(3-4-3) Nkunku to lead the attack l”, predicted Chelsea lineup vs Tottenham – as Enzo Maresca changes formation due to the absence of Cole Palmer
(3-4-3) Nkunku to lead the attack l”, predicted Chelsea lineup vs Tottenham – as Enzo Maresca changes formation due to the absence of Cole Palmer
On the back of contrasting performances on the South Coast, London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea headline Sunday’s Premier League fixture list with a mouthwatering derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
While Enzo Maresca’s men made extremely light work of Southampton in a 5-1 midweek mauling, their hosts were fortunate to only lose by a narrow margin in their 1-0 reverse at Bournemouth.
A handful of disgruntled Tottenham supporters did not hesitate to let Ange Postecoglou know what they truly thought of Thursday’s horror show at Bournemouth, where a first-half header from teenage centre-back Dean Huijsen propelled the Cherries to the three points that their performance merited.
Only Bournemouth’s own wastefulness in front of goal spared Spurs the humiliation of an even heavier defeat, but the Lilywhites’ lacklustre display was pitiful in itself, even if the injury-ravaged visitors did end the evening with just one fit centre-back in their ranks.
A typically stoic Postecoglou accepted the “direct feedback” he received from the furious Lilywhites army as Spurs failed to escape mid-table obscurity; Sunday’s hosts lie smack-bang in the centre of the Premier League standings in 10th place, six points below the Champions League positions.
Only one of Tottenham’s last six matches across all tournaments has seen Postecoglou’s men prevail, although it was their 4-0 upset of champions Manchester City a couple of weekends ago, and the Lilywhites are bidding to score for the 10th home game running in all competitions this weekend.
However, none of Spurs’ last three home games against Roma, Fulham or Ipswich Town has ended in victory, and Postecoglou is yet to find that consistent winning formula in London derbies; Tottenham have only won four of their last 13 Premier League games against fellow sides from the capital, losing seven of them
As Tottenham’s downfall at Bournemouth began with a first-half header from a centre-back, Chelsea’s goal rush at Southampton was triggered in the same circumstances, as Axel Disasi breached the Saints’ backline with just seven minutes on the St Mary’s board.
Joe Aribo wasted little time in restoring parity for the men in red and white, but a rotated Chelsea side soon flaunted their attacking prowess again, as Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho all made the net bulge in the Blues’ latest emphatic Premier League triumph.
As much as Maresca may continue to downplay Chelsea’s chances of Premier League glory, Sunday’s visitors are now the closest challengers to leaders Liverpool, having leapfrogged Arsenal on goal difference in midweek to sit second with a seven-point gap to make up to the Reds.
Victorious in each of their last four matches across all competitions – including their last three away from home – the Blues should now be the envy of rival supporters castigating their summer transfer business, and their penchant for success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is evident.
Including last season’s 4-1 triumph in this fixture, aided by a nine-man Tottenham’s implosion, Chelsea have beaten Spurs in five of their last seven away matches, picking up more wins against the Lilywhites at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium than any other team since 2019.
Serious injury was added to serious insult at the Vitality Stadium on Thursday evening, as Tottenham lost yet another centre-back in Ben Davies to a hamstring problem, one that Postecoglou fears will sideline him for a while.
With Micky van de Ven also sidelined with a thigh problem, Cristian Romero’s return from a toe injury cannot come soon enough, although the teenage Archie Gray might have to fill in alongside Radu Dragusin at the back for the time being.
Rodrigo Bentancur (suspended), Guglielmo Vicario (ankle), Richarlison (hamstring), Mikey Moore (illness) and Wilson Odobert (hamstring) also remain out of the first-team picture for the time being, and after restricting Son Heung-min to a second-half cameo on Thursday, Postecoglou should immediately recall his skipper for the derby.
Chelsea’s primary selection concerns also come in defence, albeit not to the same degree as Tottenham’s injury crisis, as Wesley Fofana and Reece James are the only senior players definitely missing for the visitors at the minute due to their hamstring problems.
Youngster Omari Kellyman is also absent for the same reason, and Mykhaylo Mudryk is ill, but would have never started this capital clash. Instead, Pedro Neto, Sancho and Nicolas Jackson could all come back into a refreshed attacking setup, even if Madueke, Nkunku and Joao Felix all made their mark at St Mary’s.
Levi Colwill and Robert Sanchez are also primed to return in the Blues’ backline, but Disasi’s performance in midweek merits another start for the Frenchman in place of the stricken Fofana.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bissouma, Sarr; Johnson, Solanke, Son
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
