Chelsea cruised past Southampton midweek with a dominant 5-1 win, while Tottenham stumbled to a frustrating 1-0 loss against Bournemouth. Ange Postecoglou faced the wrath of Spurs fans after the lackluster performance, where a header from Bournemouth's 18-year-old Dean Huijsen secured the Cherries' win. Tottenham’s injury-hit defense was left exposed, and only Bournemouth’s missed chances spared them a heavier defeat.
Now stuck in 10th place, six points adrift of the top four, Spurs are struggling for consistency. They've won just once in their last six matches across all competitions, though that solitary victory was an impressive 4-0 upset over Manchester City.
Spurs have scored in their last nine home games, but they’ve failed to secure a win in their past three at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, struggling to find a winning rhythm in London derbies. Postecoglou’s side has managed only four wins in their last 13 league clashes against fellow London teams, losing seven.
Chelsea, on the other hand, come into the game on a high. Axel Disasi’s early header set the tone against Southampton, and goals from Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, and Jadon Sancho sealed an emphatic victory. Now sitting second in the league, seven points behind leaders Liverpool, Enzo Maresca’s men have won four straight matches, including three away from home.
The Blues also have a strong track record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Last season, they dismantled Spurs 4-1 in this fixture, taking advantage of Tottenham’s nine-man meltdown.
In fact, Chelsea have won five of their last seven visits to the ground—more than any other team since the stadium opened in 2019. Spurs will need to dig deep to turn things around against a confident Chelsea side riding high on momentum.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Tottenham suffered a double blow on Thursday at the Vitality Stadium, not only losing the game but also another center-back, as Ben Davies was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Manager Ange Postecoglou has expressed concerns that the injury could keep him out for a while.With Micky van de Ven already out due to a thigh issue, Cristian Romero’s return from a toe injury can’t come soon enough. For now, teenager Archie Gray might have to partner Radu Dragusin in defense.
The list of absentees doesn’t stop there—Rodrigo Bentancur (suspension), Guglielmo Vicario (ankle), Richarlison (hamstring), Mikey Moore (illness), and Wilson Odobert (hamstring) are all unavailable. After limiting Son Heung-min to a substitute role on Thursday, Postecoglou is expected to bring his captain back into the starting XI for the derby.
Chelsea also face defensive challenges, though not as severe as Spurs'. Wesley Fofana and Reece James remain sidelined with hamstring injuries, while youngster Omari Kellyman is out for the same reason. Mykhaylo Mudryk is dealing with an illness but was unlikely to feature heavily in this matchup.
Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho, and Nicolas Jackson are all in line to freshen up Chelsea’s attack, even after standout performances from Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, and Joao Felix in their midweek win. Defenders Levi Colwill and Robert Sanchez are expected to return, but Axel Disasi’s solid showing against Southampton may earn him another start in place of the injured Fofana.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bissouma, Sarr; Johnson, Solanke, Son
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
EXPERT PREDICTION
Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea
With Tottenham potentially down to just one fit center-back and having had a day less to recover than Chelsea, Spurs fans might brace themselves for another tough outing, much like last year’s home defeat to the Blues.
Postecoglou's side was lucky to escape Bournemouth with only a single goal against them, but Chelsea known for their clinical attack are unlikely to be as forgiving at a stadium where they’ve enjoyed plenty of success.
