The Big Match: Chelsea v Tottenham stats, team news, prediction & TV channel

Premier League: Chelsea v Tottenham

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 4.30pm Sunday

Match odds

Chelsea 7-10, Tottenham 9-2, draw 16-5

Form

If Chelsea’s title hopes didn't look terminal at full-time of last weekend’s defeat at Manchester City then Tuesday’s disappointing draw at Brighton was surely the final nail in the coffin.

Rather than looking up, the Blues could now be looking anxiously over their shoulder with a run of two wins from the last nine games having left them vulnerable to the sides in the hunt for a top-four finish.

Tottenham are one of the teams hoping to chase down the European champions. Wednesday’s dramatic 3-2 triumph at Leicester moved them up to fifth in the table, one point behind fourth-placed West Ham with three games in hand.

Spurs are yet to taste defeat in the Premier League under Antonio Conte but were outclassed by Chelsea over two legs when the rivals met in the EFL Cup semi-finals recently, while the Blues also won the reverse league fixture at a canter.

Team news

Chelsea
Andreas Christensen is set to be available after missing the last two games with Covid but Reece James and Trevor Chalobah aren't ready to return. Ben Chilwell is a long-term injury absentee and Edouard Mendy is at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Tottenham
Antonio Conte says he’s unlikely to have any of his injured trio back meaning Cristian Romero, Heung-Min Son and Eric Dier are likely to be missing again.

The tactical battle

Tuchel switched to a back four for both legs of the EFL Cup semi-final which worked a treat as Chelsea dominated possession and kept Spurs at arm’s length.

The Blues’ superior quality in midfield is another major obstacle Tottenham will need to overcome and they must find a way to counteract the control N'Golo Kante gives Chelsea.

Conte will need to box clever back at the Bridge and could ask his team to sit off Chelsea in the hope of luring them in before breaking quickly - a tactic which has worked well for the Italian at times during his brief tenure, most notably in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

Verdict

Chelsea have looked battle-weary after 18 games in 59 days, while Tottenham are on a high after their last-gasp win at Leicester and should pose the Blues a much tougher challenge than they have done in three previous meetings this season.

Harry Kane looked sharp against the Foxes and it would be a surprise if Spurs drew a blank for a sixth straight game against Chelsea.

However, the Blues’ superior quality should ultimately see them across the line but it could be close.

Chelsea 2 Tottenham 1

Key stats

• Chelsea have won nine of the last 12 home games against Tottenham
• Chelsea have conceded in eight of their last nine Premier League home games
• Tottenham have failed to keep a clean sheet in 16 of their last 19 Premier League meetings with Chelsea

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