Predicted Chelsea Line-Up vs Tottenham - Alonso Decisions Over Lavia, Palmer & Estevao Await | OneFootball

Previewing Chelsea's pre-season friendly against Spurs in Sydney. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Xabi Alonso is expected to field a relatively strong Chelsea line-up for the pre-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Seven of the 11 starters were from the academies, with Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Josh Acheampong being the only first-team players in the line-up.

Against London rivals Tottenham, however, Alonso could start with more established players. The stronger opponents will provide the new Chelsea manager with an opportunity to test some ideas heading into the season.

There are a couple of new arrivals in Chelsea's pre-season squad, as Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson have joined the team in Sydney after representing Ecuador and Senegal at the 2026 World Cup.

However, given their later arrivals, neither is expected to be involved in this game.

Jorrel Hato and Mamadou Sarr were in a similar situation earlier this week. They were left out of the matchday squad, but could now be available for the Spurs game.

Alonso also confirmed that Romeo Lavia, who was left on the bench against Western Sydney Wanderers due to a minor hamstring issue, is fit to be involved.

Strong Chelsea side to face Spurs

If Alonso does start with the stronger side against Spurs, Robert Sanchez would replace Teddy Sharman-Lowe.

For the centre-back pairing, Levi Colwill is expected to play alongside either Wesley Fofana or Aaron Anselmino, with the former being the more likely option.

Summer signing Marco Palestra could make his first Chelsea start at right back, while Hato should start on the left if he is deemed fit enough. Otherwise, Anselmino will likely fill the left-back spot.

In central midfield, Dario Essugo will likely keep his starting spot, while Lavia may replace Reggie Watson, who played a full 90 minutes in the previous game, if Alonso deems him fit enough.

Estevao Willian, Cole Palmer, Jamie Gittens, and Joao Pedro should form Chelsea’s front four, as they did in the final 30 minutes of the last game, as they look to get a bigger run of minutes.

Estevao is in high spirits following his return from injury. REUTERS/Hollie Adams

Gittens, in particular, will need more minutes under his belt after missing a big chunk of the second half of last season due to a hamstring injury.

Similarly, albeit to a lesser extent, Estevao missed the last few weeks of the season with a hamstring injury.

Alonso would also want Joao Pedro to continue his hot streak following his second-half hat-trick in the last win.

It could then see Alonso make the changes around the hour mark, as he did on Tuesday, bringing in a more youthful look for the final 30 minutes.

Sanchez, Palestra, Fofana, Colwill, Hato, Lavia, Essugo, Estevao, Palmer, Gittens, Joao Pedro