Tottenham vs Chelsea LIVE: Postecoglou sweating on Romero fitness to end Blues record – predicted line-ups and how to follow
Tottenham will be out for revenge when they renew hostilities with London rivals Chelsea in a crunch showdown this weekend. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is under mounting pressure to reverse the club’s fortunes following their 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth. Postecoglou could be sacked if results don’t improveAFP Their run of fixtures only gets harder this weekend against the Blues having lost both home and away to their capital rivals last season – who were managed by their former boss Mauricio Pochettino. To add insult to injury, the Lilywhites were thrashed 4-1 and received two red cards the last time they hosted Chelsea in November 2023. Chelsea meanwhile reaffirmed their unlikely bid to be title challengers by strengthening their hold on second in midweek. The Blues secured a convincing 5-1 win over Southampton on Wednesday night with several fringe players impressing. Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke both scored on their return to the starting line-up and will be pushing to start. So much so that Blues boss Enzo Maresca claimed goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is the only player who is guaranteed to start against Spurs. Tottenham vs Chelsea: Predicted line-ups Spurs Postecoglou’s decision to rest several stars against Bournemouth backfired with captain Heung-min Son named on the bench. The South Korean’s worst minutes per goal rate in the Premier League is against Chelsea, netting just twice in 16 appearances and 1,061 minutes of action versus the Blues (531 mins per goal). Despite this, Son’s experience will be needed to galvanise a squad devoid of confidence and he will be restored to the left flank. Brennan Johnson will continue on the right, with Dominic Solanke leading the line while Richarlison remains injured. Elsewhere, Dejan Kulusevski will start but could be forced to drop into a deeper midfield role due to James Maddison‘s continued struggles. Spurs were second best throughout against BournemouthGetty Rodrigo Bentancur is still banned from domestic football, which means there won’t be any rest for Yves Bissouma. Pape Matar Sarr – who scored in this fixture last year – also offers greater protection alongside him than England’s Maddison. In defence, Tottenham are still limited for options with Guglielmo Vicario injured so Fraser Forster will continue between the sticks. Pedro Porro will return at right-back after teenager Archie Gray deputised at the Vitality Stadium. The ex-Leeds starlet’s services may still be needed in central defence, which is where he played in the latter stages after Ben Davies‘ injury. However, Spurs will be desperate for Cristian Romero to return and partner Radu Dragusin, with Destiny Udogie out on the left. Tottenham need a quick response against Chelsea Tottenham Hotspur were unbeaten in their first four Premier League London derbies under Ange Postecoglou (W2 D2) but have lost seven of their last 13 (W4 D2). Five of their six London derby wins under the Australian have been at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, however. Chelsea have won five of their seven games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in all competitions (D1 L1), the most wins any visiting side has picked up at the ground since Spurs moved there in 2019. Tottenham have kept just one clean sheet in their last 22 Premier League home games (4-0 v Everton this season), a run which started with a 4-1 loss against Chelsea last November. Indeed, since the start of November 2023 no side currently in England’s top four tiers have recorded fewer home league shutouts than Spurs. Chelsea The Blues’ extensive squad has meant Maresca has been able to field two teams to cover the Premier and Europa Conference League. The Italian has navigated the potential issues surrounding that well so far, but midweek top-flight football forced him into a hybrid. Four players from the starting eleven that beat Aston Villa 3-0 retained their spots for the win over Southampton. The quartet of Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and talisman Cole Palmer are near untouchable in big games for Maresca. Those four will again start this weekend, with the rested Sanchez and Levi Colwill restored to the backline alongside Cucurella. The morale inside the Chelsea dressing room is at its best in yearsGetty Wesley Fofana is out through injury, but Axel Disasi impressed upon his introduction against Southampton and should continue here. Caicedo played in his orthodox midfield role at St Mary’s, but Reece James‘ continued fitness issues will see him deputise at right-back. That will allow Romeo Lavia, who sat out the match against his former side due to his own injury history, to partner Fernandez. Pedro Neto and Nicolas Jackson also both enjoyed complete rests in midweek and will return to aid Palmer in a four-pronged attack. Maresca’s only selection debate may be around the left wing, with Jadon Sancho likely to be given the nod ove
Tottenham will be out for revenge when they renew hostilities with London rivals Chelsea in a crunch showdown this weekend.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is under mounting pressure to reverse the club’s fortunes following their 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
Their run of fixtures only gets harder this weekend against the Blues having lost both home and away to their capital rivals last season – who were managed by their former boss Mauricio Pochettino.
To add insult to injury, the Lilywhites were thrashed 4-1 and received two red cards the last time they hosted Chelsea in November 2023.
Chelsea meanwhile reaffirmed their unlikely bid to be title challengers by strengthening their hold on second in midweek.
The Blues secured a convincing 5-1 win over Southampton on Wednesday night with several fringe players impressing.
Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke both scored on their return to the starting line-up and will be pushing to start.
So much so that Blues boss Enzo Maresca claimed goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is the only player who is guaranteed to start against Spurs.
Tottenham vs Chelsea: Predicted line-ups
Spurs
Postecoglou’s decision to rest several stars against Bournemouth backfired with captain Heung-min Son named on the bench.
The South Korean’s worst minutes per goal rate in the Premier League is against Chelsea, netting just twice in 16 appearances and 1,061 minutes of action versus the Blues (531 mins per goal).
Despite this, Son’s experience will be needed to galvanise a squad devoid of confidence and he will be restored to the left flank.
Brennan Johnson will continue on the right, with Dominic Solanke leading the line while Richarlison remains injured.
Elsewhere, Dejan Kulusevski will start but could be forced to drop into a deeper midfield role due to James Maddison‘s continued struggles.
