Man City v Chelsea: No N'Golo Kante or Thibaut Courtois in Matt Le Tissier's combined XI
Sunday 4 March 2018 16:02, UK
We challenged Matt Le Tissier to pick his combined Manchester City and Chelsea XI as the leaders and reigning champions prepare to clash, live on Sky Sports Premier League on Sunday.
Le Tiss has gone with a Manchester City majority as Pep Guardiola's men head into the clash 16 points clear of the chasing pack and 22 ahead of their visitors.
But some might be surprised to see there is no room for 2016/17 PFA Player of the Year N'Golo Kante or Golden Glove holder Thibaut Courtois, while Leroy Sane and Vincent Kompany also miss out.
Here's Le Tiss' team and his justification...
In goal I've gone with Ederson Moraes for his all-round offering. Thibaut Courtois is maybe just ahead as a shot-stopper, but if you want a team who can play from the back then Ederson gets the nod because he is so much better with his feet.
Kyle Walker is an easy pick at right-back. I don't see too many out there in the Premier League better than him. Antonio Valencia at Manchester United might challenge him, but nobody at Chelsea gets close.
Based on this season, Nicolas Otamendi has to be in there. He has been a mainstay, missing just one game through suspension, and has chipped in with goals. Vincent Kompany hasn't played enough this season to justify getting him in the team.
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Then in the most balanced area of the pitch, also in my defence I'm going for Cesar Azpilicueta, who I think is one of the best players in the league. I would also have Marcos Alonso in there because City have had injuries at left-back so don't really offer a real alternative.
You could also make a case for N'Golo Kante on the two previous campaigns but he hasn't quite reached that level this season, whereas Fernandinho and Kevin De Bruyne have been brilliant. The fact De Bruyne has played a touch deeper and adapted to that position while still being able to get forward so much has made City that much stronger than everyone else.
In the attacking areas, from Chelsea I can only really find a place in the team for Eden Hazard, who is a world-class player, and even then you're having to leave out an extremely talented City player.
Raheem Sterling has to be in there because of his goals and then it is a choice between David Silva and Leroy Sane. I think Sane is going to be stunning player but Silva is one of my absolute favourites in the Premier League with the way he glides through football matches, sees passes others don't and is just a joy to watch.
Then I've got to have Sergio Aguero up top on his own. He's a world-class finisher and on his day the best striker in the Premier League.
It is going to be a pretty decent bench as well with Gabriel Jesus, Sane and Alvaro Morata, while Willian also comes close. I think he has been one of Chelsea's best players this season and am surprised he's on the bench so often.
