Chelsea have found themselves in a precarious position after three consecutive games without a victory. This unfortunate streak has not only resulted in their elimination from the FA Cup but has also left them trailing by five points for the final European qualification spot in the Premier League.
The team is under immense pressure to turn things around quickly if they hope to secure a place in Europe next season. A win against Tottenham could be just what they need to regain momentum and close the gap. On the other side of this crucial clash are 'Spurs', who are currently seven points behind Aston Villa with two games still at hand. Their goal? To qualify for one of football's most prestigious tournaments - The Champions League.
However, back-to-back humbling defeats have put Spurs on shaky ground. Manager Ange Postecoglou is now tasked with eliciting an immediate response from his players to prevent them from being stranded well before reaching fifth place - a position some would argue is already a commendable achievement considering it’s Postecoglou’s debut season.
For Mauricio Pochettino, his first year as Chelsea manager could be deemed successful if he manages to secure a top-seven finish. A repeat performance of their previous 4-1 triumph over Tottenham would significantly boost their chances towards achieving this goal. Pochettino will undoubtedly be looking forward to recreating that wild victory which could potentially solidify his inaugural year as something more than just satisfactory.
Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur Team News
Chelsea's defensive stalwart, Thiago Silva, is set to undergo scans on a groin injury amid fears that his season may be over. This potential blow comes at a critical juncture in the Blues' campaign as they strive to secure their place in Europe next season.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Petrovic; Chalobah, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
Silva's absence could open the door for Axel Disasi to step into the starting XI. However, it remains unclear whether Malo Gusto, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell will return in time from their injuries. With Chelsea’s injury list now up to 13 players, manager Mauricio Pochettino faces an uphill task of rallying his troops ahead of this crucial clash.
Tottenham are also dealing with their share of injury woes. Striker Timo Werner had an early exit from the north London derby due to a hamstring injury and is currently being assessed by medical staff.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Davies; Sarr, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Richarlison
Despite these setbacks, there are some positive signs for Spurs fans as Oliver Skipp is expected to be fit for selection. Manager Ange Postecoglou might also turn towards Pape Sarr, Richarlison and Giovani Lo Celso in an attempt to freshen up his team following back-to-back defeats.
Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur Prediction
Stamford Bridge has often been a fortress for Chelsea where they have consistently compensated for their defensive indiscipline with a killer instinct on the offensive end. Despite occasional lapses in defense, the Blues have managed to maintain an impressive scoring record at home. This has not only kept their fans entertained but also instilled fear in visiting teams.
On the other hand, ruthlessness has been harder to come by recently for Pochettino's team - Tottenham Hotspur. Their indifferent road form does not provide much reason for optimism among their travelling faithful fans either. Spurs' struggles away from home have been evident this season and could prove detrimental in this crucial encounter against Chelsea.
Given these circumstances, it seems likely that we may see the Blues boss getting one over his former club once again as Chelsea aim to do the Premier League double over Spurs for an impressive 10th time. If successful, this would further cement their dominance over Tottenham in recent years.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur will be televised on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
