Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea clash in the Premier League’s London derby in early December. It is the start of another month in this intriguing 2024/25 season and a chance for the teams to get their acts together as the games keep coming.
Tottenham’s season has been mixed and they are just trying to secure results that will keep them in touch with the teams ahead of them. On the other hand, Chelsea seems to have turned the corner and are currently doing just fine.
As of the time of writing this piece, Spurs have 13 pts from their opening nine games of the season and are ranked 8th on the Premier League log, while Chelsea have 17 pts from the same number of games and they sit in 5th spot.
Tottenham have had mixed results including a capitulation at Brighton before the international break in October. However, the strong form of Brennan Johnson has helped them navigate some difficult games over the recent weeks. So far this term, the Whites have won four games – Everton, Brentford, Manchester United, and West Ham – while they have lost four including a defeat to Arsenal at home in the North London derby. As of the time of writing, they have also drawn just one game in the Premier League.
Spurs Skipper Son Heung-min has not been his usual impressive self in the first few weeks of the season, and not to forget the struggles of Timo Werner and Richarlison. However, Ange Postecoglou has been able to devise a team that can create chances and score goals with other attackers. If they want to do something significant this term, the Aussie coach will be keen to see his star forwards regain their form.
Tottenham are bad travellers in the Premier League this term. However, They have won three of their first four games at home – with the only defeat coming against Arsenal. It goes to show how they perform when playing in front of their home support.
Chelsea, who spent massively in the previous season, were at it again this summer with the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix added to the squad. The Blues looked to have improved in some areas but there is still so much work to be done as evident in the first nine games under the Italian tactician.
“I think the performance was very good. I just said, we don’t like losing games, dropping points but if you have to decide the way, then this is probably the way. I’ve been in the stadium many times and have seen Liverpool for a long time, it’s not easy,” said Maresca after the defeat at Anfield.
“I think overall, we controlled the game and for most parts of the game we dominated the game, but we lost. We are not happy. We don’t like [it] but as I said, the performance on and off the ball was very good.”
The Blues have made a different start to the season as compared to last term and they are looking good for a return to the Europa League or Champions League at this rate. The Blues have won five games, drawn two, and lost just two. The two defeats came against superior oppositions in Manchester City and Liverpool. However, draws at home against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest could be costly in the weeks ahead.
Off the pitch, the Blues have been racking up the awards as Cole Palmer claimed the Player of the Month award in September, while Maresca won the Coach of the Month award. It has been going excellently well for them as well as summer recruit Sancho who now looks happy at Stamford Bridge.
In total, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham have played 70 Games since 1995. Tottenham Hotspur won 10 games, Chelsea won 40, and they drew 20. It is crystal clear that the Blues have the bragging rights in this fixture and that could give them the confidence to approach this particular tie.
Match tickets
The epic match at Tottenham Stadium in London kicks off on Sunday 8th December 2024, at 16:30 UK time.
The magnificent 62,850-capacity stadium is the place to be for this clash between the Whites and the Blues.
Getting Tottenham vs Chelsea tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.
Team news
Line-ups
Skipper Son Heung-Min should lead the attack alongside Solanke, who is settling in so fast, and Johnson who has turned his Spurs career around. As of the time of writing, Wilson Odobert, Richarlison, and Timo Werner are nursing one injury or the other but some of them should return to the side ahead of this game.
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Maddison, Bentancur, Johnson, Kulusevski, Son, Solanke.
Chelsea, under Maresca in the Premier League, seem to have a regular XI and it is expected that it remains that way. Star boy Cole Palmer remains the player everything goes through in the team, while Nicolas Jackson should lead the line once again. The Blues will fancy their chances in this game.
Chelsea XI: Robert Sanchez; Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo; Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho.
Prediction
Tottenham are expected to retain the ball possession but their lack of strong defensive organization could be their greatest undoing in this clash. When the two teams met here last season, the Blues walked away with a 4-1 win. Spurs have only beaten Chelsea once in all competitions since 2018.
On their day, Tottenham can hurt any team and they will need to turn up in this clash against one of the teams that can hurt on their day too. Palmer, Jackson, and the likes still remember the big win from last season and they would be keen to make it happen once more.
With that being said, the game could end in a stalemate.
Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea
