MATCH PREVIEW

It can be said that both Chelsea and Tottenham are putting their seasons on the line as they face off this midweek.

For Chelsea, three consecutive winless matches have seen them eliminated from the FA Cup and trailing by 5 points for a European Cup spot.

Meanwhile, Tottenham is 7 points behind Aston Villa but still has 2 games in hand in the race for a Champions League spot.

Two successive defeats have prompted coach Ange Postecoglou’s side to make immediate changes to avoid being stuck in 5th place. However, this is still considered a successful season for the Australian coach.

As for Mauricio Pochettino, the pressure on him is much greater as Chelsea has spent a lot of money to bring in star players. He also admitted that he is not sure if the Chelsea Board still believes in him. If there is another lackluster performance, the hot seat at Stamford Bridge could change hands again in the future.

TEAM NEWS

Thiago Silva will undergo a check-up for a hamstring injury. He may have played his last match for Chelsea. Axel Disasi will have the opportunity to start in place of the veteran.

It is unclear whether Malo Gusto, Raheem Sterling, and Ben Chilwell will return in time. Chelsea’s injury list has reached 13 players.

Tottenham is assessing Timo Werner’s condition after he left the field early in the North London derby due to a thigh injury.

Oliver Skipp is expected to be fit to play. Coach Postecoglou may use Pape Sarr, Richarlison, and Giovani Lo Celso to refresh his lineup.

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea | Premier League | January 2023

Tottenham 2-0 Chelsea | Premier League | February 2023

Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham | Premier League | August 2022

Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham | Premier League | January 2022

Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea | League Cup | January 2022

EXPECTED LINEUPS

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): D Petrovic (GK); M Cucurella, B Badiashile, T Silva, M Chalobah; C Gallagher, M Caicedo; M Mudryk, C Palmer, C Madueke; N Jackson

Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): G Vicario (GK); P Porro, C Romero, M van de Ven, B Davies; P Hojbjerg, R Bentacur; D Kulusevski, J Maddison, B Johnson; H Son

MATCH PREDICTION

London derbies are usually tense affairs. Both Chelsea and Tottenham will push high to seek the 3 points. Both teams also have very poor defensive records. Therefore, there is a likelihood of many goals in the match.

Prediction: Chelsea 3-3 Tottenham