EXPECTATION levels at Tottenham have not been this high since they briefly threatened to claim a league title under Mauricio Pochettino. As for Chelsea, new ownership and a string of summer recruits suggests a reawakening is taking place at Stamford Bridge, after a season of near misses.
Yet, while both clubs look to the months ahead with a good deal of optimism, this is a fixture that has one foot firmly planted in the past.
Tellingly, Spurs have failed to score against the Blues in their last six meetings, a ceasefire that equates to nine hours, and that’s pertinent because half of these games had Conte and Tuchel in charge.
Less pertinent to Sunday’s clash, but well worth mentioning all-the-same, is that Tottenham have only been victorious once at the Bridge in the league since 1990.
That solitary win, attained in 2018, ended talk of a curse that was frankly becoming a little tiresome for all concerned, bar Chelsea supporters, and it’s interesting to note who was on the scoresheet that afternoon, or rather who wasn’t.
Son Heung-min played for the most part but didn’t convert and that hardly surprises because the usually prolific forward tends to struggle against Chelsea, with a goal every 504 minutes his third worst return in the top-flight. Only against Brighton and Wolves has the Korean scored less frequently.
Harry Kane too typically has a difficult time of it, Chelsea being his least profitable opponent among the top six and it reveals much of the fractious nature of this fixture that the England hit-man has more bookings than goals (eight to six).
Between them, Kane and Son have a combined 39 Premier League goal involvements in 2022, a phenomenal amount, but don’t be astonished if they each fire blanks at the weekend, a continuation of their relative labours against Chelsea that can partly be explained by an odd quirk in this fixture, that has unlikely heroes grabbing the glory.
The last forward to score in a league encounter was Oliver Giroud back in February 2020 and since then five of the eight scorers have been defenders with set-pieces all the rage. There is no reason to believe this won’t carry over to Sunday.
This bodes well for Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly, each a genuine threat in the air and together two-thirds of a vastly experienced back-line that also includes Cesar Azpilicueta. To put their collective experience in context they have a combined age of one hundred, have won 209 international caps between them, and can put 49 meaningful medals on the table.
It’s a trio who easily nullified Everton’s admittedly toothless attacking intent last weekend. It’s a trio who won’t blanche at the prospect of nullifying the deadliest duo in the top-flight.
Only then there is Dejan Kulusevski to consider who has taken to North London – and Antonio Conte’s ultra-challenging mandate – like a duck to water. No other player has assisted more often in the Premier League since the Swede’s arrival while his goal-scoring attributes aren’t exactly shabby either, firing one in three. It was hard enough for teams to contain Kane and Son, when Spurs overly relied on the pair, and they overly delivered. Now there is another to deal with.
The 22-year-old is 9/2 to assist in this all-capital affair
🇸🇪 Tottenham Hotspur forward Dekan Kulusevski already has 9 goals and 14 assists in the Premier League.
🔥 Dejan Kulusevski. That’s it, that’s the tweet.#THFC | #COYS | #TOTSOUpic.twitter.com/nQ00TN3b7o
— Last Word On Spurs (@LastWordOnSpurs) August 6, 2022
And perhaps too there might be a fourth, in the form of new signing Richarlison who is now eligible to feature after serving a short suspension. The Brazilian scored on his full debut for Watford, scored twice in his opening bow for Everton, and notched the only goal when the Toffees beat Chelsea last term. Fate has previously been determined on less and don’t discount an impactful appearance from the bench.
What especially impressed about Spurs last week was their refusal to panic after conceding early to Southampton. Last season only three teams accumulated more points from losing positions so maybe it’s an ingrained trait that propelled them forward. Maybe though, it additionally came from a confidence that is rife through the squad at present. Under a manager who gets the best out of them and on the back of a very decent transfer window, Spurs are in a good place right now and they know it.
So too however are Chelsea who, despite all the recent upheaval, showed an admirable resilience at Goodison to compensate for any summer rustiness.
“We are not on our top level yet,” Tuchel said post-game. “We need to learn and to improve.”
If they do, expect a cracking game, with plenty of incidents, that ultimately sees fire fighting with fire.
A draw, BTTS and over 10.5 total corners offers up 15/2 as a bet builder
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BET OF THE DAY
Corners also feature in our bet of the day. Chelsea were awarded 16 v Everton, the highest amount last weekend by five. Only Manchester City and Liverpool won more than the Blues last season.
Therefore, over 6.5 for the hosts at 11.8 is a great shout
*Prices subject to change
