Tottenham vs Chelsea Preview | Team News, Stats and Key Men

On January first, Chelsea travel across London to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham.  There will be no love lost between these two teams or these two sets of supporters on New Year’s Day.  The two sides are both coming off draws against teams in the top four.  Chelsea came back to grab a 1-1 draw away at St Mary’s, while Spurs drew 0-0 at home with Manchester United.  Spurs have not lost since they last played Chelsea on December third, while the Blues have not lost since the following Saturday against Newcastle on December sixth.  This should be a fantastic game between two big rivals that are both in good form.

Team News

Both teams are nearly injury free, an amazing feat considering this is one of the most grueling parts of the English season.  Chelsea could be without their Brazilian starlet, Oscar, as he is dealing with an illness that could keep him out vs Chelsea’s London rivals.  Spurs also have a player dealing with an illness. Nabil Bentaleb could miss out on this derby through his own illness.

Interesting Statistics

• Chelsea have the best defensive record in the Premier League and have the best goal difference at plus 27.
• Spurs only have a goal difference of 0, but still find themselves only two points off the top four.
• This fixture averages about three goals a game and the fixture has only finished 0-0 once in the last 24 matches.
• In the overall head to head Chelsea have won 57 matches, Spurs have won 43 and the teams have drawn 33.
• Spurs are winless in their last 10 matches vs Chelsea.
• Three of the last four times these two teams have met at White Hart Lane the match has ended in a 1-1 draw.

Key Men

Tottenham: Harry Kane

Tottenham have spent big money on players like Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado looking for a goalscorer the last few years. Now they have one in the shape of academy product Harry Kane.  Kane has scored 15 goals in 25 games and only 17 starts in all competitions.  The young English striker has been fantastic for Spurs scoring in his last four games before the United match.  The 21 year old isn’t always the most skillful, but his will and desire to play for the club shows whenever he steps on the pitch.  Kane always just seems to be in the right place to put the ball in the back of the net.  Kane is the goalscorer Spurs have been looking for over the last few years and he is the most important player in the team right now.

Chelsea: Eden Hazard

Chelsea’s squad is full of world class players, but many believe that the best of that fantastic bunch is Eden Hazard.  On top of being one of the best players in the league, Hazard is in fantastic form.  The Belgian has scored or assisted nine goals in his last 10 games.  In Chelsea’s last 10 matches, the only time Hazard has not scored or assisted on a goal the Blues have dropped points.  When Chelsea needed a moment of magic against Southampton, Hazard provided that moment going on a fantastic solo goal and finishing emphatically to equalize for the Blues right before half time. The 23 year old has shown his class this season and that he is one of the best players in the Premier League.

Prediction

Chelsea have yet to drop points in consecutive matches this season.  They have always been able to bounce back from a disappointing result with a win and I see that continuing.  Spurs have been getting good results, but haven’t been able to really do that well against the bigger sides.  They did manage to get a draw vs Manchester United, but United had more chances and could have wrapped the match up in the first half if not for Hugo Lloris.  I see Chelsea being more clinical than United and getting another one over on their London rivals.

Prediction: 2-1 Chelsea