Match Preview - Chelsea v Tottenham
Super Sunday’s main event comes from Stamford Bridge as two of the league’s most in-form sides go head-to-head. Both Chelsea and Spurs have become serious title challengers in recent weeks, and both will he hoping for a huge 3 points in a London derby that usually brings goals.
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea currently sit in 3rd, and haven’t lost in the league since their 2–0 defeat to Liverpool in September — winning their last 3. They go into Sunday’s clash in fine form, having found their defensive stability after a shaky start, and have only conceded once in their last 4 top-flight matches. Whilst it could be argued that their opponents in recent weeks have been favourable, Chelsea will see Sunday’s game as an opportunity to prove they can go toe-to-toe at the top of the table.
Jose Mourinho’s Spurs are the only team who have taken more points from their last 5 league games (13) than Chelsea (11), with a draw followed by 4 wins in a row — most impressively against Manchester City. The north London outfit currently sit top of the table with 20 points from their opening 9 fixtures. Furthermore, whilst Chelsea haven’t lost in the league since gameweek 2, Spurs haven’t lost since the opening day defeat to Everton, winning 6 of their subsequent 8 fixtures.
After beating City last weekend, Mourinho will be licking his lips at the prospect of knocking down another title challenger in Lampard. Make no mistake, the former coach and player combination — whilst respectful and close off-pitch — are quickly becoming fierce rivals in the dugouts. Lampard became the first ever manager to beat Mourinho home and away in the same league season back in February, and his post-match celebrations in front of the fans as Stamford Bridge will still be fresh in Mourinho’s calculated mind. The Portuguese manager will be desperate to get one over on his English counterpart.
Team News
In an already congested Premier League season, those with significant European commitments will be tested to their limits, with squad depth and rotation seemingly more important than ever for the likes of Chelsea and Spurs.
Injury news from Lampard’s press conference was mostly positive, however, as the Blues gaffer confirmed Christian Pulisic may return on Sunday. The USA international was back in full training this week following a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined, but Lampard isn’t sure wether he will be match-fit come Sunday.
Kai Havertz is also available for selection once again, having completed his period of self isolation as a result of testing positive for Covid-19. The German came off the bench in Chelsea’s 2–1 win at Rennes, and is back to match sharpness for Sunday’s derby.
Any selection issues for Lampard will be due more to fatigue than to injury, with the aforementioned Champions League tie in France to consider. Thiago Silva was rested during Chelsea’s win at Newcastle last weekend, whilst N’Golo Kante came off the bench for the final 20 minutes of their midweek win. Both are expected to start on Sunday, in an attempt to nullify Spurs’ frontline.
It’s Chelsea’s own frontline, however, where the headache intensifies for Lampard. Olivier Giroud proved his worth midweek, as he grabbed the winner in France. Chelsea’s first goal came from another fringe player, as Callum Hudson-Odoi made the most of a rare opportunity. Summer signings Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech have settled in nicely, and are quickly becoming two of the most admired players in the league, whilst homegrown talents Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount are more than proving themselves to be as good as their summer recruits.
Chelsea’s most settled — and most valued — position is in goal. Edouard Mendy is quickly becoming a mainstay in this Chelsea team, an astute signing for just £22 million. He will have to be in top form to stop Spurs’ main men.
If European commitments are hurting Chelsea, they will be killing Tottenham. Their failure to make it into the Champions League means that they’re mid-week fixtures come on a Thursday, 2 days after Chelsea. Mourinho was able to rest some key players for their 4–0 win at Ludogorets Razgrad, with many first team players — including Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane — watching from the stands.
They will be without one of their key defenders in Toby Alderweireld, however. The Belgian international suffered a groin injury in Spur’s 2–0 win at City last weekend, and missed their mid-week Europa League win. Davison Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga are in line to push for the starting line-up. Mourinho could also give a full Spurs debut to Welsh centre-back Joe Rodon. The 23-year old, whilst lacking in top-flight experience, is highly thought of by Mourinho, and may well be trusted to replace the Belgian behemoth.
Matt Doherty is available for selection again after finishing his period of self-isolation, as are Giovani Lo Celso and Steven Bergwijn. Erik Lamela remains out with an achilles injury.
Tactical Preview
Questions were raised of this Chelsea side early on, centred mostly around the lack of balance in the side. Lampard’s aforementioned riches in attack have provided plenty of goals, the most in the league at 22 — that’s 2.33 per 90 from an xG/90 of 1.64.
Their attacking prowess was further strengthened by the recent introduction of former Ajax star Hakim Ziyech — to say he has hit the ground running would be an understatement. The Moroccan international has only played 277 minuted of Premier League football, and already has 3 assists to his name, as well as 1 goal. In terms of the stats — with an admittedly small sample size — Ziyech sits top in the entire league for expected assists per 90 (0.58) and goal creating actions per 90 (1.62). The 27 year old looks to have settled in brilliantly at Stamford Bridge and if he can continue his form, he will me incredibly popular amongst Blues fans and players alike.
Finding defensive stability has been more of a work in progress for Lampard. His Blues conceded 9 goals in their opening 5 Premier League games, and regular mistakes from Kepa Arrizabalaga, alongside a debut shocker for Thiago Silva, exacerbated an already wobbly defensive unit. The introduction of both Edouard Mendy and Ben Chilwell, as well as the game-by-game improvement of Silva as he settles into life at Stamford Bridge, have turned Lampard’s back-line into an impenetrable fortress, conceding just once in their last 4 league matches.
Tactically, Chelsea will want to look back to Spurs’ Champions League defeat in February, at the hands of RB Leipzig. Against a typically deeper Mourinho line, Chelsea’s vertical through balls to the pacey Werner will most likely be intercepted or run through to Hugo Lloris. What Leipzig did really well back in February was recycle the ball before playing a direct switch. By working the ball through triangles on the right hand side, between right-back, right-winger and the right sided centre-midfielder, Chelsea can pull Spurs across the pitch. This will open up space on the far side for the likes of Werner or Chilwell to isolate Doherty in a 2v1 overload — with Spurs’ right-winger likely to stay higher up the pitch. Working space through direct switches of play will be the most effective way of opening up an otherwise tight-knit defensive line.
Mourinho will be desperate to get a win on Sunday, and Spurs’ performance against City last week will give the Portuguese manager a huge confidence boost. His Tottenham side are built perfectly for big games against sides that will come to play. An away-day at one of the most attacking sides in the league will excite Mourinho, especially at his old stomping ground.
Setting up as almost a 4–2–1–3 formation, in which Hojbjerg and Sissoko shuttle in behind Ndombele, who will have a massive battle against Chelsea’s Kante. Hojbjerg is quickly becoming known as the king of the ball recovery, and is currently Spurs’ main man for tackles (21), successful pressures (57) and progressive carrying distance (1043 yards).
Spurs will look to pounce as soon as they win the ball, exposing Chelsea’s aggressive line during the transition phase. Kane will drop into his false 9 role and pick the ball up in behind Chelsea’s midfield, and as we have seen so often this season, lock onto the darting runs of Son and one of Bergwijn, Moura or Bale. Against such attacking full-backs, and relatively immobile centre-backs compared to the likes of Son — especially the ageing Silva — Spurs are likely to get huge joy from Kane’s pinpoint passing in behind.
When Spurs have the ball further up the pitch, with Chelsea set-up in formation, they will move into a 4–2–3–1 formation, with the two wingers tucking in alongside Ndombele, almost as 3 number 10’s. Reguilon and Doherty will have license to bomb forward, with their wingers tucked in and double-pivot covering. Kane, in this instance, turns from creative false 9 to out-and-out poacher. His versatility in both forward positions allows Spurs to blend seamlessly between pacey counter attacking side, and intricate dominant side.
Key Battles
If Chelsea are to isolate Spurs defenders and work the ball in behind, it’s going to have to be out wide. With Hojbjerg, Sissoko and Ndombele dominating the central areas, direct switches to Chelsea’s wingers will open up the pitch. Whoever plays on the wing for Lampard’s side will have to be on their A-game if they are to get the better of Doherty or Reguilon, but if they can effectively isolate their opponents, and even create overloads with their full-backs bombing past, Chelsea will be able to work the ball to the byline and pick out any attacking runners.
For Spurs, this week, as with every week, the combination play between Kane and Son will prove their biggest attacking threat by far. Kante’s role in-front of the Chelsea defence will prove pivotal, as he will either be picking Kane up as he drops into his false 9, or tracking Ndombele as Spurs advance up the pitch. The French World Cup winner has proven himself one of the best in the world in the old French ‘water-carrier’ mould. If he can nullify Kane’s creativity, he will be setting his side up for success further up the pitch.
This is no title decider by any means, but the psychological advantage that could be gained by either side just adds to the many sub-plots of such a fascinating game. It’s Chelsea’s 1000th game under the ownership of Roman Abramovich, a tenure that has seen Mourinho as the hero at Stamford Bridge, winning 8 of Chelsea’s 16 trophies during this era — all of which will have been won by Lampard. He now comes back to Stamford Bridge on the hunt for another trophy. He returns, however, as the villain… which he loves.
Likely Chelsea Lineup: Mendy; James, Zouma, Silva, Chilwell; Kante, Kovacic; Mount, Ziyech, Werner; Abraham.
Likely Spurs Lineup: Lloris; Doherty, Rodon, Dier, Reguilon; Hojbjerg, Sissoko, Ndombele; Bergwijn, Kane, Son.
Kyle’s Prediction: Both sides are in red-hot form the minute, and neither side will want to lose. It’s likely to be a fascinating tactical battle, but one that ends all square in my opinion. Spurs will be able to expose Chelsea’s aggressive line and get in behind often, much to the joy club top-scorer Son. But Lampard’s star men will find the quality to break the Mourinho low-block, and Ziyech’s magic touch will once again lay it on a plate for the likes of Abraham or Werner. I’m going 1–1.
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