Tottenham v Chelsea – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

in what is expected to be a typically heated derby. Spurs are having an incredible season and begin the weekend at the top of the table after an unbeaten start. The Blues have lost four of their first 11 league matches and languish in 11th place. Chelsea have won eight of the last 13 clashes between these sides with just one loss.

Spurs Form

Spurs look like possible title challengers after their start to this season. With no European football and an early Carabao Cup exit, they are getting plenty of recovery and training time between fixtures. Tottenham’s ten league matches so far have yielded eight wins and two draws. After the cup exit to Fulham, they thrashed Burnley 5-2 and netted two very late goals to win 2-1 at home against Sheffield United.

A strong comeback saw a 2-2 draw away at Arsenal and then a 96th-minute own goal sealed a somewhat fortunate 2-1 home win over nine-man Liverpool. Spurs then won 1-0 at Luton Town with ten men and breezed 2-0 past Fulham, allowing a paltry 0.17 xG in the first 83 minutes. Last time out, Tottenham had 76% of the ball in a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace where they conceded in the 94th minute after a comfortable display.

Spurs Team News

Ryan Sessegnon, Ivan Perisic, and Manor Solomon remain out injured so the depth in the wide areas is depleted. Richarlison is set to play as the left winger with Son remaining as the number nine after his recent scoring exploits.

The only question mark is at left-back. Ben Davies has an ankle injury and Destiny Udogie has been struggling with a knock. Ange Postecoglou will hope for one of them to be available, otherwise Emerson Royal may need to deputise on that flank. Rodrigo Bentancur is back from a long-term knee injury but won’t play more than a few minutes at best.

Spurs Motivation

Spurs are fully fresh and very high on confidence. They will attack as Postecoglou never changes his style of play.

Tottenham will see Chelsea as there for the taking and can lay down a marker as real title contenders with a win. They won’t see a home draw as a good result here.

Chelsea Form

The Blues are very inconsistent right now. They appear to take a step forward but then two steps backwards will follow. After five points from the first six league matches, including home losses without scoring against Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, they appeared to turn a corner. A 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Brighton preceded successive league wins.

They went to Fulham and won 2-0 and then won 4-1 at Burnley. A 2-2 home draw with Arsenal saw 60 excellent minutes before surrendering a 2-0 lead. Last weekend’s 2-0 home loss to Brentford saw a very strong start fizzle out. In midweek, Chelsea played a very strong team and beat Blackburn 2-0 at home to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Chelsea Team News

Mauricio Pochettino will hope to have Mykhailo Mudryk available down the left. Christopher Nkunku and Armando Broja remain ruled out in attack. Cole Palmer could play as the false nine with Nicolas Jackson struggling for form right now.

At right back, Reece James will hope to start but Malo Gusto is another option and so is Axel Disasi. Ben Chilwell and Trevoh Chalobah remain out injured but Benoit Badiashile is fit again. Thiago Silva will start after a rest in midweek.

Chelsea Motivation

This is a huge match for the coach and the players. Pochettino won’t want to lose against his former club and would arguably take a draw if it were offered to him right now.

Chelsea could sit off and try to play on the break. They had just 43% possession against Arsenal at home recently but threatened on transitions.

Key Stats

Tottenham have won 8 of their 10 Premier League matches this season (2 draws)

Tottenham have scored 2+ goals in 10 of their last 11 EPL matches.

Chelsea have lost just 1 of their last 13 matches vs Spurs in all competitions (8 wins)

Chelsea have won just 4 of their last 12 Premier League matches.

Chelsea have lost 5 of their last 9 away EPL matches.

Verdict

Considering the form of the two teams, 2.10 odds on a Spurs win looks very tempting. You can never discount the Blues in this fixture and a draw isn’t impossible either. We may not see that many goals in this one.