Prediction: Chelsea vs Tottenham

Verdict: Tottenham to Win

Best Odds: 21/10

Bookmakers: Bet 365

Chelsea welcome their London rivals Tottenham to Stamford Bridge for a monumental Premier League clash that could go a long way towards deciding the top four come the end of the season. The Blues currently sit fifth, five points behind their opponents this weekend, so a win would close the gap to two. Spurs meanwhile know that a positive result would put them in a commanding position to secure Champions League football for next season.

Chelsea 

After a hugely successful title-winning season last year in which everything looked rosy, manager Antonio Conte was still happy and the players were still turning up with the right attitudes, there was bound to be some regression. Few could have predicted a collapse quite as spectacular as this however and it is impressive that the Blues haven’t managed to fall any further down the Premier League table. Four defeats in their last six top-flight games with 11 goals conceded is not a record that one would normally attribute to the London club, but the stars such as Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata haven’t managed to find any real patches of good form.

That said, Conte’s men do still sit fifth, meaning that they are doing better than comical Arsenal, and they are actually only five points off fourth place Tottenham – their opponents this weekend. A win would thus reduce the gap to two points, and the last meeting ended in a Chelsea win. They may be able to lean slightly on Willian, the one player who has been playing well for most of this season. The Brazilian has two goals in his last three games for the Blues and could be their lifeline in this vital fixture.

Team News

Thibaut Courtois has a hamstring issue though he should start this game, while Andreas Christensen should also recover from his knock. David Luiz meanwhile remains out with a knee injury.

Elsewhere Ross Barkley is the only other notable absentee due to a hamstring problem.

Tottenham 

You would think that losing a striker who has netted 24 goals this season would be a huge hinderance to a side challenging for a top four finish, and it may well be a problem yet, but Tottenham have coped well without their talismanic finisher. They managed a 1-4 away win at Bournemouth – the game during which he limped off early – and a 0-3 victory against Swansea in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Spurs have so many talented players in the squad that they have been able to adapt well, with Heung-min Son slotting in well as a replacement, changing the dynamic of the team towards more pace-based attacks.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side are primed to secure Champions League football for next season, something that will be much appreciated after their frustrating exit from this year’s competition at the hands of Juventus a few weeks ago. This game provides the biggest hurdle on the way to that ambition however and it will certainly be an intriguing clash. A win would see Tottenham leapfrog Liverpool and climb to third, while a loss would give Chelsea a lot of confidence, as well as a worryingly narrow gap to make up in the run-in.

Team News

Harry Kane is the obvious name that will be absent from Tottenham’s team sheet as the England striker recovers from an ankle injury.

Midfielder Harry Winks is nearing a return from his own ankle injury, though likely won’t be fit enough to start this game.

Key Factors to Consider

• Chelsea have lost four of their last six Premier League games.
• Antonio Conte’s men have also conceded 11 in that stretch of games.
• Tottenham meanwhile are unbeaten in their last 12 top-flight matches.
• Spurs have scored 12 and conceded three in their last six league games.
• The last meeting between these two sides ended in a 1-2 win for Chelsea.

Conclusion

This is an intriguing game but one I think should be decided by the form. Chelsea have been diabolically bad recently and their hopes of a top four finish are dying out. Tottenham meanwhile have been excellent and don’t seem to have missed Harry Kane as much as many people expected. There are good odds in favour of the visitors here and I’m inclined to take that bet.

Verdict: Tottenham to Win

Best Odds: 21/10

Bookmakers: Bet 365