Chelsea and Tottenham set for crunch match in the race for Europe

Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur with more than just the usual Derby day bragging rights at stake. The two teams are separated by a single point and position in the table with just under a third of the Premier League season remaining.

Chelsea currently occupy fourth, the final Champions League qualification spot but know defeat will see Tottenham move into the coveted position. However, a draw will suit neither side as it would give Sheffield United the opportunity to leapfrog both teams if they beat Brighton by more than three goals. 

The match also sees a fascinating tactical battle between Frank Lampard and Jose Mourinho. Lampard famously flourished as a player under Mourinho’s management at Chelsea in the mid-naughties and undoubtedly picked up one or two coaching tips at the same time, which gives a master versus apprentice undercurrent to the game.

Lampard’s men will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of Monday night’s 2-0 home defeat to Manchester United but are without a win in their last four league matches. Spurs on the other hand are unbeaten in their last four league matches and will be looking to add to their run of three successive victories. However, they will have to pick themselves up from their midweek Champions League home defeat to RB Leipzig where the 1-0 scoreline did not reflect the dominance of the German side.

Team News

The Blues are without N’Golo Kante who picked up an adductor injury against Manchester United and will be out for up to three weeks. Christian Pulisic is still a long term absentee but Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are expected to return.

Jose Mourinho was dealt a fresh injury blow with the news that Son Heung-min fractured his arm in the 3-2 win over Aston Villa. The South Korean international joins Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko and Juan Foyth on the sidelines.

Home manager (Frank Lampard)

“Our relationship after working together changes. We’re very amicable and respectful of each but obviously we both want our teams to win. Harry Kane is a miss, Son is a miss. They have had injuries in the past but they have players who can fill in. This league is the best because there are all sorts of styles and my job is to adapt to each.”

Away manager (Jose Mourinho)

“The situation in this moment for us is not obviously the best. They have the options to do what they want to do. They don’t have Kante but they have lots of players and can play the way they want. For us it is a little more different so what I expect from the players is what they always give me which is the right attitude, the right ambition, going until the end like we did in the last match.”

Head-to-head

Chelsea come into the match having won the last two league meetings between the sides and with Lampard having never lost to Mourinho since he became a manager. However, the last six league meetings have seen each side win three matches apiece. The last time the sides drew was back in May 2016, nearly four years ago.