Month: January 2017

Chelsea return to Premier League action on Tuesday night, as they face title rivals Liverpool at Anfield. This is a huge clash for the league leaders, as they’ve been in awful form in matches against their rivals at the top. They lost at home to Liverpool earlier in the season, and they’ve suffered defeats away to Tottenham and Arsenal this term. Can they do any better when they take on the Reds this week?

Liverpool are in shaky form of late, so Conte will see this as a chance to knock them out of the title race. With 10 points separating these two ahead of this meeting, a win for the visitors would basically end Jurgen Klopp’s ambitions of leading his side to the Premier League crown. A 13 point gap at this stage, with the league so competitive, would be too much for them to claw back in final 15 matches of the season. Can the Blues deliver a major blow to one of their rivals for top spot? It’s going to be a pretty tall order.

Team News: Huge test for Conte’s new system

Chelsea have no injury concerns ahead of this game once again. Antonio Conte has a full squad to choose from, and he’s likely to restore his key men after rotating during the FA Cup. Expect another 3-4-3 formation, which is a set up they weren’t using in the first meeting at Stamford Bridge. That change has paid off, it led to that 13 game winning streak. With only one defeat under the new system since October, it’s clearly a huge part of the Blues’ push for the title. Expect that formation to feature again, as it might be able to cause Liverpool some problems.

The hosts come into this game with no major injury worries. Striker Danny Ings is their only notable absence, he’s set to miss the season. The former Burnley man isn’t exactly a regular starter. They are likely to have to go without Sadio Mane, with the forward away on African Nations Cup duty. Without his pace, the Liverpool frontline looks a little toothless. Can Klopp find a way around that on Tuesday night? He’s been trying a 4-3-3 with Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho. While that’s a threatening front three, they’ll match up with the Blues’ back three. The Liverpool forwards are likely to struggle for space, given how defence-minded the four in front of the backline are.

Liverpool Form

Liverpool are currently on a terrible run, which has seen them struggle in the FA Cup and crash out of the EFL Cup. Their defeat here to Southampton made it back to back losses at Anfield, after former Chelsea coach Paul Clement led his Swansea side to victory here in the league. That 3-2 defeat to the worst defence in the top flight must have set alarm bells ringing for Jurgen Klopp, as that result saw them fall to fourth and drop even further off the pace in the fight for the Premier League title.

They are yet to record a league win in 2017, which hasn’t done their hopes of winning the league any favours. Klopp has seen his team score four times in their opening seven matches of the year, so their attacking swagger seems to have gone as well. There are quite a few issues for them to fix, especially as Klopp looks limited on options in his side. There’s no one he can really call on to step up to the first team and make a difference. At this stage of the season, squad depth is key. Liverpool just don’t seem to have enough in reserve.

Liverpool v Chelsea Head to Head

The Blues haven’t had the best record against Liverpool of late, losing twice to Klopp at Stamford Bridge since he took over in late 2015. They did pick up a draw at Anfield last year, and that was after leading for most of the game. Their last victory over the Reds was a 1-0 League Cup win, which came two years ago this month.

• Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool, Sep 2016
• Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea, May 2016
• Chelsea 1-3 Liverpool, Oct 2015
• Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool, May 2015
• Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool, Jan 2015

Betting Tips

• Under 2.5 goals – 19/20 with Bet365
• Chelsea to win draw no bet – 11/10 with Betfred

The bookies seem to be favouring the Reds here, as Liverpool are priced at 7/5 with Sky Bet to take the points. Meanwhile, you can get 2/1 with Betfair on a win for Chelsea. The draw is a 12/5 shot with BetVictor. A point wouldn’t be the worst result for the Blues, but it would allow others to cut into their lead. After a few games with no success over Klopp, Antonio Conte’s side should be aiming to leave here with all three points.

We expect Conte’s men to keep things tight if they can, and they have an excellent defensive record of late. Since switching to the 3-4-3, few sides have found a way past their defence. That’s likely to be true of Liverpool as well, given how they’re struggling to make an impact in front of goal. We’re expecting a low scoring game, which has been the case during most of the Reds’ matches this year. We’re backing under 2.5 goals in this one, which is priced at 10/11 with Coral.

We’re also backing a win for Chelsea, as they look like the best team in the division by quite some distance. While the others have clear issues, the Blues are a reliable unit who aren’t easily shaken. While the leaders are excellent value on the win market, we’re going with a slightly safer bet here. We’re backing the Blues draw no bet, which is priced at 11/10 with Betfred. Given how Liverpool are struggling for wins, that seems like a pretty safe option.

This weekend sees the return of FA Cup action for Chelsea, as they take on Brentford at Stamford Bridge. Not only are the Blues up against Championship opposition, but they’re facing a local derby, with just six miles separating these two sides. Can the visitors claim a shock cup victory at Stamford Bridge, or will the Premier League leaders continue to compete on two fronts? This should be a straightforward win for the hosts, but things might not be that easy.

The main difficulty for Antonio Conte will be keeping his team focused on this game ahead of a massive week. They face Liverpool and Arsenal in key Premier League matches in the next week. Both of those fixtures are likely to be crucial in deciding the fate of the Premier League title. With those big clashes looming, the Blues boss needs to make sure his side keep their attention focused on beating Brentford before they cast their eyes elsewhere. After all, the Italian will want his side fighting for this trophy too.

Team News: Conte to rotate ahead of big week

Once again Chelsea come here with a fully fit squad from which to choose their starting XI, they have no new injury news. However, we expect a lot of changes to be made from the side who saw off Hull City. Diego Costa only just returned to the side at the weekend, but he’s likely to drop out once again here. Expect some changes in defence, with Kurt Zouma and John Terry likely to feature. Given that there are some huge games in the next week, it’s likely that the Blues will name an almost entirely different side between this game and their trip to Anfield.

Brentford are still in danger of losing key man Scott Hogan, who is being linked with a switch to West Ham. Reports claim that the deal is close, but he could still appear here if that deal isn’t done. The forward appeared in the last round of the cup, so he’s already cup-tied ahead of any potential move. Alan Judge and Lewis Macleod are both out with long term injuries here, while Alan McCormack and Sam Saunders missed out at the weekend and could sit out once again.

Brentford Form

Brentford come into this game having lost back to back matches against Newcastle and Wigan. That has left them in 15th place in the Championship table, so they’re some way off the play-off spots. They’re not in huge relegation danger either, they’re just a middling club so far this season. They come into this game having won just one of their last six in the league, which makes them unlikely to pull off a shock result at the Bridge.

Brentford also come here with some really poor away form, having lost 57% of their matches on the road this season. They have just four away wins from 14 games, while they’ve failed to score in 30% of their outings in the Championship this term. They hammered Eastleigh 5-1 to make it to this round of the cup, but things are about to get a lot more difficult for them this weekend. Will they be able to pull a performance out from nowhere, or will they continue their awful away form?

Chelsea v Brentford Head to Head

Aside from their last meeting in this round of the cup, it’s been quite a while since these two sides have met. Despite being local rivals, they’ve played one another just three times in the last 70 years. We doubt those old meetings will play much into this one, but a repeat of Brentford’s 3-1 win here in 1939 would probably be one of the biggest cup upsets ever. Their last meeting at Stamford Bridge was a comfortable 4-0 victory in a cup replay, which came under Rafa Benitez.

• Chelsea 4-0 Brentford, Feb 2013
• Brentford 2-2 Chelsea, Jan 2013
• Brentford 0-2 Chelsea, Mar 1947
• Chelsea 3-2 Brentford, Nov 1946
• Chelsea 1-3 Brentford, Feb 1939

Betting Tips

• Chelsea -2 Asian Handicap – 4/5 at Bet365
• Cesc Fabregas to score any time – 19/10 at Betfair

Chelsea come into this game as massive favourites to win here, as you’d expect. They’re priced at just 2/11 with Sky Bet to see off the Bees, with the away side priced at 17/1 with BetVictor to cause a massive shock. An upset here would be up there with the Bradford defeat in terms of shock value, and it would also be a huge dent for the Blues ahead of their big matches over the next week. Conte will want a routine victory here, wrapping things up early on before shifting focus back to the fight for the Premier League title.

