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Chelsea three things to look for: Spurs in the League Cup

By Gabe Henderson

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Olivier Giroud of Chelsea scores the opening goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on February 22, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Olivier Giroud of Chelsea scores the opening goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on February 22, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Olivier Giroud of Chelsea scores the opening goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on February 22, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images) /

Chelsea and Spurs meet for the first time during the 2020/21 season, this time in the Carabao Cup. What are some things to watch for?

The fixtures are coming at each side fast and furious. Chelsea took on the Baggies in West Brom on Saturday and Spurs hosted Newcastle on Sunday, the rivals will now meet for the Carabao Cup’s round of 16 match-up on Tuesday. The Blues defeated Barnsley 6-0 at home in the previous round whereas Tottenham got through without playing due to a Coronavirus outbreak at Leyton Orient.

Usually, managers don’t give a second thought to cup matches early in the season, throwing out academy stars and back-up veterans. That surely won’t be the case on Tuesday as the two London sides look to punch their ticket to the quarterfinals. Here are three things to look for as Chelsea travels to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

1. Rough rivalry rookies

Chelsea has stolen sporting headlines around the globe for its summer spending spree. The Blues have spent over £200 million on some of the world’s biggest names in an attempt to back new manager Frank Lampard. Amongst all this, the club’s most hated rivals on the north side of the country’s capital are having a surprisingly satisfactory summer, as well.

For the west Londoners, everybody but Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy has made their competitive debut in Chelsea blue. This is obviously excluding Malang Sarr, who is poised to spend the season away on loan. We could see Ben Chilwell in this match-up, especially after Marcos Alonso’s inexplicable performance at the weekend. However, Frank Lampard is definitely going to give some time to “Turbo Timo” Werner and Kai Havertz. The biggest question mark is Thiago Silva, who has played well in his first 150-odd minutes for the club so far. Even though his early season will be overshadowed by his horrible slip, he brings big game experience to the side.

Opposite Lampard on the touchline, Jose Mourinho could hand London Derby debuts to multiple players, as well. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Matt Doherty have already made a few appearances in the white of Tottenham, but they could get their toes wet versus Chelsea in the League Cup in what’d undoubtedly their biggest game for the new club to date. Sergio Reguilon, once rumored to be a Chelsea transfer target, could also see some action after making the bench against Newcastle. Who knows, maybe we’ll even see Joe Hart between the sticks.

At the end of the day, this match will mark the dawning of a new era in the intense struggle for bragging rights in England’s capital city.

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