Destiny Udogie of Tottenham Hotspur battles with Pedro Neto of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Chelsea will be looking to extend their excellent record against Tottenham when the two London rivals meet on Saturday evening. The Blues have won their last six matches against Spurs, including a 2-1 victory in May that left Roberto De Zerbi’s side at serious risk of relegation.
Chelsea have historically dominated this fixture in the Premier League era, with Spurs’ former home, White Hart Lane, even nicknamed ‘Three Point Lane’ in the Blues’ dressing room. The West London club have won 39, drawn 21 and lost eight of their Premier League clashes.
The Blues head into the derby with momentum on their side after beating Bournemouth and Everton since the international break. Another victory on Saturday would make it three wins from three and give Chelsea further reason to believe they can push for Champions League qualification.
Beyond the result, this is a huge opportunity for Xabi Alonso to win over Chelsea fans by giving them a day to celebrate beating their fiercest rivals. While the Blues are favourites, some supporters are wary of complacency and have warned him to “be careful.”
Chelsea fans explain how Xabi Alonso can keep Tottenham at bay
Chelsea are the much better team on paper, with a stronger squad and better form heading into Saturday’s London derby. However, Blues fans on TalkingPoints have warned Xabi Alonso against complacency, insisting his side must “be careful not to fall into the trap” of assuming victory is already guaranteed.
Chelsea need to be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking this is already won. Spurs might be struggling, but this team can be dangerous when they’re given time and space to play out from the back. For me, the key is pressing them high and forcing mistakes in their own half.
Tottenham have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, including a draw against Manchester United, before beating Coventry City 3-1 on Monday night to secure their first Premier League win of the season. They also recently travelled to Marbella for team bonding, which could lift the squad and give renewed confidence ahead of their trip to Chelsea. The potential returns of Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie from injury would provide another boost for Spurs.
Spurs are getting better with each game. RDZ is a top coach. I do not see this being a one sided game as many believe. Chelsea obviously go in as favourites. They need to be tight at the back to give themselves the best chance to win
Chelsea must therefore be wary of giving their opponents time and space to play out from the back. High pressing and forcing mistakes in dangerous areas could prove crucial, something the Blues have already done well this season. As one fan pointed out, Chelsea must avoid “needlessly changing things” when their current approach is working.
The Blues’ attack has been in excellent form, but defensive consistency remains a concern. Although Chelsea kept a clean sheet away to Everton last time out, they will need another disciplined defensive performance to stop Spurs from gaining a foothold in the game. Moises Caicedo’s return has already made a difference in midfield, but the entire team must remain organised and limit Tottenham’s chances.
If Chelsea can keep Spurs to one goal or fewer, their attacking firepower should give them a strong chance of scoring enough to secure another victory. Alonso’s side have the quality to extend their winning run against their London rivals, but they must earn it rather than assume it is already in the bag.