Rodrigo Bentancur is still banned from domestic football, which means there won’t be any rest for Yves Bissouma.
Pape Matar Sarr – who scored in this fixture last year – also offers greater protection alongside him than England’s Maddison.
In defence, Tottenham are still limited for options with Guglielmo Vicario injured so Fraser Forster will continue between the sticks.
Pedro Porro will return at right-back after teenager Archie Gray deputised at the Vitality Stadium.
The ex-Leeds starlet’s services may still be needed in central defence, which is where he played in the latter stages after Ben Davies‘ injury.
However, Spurs will be desperate for Cristian Romero to return and partner Radu Dragusin, with Destiny Udogie out on the left.
- Tottenham Hotspur were unbeaten in their first four Premier League London derbies under Ange Postecoglou (W2 D2) but have lost seven of their last 13 (W4 D2). Five of their six London derby wins under the Australian have been at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, however.
- Chelsea have won five of their seven games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in all competitions (D1 L1), the most wins any visiting side has picked up at the ground since Spurs moved there in 2019.
- Tottenham have kept just one clean sheet in their last 22 Premier League home games (4-0 v Everton this season), a run which started with a 4-1 loss against Chelsea last November. Indeed, since the start of November 2023 no side currently in England’s top four tiers have recorded fewer home league shutouts than Spurs.
Chelsea
The Blues’ extensive squad has meant Maresca has been able to field two teams to cover the Premier and Europa Conference League.
The Italian has navigated the potential issues surrounding that well so far, but midweek top-flight football forced him into a hybrid.
Four players from the starting eleven that beat Aston Villa 3-0 retained their spots for the win over Southampton.
The quartet of Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and talisman Cole Palmer are near untouchable in big games for Maresca.
Those four will again start this weekend, with the rested Sanchez and Levi Colwill restored to the backline alongside Cucurella.
Wesley Fofana is out through injury, but Axel Disasi impressed upon his introduction against Southampton and should continue here.
Caicedo played in his orthodox midfield role at St Mary’s, but Reece James‘ continued fitness issues will see him deputise at right-back.
That will allow Romeo Lavia, who sat out the match against his former side due to his own injury history, to partner Fernandez.
Pedro Neto and Nicolas Jackson also both enjoyed complete rests in midweek and will return to aid Palmer in a four-pronged attack.
Maresca’s only selection debate may be around the left wing, with Jadon Sancho likely to be given the nod over Joao Felix.
- Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson has scored three goals across his last five home appearances in the Premier League, more than across his previous 24 outings at home in the competition for Spurs and Nottingham Forest (2 goals).
- Nicolas Jackson has scored four goals in his two Premier League games for Chelsea against Tottenham, netting a hat-trick in this exact fixture last season.
- Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou has lost each of his two league games against Chelsea but has only lost his first three top-flight league meetings with three clubs: Adelaide City (1996-97) and Sydney United (1996-97) when he was South Melbourne manager and also against FC Tokyo (2018-19) when he was at Yokohama F. Marinos.
Tottenham vs Chelsea: What has been said?
Ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara believes that Postecoglou could be sacked by the New Year unless things improve.
Speaking to Jason Cundy on The Sports Bar, O’Hara said: “Daniel Levy won’t stand for this. I’m telling you now, he will sack him.
“If he thinks he can go this all the way through the season and keep defending like this, keep having set pieces like this, he will get sacked.
“Daniel Levy is all about Champions League football, Europa League minimum. If Spurs are tenth in the table after Christmas, they’ll sack Ange.
“I’m telling you, they’ll sack him. This can’t continue.
“I know everyone loves Ange, you know, in terms of like the attacking football. I can’t, I’m getting bored of watching this.
“I’m getting bored of watching this.”
- Tottenham have won just one of their last 11 Premier League games against Chelsea (D2 L8), picking up a 2-0 home win in February 2023.
- After a run of just two wins in 13 Premier League away games against Tottenham between 2006 and 2018 (D5 L6), Chelsea have now won four of their last five visits to Spurs (L1).
- Chelsea have won 35 Premier League games and scored 116 Premier League goals against Tottenham, more than they have vs any other opponent. It’s also the most goals Spurs have conceded against a side, while they’ve only lost more against Manchester United (39).
Tottenham vs Chelsea: How to follow
This Premier League clash will take place on Sunday, December 8.
Kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is scheduled for 4:30pm.
The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. You can sign up to Sky Sports here.
talkSPORT will also keep you up to date with all the latest news and reaction.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Meanwhile, talkSPORT.com will have live updates of the game on our dedicated live blog.
Premier League Match Odds with talkSPORT BET
Saturday, December 7
- Everton 6/1 – Draw 18/5 – Liverpool 2/5
- Aston Villa 4/11 – Draw 4/1 – Southampton 6/1
- Brentford 9/5 – Draw 27/10 – Newcastle 5/4
- Crystal Palace 9/2 – Draw 3/1 – Man City 11/20
- Man Utd 8/13 – Draw 29/10 – Nottm Forest 4/1
Sunday, December 8
- Fulham 9/2 – Draw 31/10 – Arsenal 8/15
- Ipswich 9/4 – Draw 13/5 – Bournemouth 21/20
- Leicester 7/2 – Draw 31/10 – Brighton 13/20
- Tottenham 13/8 – Draw 29/10 – Chelsea 13/10
Monday, December 9
*odds subject to change, 18+ gambleaware.org
Offer of the Week
talkSPORT BET – Bet £10 get £30 in free bets* CLAIM HERE
18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10+ via mobile on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Check out all the best free bets and betting offers from talkSPORT and our partners
What's Your Reaction?