The Blues should be able to record a comfortable win without too many problems. They beat Peterborough by three goals in the last round, while 70% of their home Premier League victories have been by two goals or more. The Blues have scored an average of 2.73 and conceded just 0.55 goals per game at home against their fellow top flight sides. Against a team from the division below they should be able to record an even bigger margin of victory. We’re predicting a very comfortable home win for the Blues, as we’re backing them with a -2 Asian Handicap, at 4/5 with Bet365.

With changes likely, we see an appearance by a few players who tend to sit out of Conte’s team. Cesc Fabregas has shown his talents in the starting 11 of late, but he’s hardly the man Conte will turn to for games against Liverpool and Arsenal. The midfielder should look a class above against Championship opposition, and we’re backing him to make an impact when Brentford visit. We like the look of the Spaniard to score any time on Saturday. He’s priced at 19/10 with Betfair to score, and we think he’d due a goal, especially if he gets the full 90 minutes.

Can Chelsea continue their push for the Premier League title by seeing off Hull this weekend? The Blues are returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since getting permission to renovate their ground. This is also their first home game since the fall out between Diego Costa and Antonio Conte, so will the forward miss out again here? Or will the striker-less formation continue after featuring last weekend?

Hull come here buoyed by a few good results, with new boss Marco Silva making a good impression. The Tigers have won two of their last three games under their new manager, but this is by far his toughest test yet. They face an EFL Cup semi-final in midweek after this clash, but expect them to prioritise the league as they chase top flight survival. Will that see them claiming a shock result at the Bridge? That would certainly be a blow to the Blues’ hopes of regaining the title.

Team News: Costa likely to be frozen out again

Chelsea come here with no injury worries, they should have a fully fit squad to choose from. However, it’s unlikely that Diego Costa has done enough for selection. His tantrum and links with a move to China threatened to derail the Blues’ push for the title. Losing the Premier League’s top scorer isn’t exactly something that Conte is welcoming, but he’s dealing with the situation well. It wouldn’t be surprising if the boss goes with the exact same 11 who won 3-0 at Leicester last weekend, which included no striker, with Eden Hazard as the false nine. That at least gives Willian some deserved game time, along with Pedro.

Hull started the season with a depleted squad, and that has haunted them all campaign. They’re without at least five players for this game. Dieumerci Mbonkani and Ahmed Elmohamady are away at the African Nations Cup, which hasn’t affected Chelsea this season. The Tigers selection woes are made even worse as Jake Livermore is set for a switch to West Brom, so he won’t be available here. However, the incredible £10million fee that the Baggies are paying should make up for that. The Tigers are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation here.

Hull Form

Hull are looking up after a few good results, they won 3-1 at home to Bournemouth last weekend to boost their hopes of survival. They also claimed an FA Cup win over relegation rivals Swansea. That has given Silva a strong start at the KCOM, he’s continuing their impressive record in the cups, as they’ve already earned a spot in the last four of the EFL Cup.

A huge problem for the Tigers here is their awful away form. They’re coming to Stamford Bridge as one of the worst travelling sides in the top flight. Hull have just one away win all season, losing 80% of their trips so far, while they’ve failed to win in any of their last nine league away days. They’ve taken just 0.4 points per game on their travels, giving them the third worst away record in the league. That shouldn’t trouble the Blues, who have won 90% of their home matches so far. The visitors have an awful defensive record home and away, as they’ve conceded a goal in their last 19 Premier League outings.

Chelsea v Hull Head to Head

Chelsea have a strong record against the Tigers of late, winning both matches during their last full season in the top flight. They’ve now won five straight against their next opponents, while they’re yet to taste defeat against Hull in any encounter. The first meeting with Hull this season was the debut of Conte’s 3-4-3 formation with the Blues. They won 2-0 at the KCOM, which kicked off their excellent 13-game winning run. Can a victory here have a similar effect?

• Hull 0-2 Chelsea, Oct 2016
• Hull 2-3 Chelsea, Mar 2015
• Chelsea 2-0 Hull, Dec 2014
• Hull 0-2 Chelsea, Jan 2014
• Chelsea 2-0 Hull, Aug 2013

Betting Tips

• Chelsea to win to nil – 4/5 with BetVictor
• Eden Hazard to score any time – 21/20 with Coral

Chelsea are heavy favourites to win this one, priced at odds of just 1/5 with Sky Bet. That’s hardly surprising, given Hull’s awful away record. They’re going up against the side with the best points per game record at home in the league. A victory here would see Chelsea move on to 30 points from 11 matches at the Bridge. Given the gulf in class between these two teams, it’s easy to see the hosts recording a big win. However, it’s not worth backing them on the win market, but there are other value bets to consider on this game.

Chelsea come here having conceded just 0.6 goals per game at home, while they’ve kept a clean sheet in 60% of their outings at Stamford Bridge. They’ve also recorded a shutout in five of their last seven in the Premier League, and it’s easy to see them improving that record on Sunday evening. Hull come here averaging just 0.6 goals per game on the road. Half of their away matches have seen them fail to score, so it’s easy to see them struggling at the Bridge. We’re backing a home win to nil, which is big at 4/5 with BetVictor.

Chelsea are set to come here without Costa, given the striker’s recent troubles. That should see Hazard playing as the false nine here, and we think the Belgian will revel in that role. Playing with him up front worked against Leicester, and we see it causing problems for a Hull team who concede 2.4 goals per game on the road. That should see Hazard getting plenty of chances up front, and we’re backing him to make an impact. He’s 21/20 with Coral to score at any time on Sunday.

Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday evening, as they travel to reigning champions Leicester. The Blues are looking to regain the trophy which the Foxes took from them in May, and a victory here would go a long way towards that. Defeat at Tottenham may have ended their impressive winning run in the top flight, but they can’t let that hold them back here.

While Leicester are struggling in the table, this will still be a big test for the Blues. The King Power still isn’t an easy place to visit, especially now Claudio Ranieri’s men aren’t being distracted by the Champions League. Will Chelsea come away from here with their five point lead intact, or will they suffer another blow in their push for the title?

Team News: Stars set to return ahead of tough test

Chelsea are hoping to get John Terry’s suspension overturned, after he was sent off against Peterborough last weekend. However, he probably would have dropped out of the team this weekend anyway, as Antonio Conte is likely to restore many of his top stars to the line-up this weekend. He made 10 changes for the FA Cup third round tie, all of which are likely to be reversed. The Italian switched to a 3-5-2 for that game, but he’ll likely revert to a 3-4-3 once he puts his main men back in the starting line-up.

Only Gary Cahill kept his place from the defeat at Tottenham, with fringe players getting a run out. There was a welcome return for Kurt Zouma, after 11 months on the sidelines. He should push for a place in the starting line up over the coming weeks, although this might come a little early for him. He’ll have more competition at centre-half, now that Nathan Ake has returned from his loan at Bournemouth. Conte clearly rates the young defender, so expect to see him in the first team soon enough.

Leicester have no injury worries ahead of this clash, but they do have a few key absentees. The Foxes are without three players, who have all travelled to Gabon for the Africa Cup of Nations. Daniel Amartey, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani are all on international duty. Missing those three is a blow for Ranieri, just as they started to find form in the Premier League.

Leicester Form

Leicester are down in 15th place in the league, which is some drop from their excellent campaign last time around. The Foxes have mostly struggled on the road, having taken just three points on their travels. At home they’re a lot more comfortable, winning half of their 10 games here, claiming 18 points overall. They’ve lost just two of their league matches at the King Power, but both of those have come in their last five here. Even their strong home form looks to be tailing off, which is a worry for Ranieri.

The Foxes recently recorded an impressive win over Manchester City here, which seemed like a return to their title winning form. They were 3-0 up in 20 minutes against City, before going 4-0 up with 10 minutes to go. City had a small fightback, but that display was an impressive one from the champions. Their strong performance was thought to be down to Pep Guardiola’s tactics, rather than anything Leicester did. His City side were so open, it was the kind of approach which the Foxes took advantage of regularly last term. Few sides give them that much space now.

Leicester v Chelsea Head to Head

In their last meeting at Stamford Bridge, the Blues had few problems dispatching the champions. They’ve met twice this season, winning both games. They made the trip to the King Power in the League Cup, going 2-0 down before fighting back to force extra time. Their last league meeting here was Jose Mourinho’s final match in charge of the club, as they lost 2-1 against the then league leaders.

• Chelsea 3-0 Leicester, Oct 2016
• Leicester 2-4 Chelsea, Sep 2016
• Chelsea 1-1 Leicester, May 2016
• Leicester 2-1 Chelsea, Dec 2015
• Leicester 1-3 Chelsea, Apr 2015

Betting Tips

• Both teams to score – 5/6 with Coral
• Diego Costa to score first – 3/1 with Betfair

Chelsea are heavy favourites to win here, despite Leicester’s strong home record. The Blues are priced at 8/13 with Betfred to take all three points on Saturday evening. Meanwhile, BetVictor make Leicester the 5/1 outsiders for the points. There’s little value in backing the leaders to take the points here. They’re justified in that short price, given that they have the best away record in the top flight, even after their loss at Spurs. However, there a couple of value bets to grab on this clash.

Leicester’s strong record here means they should be able to get a goal in this game. They’ve scored in 70% of their league matches at the King Power, while they’ve found the net in seven of their last eight in all competitions at home. Chelsea have a strong defence, but we can see it being exposed by the likes of Jamie Vardy. We’re backing both teams to score in this game, which seems well priced at 5/6 with Coral ahead of kick off.

We’re also backing a big impact from Diego Costa here, with the striker returning to the side after being rested last weekend. That short break allowed some game time for Michy Batshuayi, but it’s unlikely to give the Belgian another start. Costa is the league’s top scorer, and he should get the chance to continue his fantastic scoring record with a goal here. We can see the Spaniard opening the scoring in this one, he’s priced at 3/1 with Betfair to score the first goal. You can back him to score any time here at 8/11 with Sky Bet.

Can Chelsea bounce back from their 2-0 defeat at Tottenham with victory in the FA Cup on Sunday? The Blues take on Peterborough in this third round tie, and Antonio Conte will be looking for his side to kick off a cup run to go alongside an impressive league campaign so far. Carlo Ancelotti managed to land the league and cup double in his first season at Stamford Bridge; could Conte manage to emulate his compatriot this term? That would be some return for a side who finished 10th in the table last season.

Peterborough will no doubt be looking to repeat Bradford’s shock third round win at Chelsea from a few years ago. That 4-2 defeat was one of the biggest ever upsets in FA Cup history, so it’s going to take something special from the visitors, or something incredibly stupid from the Blues, for that to happen again. Conte’s men will be looking to make up for their 2-0 defeat at Everton in the quarter-finals last year. That dismal defeat basically ended their season and hopes of making Europe. Can they manage to produce a better performance in the cup in 2017?

Team News: Changes likely after winning run ended

Chelsea saw their 13 game winning run in the Premier League brought to an end on Wednesday night. However, they’re still five points clear at the half-way stage. With attention now shifting to the FA Cup, it’s likely that we can expect a few changes here. Conte has stuck with the same side for most of this run, but it’s easy to see him making a few adjustments ahead of a clash with lower-league opposition. The lack of European football means the players are playing a lot less than usual, but it also means the fringe players are lacking minutes. They need a run out, just so they’re ready if needed down the line.

John Terry is one who could make a return, while Kurt Zouma should get some time on the pitch. After Gary Cahill’s poor display at Spurs, Conte needs options in defence. We expect a rest for the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, who should be saved for the Leicester game next weekend. Hopefully some of the younger players can get a run out in the team, especially as they’ve had opportunities limited during the season.

Peterborough don’t have any injury worries ahead of this trip, so their full squad is in with a chance of getting a run out at Stamford Bridge. Grant McCann is likely to field a strong side for this game, despite the demanding Christmas fixture list taking a toll on his men. While a rest might help them, it’s hard to see him risking a rotated side at a Premier League team. It’s also unlikely that he’d deny any of his key starters an appearance in a game like this.

Peterborough Form

Peterborough come into this game sitting just outside the play-off spots in League One, as they look to return to the Championship after a four-year absence. Posh may not be in the top six right now, but they’re just two points off a place in the play-offs. They sit 12 points off automatic promotion, so they’re unlikely to push for either of the top two places. However, they are in good enough form to be serious contenders for sixth place or higher.

Posh have drawn their last three games, but they’ve suffered just one defeat in their last 13 outings. They saw off Notts County in a replay to make it this far, which gave them a huge third round tie to complement their push for promotion. The visitors are unbeaten in six matches away from home, but it’s hard to see that record continuing here. This is set to be a huge step up for the away side, and they look short on the talent needed to cause a huge shock here.

Chelsea v Peterborough Head to Head

This is the first ever meeting between Chelsea and Peterborough, so we currently don’t have a head to head record to look at. Can the Blues manage to come out on top when they host the League One side in their first ever meeting? Looking back over the Blues’ cup form, it’s hard to see a shock. Chelsea have just six losses in the last 10 years in this competition. That spans across 50 games, with the Blues winning this trophy four times in that period.

Betting Tips

• Chelsea to win to nil – 10/11 with Ladbrokes
• Cesc Fabregas to score any time – 2/1 with BetVictor

Chelsea come into this game as heavy favourites, they’re 1/6 with Coral to book a place in the fourth round. Given the gulf between them, that’s hardly surprising. Meanwhile, Sky Bet are pricing the League One side at 14/1 to claim a shock victory. This one seems like a straightforward win for the hosts, but we think we’ve found some good value bets on this clash.

During their 13 game winning streak, Chelsea managed 10 clean sheets. The Blues have a lot of defensive cover ahead of this game, and we’re expecting to see the likes of Ola Aina, Kurt Zouma and John Terry. Even the Blues’ second string defenders should be able to shutout League One Peterborough, so we’re backing a win and clean sheet for the hosts, which is 10/11 with Ladbrokes.

With Chelsea expected to score a few goals, it’s worth looking at the anytime scorer market. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is one worth keeping an eye on, he’s 23/10 with Coral to get a goal, just as he did in last year’s third round. However, our pick is another midfielder. Cesc Fabregas should step in here after missing out in midweek, he’s likely to lend experience to this side. The former Arsenal and Barcelona man should be far too good for the League One opposition, so we’re backing him to grab a goal at 2/1 with BetVictor.

Can Premier League leaders Chelsea continue their fantastic winning run when they make the trip away to Tottenham on Wednesday night? This frenetic festive period wraps up with a mouth-watering London derby, which is possibly the Blues’ toughest test since their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal. Will Antonio Conte and his men be able to make a strong start to 2017, or will they fail to pick up three points for the first time since September?

Tottenham will also be confident coming into this game, they’ve put together some strong form; they also finally returned to the top four, albeit for only a day. Their push for a Champions League spot isn’t their main aim, however, as they’ve got outside ambitions of winning the title. However, they’re 10 points back from Chelsea, so they’ll need to claim all three points here to boost their title charge.

