Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are set to meet in a London derby that rarely disappoints, with both sides eager to make a statement when they clash on Saturday in what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the Premier League weekend.
The rivals head into the match on the back of very different EFL Cup results, as Tottenham were eliminated by Newcastle United while Chelsea came out on top in a thrilling seven-goal battle with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Thomas Frank’s Tottenham side endured a frustrating night at St James’ Park, where two headers from Fabian Schar and another from Nick Woltemade saw Newcastle cruise to victory and send Spurs out of the EFL Cup.
It was a sharp contrast to the confidence they showed just days earlier in the league, when they produced a strong display to defeat Everton at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Micky van de Ven led the charge with two goals before Pape Sarr sealed the win, earning Tottenham their fifth Premier League victory of the season.
Despite that success, Tottenham’s overall form has been mixed, with just one win in their last five matches across all competitions. Still, the Premier League table offers some encouragement. Spurs sit third after nine games, five points behind leaders Arsenal, with only the Gunners and Bournemouth collecting more points so far. However, their home record remains a concern. Tottenham have managed only one point from their last three league matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Burnley being the only visiting team to lose there this season.
Chelsea, on the other hand, come into the derby full of confidence after another impressive showing on the road. Their 4-3 EFL Cup win over Wolves was a display of both youthful energy and resilience, even after Liam Delap’s red card. The victory was historic too, as it marked the first time in Premier League history that a side had four different scorers aged 21 or under in a single match.
However, that midweek joy was tempered by disappointment in the league, where Chelsea suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland. It was their third league loss in five matches, leaving Enzo Maresca’s men ninth in the table. Only twice before have Chelsea lost four times in their opening 10 Premier League games, highlighting the inconsistency that continues to plague them despite flashes of promise.
Even so, Chelsea have every reason to be optimistic about their trip to north London. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been a particularly welcoming venue for them in recent years.
Their dramatic 4-3 victory there last season was their fifth Premier League win at the ground—more than any other visiting team has achieved. With both sides eager to bounce back from their cup and league setbacks, this latest chapter of the London rivalry promises to deliver the intensity and drama that always accompany a Tottenham versus Chelsea encounter.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Tottenham are facing one of the most severe injury crises in the Premier League, with more than ten players unavailable for selection ahead of their clash with Chelsea. Yves Bissouma, Kota Takai, Dominic Solanke, Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Archie Gray, and Ben Davies are all ruled out through various injuries, leaving Thomas Frank with a depleted squad once again.
There is at least some positive news for Spurs. Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, and Wilson Odobert have all been cleared to play after recent fitness concerns, while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has recovered from the minor problem that kept him out of the defeat to Newcastle.
Micky van de Ven is also set to return to the starting lineup after being rested in midweek, bringing some stability back to the defense. In attack, Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, and Randal Kolo Muani are all pushing for starting spots as Tottenham look to maintain their attacking rhythm despite their growing injury list.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are dealing with fresh problems of their own. Liam Delap will miss the trip to north London after being sent off in the EFL Cup win over Wolves, a dismissal that Enzo Maresca described as “very stupid.” His suspension adds to Chelsea’s growing list of absentees, which includes Cole Palmer, Dario Essugo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, and Mykhaylo Mudryk, who remains out due to a doping suspension.
Maresca experimented with Joao Pedro and Marc Guiu in central roles during the loss to Sunderland, but the energetic Andrey Santos is expected to be rewarded with a start this weekend. Jamie Gittens, despite scoring and providing two assists in midweek, could make way for Alejandro Garnacho, who returns refreshed and ready to play a key role in Chelsea’s attack.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kudus, Bergvall, Simons; Kolo Muani
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Santos, Garnacho; Pedro
EXPERT PREDICTION
Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea
