Tottenham vs Chelsea

Introduction

Tottenham and Chelsea are two of the most successful teams in recent years in the English Premier League. In recent years, their rivalry has produced some of the most entertaining and high-scoring games in the league. The upcoming match between the two teams is expected to be no different. This clash between two London-based teams is scheduled for next week, and there's already a lot of excitement building up among the fans of both clubs. Mourinho will have a few tricks up his sleeve to put his former club Chelsea to the sword, but can he outsmart the Blues on matchday? In this article, we will take a closer look at both teams' recent form, their head-to-head record, player injuries, and tactics ahead of the big game.

1. Recent Form

1.1 Tottenham Form

Tottenham has been in decent form recently, they have been unbeaten in their last five games, and they have won three in a row. Their last game against Brighton saw them dominate possession, but they were unable to find the back of the net. Mourinho would be hoping that his team can maintain their recent momentum and pick up three points against Chelsea to keep their top-four hopes alive.

1.2 Chelsea Form

On the other hand, Chelsea has been inconsistent lately. Although they won their last game against West Ham, they lost the previous two games against Arsenal and Leicester City. One of the issues with this Chelsea side has been their defence, which has leaked goals in recent matches. However, their attacking prowess cannot be questioned with the likes of Timo Werner and Mason Mount leading the line. It remains to be seen which Chelsea team will show up for this crucial game against Tottenham.

2. Head-to-Head Record

Tottenham and Chelsea have a long-standing rivalry that dates back to the early 20th century. The two teams have faced each other 173 times in all competitions, with Tottenham winning 54 and Chelsea winning 68. There have been 51 draws between the two sides. In their last meeting earlier this season, Tottenham won 1-0, courtesy of a penalty from Harry Kane. Chelsea would be eager to avenge that defeat when they travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next week.

3. Player Injuries

3.1 Tottenham Injuries

Tottenham's injury woes have continued this season with many of their key players spending time on the treatment table. However, in recent weeks they have been fortunate with injuries, with only Serge Aurier and Japhet Tanganga sidelined. They would be hoping that their squad remains fit and healthy going into this crucial game against Chelsea.

3.2 Chelsea Injuries

Chelsea has also had their fair share of injuries this season. During their last game against West Ham, striker Tammy Abraham picked up an ankle injury and had to be substituted. Abraham is an important player for Chelsea, and his absence would be a blow for the Blues. Chelsea is also likely to be without utility player Reece James, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

4. Tactics

4.1 Tottenham Tactics

Tottenham has been playing a counter-attacking style of football under Mourinho, and that is likely to continue in this game against Chelsea. They are expected to sit back and look to hit Chelsea on the break, with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min leading the charge. Tottenham's defence has been solid in recent weeks, and they would be hoping to keep Chelsea's attackers at bay.

4.2 Chelsea Tactics

Chelsea under Lampard has been playing an attacking style of football, which has seen them score a lot of goals this season. However, their defence has been suspect, and Mourinho would be well aware of this fact. Chelsea is expected to dominate possession in this game, but they need to be careful with their defensive duties as Tottenham's counter-attacking style could cause them problems.

The editor says: The upcoming Tottenham vs Chelsea game is set to be a thrilling encounter with both teams having a point to prove. Tottenham would be hoping to maintain their recent momentum and keep their top-four hopes alive while Chelsea would be eager to avenge their defeat earlier this season. Both teams have had their fair share of injuries, but Tottenham is relatively injury-free. Tottenham is expected to play a counter-attacking style of football while Chelsea would be looking to dominate possession. Overall, it's expected to be an entertaining game with goals at both ends.