Premier League: Chelsea and Tottenham Engage in Fierce London Duel

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea aim to solidify their Premier League Top 4 spot when they return home to Stamford Bridge to lock horns with Tottenham this Thursday night. Enzo Maresca’s men have 49 points after the first 29 matchdays, and they’re keen to hold on to the fourth spot for as long as possible.

With fifth-seeded Manchester City, who have a winnable game against relegation-threatened Leicester City, lurking, this “Battle of the Bridge” is a must-win for Chelsea. The Blues are fresh from a 1-0 loss against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium before the international break.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are 10 notches below their hosts. The Spurs only have 34 points and are winless in their last three matches (D1, L2). Ange Postecoglou’s side lost 2-0 to Fulham before the international break. They also need to win this match to potentially return to the top half of the English top-flight standings.

 

Talking Points

Chelsea have a hamstring epidemic                           

Chelsea did not have Cole Palmer in their lineup against Arsenal because he had been dealing with a hamstring injury. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder also withdrew from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, citing the need to recharge his batteries.

Head coach Enzo Maresca hopes the two-week hiatus will do wonders for Palmer’s fitness ahead of their match against Tottenham. Palmer is the Blues’ leading scorer and playmaker this season with 14 league goals and six assists, though he hasn’t scored a league goal since their 2-2 draw against Bournemouth last January.

Maresca may also be able to welcome Nicolas Jackson back to his rotation, as the Senegalese forward returned to first-team training following a hamstring injury. Noni Madueke could also feature after a hamstring problem of his own.

Assuming the trio is fit this Thursday, Palmer, Jackson, and Madueke should reclaim their spots in the starting lineup, pushing Jadon Sancho, Christopher Nkunku, and Enzo Fernandez to the bench, giving Maresca more options.

Reece James could revert to his usual right-back spot after playing in the middle of the park last game. Wesley Fofana could move back to centre-back, pushing Benoit Badiashile to the bench.

 

Tottenham to make crucial Son decision

The Spurs are also anxious ahead of Thursday, as they have players questionable to play against the Blues. Radu Dragusin (knee) is the team’s only long-term absentee. Tottenham will assess the conditions of Dejan Kulusevski (foot), Kevin Danso (hamstring), Richarlison (calf), and Lucas Bergvall (illness) ahead of kick-off.

If Danso is ruled out, head coach Ange Postecoglou will have Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero guarding the rearguard alongside Djed Spence and Pedro Porro. Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, and James Maddison will operate in the middle of the park. Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke will line up front.

Team captain Heung-Min Son could be recalled to the left flank at the expense of Mathys Tel, who hasn’t notched a league goal or assist since leaving Bayern Munich last January. The South Korean international has come off the bench in his last three league appearances.

 

History

Chelsea and Tottenham have already faced off earlier at North London this season. The Blues won 4-3 last December, as Jadon Sancho, Cole Palmer (brace), and Enzo Fernandez scored for Chelsea. Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, and Heung-Min Son scored for the Spurs.

The Blues have an impressive record against the Spurs, losing only one of their last 12 Premier League games against them (W9, D2), including a three-game winning streak by an aggregate tally of 10-4.

Chelsea have also won their last four Premier League games at Stamford Bridge, including back-to-back clean sheets in their previous two. They aim to notch three consecutive home shutout victories for the first time since a run between April and May 2024.

 

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2025 odds predict Chelsea completing a season sweep against Tottenham. The Blues are at 1.58 odds to win, whereas Tottenham are 4.30 underdogs, and a draw is priced at 4.20 in the 1X2 market.

Besides our recommended bet, SBOTOP bettors can also go for alternatives like Over 3.00 at 1.59, Over 3.25 at 1.80, Over 3.50 at 1.98, and even Total Goals 4-6 at 2.27 given the trend of their recent matchups. Total Goal 2-3 is also viable if you don’t expect too many new Premier League 2025 highlights from this contest. 

Moreover, a Correct Score of 4-3 in favour of Chelsea – the result of their reverse fixture – has a staggering offer of 65.00 your bet. Meanwhile, a goalless draw could give you a solid 26.00 payout.

   

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