Chelsea v. Tottenham Preview: Spurs Chasing a Point Against Bitter Rivals

A draw for Tottenham against Chelsea would leave them virtually safe from relegation.

Tottenham travel to Chelsea knowing that a win would leave them mathematically safe from relegation.

West Ham’s loss to Newcastle on Sunday means that a point for Spurs would almost certainly secure Premier League survival, due to their goal difference advantage over the Hammers.

Chelsea meanwhile will look to boost their hopes of European qualification and beat one of their biggest rivals.

Form Guide

Chelsea fans have seen their team’s form crumble over the last three months, as the blues have slipped out of the Champions League places, and now sit tenth in the league.

The home side have only won two of their last 12 games in all competitions, both in the FA Cup, and have only one point from their last seven league fixtures.

There have however been signs of improvement in Chelsea’s last two games.

Callum MacFarlane’s side drew 1-1 away at Liverpool in their last league game, before containing Manchester City for much of their 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup final.

Tottenham have managed eight points from manager Roberto De Zerbi’s five games in charge, and are unbeaten in four, since a 1-0 loss to Sunderland on April 12th.

Their form on the road has been particularly good, with Spurs taking back-to-back away wins against Aston Villa and Wolves.

Chelsea are winless in their last six Premier League home games, since beating West Ham 3-2 in January.

They have also lost five of their last six at Stamford Bridge in all competitions, their only home victory in this time being the 7-0 thrashing of Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Head-to-Head

Chelsea have won their last five against Tottenham however, including a 1-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November.

Spurs’ only Premier League win at Stamford Bridge came in April 2018, with the blues unbeaten in nine at home to Tottenham in all competitions.

Key Battle: Can Chelsea Find a Cutting Edge?

Both MacFarlane and De Zerbi were brought into their current roles in a time of crisis.

Chelsea had lost five league games without scoring, and had fallen out of contention for a top five finish.

Tottenham meanwhile had slipped into the relegation zone under Igor Tudor.

MacFarlane has undoubtedly improved Chelsea’s defensive solidity but has yet to see his side score twice in a game, across his two spells as manager.

Chelsea’s top scorer across MacFarlane’s six games in charge is central midfielder Enzo Fernandez with three goals.

Missed chances held Chelsea back against Manchester City last Saturday, and MacFarlane will hope for better performances from attacking stars Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer. 

De Zerbi has also succeeded at improving his side’s defensive record.

Tottenham have only conceded five goals in the Italian’s five games in charge, compared to 13 in their last five games under Tudor in all competitions.

Spurs have started with the same back four of: Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, and Pedro Porro in three of these games.

This settled backline will have benefitted from eight days of rest since their 1-1 draw with Leeds, compared to the three Chelsea have had since the FA Cup final.

What it Means

A win for Chelsea will move them into eighth place, and a Conference League qualification spot, ahead of the final round of Premier League fixtures.

It will also keep their slim hopes of Champions League qualification alive, if Bournemouth lose to Manchester City.

Anything else would see the blues drop out of Champions League contention, and need to beat Sunderland on Sunday, as well as have other results go their way, in order to qualify for any European competition.

Chelsea’s players’ mindset may also have been changed by the announcement on Sunday that Xabi Alonso will be appointed as manager for next season.

Chelsea’s last two league games will provide the players with an opportunity to impress their future boss, ahead of his official start on July 1st.

Tottenham know that victory would leave them mathematically safe from relegation.

A draw would move Spurs three points ahead of 18th-placed West Ham, with a goal difference advantage of 13.

This would almost certainly keep Tottenham safe from relegation, even if they lost to Everton on Sunday.

Prediction

Chelsea have had an awful run of form but have improved in their last two games.

Tottenham have also shown much greater defensive stability under De Zerbi, but know they probably only need a point to guarantee Premier League survival.

The home side will benefit from the added motivation of their newly announced manager for next season, and a raucous home crowd, against the Chelsea fans’ most hated rival.

Chelsea 1-1 Tottenham