Tottenham vs Chelsea: Latest team news, predicted lineups and injuries

Spurs host Chelsea on what could be a very lively derby (Picture: Metro/Getty)

A London derby that rarely disappoints awaits this weekend as Chelsea make the trip across the capital to take on Tottenham .

After defeat at home to Aston Villa , a dominant win over Everton last time out got Spurs back on track with Thomas Frank ’s side sat five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal in third place.

Chelsea missed the chance to join them in the top four after their shock defeat at home to Sunderland.

There were contrasting fortunes in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night with the Blues surviving a late scare to beat Wolves with Tottenham crashing out after a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United.

Despite the win, there was more frustration for Enzo Maresca with Liam Delap ruled out of this weekend’s game as the result of his red card.

Delap was making his return from a hamstring injury in the second-half but two yellow cards in seven minutes saw him become the fifth Chelsea player to be sent off this season with Maresca labelling the striker’s dismissal as ‘stupid’ and ‘embarrassing’.

It means plans for Delap to return up front to move Joao Pedro to his preferred role off the striker are on ice for another week.

Delap picked up two yellow cards in seven minutes (Picture: Getty)

Marc Guiu could continue up top after starting against Sunderland, rested midweek against Wolves.

Cole Palmer remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from his persistent groin injury while Benoit Badiashile is out until December.

Tottenham’s injury problems are showing no signs of easing with Archie Gray their latest casualty, expected to be ruled out for a month.

Joao Palininha was deployed at centre-half against Newcastle in order to give Micky van der Ven a rest with Guglielmo Vicario and Wilson Odobert also missing out due to injury issues.

Vicario is expected to be available on Saturday against Chelsea but there are also major doubts over Cristian Romero’s fitness. The captain pulled out of the warm-up ahead of the defeat to Aston Villa , missing games against Monaco and Everton as a result.

Frank will provide a further update on his skipper on Friday but the visit of the Blues could come too soon. His issue is not thought to be a long-term one, however, as is also the case with Destiny Udogie who has not played since picking up a knee injury while on international duty.

Romero has missed Tottenham’s last three games (Picture: Getty Images)

Yves Bissouma and Dejan Kulusevski also remain sidelined along with long-term absentee James Maddison.

Dominic Solanke meanwhile is continuing his recovery from minor ankle surgery with Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai completing Tottenham’s list of unavailable players.

Should Vicario be past fit, Frank will be able to call upon the same starting XI that eased past Everton last time out although Richarlison is an option to come in and replace Randal Kolo Muani up top.

Delap’s suspension is a real spanner in the works but one positive for Maresca will be Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian all getting on the score sheet across the last two games.