Team News: Conte to keep faith in search for 14th straight win

Antonio Conte has resisted the urge to make too many changes across the Christmas period. He welcomes back Pedro this weekend, after the Spaniard was suspended for the Stoke game. However, with Willian and Eden Hazard in excellent form, Pedro is unlikely to find his way back into the team here. We’re backing a familiar 11 here, with Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante both moving in to central midfield. That should give them a more solid base against a side in great attacking form.

In fact, Conte only has two injury concerns ahead of this game. John Terry is still a doubt, although he’s unlikely to beat any of the current back three to a starting place. Going into this clash, Terry would be a substitute at best. The Blues have Kenedy and Charly Musonda back from their loans, although they’ve not played much this season. Musonda isn’t fit after returning from Real Betis. Neither of those two are likely to appear on Wednesday.

Tottenham’s only injury worry for this game is Erik Lamela, aside from that they’re set to have a fully fit squad. They’ve been lining up in a 3-5-2 formation of late, and they’re likely to continue that here. That allows their attack minded full-backs to push on, while it also gets Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen into their favoured number 10 roles. However, they’re playing with just Victor Wanyama in front of their back three. That could leave them vulnerable.

Tottenham Form

Since losing 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in November, Tottenham have won six of their last seven matches. That saw them make a return to the top four, dumping Manchester City out in the process, before City leapfrogged then again with a home win against Burnley. Spurs have scored 21 goals in that time, with Harry Kane and Dele Alli hitting solid form up top. They each scored twice in Spurs’ 4-1 win over Watford on New Year’s Day, that was their second consecutive 4-1 victory on the road. Can they continue that excellent scoring form when they return to White Hart Lane on Wednesday night? Or will they struggle against the league’s best defence?

One issue for Spurs is their packed Christmas schedule. Spurs’ kicked off their winter fixtures just a week before this game. They’ve got three games in a week, while the Blues have been resting since Saturday. The Spurs’ squad has already been juggling European football with league action, they might not be able to match the Blues here. Tottenham don’t have the biggest squad, and seeing as they’ve not rotated that much, they might come up a little short when they face the league leaders.

Tottenham v Chelsea Head to Head

Tottenham gave the Blues a scare at Stamford Bridge, as they scored the opener. However, Conte’s side managed to turn things around to continue their impressive winning run Their last trip here was a 0-0 draw under Jose Mourinho, while the season before they lost 5-3 here. It’s hard to see a repeat of either of those results, given how the Blues are playing up front and at the back. It’s tough to see them letting in five goals in any game.

• Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham, Nov 2016
• Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham, May 2016
• Tottenham 0-0 Chelsea, Nov 2015
• Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham, Mar 2015
• Tottenham 5-3 Chelsea, Jan 2015

Betting Tips

• Diego Costa to score anytime – 6/5 with BetVictor
• Draw – 12/5 with Sky Bet

Given the form of these two coming into this game, it’s clear that this is a really tough match to call. There’s next to nothing between them in the pre-match betting, Coral price Tottenham at 13/8 here, while Chelsea are 17/10 for the win. It’s hard to see just who will take the points, but this is clearly one of the toughest trips that that the Blues are going to face. They were almost gifted the points at Man City when Pep Guardiola’s men collapsed. They won’t get that lucky here, they’ll need to be at their very best to get anything out of this meeting.

The Blues will need Diego Costa firing, and he made a scoring return to the side at the weekend. He hit a late goal against Stoke on his return from suspension. The forward had a much needed break when he was suspended against Bournemouth. That looks to have helped him, and that’s got to be a worry for Spurs. The way they set up is likely to create space at the back, and Costa is one who can take advantage. We’re backing him to score any time, at 6/5 with BetVictor.

Tottenham are yet to suffer defeat at home all season, which highlights just how difficult this game is for the league leaders. We can’t see a 14th win here for Chelsea, but the Blues should avoid defeat in this one. We’re backing these two to take a point apiece, with the draw priced at 12/5 with Sky Bet ahead of this clash.