OPINION
Tottenham take a 1-0 lead to Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Thursday night, but Mauricio Pochettino is without a string of key players, including Dele Alli and Harry Kane.
Alli was the latest to succumb to a long-term injury when he injured his hamstring – he won’t be back in training until March.
Kane is also out until at least March and Heung-min Son is away at the Asian Cup.
The good news for Tottenham is that Lucas Moura is back and he’ll give some support up top to Fernando Llorente, who should get the nod again despite a really poor outing against Fulham.
Chrsitian Eriksen and Erik Lamela will sit in behind, with Eric Dier and Harry Winks in the defensive midfield.
We think Pochettino will revert to a back-four against Chelsea, with Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier at full-back and Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld in the centre. It means 22-year-old Davinson Sanchez will drop to the bench.
Paulo Gazzaniga should get the nod in front of 32-year-old number one Hugo Lloris in goal.
This is the starting XI we think Pochettino will put out against Chelsea:
