Charles Jackson
One of the great rivalries in London football resumes on Thursday night, when Chelsea and Tottenham face off at Stamford Bridge, with a lot at stake for both sides. The latter will be looking to bounce back from their 3-2 home defeat to Arsenal on Sunday and, in the process, put pressure on Aston Villa in the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot.
Any form of European football would be good news for Chelsea, ninth in the table but just five points behind seventh-placed Newcastle with a game in hand. The previous meeting between the two in the Premier League was one of the most ridiculously entertaining meetings of the season, the commitment of Spurs’ nine players to an ultra-high line cost them a 4-1 defeat, which Chelsea somehow managed to defeat more than in many of their 11 league defeats this season. Here’s how you can watch the game and everything you need to know:
Viewing information
- Date: Thursday, May 2 | Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Stamford Bridge – London
- Live broadcast: Peacock
- Chances: Chelsea +120; Draw: +300; Tottenham +180
Plots
Chelsea: It will be an auspicious occasion for Mauricio Pochettino on Thursday night, with the Argentine taking charge of his 400th game in English football after spells at Southampton and Tottenham that were more successful than his tenure at Chelsea so far. “It was one of the best decisions of my life to come here to England and enjoy this great football country,” said the Argentine. “Of course, I feel very comfortable. It’s like we’re at home.”
However, it has been a difficult period for Pochettino of late, not helped by any injury list that never seems to ease. In fact, Chelsea will now be without 14 first-team players when Spurs arrive in west London, with Axel Disasi and Thiago Silva headed to the treatment room after impressing in Saturday’s draw with Aston Villa. The injury crisis means Thursday’s game will be a “great opportunity for some kids to be on the bench”, but Alfie Gilchrist could be the only youngster to make the XI.
Tottenham: After conceding two goals from Arsenal set pieces on Sunday, the focus has once again turned to Ange Postecoglu’s refusal to hire a set piece coach. Given that Spurs have allowed 12 set pieces this season – not including own goals like those from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at the weekend – there is clearly something that needs improvement in the league’s sixth-worst set piece defense.
Still, Postecoglu is looking at the bigger picture. “I think I answered that question and I don’t think that satisfies people, but no, I don’t see that as a problem. It’s something we work on along with everything in our game. things we need to focus on at the moment in terms of the team we’re building.
“I think people want to believe, and it can be, that football is very prescriptive. You have an illness, here’s the tablet and you feel better. I’ve never believed that. I’ve always tried to create an environment and a style of football that can win things. I’ve never worked in a prescriptive way and I certainly won’t do that now.”
Prediction
The only certainty when Chelsea and Tottenham face each other is that there will be fireworks. Given the defensive state of these two teams, there is no reason to think that this will not happen again. CHOICE: Chelsea 2, Tottenham 2
