**Date:** Sunday 8th December 2024
**Venue**: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
**Kick-off:** 16:30 GMT
After an enjoyable win away at Southampton midweek, today’s game sees us make the shorter trip to North London to face mid-table Sp\*rs.
The 5-1 away from home was joyously welcomed by the travelling supporters, although it’s fair to say Southampton shot themselves in the foot, when, unlike Christian Romero, Jack Stephens didn’t get away with tugging on Cucurella’s barnet. Today’s opponents fared less well away to Bournemouth Thursday night, with a 1-.0 defeat which didn’t go down well with their away end.
At home though, Sp\*rs have scored in their last 9, although haven’t won the last 3 there in all competitions. They have also only won four of their last 13 Premier League games against sides from the capital, losing seven of them.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have won their last four games across all competitions, including the last three away and start the day 2nd in the Premier League, although that will undoubtedly change with Arsenal playing earlier than us today.
We’ve beaten Sp\*rs in five of the last seven meetings away from home, but we showed against Southampton, we’re still prone to the odd defensive lapse and today’s opponents battered City 4-0 a couple of weeks ago, so we know they can raise their game when the mood takes them.
It’s never an uneventful fixture, let’s see what they bring us today.
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**MANAGER’S VIEWS**
Going into today’s game, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, says _“It’s a big game on Sunday, they’re obviously going really well Chelsea. They’re in a good space at the moment with a fairly healthy squad and in good form. Always a tough game against them and we are at home. We need to make sure we produce a performance like we have in the other games which have been similar to get something out of it.”_
Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, says _“We are very happy for the fans. They deserve to live this moment. They can dream, we are very happy. We work every day to make them happy and proud of the players. There’s nothing to add, I said I don’t think we are there and ready to compete with Arsenal, Liverpool and City. We have to do many more things good, not just score goals, avoid to concede. Defensively we are doing well but we are just focused on Sunday and then the next one. We are not thinking about April, May or June. It’s too early. Things can change quick in football. The focus is Sunday, today’s session and tomorrow’s session._
_They \[Spurs\] are, first of all, have good players and manager. It’s very clear what they want to do on and off the ball. What kind of problems they have, I don’t know. You have to be there to understand. A fantastic team, they beat City 4-0 two weeks ago. Hopefully for us (there will be a lot of goals).”_
**SQUAD NEWS**
For Tottenham, Wilson Odobert, Richarlison, Micky van der Ven and Guglielmo Vicario are long-term absentees, now joined by Ben Davies (hamstring). Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended, whilst Cristian Romero (toe) is expected to return.
For Chelsea, captain Reece James (hamstring) and Wesley Fofana (hamstring) are injured and Mykhailo Mudryk is unavailable due to illness.
**TEAMS**
TOTTENHAM (Possible line-up): Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bissouma, Sarr; Johnson, Solanke, Son
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
**LAST SEASON**
Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea (6th November 2023)
**CURRENT FORM (PL)**
TOTTENHAM: LWLWDL
CHELSEA: WDDWWW
**OTHER STUFF**
* Tottenham have lost eight of the last 11 Premier League meetings.
* Chelsea have won on five of their seven visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in all competitions.
* Tottenham have won one of their last six games in all competitions.
* Chelsea are unbeaten in seven games in all competitions.
* Tottenham have kept one clean sheet in their last 22 top-flight home fixtures.
* Chelsea are the Premier League’s top scorers with 31 goals in 14 games.
* Tottenham have conceded the opening goal in 13 of their 16 Premier League games at home in 2024.
* Chelsea have scored 57 times in 22 matches this season, the most of any top-flight club.
* Five of Tottenham’s six league wins in London derbies under Postecoglou have been at home.
* Chelsea lost just one of their last 11 top-flight London derbies.
**PREDICTION**
[Sportsmole](Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups - Sports Mole): Tottenham 1-3 Chelsea