Chelsea
will look to keep their place at the top of the Premier League table when
they host Tottenham in a London derby on Saturday evening.
Antonio Conte's side have won their last six Premier League matches without
conceding, with the Blues' last victory a 1-0 win against Middlesbrough at
the Riverside Stadium in last weekend's Nissan Super Sunday.
Their winning run has moved them a point clear of Liverpool and Manchester
City at the top of the table while Tottenham remain the only unbeaten side
in the league and lie fifth, four points behind the Blues.
Spurs secured a late win against West Ham last weekend but were knocked out
of the Champions League on Tuesday night when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at
Monaco.
Tottenham will be looking for revenge against Chelsea as the last time the
two sides met in May, Eden Hazard's equaliser in the 2-2 draw secured
Leicester City the title last season.
Team news
Chelsea captain John Terry is out of the game with a buttock injury.
Terry, 36 next month, has made one start in seven games following an ankle
injury and is expected to be out for two to three weeks.
Midfielder John Obi Mikel is to return to training next week following an
undisclosed muscular injury.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino will be without both his first-choice
left backs for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
Danny Rose is suspended while Ben Davies is out with an ankle injury,
meaning Jan Vertonghen is likely to fill in, with Kevin Wimmer continuing at
centre-half.
Erik Lamela remains out with a hip problem while Toby Alderweireld is back
in training following his knee injury but will not be ready to play this
weekend.
Opta stats
Chelsea have won more Premier League matches against Tottenham Hotspur than
versus any other opponent in the competition (25).
Tottenham have won none of their last 29 visits to Stamford Bridge in all
comps (D11 L18), since a 2-1 win in February 1990. Just six of the 23
players to appear for Spurs this season in the Premier League had been born
before this victory.
Spurs have enjoyed just four victories over Chelsea in the Premier League;
fewer than against any other side they've played more than 10 times.
Eden Hazard scored in this exact fixture last season in May - the goal that
decided the 2015/16 Premier League title. The Belgian has netted in four of
his last five PL games against Tottenham.
Spurs were shown nine yellow cards in the last Premier League meeting with
Chelsea - the most by a single team in a match in Premier League history.
Harry Kane has scored three goals and provided one assist in his last three
Premier League matches against Chelsea.
Kane has netted in each of his last four Premier League games; equalling his
joint-best scoring streak in the competition.
Of players to have played in 10+ Premier League London derbies, Harry Kane
has the best goals/game ratio (0.82 - 18 goals in 22 games).
Cesc Fabregas has provided 11 Premier League assists versus Spurs; one more
would equal the PL record against a single opponent (Ryan Giggs, 12 v Man
City and Newcastle).
Spurs have won more points in Premier League London derbies since the start
of last season than any other side (20 points - W5 D5 L1).
Chelsea have scored 10 90th minute goals against Spurs - the joint most by a
team against an opponent in Premier League history (also Arsenal v Aston
Villa).
In their last three Premier League matches, Chelsea have only allowed their
opponents two shots on target in total, while attempting 19 themselves.
Merson's prediction
I'm going to go for Chelsea because I think Tottenham will play the same way
as Chelsea and set up with three at the back. That's a very difficult system
to play off-the-cuff. I know they did it at Arsenal and did well but they're
playing against a team who are brilliant at it.
I just think Tottenham are going to try and play the way that Chelsea play
and I don't think it will work.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)
top