Sunday, November 29, 2015, 11pm AEDT, White Hart Lane, Watch on Fox Sports
Table position
Tottenham: Fifth
Chelsea: 15th
Season record
Tottenham: 6-1-6
Chelsea: 4-7-2
Last five matches
Tottenham: DWWDW
Chelsea: WLLLW
TWO big guns who have experienced vastly different fortunes in 2015 go head to head in the early Premier League game on Sunday night.
And their contrasting situations aren’t quite what you might have predicted a couple of months ago.
Premier League champions Chelsea ($2.80 with sportsbet.com.au) head to White Hart Lane languishing in 15th spot, unbelievably just five points outside of the drop zone.
The unthinkable has happened. They have gone from champs to chumps in the blink of an eye and, while Tottenham ($2.50 with Sportsbet.com.au) (Draw is $3.40 with Sportsbet.com.au) is always a tough test, the Champions League hopeful Spurs are the favourites in this one.
Chelsea has lost seven games from 13 this season, more than the did in the entirety of last season.
In their last seven games, the Pensioners have lost five of their last seven away games
Last time out, Chelsea actually had a rare win, a shaky 1-0 result against lowly Norwich at Stamford Bridge.
it was Diego Costa – one of the most reliable strikers in the Premier League last season – who scored the winner in the 64th minute.
Costa has played 11 games this season and has scored just three times. Last year he fired in 36 in all competitions. His remarkable fall from grace has mirrored Chelsea’s, with the roots of the club’s descent in the midfield.
While Cesc Fabregas has been nothing short of disappointing, poor old Eden Hazard has bore the brunt of the Chelsea supporters’ wrath.
And with poor form comes the rumours. ‘Hazard out’. ‘Hazard has rift with Mourinho’. And so on.
But the man himself says it’s not true.
“I heard a lot of things about this but no, everything is good with him (Mourinho),” Hazard said.
“I don’t have a problem with him, he is the best manager.
“He is the best manager for Chelsea and we hope we can win a lot of trophies together.
“Maybe not this season because it will be difficult, but next season and on.”
Winning games would be something that would help the embattled Mourinho too.
The echoes for his head are getting louder, but The Special One says there are no doubts over his future despite the fact he’s apparently had plenty of blow ups with Costa as well.
“My future, I think there are no rumours,” Costa said.
“I want to stay in the club, the club wants me to stay.
“For us there are no rumours.
“I reacted, he (Costa) did too.
“At half time in the dressing room, a few kisses and a few cuddles.
“No problem.”
It might be a problem if they lose to a Tottenham side which hasn’t suffered defeat since the opening day of the season, back on August 8.
That seems like an age ago and it shows what a rich vein of form the club has been in.
Much of that comes down to the striking prowess of young gun Harry Kane. It took him a while to get going, but the 22 year old has been firing on all cylinders.
After one goal in his first nine games, Kane has eight in his past five, including a hat trick against Bournemouth and a double against West Ham in a brilliant 4-1 win for Spurs, last time out.
Toby Alderweireld and Kyle Walker were the other goal scorers in the comprehensive win.
But guess what? Chelsea is planning a raid on Kane in the off season. With Costa’s future in doubt, Kane is believed to be on the Blues radar and they are about to get an up close and personal look at the English star.
Best of luck to John Terry and co in stopping him.
One issue the Spurs will have to deal with is the short break between their Europa League clash with Qarabag – in Azerbaijan on Thursday – and the Sunday battle back home.
Possible teams
Tottenham: Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Mousa Dembélé, Erik Lamela, Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane
Chelsea: Asmir Begovic, Branislav Ivanovic, Kurt Zouma, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta, Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fábregas, Willian, Eden Hazard, Pedro, Diego Costa
Predictions
Match result: Tottenham wins ($2.50 with Sportsbet.com.au)
Correct score: Tottenham wins 3-1 ($23 with Sportsbet.com.au)
Total match goals: Over 2.5 goals ($1.89 with Sportsbet.com.au)
Here’s the rub, are the champions going to snap out of this bizarre funk they are in, or are they just simply no good? Chelsea has stars across all lines. Terry, Fabregas, Pedro, Hazard, Costa. But those guys have been so very lacklustre. Can they snap out of it? Maybe. They were better against Norwich, but that still only yielded a 1-0 win. Chelsea are better than they are going, but we don’t think they can turn it around against Tottenham side that has become far more resilient than previous years. Spurs are still only thereabouts, but, with Chelsea out of the top four picture and Liverpool only showing middling form, they have a golden opportunity to enhance their chances of sneaking into the Champions League spots. With Kane firing on all cylinders, Christian Eriksen dealing out four goal assists in his last six appearances, and the defence acting like a stone wall, we reckon Chelsea is in for a tough time of it yet again. Spurs have lost just one of their last nine home league meetings with Chelsea, with four wins and four draws, and we don’t think that record is going to change this time out.
First goal scorer predictions
Tottenham
Harry Kane ($5.50 with Sportsbet.com.au)
Yep, it’s obvious, but he is the only guy to turn to, with the way he is playing at the moment. His double against West Ham remarkably gave him a better strike rate in London derbies than any other player. He has 12 goals in 14 London Derbies and he really is starting to score for fun, like he did last season. The rumblings were that he might have been a one season wonder and he was copping it from the fans, but that has quickly turned around and Kane is once again the poster boy of the Spurs’ faithful.
Danny Rose ($41 with Sportsbet.com.au)
If Kyle Walker can score, why can’t Danny Rose? Rose has talent, pace and power to burn. the left back doesn’t score a ton of goals, but that’s why he’s rated such long odds. He can and does get forward, using his speed and skill to take him ahead of his opponent, but will usually be the set up man. We’d love to see some tasty long efforts from the talented wing back. If he’s shooting, he gives himself a chance. Perhaps a tiny drink to add to the excitement.
Chelsea
Eden Hazard ($8.50 with Sportsbet.com.au)
No we’re not crazy. Form is temporary, class is permanent. Hazard was back to his customary play making role against Norwich and he showed off his considerable bag of tricks. He has history with Tottenham, scoring in each of the last three league games against Spurs. This guy, only a few months ago, was touted as one of the best footballers in the world. Surely he can rekindle that brilliant form as the season wears on. God help them, the Blues need him to. Hazard might have copped it for his poor form, but we are backing him in to turn it around and fire in a goal in the early going.
Branislav Ivanovic ($29 with sportsbet.com.au)
Perhaps indicative of Chelsea’s struggles this season, the powerful Serbian hasn’t found himself on the score sheet to date. That’s nine games without a goal for the defensive dynamo, known for his bustling runs forward and long range strikes that threaten to scorch through the net. Well we don’t think it’s good enough and we hope Branislav thinks it’s time for him to find some goal. He only scored four last season, but he is capable and we’re hoping that perhaps as he ages, he still has that goal sense that made him such a vital player for the Blues over many seasons. Like Rose, he doesn’t score a lot, but he is capable and is worth a small punt if you’re looking for someone at long odds.
