Chelsea vs Tottenham: Picking a combined XI of London derby stars in the Premier League era

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League / Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
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Tottenham and Chelsea have enjoyed some wonderful fixtures over the years, and most of the time those games have been lit up by stars of the sport.

Some of the world's best players have strutted their stuff at games at Stamford Bridge or White Hart Lane, and usually it yields very entertaining results.

So let's have a look at some of those players in the form of a Chelsea-Tottenham combined XI from the Premier League era.

Because why not, eh? You've got the time, right?


GK - Petr Cech (Chelsea)

FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-TOTTENHAM
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-TOTTENHAM / IAN KINGTON/Getty Images

Arguably the Premier League's greatest ever goalkeeper, Cech sat between the stick for 11 years at Stamford Bridge and rarely put a glove wrong.

Winner of four Premier League titles, the former Czech Republic star left Stamford Bridge once his successor Thibaut Courtois became first choice under Jose Mourinho.


RB - Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

Chelsea FC v Everton FC - Premier League
Chelsea FC v Everton FC - Premier League / James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

A real steady Eddie in defence, Azpilicueta - or Dave if the surname's a bit tricky - has been restricting attackers down Chelsea's right and left hand sides since his arrival in 2012.

His versatility has benefitted a number of Chelsea managers, with Antonio Conte using the Spaniard as part of a centre back trio alongside David Luiz and Gary Cahill during their Premier League title triumph in 2016/17. He may be strongest at right back, but he never looks out of his depth wherever he plays.


CB - John Terry (Chelsea)

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Capital One Cup Final
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Capital One Cup Final / Clive Rose/Getty Images

Captain, leader, legend.

Terry's performances for Chelsea throughout the 2000s were a big part of the club's best ever period, with the former England international consistently blocking shots and crosses with just about every part of his body.

He played 32 games against Tottenham and won 17, also scoring in the 2015 League Cup final.


CB - Ledley King (Tottenham)

Tottenham Hotspurs' Irish striker Robbie
Tottenham Hotspurs' Irish striker Robbie / AFP/Getty Images

Damn those pesky knees!

Who knows what kind of legacy King would have left had he been fit for the majority of his career. As it stands, he ended up with 323 appearances for the Lilywhites, with 20 of those coming against Chelsea.

He ended up on the losing side 11 times, but did manage to sneak four wins, including the 2008 League Cup final.


LB - Ashley Cole (Chelsea)

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League / Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

The world's best left back during his prime, Cole was consistently brilliant for Chelsea following his arrival from Arsenal in 2006.

Cole was one of the first full backs of the modern era to be a threat from defence, often bombing forward to help his attacking teammates in the final third. Also totted up 107 England appearances, though not as much, if any, silverware was as forthcoming for the Three Lions as it was for the Blues.


RM - Gareth Bale (Totttenham)

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea - Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea - Premier League / Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

In comparison to Chelsea, Tottenham don't have as many megastars. but Bale was definitely one of them.

His highlight reel from the 2012/13 season is a collection of goals which involved the current Real Madrid forward cutting in from the right to fire belters past despairing goalkeepers. And each of those 21 Premier League goals that season was a banger.

He only scored the two goals against Chelsea, though one of those came in an important 2-1 win during the 2009/10 season in which Spurs qualified for the Champions League for the first time ever.


CM - Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea / Ben Radford/Getty Images

The current Chelsea boss was incredible for his side for over a decade.

The classic box-to-box midfielder with an eye for goal, Lampard racked up a club record 211 goals during his 13 years at the club, which included a few strikes against Tottenham.

He ended up with nine goals against Spurs for Chelsea, including a double in a 2-0 win at White Hart Lane in 2005.


CM - Luka Modric (Tottenham)

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea - Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea - Premier League / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The man who brought some flair to Tottenham's midfield in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Modric ran games at White Hart Lane in a way the home fans hadn't seen before.

The Croatian often sat deep and started attacks in north London, though he was partial to the odd scorcher from distance and scored against the Blues in a 1-0 win in 2009.

The Ballon d'Or winner nearly swapped Tottenham for Chelsea in 2011, though Daniel Levy was predictably stern and didn't let the deal happen. He left for Real Madrid a year later.


LM - Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - The Emirates FA Cup Semi-Final
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - The Emirates FA Cup Semi-Final / Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Hazard was pure magic during his time at Chelsea. His control with the ball at his feet is immaculate and he always enjoys playing against Spurs, though he doesn't get to rinse them as much now that he's at Real Madrid.

The Belgian scored some pretty important goals in London derbies, including the equaliser in2016 which effectively handed Leicester the Premier League title, and a smart finish in the 2017 FA Cup semi final.


ST - Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Drogba actually had far better records against Arsenal and Liverpool in comparison to his stats versus Tottenham, managing only six goals in 20 appearances.

However, he was a player who could turn it on at any stage, and his goal in the 2012 FA Cup semi final set the tone as the Blues embarrassed their London rivals by a 5-1 scoreline.


ST - Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea FC - Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea FC - Premier League / Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Given he announced himself to the world in such explosive fashion during Tottenham's 5-3 win over Chelsea in 2015, it's perhaps a tad surprising that Kane hasn't enjoyed more success against the Stamford Bridge outfit.

However, that game remains a defining one for the England captain. He had been ridiculed as a chancer by rivals fans up until that point, but the skill he displayed for both his goals that day silenced a fair few doubters...


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