Spurs vs Chelsea: 3 things to look out for

Chelsea are on the road this week in the premier league as they face yet another London club. On Monday night, they face a rejuvenated Tottenham Hotspur. The north London club is flying high under their new manager Ange Postecoglou.

A win will take Tottenham back to the top spot in the league standings. On the other hand, a win for Chelsea will take them to the top half of the table. With that said, here are three things to look at from the match.

1. Chelsea’s frontline

With Armando Broja still out due to injury, Nicolas Jackson is the only senior striker available for manager Mauricio Pochettino. But his performances since the international break have been poor. Even against Championship side Blackburn Rovers, Jackson struggled to make an impact.

So it will be interesting to see if Pochettino goes back to the frontline that worked wonderfully against Arsenal. The availability of Mykhailo Mudryk is a concern. If he is unavailable, Pochettino could play Conor Gallagher or Enzo Fernandes slightly forward, even though results were not ideal previously.

Tottenham will be playing in front foot, as opposed to low blocks, against whom Chelsea continues to have issues. The speed and quick feet of players who could start in a striker-less formation can cause trouble for Postecoglou’s men.

2. The back four

Benoit Badiashile and Reece James were back in the starting lineup against Rovers in the EFL Cup after their long injury layoff. James would probably retain his spot on Monday. Malo Gusto will have to do with another substitute role at most. At left back, Marc Cucurella is the obvious choice at the moment. Which two start as the center-back pairing is difficult to say.

All four that are currently available should be hopeful about starting. Thiago Silva’s experience at the back will be vital. Badiashile has only returned from injury, so a start in such a big match could be too soon for him. As such, Levi Colwill could see returning to the starting lineup along with Silva. Axel Disasi started on midweek and could join Badiashile on the bench.

3. Chelsea’s attitude

Blues have had some tough matches in the premier league. But against teams that do not sit back when not in possession, Pochettino’s men have looked better. Fixtures against Tottenham are always wildly contested. Ideally, CFC should play like they have played so far this season.

The project is still a work in progress. But Chelsea’s position in the league table is a worry. They are on the bottom half of the table at the moment. After Monday, they face champions Manchester City at home. A loss could against them could see Chels‘ just above the relegation zone. It won’t get easier even then, as Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion are their opponents after that.

At some point, ‘Poch’ will have to make tough decisions. Without wins, it will be tough for fans to trust the process. Players could lose their faith. But their upcoming opponents are ideal to continue their current style of play. So, it will be interesting to see if Chelsea maintains their positive attitude.