Chelsea will look to complete seven straight Premier League wins over Tottenham Hotspur when the London sides meet at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening. Xabi Alonso’s men come into the 5:30pm BST clash fourth in the table on 13 points after back-to-back league victories.The Blues followed a 5-1 win against winless Bournemouth with a 2-0 success at Everton, with Pedro Neto scoring twice and the visitors keeping a first league clean sheet in nine months. Chelsea out-shot the Toffees 18-6, winning the expected goals battle 1.54 to 0.45.
The Blues were hit by a setback as Emiliano Martinez suffered a broken jaw after a clash of heads with Jarrad Branthwaite. The Argentine has since undergone successful surgery, and 21-year-old Mike Penders is set to make his first start in the Premier League.
Alonso also has to make changes in wide areas of the park after Malo Gusto and Pep Chavarria both missed the game against Everton. The former was ruled out through illness, while the latter felt a problem in training on the eve of the game and was sent for tests. Reece James, Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emegha remain on the sidelines.
Tottenham arrive in West London in 16th place on six points, but with renewed confidence after ending their wait for their first win of the campaign. Roberto De Zerbi’s men secured a 3-1 home win over Coventry City on Monday, with goals from James Maddison, Omar Marmoush and Ben Davies.
However, the visitors will be without Rodrigo Bentancur, who has been banned for a headbutt on Luke Shaw at Old Trafford. They also won’t have Lucas Bergvall (knee), Savinho (muscle) and Xavi Simons (long-term knee injury) available, while Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie are still doubts.
Chelsea have won each of the last six league encounters against Spurs, most recently a 2-1 success in May which saw Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos score. Spurs have also only tasted success once in 34 Premier League visits to the Bridge, with a 3-1 victory in April 2018.
Despite the win on Monday, Spurs struggled against Coventry City, enjoying 65% of the ball but generating only 0.87 expected goals to the visitors’ 0.82. With Chelsea’s attacking trio in fine form and Spurs’ midfield weakened, the prediction is a 2-1 victory for the Blues on Saturday.
‘He’s Brave, We Have Full Trust in Him’ – Xabi Alonso Backs Mike Penders
Xabi Alonso has no fears about handing the gloves to Mike Penders as Emiliano Martinez recovers. The Belgian youth international replaced the injured Argentine at Everton and played a key role in the Blues’ first league clean sheet in nine months.
Penders started both of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup clashes this season, keeping a clean sheet against Luton Town. Alonso spoke highly of the young shot-stopper after the 2-0 success at Hill Dickinson Stadium:
“He did well. You could see what Mike is all about, he’s a personality. He’s brave, we have full trust in him. He played in the cup games, whenever he is needed he can perform.”
Martinez is expected to be sidelined for around 40 days, LiveScore reports, which could see Penders make six starts in a row. Tottenham are next on the schedule, with a Carabao Cup visit to Liverpool and a home clash against Manchester United also on the horizon.