Premier League
Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur Preview
Stamford Bridge, London – Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur face off at Stamford Bridge in the pick of the midweek Premier League fixtures, both aiming to bounce back from weekend disappointment.
Tottenham saw their title hopes all but end with a surprise defeat to Burnley and the Blues lost to Manchester City on penalties in the EFL Cup final, possibly leaving Maurizio Sarri with this one game to save his job.
With 50 points, the Blues sit sixth in Premier League and further slip-ups could dent their aim to secure a Champions League spot for next season.
In contrast, Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a good run of form other than the loss to Burnley in their last match. They have 60 points in 27 league outings and a win against Chelsea will help them to put further pressure on Manchester City and Liverpool.
Previous Encounters:
- Chelsea have only lost one of their last 32 home games against Spurs in all competitions (W20 D11). However, that defeat did come in this exact fixture last season (1-3).
- Spurs ran out 3-1 winners in the return fixture at Wembley.
View From Both Camps:
Maurizio Sarri (Chelsea):
“This match for us is a risk, and an opportunity. A risk, of course, because they’re doing very well, so it’s a very difficult and dangerous match for us. And, as you said before, it’s a great opportunity for us. ”
Speaking about the Carabao cup final, Sarri said: “It was really a very unusual situation, so I think the players were really very shocked. It was impossible to react immediately, I think. Like on the bench.”
“After yesterday, for me the situation is finished. He is a young player and made a mistake, but stop. If I am sure that he understood that he made a really very big mistake, for me it’s finished.”
Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham):
“We are going to play a very good team with an amazing squad and players, capable to play and of course I don’t think they are going to be tired or in a different way.”
“It’s going to be a tough game and they are going to be good because it’s a derby and in front of their fans. For sure it’s such an important game for them too.”
Team News:
Emerson Palmieri has been preferred to Marcos Alonso at left-back of late and could continue, with Sarri likely to stick by his first-choice line-up and resist changes.
Tottenham are still without Dele Alli and Eric Dier for the trip to Chelsea. Alli is on the comeback trail from a hamstring injury while his England team-mate Dier is laid low with tonsillitis.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has no other concerns for the visit to Stamford Bridge.
Predicted Lineups:
Chelsea (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Higuain, Hazard.
Spurs (3-4-1-2): Lloris; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Sissoko, Winks, Davies; Eriksen; Kane, Son.
Match Prediction:
Both teams need to quickly pick themselves up following disappointing results at the weekend. Pochettino has won four Premier League games against Chelsea as Tottenham boss – more than every other Spurs manager combined in the competition – and his side have been far more consistent than their opponents over the course of the season. Just when they have been written off once again, the Lilywhites could well drag themselves right back into the title picture in the midweek round of fixtures. However, Chelsea need to win this fixture to keep their hopes of a top four finish alive.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
Photo credit to OP Marketing via Flickr
