Chelsea take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League tonight, as Enzo Maresca’s side look to land a blow on their rivals in the race for Champions League football.
The Blues began the week in fourth place despite a mixed run form over the last few months, but after Manchester City and Newcastle both picked up wins on Wednesday, they have dropped to sixth ahead of Spurs’s visit.
Any slip up at this point could prove costly in the battle for a spot in Europe’s premier cup competition, with just five points separating Chelsea and 10th-placed Bournemouth ahead of kick-off.
But it doesn’t get any easier for the Blues as they prepare to take on Spurs tonight.
Though Ange Postecoglou’s side started the week in 14th, they still possess the quality to hurt any of the league’s top teams, and this particular rivalry has a track record of producing fireworks in recent seasons.
Follow all the latest build-up and team news from Stamford Bridge below:
Arsenal provide Gabriel injury update ahead of Real Madrid clash
Bad news for Chelsea and Tottenham’s common enemy…
The Gunners confirmed the Brazil defender will require surgery on the hamstring injury he sustained in his side’s 2-1 Premier League against Fulham on Tuesday.
Gabriel, who has starred at the heart of Arsenal’s defence in recent seasons, went down in the 16th minute with the injury and was unable to continue.
UK set to host Women’s World Cup 2035
The United Kingdom is set to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup after Fifa president Gianni Infantino called its interest as “one valid bid” for those finals.
The UK is now almost certain to host the event for the first time after the deadline passed on Monday.
Enzo Maresca non-committal over Jadon Sancho’s Chelsea future following speculation over clause
Sancho enjoyed a productive start to the season after a one-year switch to the London club, though has faded of late with his goal and assist output falling with Chelsea’s form.
Spurs looking to avenge defeat from last time out
We’ll be lucky if we get a repeat of the back-and-forth chaos witnessed last time out between Chelsea and Tottenham.
Enzo Fernandez added to a Cole Palmer brace to give the Blues and advantage that was too much to overcome, with Heung-min Son’s stoppage time strike proving no more than a consolation.
Two big returns for Chelsea
The big news from the line-ups is that Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson are back in the starting XI for Chelsea after spells on the sidelines with injury.
Two huge returns for the Blues in their push for Champions League qualification.
Confirmed line-ups
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Sancho, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
Tottenham XI: Vicario; Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bergvall, Sarr; Odobert, Maddison, Son; Solanke.
Mauricio Pochettino ‘would like’ Tottenham return and reveals Daniel Levy relationship
Pochettino was sacked by Tottenham in 2019 after leading Spurs to the Champions League final and three top-three finishes in a row in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s absurd finances are a mess of the Premier League’s making
Even by football’s standards, there was considerable shock. WhatsApps immediately went around executives at the news that Chelsea look to have avoided breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules last season by selling their women’s team and other subsidiaries to the club’s parent company.
All of the jokes about what they could next sell to themselves don’t seem like jokes anymore. A hotel is one thing. But an actual football team? This is what a club is supposed to be about. It’s the entire raison d’etre.
Chelsea and Liverpool eye Dean Huijsen as Bournemouth brace for bids
Chelsea and Liverpool are both aiming to secure the signing of Dean Huijsen this summer, although Real Madrid are monitoring the Spanish centre-half.
The 19-year-old has been one of many Bournemouth revelations this season, as the south-coast club are bracing themselves for huge interest in a good group of inspired signings. Huijsen’s situation is made a little simpler, due to the understanding he has a release clause of around £50m.
Both Chelsea and Liverpool have been seeking to sign a new centre-half, and have been simultaneously working on a potential deal to bring the 19-year-old in. While the Stamford Bridge hierarchy are felt to have currently made more progress, Huijsen’s future is seen as very much up in the air.
Prediction: Chelsea to have the edge
It was a chaotic match when these two met in December, and both sides’ form has become worse since then, though the hosts are the clear favourites.
The Blues should put in a big performance as they look to take a step closer to Champions League qualification against a rival that they have a good recent record against.
Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
Source: independent.co.uk
