Chelsea finally return to action after a long pause when they host rivals Tottenham on Thursday night.
The Blues face Spurs this week at Stamford Bridge as Premier League football returns. For Enzo Maresca’s side, it’ll be their first game since losing 1-0 away to Arsenal on 16 March.
Chelsea go into the set of midweek fixtures sitting fourth in the division table, but the race for Champions League qualification is hotting up.
In Chelsea’s training sessions before Spurs, young prospects Reggie Walsh and Chizzy Ezenwata worked with the first-team group. However, we’re expecting to see a strong and recognisable starting XI in Thursday’s league showdown.
Chelsea’s predicted XI against Spurs includes big names such as Enzo Fernandez and Wesley Fofana.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Paul Merson and Chris Sutton predict Chelsea vs Tottenham
Chris Sutton thinks Chelsea will have enough to edge Spurs in a five-goal thriller under the lights at Stamford Bridge.
Sutton told BBC Sport: This is a great game to finish the week off. It ended up 4-3 to Chelsea earlier in the season, and there are likely to be a few more goals this time too…
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“Spurs looked tired to me before the international break, so it will be interesting to see what they are like here. We know how exciting they can be on their day, it is just those days have been few and far between this season.
“Chelsea have been a bit flat as well, but maybe this is the game where both teams come to life and serve up a thriller – that is what I am hoping for anyway.
“Sutton’s prediction: 3-2.”
Meanwhile, Paul Merson agrees with the prediction that Chelsea will beat Spurs, tipping a 2-1 victory for the home side.
Merson told Sportskeeda: “This is Chelsea’s main game of the season. It’s definitely high stakes but still a fixture they are expected to win…
“Chelsea have not been great this season, but I’d be shocked if they don’t win this game. It’s a must-win game for them too. I expect Manchester City and Newcastle to win this gameweek and [Nottingham] Forest will also get a point. Now that puts pressure on Chelsea in the race for the top four. If they don’t beat Tottenham, they could slip to sixth in the table.
“Cole Palmer has hit a bit of a brick wall with his form now. Nicolas Jackson returning to the line-up will be a boost to him. But there is no doubt that Palmer has to get back in form if Chelsea want to finish inside the top four…
“Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham.”
Ange Postecoglou’s record against Chelsea is a poor one, losing three out of three as the Spurs manager against them. Therefore, will history repeat itself in a couple of days time?
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Cole Palmer to torment to Tottenham again
Hopefully, Cole Palmer can shine again in the Chelsea versus Spurs fixture.
Since he joined the Blues, he’s scored three goals and created one assist in three appearances against them.
The good news is that Palmer returned to training last Friday after missing the international break with England because of a muscular problem. We’re optimistic that he’ll be in Maresca’s starting team on Thursday, too.
It’s well documented that Palmer hasn’t scored since 14 January against Bournemouth, so perhaps Spurs are coming around at the perfect time. Like Merson mentions, Chelsea could really do with the attacking midfielder back to his very best for the finals months of the season.
The Blues are competing to qualify for next season’s Champions League, plus they’re into the quarter-finals of the Conference League competition.