Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea: 04/02/2021- match preview and predicted starting XIs

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  2. By Karan Manik

Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on January 31, 2021. (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea

Date: 04/02/2021

K/O: 20:00

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Referee: Andre Marriner 

Spurs host London rivals Chelsea on Thursday night, in what promises to be an exciting and hard-fought derby.

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Jose Mourinho will be salivating at the prospect of facing his old team once again. Although Spurs are in a downward spiral currently, Mourinho will be looking to bounce back with a win against his former Blues. Two wins, two losses and a draw has seen the home side plummet to 7th place on the table. Most recently they succumbed to a 1-0 humbling at the hands of 15th placed Brighton. Their talisman Harry Kane has been out due to injury which has been a huge reason for this downward trend.

Thomas Tuchel will be ecstatic with his side’s dominant 2-0 victory against Burnley a few days back. While the German seems to be experimenting a bit with his squad (for eg- Alonso started ahead of Chilwell and even scored a goal), he seems to be preferring the 3 at the back system which has seen the resurgence of club captain Azpilicueta and earlier out of favour Rudiger. Although the German boss will know that this will be his first big test in the Premier League.

Chelsea currently sit 8th in the table and Tuchel will be looking to exploit a Kane-less Spurs who don’t seem to have much of a plan B. While Mourinho will be looking to give his adversary a real taste of some physical Premier League football.

Team News
 
Tottenham Hotspur
 

As mentioned earlier, Harry Kane is sidelined, as is his English compatriot Dele Alli. Aurier allegedly stormed out of the stadium after being hooked early in their last game and could be left out of the starting XI.

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In-form midfielder Ndombele was forced off due to a minor injury but should be fine for this one while Lo Celso and Reguilon remain sidelined due to injury.

Chelsea
 

The away side have an almost fully fit squad to choose from. There are some minor concerns over Ziyech but nothing too serious. Kai Havertz and Kurt Zouma have recently emerged as injury doubts as well.

Kante has recovered from a hamstring injury and should be in contention for this one.

Predicted Starting XIs

 

Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-3): Lloris; Dier, Alderweireld, Rodon; Doherty, Hojberg, Sissoko, Davies; Bergwijn, Vinicius, Son

Chelsea (3-4-3): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Rudiger; Hudson-Odoi, Kovacic, Kante, Alonso; Pulisic, Giroud, Werner
Score Prediction: Spurs 1-2 Chelsea
This should be a close encounter but given recent form, I feel the Blues could come away with a narrow win in this one.
READ: In other news, this is why Thomas Tuchel could be exactly the right man to lead Chelsea back to the top. 
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