**Date:** Saturday 1st November 2025
**Venue**: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
**Kick-off:** 17:30 GMT
If enthusiasm were measured in pints, right now I’d be half a shandy. I’m about as eager for this game as our players are to track back after half-time following one of Maresca’s team talks. And just to sprinkle some extra excitement on top, we’re heading to Sp\*rs in such woeful form that Derby County’s 2007/08 squad would probably fancy their chances.
The home side come into this one feeling chirpy after beating Everton last weekend, which has them sitting pretty in third place. But then they got knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle midweek, so the party was a short one. Meanwhile, Chelsea had their best shot at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against Wolves midweek, almost managing to turn a 3-0 half-time lead into an utter calamity. All too soon after last weekend’s horror show against Sunderland for me, and our third league defeat in five, leaving us ninth and clinging to mid-table mediocrity like a cat to a lampshade.
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has only lost two of his eight Premier League dust-ups with Chelsea, though his wins have been at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham, however, have managed to scoop just one point from their last three home games – so home may not be where the heart is for their support. Chelsea? Both of our away wins so far have come against managers who’ve already packed their bags and left the league. Make of that what you will.
Let’s not kid ourselves – this game is about as predictable as the Northern line on a wet Tuesday. Pack your umbrella, slap on some sun cream and cross your fingers for something special. With both sides as reliable as a dodgy Wi-Fi signal, even Mystic Meg wouldn’t put a tenner on this.
**MANAGER’S VIEWS**
Going into today’s game, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank, says _“A game against Chelsea, especially a home game against Chelsea, under the floodlights, is going to be unique and special. I can’t wait for it. The players are really looking forward to it. It’s a fantastic occasion. We need the fans behind us. I know they do everything they can to try to create even more noise, make it this very difficult place to play and as I said before, it’s between us and the fans – the best clubs, the best teams, they’re united, they’re together in good times and bad times. We need to perform. We need to create energy. Can we get energy off the fans? Then it’s like some positive reinforcement and that’s what we need to create tomorrow. We’re really looking forward to it._
_Enzo’s done an amazing job at Chelsea. First season, qualifying for the Champions League and won the Conference League, so competing in definitely more than one front. Won the Club World Cup and had a decent start to the season – very impressive. It was very clear what him and his staff want to achieve, how they want to play. So, yeah, it’s going to be a nice, good challenge, another nice, good challenge in the Premier League against a very good manager and a very good team._
_Very excited, really looking forward to it, a London derby between two big rivals. There’s so much on it against a very good Chelsea team. It will be a very, very competitive, even game, under the floodlights, it’s got everything to be a top game where you will be on the edge of your seat, hopefully, if you’re a fan or a part of it. Hopefully, that’s the case. We need to come flying out and get the fans with us. I’m very, very positive about us coming out and performing very well tomorrow.”_
Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, says _“Tottenham are doing very well. They finished last season winning the Europa League and started this season very well. Also, because it’s a derby, it will be a difficult game.”_ I know, earth-shattering footballing insight as always, right?
**SQUAD NEWS**
For Tottenham, the waiting list for the physio’s table is rivalling the queue for chips at kicking-out time: Yves Bissouma (ankle), Kota Takai (ankle), Dominic Solanke (ankle), Radu Dragusin (knee), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), James Maddison (knee), Archie Gray (calf), and Ben Davies (thigh) are all sidelined – no doubt competing for ‘Most Impressive Limp’ while comparing X-rays like trading cards. However, Cristian Romero (adductor), Destiny Udogie (knee), Wilson Odobert (abdominal) and Guglielmo Vicario have been declared fit and ready, perhaps after surviving an especially stern round of rock-paper-scissors in the treatment room.
For Chelsea, the medical room remains as crowded as Oxford Circus at rush hour: Levi Colwill (ACL), Benoit Badiashille (muscle), Dario Essugo (thigh), and Cole Palmer (groin) are all busy swapping stories about the elusive game. Mykhaylo Mudryk remains in exile on the metaphorical naughty step, while Liam Delap, fresh from a lengthy spell out, celebrated his comeback with two yellow cards and the now traditional red – proving that some players just can’t resist a bit of drama.
**TEAMS**
TOTTENHAM (Possible line-up): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kudus, Bergvall, Simons; Kolo Muani
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Santos, Garnacho; Pedro
**LAST SEASON**
Tottenham 3-4 Chelsea (8th December 2024)
**CURRENT FORM (PL)**
TOTTENHAM: WDDWLW
CHELSEA: DLLWWL
**OTHER STUFF**
* Tottenham have only managed one lonely win in their last 13 Premier League meetings with Chelsea (the rest? Two draws and ten defeats). They’ve lost the last four on the trot – the last time they actually beat Chelsea at home was back in February 2023.
* Chelsea enjoy a trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – they’ve bagged five victories in six visits, making themselves feel more at home than the hosts. No other away team has had such a jolly good time on Sp\*rs’ new turf!
* Tottenham have chalked up five wins from nine games this season (with a couple of draws and two losses), which is as many as they managed in the last 26 matches of the Ange Postecoglou rollercoaster last season. Progress, or just finding new ways to confuse their fans?
* Chelsea have lost three of their last five league games (but hey, they did win two!), which is more slip-ups than in their previous 16 combined. The last two times they racked up four losses in their first ten games, the seasons went so well they’re still trying to forget (looking at you, 2015-16 and 2023-24).
* Chelsea have suddenly remembered how to win away from home, with four victories in their last seven trips. Before that, they couldn’t buy a win on the road. Fun fact: both of this season’s away wins came against teams whose managers have already been shown the door. If you’re a Premier League boss in poor form and see Chelsea coming, best start updating your CV…
**PREDICTION**
[Sportsmole](Preview:Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups - Sports Mole): Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea