Chelsea once again meet Tottenham with an under pressure manager and a fight to get into the European places. Last season it was Mauricio Pochettino shortly after a defeat away to Arsenal and this year it is Enzo Maresca.
For Chelsea, the result simply has to be the same. Pochettino managed to win 2-0 at Stamford Bridge against his old side and it started a run of five straight victories to move up to sixth, finishing on a positive.
Maresca is at a higher base but his peak was earlier in the season. Unlike under Pochettino, who managed to improve things after Christmas for Chelsea, Maresca has struggled. His best period came between October and mid-December; since then it has been tough going.
Off the back of a meek display at the Emirates Stadium, Chelsea really need a reaction. They have extra time to recover following the international break due to the FA Cup weekend but it will then be all hands to the pump.
Chelsea have a small buffer in fourth but know they will be moved down to fifth if Newcastle United win their game in hand. That will almost certainly be enough to qualify for the Champions League next season but securing fifth spot will not be easy.
Starting with Tottenham, who remain unpredictable, Chelsea have a hard last nine matches. They will need to find some of the form Pochettino managed if they are to hold off Manchester City, Brighton, Fulham, Aston Villa, and even Bournemouth in 10th.
The good news is that unlike Pochettino in this fixture last year, Chelsea have a group of players returning from injury. When the two teams met in May 2024, Chelsea were without 14 players.
Maresca has been working without a host of key names in recent weeks but will instead be near full strength here. Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke returned to training this week, as did Cole Palmer.
Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia have been building up their own fitness and sharpness since the start of March whilst Reece James is on his best streak of availability since the start of the 2021/22 season. This adds a new dimension to Chelsea's team with some of their most technical, strongest, and quickest players all returning for the run-in.
Maresca's dilemma is how to fit them all into one team. For starters, he will have Rob Sanchez in goal. The Spaniard has replaced Filip Jorgensen after a brief stint on the bench and is back to being the first-choice.
James is likely to start on the right after marking his return to the England squad with a brilliant free-kick. Maresca has used him in an increasingly central role in midfield of late but may well rejig the shape with Lavia back in the mix.
Fofana and Levi Colwill are the club's best centre-backs and need to continue building their relationship again. Along with Marc Cucurella, Chelsea's backline is at full strength with ample depth from Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, and Josh Acheampong.
The midfield is the area of most uncertainty. Using Lavia, Moises Caicedo, and Fernandez together limits the side going forward although it does add defensive balance. If Palmer is not deemed ready after his two-week lay-off then this might be the way forward, in an ideal world Maresca has his talisman on the pitch for such an important game, though.
That would see Lavia drop to the bench. He will be carefully managed upon his comeback and may well rely on substitute appearances as a form of being gently reintegrated again.
Without Lavia, Chelsea have Palmer as the No.10, or in the right pocket with Fernandez to his left, and then Madueke to play on the wing. His direct threat has been missed even if the individual form of the attackers had dipped prior to their respective injuries.
Jadon Sancho has been on the right with Christopher Nkunku on the left in the absence of others. Pedro Neto can move out wide again following a decent set of displays as an unorthodox striker. Jackson is needed through the middle as a true focal point.
Whether or not all of these players are ready to go from the off so soon after getting back onto the grass at Cobham waits to be seen. In a dream world, Maresca is able to use them all as soon as possible. Chelsea are going to need them.
Chelsea dream XI vs Tottenham: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Palmer, Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Jackson, Neto.
football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel
Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Want to keep up to date with the breaking and important Chelsea stories whilst on the move? Well now you can!
Click this link to follow the football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel, where you'll be kept up to date on the latest Blues news wherever you are.
Just remember to turn on the notifications once you've followed, and you won't miss a beat!