The stage is set for Sunday night. Two of the Premier League’s early pace-setters go head-to-head as Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge in what promises to be an enthralling encounter.
Can Frank Lampard weave his magic against Jose Mourinho again? Or will the former Chelsea manager return to haunt the Blues at the Bridge?
Spurs and Chelsea Set for Top of the Table Clash
Chelsea Versus Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview
After both sides got the job done in Europe in midweek, their attentions will be firmly set on their fixture. With just two points separating the cross-capital rivals, it really is a game neither side can afford to lose.
It is set to be an intriguing contest, with Chelsea and Spurs boasting the best attacking and defensive records between them so far this season. The Blues have scored 22 goals and conceded ten, whilst the Lilywhites have netted 21 times and let in nine goals. Both teams are also unbeaten in their last six league Premier League matches.
Spurs haven’t lost in the league since the opening day of the season and are coming off perhaps their best performance of 2020/21 so far. A Mourinho masterclass in their previous domestic fixture saw them sweep aside Manchester City by two goals to nil.
Meanwhile, the signings of Thiago Silva and Edouard Mendy seemed to have finally fixed Chelsea’s issues at the back. In the four league games with Mendy between the sticks, Chelsea conceded nine goals. Throughout the other five matches, the Senegalese international has started, the Blues have conceded just once.
Lampard’s Defensive Will Be Put to the Test Against Tottenham
A new-found solidity in Lampard’s side will be put to the test by the attacking machine Mourinho has built at Spurs. Harry Kane and Son-Heung Min have contributed directly for a combined 27 goal involvements, making them one of the most fearsome forward pairings in Europe right now. Son has scored averaged a goal per game and Kane has complimented him perfectly with nine assists in nine matches.
However, Spurs are unlikely to have it all their own way against a Chelsea side who have started to gel after £250 million of new signings initially struggled to settle. Ben Chilwell has added attacking dynamism and directness from left-back, with two goals and two assists in his first six outings. Timo Werner has also been influential upfront, scoring four times whilst notching two assists of his own.
Interestingly, in each of the last three Premier League fixtures involving Spurs or Chelsea, one side has scored or conceded inside the first 20 minutes. As was the case when Son scored the opener against Manchester City after just five minutes, an early goal could blow the game wide open.
Discipline Key in Deciding Result
An extremely intense start to the game would be unsurprising as Mourinho and Lampard will both be intent on drawing first blood and controlling the contest from a winning position.
Whichever side keeps their discipline could be a deciding factor too. In last season’s fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the home had just started to get back into the game after trailing 2-0 at half-time when Son was sent off for kicking out at Antonio Rudiger. Down to ten men, any chances Spurs had of a comeback victory were gone.
Mourinho will be all too aware that he is yet to win a Premier League match against Lampard, but he did put the losing streak to rest when a Tottenham victory on penalties knocked Chelsea out of the EFL Cup in September. Recent history favours Chelsea though, who have not lost to Spurs in the league for nearly two years.
A win for Mourinho would move Spurs five points clear of Chelsea and ensure their status as table-toppers. If Chelsea were to clinch all three points, not only would they move about their London rivals, but they could end the weekend as league leaders if Liverpool fail to win at Brighton.
With ‘London Calling’ as SW6 prepares for a clash against N17, ‘war is declared and battle come down’.
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