One absentee for Chelsea versus seven for Tottenham. That is the standout number ahead of the Saturday 24 October 2026 clash in matchday 8 of the Premier League at Chelsea. The predicted line-ups below are based on each team’s last official starting XI, excluding players announced as unavailable, and may change due to rotation.
Kick-off time and broadcasters
The match takes place at Chelsea’s stadium at the same time for Morocco and Algeria (17:30), and Saudi Arabia and Egypt (19:30). It will be broadcast in the Middle East and North Africa on beIN SPORTS 1, and in Germany and Croatia on Arena Sport 1.
What do the absences mean for Chelsea?
Goalkeeper E. Martinez is out with a fractured jaw, along with Emmanuel Emega, Jimmy Gittens and Reece James. That means the goalkeeping position is the only confirmed change in Chelsea’s line-up, while the rest of the team remains the same as in the Everton vs Chelsea match (17 October 2026).
- Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Goalkeeper: Replacement for Martinez (announced absent)
- Defence: J. Achampong, Maxence Lacroix, L. Colwill, J. Hato
- Midfield: Moises Caicedo (captain), Jordan Henderson, P. Neto, C. Palmer, M. Rogers
- Attack: Joao Pedro
How depleted are Tottenham?
The seven absences affect all areas: Bergvall, Modric, Boro, Richarlison, Savio, Odobert and Xavi Simons. Nevertheless, the predicted line-up retains the structure from Tottenham’s match against Coventry City (19 October 2026), except for the positions occupied by the absentees.
- Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Goalkeeper: A. Kinsky
- Defence: M. van de Ven (captain), J. P. van Hecke, T. Adarabioyo, A. Robertson
- Midfield: A. Gray, Sandro Tonali, M. Kudus, J. Maddison
- Attack: Omar Marmoush, D. Solanke
InfoSports stats
- 7 players announced absent for Tottenham versus 4 for Chelsea.
- Chelsea are 4th with 13 points from 7 matches, while Tottenham are 16th with 6 points.
- In our last recorded meeting, Chelsea won 1-0 at Tottenham on 1 November 2025 in the Premier League.
What lies ahead for both teams?
A seven-point gap between them after seven rounds gives Chelsea a clear advantage, but the absence of their first-choice goalkeeper raises questions at the back. Tottenham, meanwhile, will look to continue their attacking impact despite the shortages, after their 3-1 win over Coventry City and a 1-1 away draw with Manchester United.
