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Three things to look for in Chelsea vs. Spurs: Battle for first place

By Gabe Henderson

Chelsea's English head coach Frank Lampard (L) greets Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho during the English League Cup fourth round football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on September 29, 2020. (Photo by Matt Dunham / 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 MATT DUNHAM/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's English head coach Frank Lampard (L) greets Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho during the English League Cup fourth round football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on September 29, 2020. (Photo by Matt Dunham / 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 MATT DUNHAM/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s English striker Tammy Abraham celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on November 21, 2020. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s English striker Tammy Abraham celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on November 21, 2020. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Chelsea hosts Tottenham for the first league match between the bitter rivals this season, here are a few things to watch for during the contest.

Much of the attention in the footballing world has focused on the mid-week Champions League matches. Seeing as some of the games on the schedule were ones like Inter Milan vs. Real Madrid, it’s easy to understand why. However, the Premier League has a scrumptious slate coming up this weekend, headlined by Chelsea vs. Tottenham.

The Blues come into the match sitting third in the table, riding the wave of a 10-game unbeaten run. The last time they were defeated, it was Spurs who knocked Chelsea out of the League Cup on penalties. The Pride of London has yet to lose since and is seeking revenge. Vengeance won’t come easy though, as the visitors trickle into Stamford Bridge holding their heads high, as well. Tottenham is playing some incredible football that has landed the north London side atop the Premier League table.

Sunday’s marquee match-up is the most highly anticipated London Derby since the same tie back in May of 2016. In a game now infamously dubbed “The Battle of the Bridge”, Chelsea delivered the fatal blow to Tottenham’s title dreams. Could the Blues dish out a similar—albeit more demoralizing than death dealing—strike on Sunday?

Here are three things to look for as Tottenham travels down to SW6:

1. The battle for first place (potentially)

In a symbolic way, this match is the first true test for Chelsea on the season. The Blues are sitting pretty two points off the Premier League lead and into the UCL Round of 16, but they don’t really have a signature victory. Spurs’ came last week against Manchester City, so the north Londoners are now considered true title contenders. On the other hand, the jury is still out on Frank Lampard’s squad. This game is more than just a tussle in the table for Chelsea. That’s the headline though between the two sides.

In no way, shape or form will this match decide the title for either club. There are still 28 matches to be played following the final whistle, but one thing it does decide is the short term standings. If by some miracle Brighton gets a result against Liverpool, the winner of Chelsea-Tottenham will claim first place after 10 weeks of the 2020/21 season. Obviously there is no trophy for being top of the league after just about 1/4 of the season—even though Spurs would love that—but it’s a huge morale boost.

As much fun as it is to joke about Spurs being a bunch of bottlers, a win at Stamford Bridge would verify their claims of being true contenders. The opposite result would do the same for Chelsea. The fight for a chance at first is an important one between rancorous rivals and two mesmerizing managers.

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