Football
Tottenham vs Chelsea Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea will resume their fierce rivalry at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a Premier League clash on 8 December. SportsBoom previews the action and breaks down the best available odds and our Premier League betting tips and predictions.
Dejan Kulusevski and Reece James//Getty Images
The first trip to Tottenham Hotspur is an important one for any Chelsea head coach. Enzo Maresca will seek to follow in the footsteps of Mauricio Pochettino, who did the double over Spurs last season with home and away wins in the Premier League.
The Blues have been riding high in recent weeks, but do still have defensive vulnerabilities. Tottenham have been inconsistent this season, but managed a heroic 4-0 win over Manchester City.
Rivalry
The animosity between Tottenham and Chelsea has few parallels in the Premier League. It dates back at least to the 1960s and 1970s, as Tottenham succeeded with the likes of Jimmy Greaves, who had initially been with Chelsea. The Blues then gained financial backing during the Roman Abramovich era and when they won the 2012 UEFA Champions League, it was Spurs who missed out on qualifying as a result.
The record-holder for top-flight goals in England is the late Jimmy Greaves, who played for Chelsea (1957-1961) and Tottenham (1961-1970).
Jimmy Greaves and David Nish//Getty Images
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Close Contest Expected
Home: 31/20 (2.55) – 39,2%
Draw: 11/4 (3.75) – 28,2%
Away: 31/20 (2.55) – 39,2%
*Odds courtesy of Betway subject to change
Head-to-Head Record
Last five meetings (Premier League)
02/05/24: Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham
06/11/23: Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea
26/02/23: Tottenham 2-0 Chelsea
14/08/22: Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham
23/01/22: Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham
Tottenham: Current Form - LWLWD
Spurs have struggled for consistency this season with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Their last five Premier League games have demonstrated this pattern perfectly. After beating West Ham 4-1 in one London derby, they lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace in another.
Ange Postecoglou’s men bounced back in style with a 4-1 win over Aston Villa only to subsequently lose 2-1 to Ipswich Town. Subsequently, they bounced back even more convincingly with a 4-0 drubbing of defending champions Manchester City.
Key Players to Watch
- James Maddison – Having scored in the wins over Villa and City, Maddison has become a key player for Spurs.
- Brennan Johnson – Another player who scored in both of City’s most recent Premier League wins. Aged 23, he is growing into this Tottenham side.
- Son Heung-min – Always likely to be among the key players for Tottenham due to both his quality and his leadership skills.
Tottenham Team News
Rodrigo Bentancur is serving a suspension for an alleged racist joke made in a TV interview and will be out of domestic fixtures until Boxing Day. Cristian Romero missed the win over City, reportedly with a recurrence of a foot injury. Micky van de Ven has struggled with injury but is likely to be fit. Richarlison’s return date is unknown, while Wilson Odobert faces a lengthy layoff after a hamstring injury.
Chelsea: Current Form - WDDWW
Chelsea is unbeaten since losing 2-1 to Liverpool on October 20, at the time of writing. Following the defeat at Anfield, Enzo Maresca’s side beat Newcastle United 2-1 at home, before 1-1 draws with Manchester United and Arsenal.
A tricky trip to face former side Leicester City came next for Maresca, but his Blues outfit proved too strong for the Foxes, winning the match 2-1. This past Sunday, Chelsea hosted Aston Villa, in what was expected to be a tough battle against the Champions League side. The west Londoners, however, flexed their might, running out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Key Players to Watch
- Cole Palmer – The first name on the Chelsea teamsheet and one of the best players in the Premier League. A complete attacking footballer with skill, creative ability and strong goalscoring instincts.
- Nicolas Jackson – Looking like a true Chelsea striker, Jackson has seven Premier League goals this season – putting him level with Palmer.
- Enzo Fernandez – The Argentina midfielder had a tough start to his Chelsea career but is rediscovering his best form.
Chelsea Team News
Chelsea will continue to be without Wesley Fofana after the Frenchman suffered a hamstring injury against Aston Villa on Sunday. Meanwhile, Reece James has had repeated injury problems, while Omari Kellyman has a hamstring injury with an unclear return date.
Predicted Line-Ups
Tottenham: 4-3-3
Vicario; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Son, Solanke
Chelsea: 4-2-3-1
Sanchez; Gusto, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Felix; Jackson
Suggested Bets
If you're passionate about football betting, here are some exciting wagers you can explore at leading sportsbooks.
Both Teams To Score – Spurs had high-scoring games against Villa and City, while Chelsea are stronger offensively than defensively. (9/25 with Betway) (9/25 with 1Win)
Over 2.5 Goals – This fierce rivalry has been known to produce plenty of goals in many recent clashes. (39/100 with Betway) (9/25 with 1Win)
Draw – Chelsea have drawn two of their last three games while playing against Manchester United and Arsenal. (11/4 with Betway) (13/5 with 1Win)
Value Bets
Anytime goalscorer: Nicolas Jackson – Jackson continues to up his strike rate and has the potential to cause problems in behind for Spurs. (47/25 with 1Win)
Correct score: 2-2 Draw: The two sides are relatively even and both capable of goals. (9/1 with Betway) (10/1 with 1Win)
Anytime goalscorer: Dominic Solanke – Solanke will be fired up to prove his worth against the club where he honed his craft. (7/4 with 1Win)
Prediction: 2-2 Draw
Both teams have been banging in the goals recently. Chelsea have an advantage in terms of the league table, but there is still all to play for in the race to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. These teams will likely be fired up to play each other, making for a thrilling game.
Leonard Solms is a freelance journalist who has been covering local and international sport from South Africa since 2015. Best known for his work for ESPN, he has also written for Al Jazeera, The Continent, New Frame, Planet Rugby and GiveMeSport among several other publications.
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