out or below his best, and if Gallagher comes in instead, the midfield battle becomes more about energy, pressing and second balls than about passing through Chelsea. Tonali's role becomes even more important in that scenario, because he must give Tottenham control without Maddison's passing.

The fourth key battle is Cole Palmer against Tottenham's midfield and defence. Palmer has three goals and two assists in five league appearances against Tottenham, and his movement between the lines is hard to track. Tottenham's predicted defence has five names in it, including returning players, and keeping Palmer quiet will require constant communication. If Palmer finds space, Joao Pedro will get chances, and Joao Pedro is in scoring form after his brace at Everton.

The fifth key battle is on the touchline. Xabi Alonso against Roberto De Zerbi is a tactical contest between two managers dealing with very different problems. Alonso must protect a young goalkeeper while keeping his attack free to play. De Zerbi must rebuild an attack without Simons and Odobert, manage Porro's return, and decide whether Maddison is fit enough to start. The manager who adapts best to his absentees, and who uses his bench best, could decide a tight derby.

What should fans watch for when the team sheets land?

When the official team sheets arrive, check four things in order. First, is Mike Penders really starting in goal for Chelsea, and does that confirm the historic youngest-ever record? Second, is Pedro Porro really back in Tottenham's starting XI after his month out? Third, is James Maddison starting, on the bench, or out completely after missing three days of training? Fourth, is Conor Gallagher starting against his former club, or does the most widely predicted XI hold with Tonali and Maddison in midfield?

Those four answers will tell you whether the predicted lineups in this guide were right, and they will shape the whole match. A confirmed Penders start makes the goalkeeper battle the story of the night. A confirmed Porro return gives Tottenham width and experience. A Maddison absence changes Tottenham's creative plan completely. A Gallagher start adds personal drama and midfield energy to a derby that already has plenty of both.

Remember the status of this guide. These are predicted lineups from today's previews, not confirmed teams. Late fitness tests, tactical changes and derby-day surprises can still alter the picture. But on the evidence available before kickoff, Chelsea are predicted to trust youth in goal and firepower up front, while Tottenham are predicted to trust returning players, with one major doubt hanging over their midfield. That contrast is what makes Saturday evening at Stamford Bridge so compelling.

SOURCES: The Football Faithful, USA Today, Spurs Web, Vanguard.