Chelsea vs Tottenham Preview: Analysis, Team News, Match Facts and Prediction

Chelsea will entertain Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge in a Super Sunday showdown as Frank Lampard and Jose Mourinho tries to see who best the other tactically.

Tottenham will be looking to retain their 100 percent Premier League away record and make it six wins in a row in all competitions when they travel to the Bridge.

Chelsea, on the other hand, are also a team in top form, and victory for them would make it seven in a row.

Both sides would be wary of each other as expected. Mourinho has come out to say that won’t be the case on Sunday as fear is not a word he recognises.

“You’ll have to ask Frank if they fear us or not,” he said. “But I don’t think fear is the right word at this level. We don’t fear anyone.”

No fear. But certainly, respect.

“We respect their potential and I think they respect our potential. Honestly, I don’t think they believe they are going to play an easy opponent,” Mourinho said.

“I would love them to feel that way, but I don’t think they do. Frank is a man with a lot of experience in football and I think they know we are a difficult team that is capable to go there and win.”

Team news

Chelsea team news

Christian Pulisic could make a return for Chelsea on Sunday having overcome his latest hamstring issue.

Pulisic is back training with the squad but boss Frank Lampard is not sure whether the USA forward is yet back to full match fitness.

Kai Havertz is also in contention to feature after working back to full sharpness having completed his self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19.

Tottenham team news

Tottenham will miss the services of center-back Toby Alderweireld who suffered a groin injury during last weekend’s 2-0 win over Manchester City and won’t feature against Chelsea. Welsh defender Joe Rodon replaced the Belgian late on and could be given a full debut this Sunday.

Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga are other alternatives in the heart of defence.

Hugo Lloris, Giovani Lo Celso, and Steven Bergwijn are expected to be part of the squad but Erik Lamela (Achilles) remains out.

Stats and facts heading into the match (Backed by Opta)

• Chelsea have won their last three Premier League games against Spurs, more than they had in their previous eight against them (W2 D2 L4). They last won more consecutively against them in the competition between January 2000 and March 2002 (six games).
• Tottenham have won just one of their last 34 away games against Chelsea in all competitions (D11 L22), losing the last three in a row since a 3-1 victory in April 2018.
• Spurs have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 away matches against Chelsea in all competitions, a 0-0 draw in March 2012.
• Chelsea (seven, level with Southampton) and Tottenham (eight) are on the current longest unbeaten runs in the Premier League, with Spurs one of three sides with a 100 per cent away record in the competition so far this term.
• Since the start of 2018-19, Chelsea have won eight of their 10 home London derbies in the Premier League (D1 L1), dropping points in consecutive games last season against West Ham (0-1) and Arsenal (2-2).
• Tottenham have won all four of their Premier League away games so far this season – only four teams have ever won their first five on the road in a Premier League campaign (Newcastle in 1994-95, Charlton in 2005-06, Chelsea in 2008-09 and Man City in 2017-18). Meanwhile, Spurs have only done this once in their top-flight history, doing so in their last title-winning season of 1960-61.
• Tottenham are looking to win five consecutive Premier League games for the first time since December 2018. The Lilywhites will have been top of the Premier League table for at least seven days this season, more than they had in their previous 10 campaigns combined (6 days between 2010-11 and 2019-20).
• Tottenham boss, José Mourinho, has lost both of his Premier League meetings with Chelsea manager Frank Lampard – the Portuguese has never lost three consecutive league matches against the same manager or club before.
• Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham is looking to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since September 2019. He has scored 18 Premier League goals since the start of last season, twice as many as any other player for the Blues.
• Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been involved in 16 Premier League goals this season (seven goals, nine assists), more than any other player. He is averaging a goal or assist every 50 minutes so far in the competition this term.

Prediction

Against all odds and despite a tough run of games for the Tottenham side, Jose Mourinho was able to beat Manchester City last weekend and he might pull another tactical genius against Chelsea on Super Sunday.

Verdict: Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham