Tonight, Premier League action returns as Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. It's been 18 days since Spurs last played, and this midweek London derby arrives with an odd mix of anticipation and indifference. Some fans have even likened the return to school after a long break — not exactly thrilling, but inevitable. The unfortunate clash with the Darts final (with Luke Littler expected to shine) hasn’t helped either.

Still, there’s intrigue in how the teams line up. For Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou has named an attack-heavy XI: Vicario; Spence, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison, Odobert, Solanke, Son. On the bench: Kinsky; Porro, Davies, Gray, Bissouma, Sarr, Moore, Johnson, Tel.

Notably, Romero and van de Ven start together for the first time since the reverse fixture — fans will be hoping for a longer-lasting pairing this time around. Maddison’s inclusion alongside Odobert and Solanke suggests Ange is going all-in creatively, although Udogie over Porro might raise eyebrows.

Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, field: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson.

Cole Palmer, despite recent knocks, starts — a concern for Spurs considering his playmaking threat. Nicolas Jackson also returns after a lengthy absence, adding some unpredictability to Chelsea’s front line.

Despite the low stakes and a gloomy atmosphere around both clubs, this fixture still carries weight. For Spurs, a win could take them to the lofty 13th place — not much, but perhaps enough to shift the mood. Whether that’s enough motivation for the players, we’ll soon find out.