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BBC Sport columnist Chris Sutton has predicted Chelsea to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in their upcoming Premier League fixture. The two sides are set to face each other at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, December 8.
Enzo Maresca and Co. have been dark horses this season, inserting themselves into the title race amid their impeccable form. They have won their last three league games in a row and are in second place with 28 points from 14 games, seven points behind leaders Liverpool.
On the other hand, Tottenham have had a mixed start to their season and are in 10th position with 20 points. However, since defeating Manchester City 4-0, they have failed to capitalize on their momentum in recent weeks, drawing against Fulham 1-1 and losing 1-0 to Bournemouth.
Sutton made his prediction, writing (via BBC Sport):
"Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou got a fair bit of flak after going over to speak to some Spurs fans following Thursday's defeat by Bournemouth. Football is a fickle business sometimes. It wasn't a good result, but you only have to go back a week or two and they were cheering Ange off after winning at Etihad Stadium."
"Usually I would expect a reaction from Spurs but they are so unpredictable that I don't know what will happen. They could win this game 4-0 like they did against Manchester City, or lose it by the same scoreline."
He added:
"So, I am going with Chelsea here. While I do wonder about their experience, I think Enzo Maresca's side are title contenders even if he insists they aren't. Maresca may genuinely believe that, or he might be saying it to take the pressure off his players."
"When I won the title with Blackburn in 1995, the club's owner Jack Walker, always planned to win it the year after, but when you are in the title race and you keep winning then there is no reason why you shouldn't embrace being ahead of schedule."
He continued:
"Everyone slammed Chelsea's owners for spending so much on so many players and building such a big squad, but maybe there was a method in what people saw as madness. They are playing with real confidence at the moment and look completely different to the team they were last season. Nicolas Jackson is an example of how much they have improved and, after being rested against Southampton in midweek, he will be refreshed and ready to go."
"This was the game last year where Spurs went down to nine men and lost 4-1. If there is any element of doubt from their players in their style of play, then Chelsea could take them apart again this time too."
Sutton's Prediction: 1-3
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca confirms 23-year-old star is set to miss Tottenham clash
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has stated that Mykhailo Mudryk is set to miss their Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur due to illness. He also confirmed that Reece James and Wesley Fofana are on the mend after the pair recently suffered hamstring injuries.
Mudryk has struggled to integrate himself into Maresca's starting XI in the Premier League this season, starting just one game in his seven appearances. However, he has flourished in the EFL Cup and Conference League, garnering three goals and five assists in eight appearances.
During the pre-match press conference, Maresca said (via The Chelsea Chronicle):
“Both [James and Fofana] are slowly getting better. It is a matter of weeks. The only one that is still ill is Misha and the rest are okay.”
Mudryk also missed the Blues' impressive 5-1 win over Southampton midweek due to illness.
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Edited by Arshit Garg