Chelsea and Tottenham are in the race for the Champions League and neither can afford to lose points as they clash in this week's Big Match.
Chelsea's loss to Manchester United was somewhat expected but also unlucky. VAR failed to see a push on Cesar Azpilicueta from Fred which then forced the Spaniard onto Brandon Williams, which ruled out Kurt Zouma's goal and kept United ahead. That would've made the game 1-1 and with Chelsea in the ascendancy, who knows what might've happened. Ultimately, ifs, buts and maybes are irrelevant and the bottom line is that it was another disappointing home performance under Frank Lampard. This is only his second season in management but Lampard needs to find a way quickly to overcome the poor home form overwise risking qualification for the Champions League.
As ever with Chelsea, a lot of the blame - and rightly so - is put at their strikers. Tammy Abraham started brilliantly but has gone off the boil recently and was injured on Monday night, so Michy Batshuayi deputised. He had numerous chances to score in well-placed positions but he is so low on confidence that the Belgian never looked like scoring. It remains to be seen as to whether Abraham is fit for today's game and with Batshuayi failing to impress, Olivier Giroud should definitely get the start. Giroud wanted to leave in January to get game time to try and be selected in the France squad for the Euros yet he may now have a chance to do so at Chelsea. It's got to the point where you find yourself saying "why not?", which is a bleak outlook for Chelsea's attack.
Looking at Tottenham, it's clear to see Jose Mourinho has not changed his style of play and that was evident against RB Leipzig on Wednesday. The Germans could've been 3-0 up within 2 minutes and they dominated from start to finish. They had to play two full backs in central defence but with the way Julian Nagelsmann has them operating, it doesn't matter as Leipzig will continue to play on the front foot and press highly, two things that are impossible to envisage Mourinho's Spurs doing.
1-0 flattered Tottenham as it really should've been more. Tottenham barely laid a glove on Leipzig which Mourinho believes is down to the injuries his squad has in attacking areas. Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son are injured which leaves Lucas Moura to play centrally but he is unable to do the same aerial job either of them can do. Highly rated forward Troy Parrott stands at 6ft 1in so does fit the profile of a striker Mourinho likes but he insists the Irishman is not ready. At this point, what other choice does Mourinho have?
With Manchester City's looming ban from the Champions League, Tottenham are 5th but are in the all important European top 4. Sheffield United are 1 point off, Manchester United two, Wolves and Everton four and Arsenal and Burnley six. There is an exciting race and this mini-league that has developed means these sides need to take points off each other whenever they meet. Champions League is particularly important for Chelsea and Tottenham to attract the transfer targets they want. This is set up for a big match and one that could put either side into a better position for qualification.
N'Golo Kante is a big miss for Chelsea, as are Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic. Kane and Son are too for Tottenham. Neither side is at their best in attacking personnel. Chelsea have the ability to create chances and miss them while Tottenham have the ability to defend poorly and not create chances. One moment of qualify will decide this.
1-0 Chelsea.
Chelsea's loss to Manchester United was somewhat expected but also unlucky. VAR failed to see a push on Cesar Azpilicueta from Fred which then forced the Spaniard onto Brandon Williams, which ruled out Kurt Zouma's goal and kept United ahead. That would've made the game 1-1 and with Chelsea in the ascendancy, who knows what might've happened. Ultimately, ifs, buts and maybes are irrelevant and the bottom line is that it was another disappointing home performance under Frank Lampard. This is only his second season in management but Lampard needs to find a way quickly to overcome the poor home form overwise risking qualification for the Champions League.
As ever with Chelsea, a lot of the blame - and rightly so - is put at their strikers. Tammy Abraham started brilliantly but has gone off the boil recently and was injured on Monday night, so Michy Batshuayi deputised. He had numerous chances to score in well-placed positions but he is so low on confidence that the Belgian never looked like scoring. It remains to be seen as to whether Abraham is fit for today's game and with Batshuayi failing to impress, Olivier Giroud should definitely get the start. Giroud wanted to leave in January to get game time to try and be selected in the France squad for the Euros yet he may now have a chance to do so at Chelsea. It's got to the point where you find yourself saying "why not?", which is a bleak outlook for Chelsea's attack.
Looking at Tottenham, it's clear to see Jose Mourinho has not changed his style of play and that was evident against RB Leipzig on Wednesday. The Germans could've been 3-0 up within 2 minutes and they dominated from start to finish. They had to play two full backs in central defence but with the way Julian Nagelsmann has them operating, it doesn't matter as Leipzig will continue to play on the front foot and press highly, two things that are impossible to envisage Mourinho's Spurs doing.
1-0 flattered Tottenham as it really should've been more. Tottenham barely laid a glove on Leipzig which Mourinho believes is down to the injuries his squad has in attacking areas. Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son are injured which leaves Lucas Moura to play centrally but he is unable to do the same aerial job either of them can do. Highly rated forward Troy Parrott stands at 6ft 1in so does fit the profile of a striker Mourinho likes but he insists the Irishman is not ready. At this point, what other choice does Mourinho have?
With Manchester City's looming ban from the Champions League, Tottenham are 5th but are in the all important European top 4. Sheffield United are 1 point off, Manchester United two, Wolves and Everton four and Arsenal and Burnley six. There is an exciting race and this mini-league that has developed means these sides need to take points off each other whenever they meet. Champions League is particularly important for Chelsea and Tottenham to attract the transfer targets they want. This is set up for a big match and one that could put either side into a better position for qualification.
N'Golo Kante is a big miss for Chelsea, as are Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic. Kane and Son are too for Tottenham. Neither side is at their best in attacking personnel. Chelsea have the ability to create chances and miss them while Tottenham have the ability to defend poorly and not create chances. One moment of qualify will decide this.
1-0 Chelsea.
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