Mauricio Pochettino will return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time as Chelsea boss on Monday, with the strong possibility of a frosty reception. Those that saw the reaction of Brighton supporters to Graham Potter and the performance that ensued at the Amex will hope that Pochettino can respond in a better manner.

There is some hope that the Blues can step up their performance against the Lilywhites, with Chelsea's better outings coming against the likes of Arsenal, Brighton and Liverpool this season. Teams who have opened up more have seen Chelsea have greater ease in attacking phases of the game where they have often struggled against a low block. Even in defeat to Brentford, Pochettino was hopeful about his side's chances against Spurs.

"We played Liverpool, we played Arsenal and the team did really well," said the 51-year-old. "When you see this type of game today, like Nottingham Forest, we dominate and we cannot score goals, the block is so, so deep. Too many bodies inside of the box, we struggled a little bit to score but I think if you see the different games when we play teams like Arsenal or Liverpool, the team did really well. That is why we are not worried. We need to move on, we need to win Wednesday and then to prepare the game against Tottenham."

football.london takes a look at the team Pochettino will hope to select to earn three points against his former side and the changes he could make.

Returning defenders

While Robert Sanchez seems all but guaranteed to start in goal, the backline is likely to undergo a change. Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill were rested against Blackburn and are set to come straight back into the side, even though Benoit Badiashile returned from injury in good form.

Pochettino noted that managing the returns of Reece James and Badiashile has made November feel like pre-season thus far, there will be little time for warming into the game against Ange Postecoglou's men. A dream lineup would of course include James, particularly with Spurs' left side having injury issues of its own for Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies.

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If not, there could be an inclination to start Malo Gusto, who has been wearing strapping on his right leg for the last two matches, at right back rather than Axel Disasi to offer a more comfortable threat going forwards. That may see Colwill return to the left side of the pitch and Marc Cucurella drop to the bench despite some strong form of late.

Midfield change

While 19-year-old Lesley Ugochukwu started against Blackburn, Pochettino will be keen to return to his first choice midfield having been unable to include Enzo Fernandez in his squad against Brentford. The combination of Conor Gallagher, Moises Caicedo and Fernandez was just finding some momentum before the disruption and it is an easy decision to return to.

Forward consideration

Pochettino likely will have to retain the same front three as what featured in the Carabao Cup last 16. Cole Palmer is the Blues' most in form player while Raheem Sterling perhaps offers Chelsea's most direct route into the box. Questions may surround Nicolas Jackson as he struggles for form but he remains the club's only senior out-and-out forward that is fit at the moment.

If Mykhailo Mudryk was to prove his fitness in time, there could be a temptation to return to the system which the Blues appointed against Arsenal with no recognised forward, and Palmer and Gallagher pressing high through the middle.