Chelsea and Tottenham meet for the third time in just under two months. The Blues have lost just once at Stamford Bridge in the league this season but they do have issues at the moment and Spurs have won nine of their last 11 away league games.
With Kane back, Pochettino’s men should be fancied.
Chelsea have endured a real rocky first season under Maurizio Sarri since the Italian arrived to replace his compatriot Antonio Conte in the summer.
The Blues started the season in fantastic form and looked like potential title challengers after the first ten matches of the campaign in which they went unbeaten but since then things have started to unravel.
At this stage, the Londoners occupy sixth place in the table, three points behind the top four with games in hand on Arsenal and Manchester United.
In recent weeks things have really taken a turn for the worse for Sarri’s side.
Thumping league defeats to the likes of AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City, plus a home loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup, have reduced the fans’ confidence in their boss and in Sunday’s EFL Cup final defeat to Pep Guardiola’s City at Wembley Stadium his authority was undermined yet further by Kepa Arrizabalaga’s refusal to be substituted.
You can back them to put these recent woes behind them and win here at odds of 13/10 with Paddy Power.
Tottenham Hotspur may have hauled themselves into the title race over the weekend as Manchester City wre not in action and Liverpool dropped points by drawing 0-0 at Manchester United, but instead the Lilywhites fell to a disappointing 1-2 defeat at the hands of Burnley.
Now, the Lilywhites sit five points behind second placed Manchester City and league leaders Liverpool meaning their only real chance of silverware this season comes in the Champions League, where they lead Borussia Dortmund 3-0 after the first leg of their Round of 16 tie.
Although Mauricio Pochettino has seen the club continue to progress season upon season under his stewardship, the North Londoners are yet to get a trophy on the board under the Argentinian’s management and after crashing out of both domestic cups in the last month, chances of another trophy this season are quickly diminishing.
Now, with the likes of Manchester United and indeed Chelsea hot on their heels, Spurs will be keen to keep some distance between themselves and the top four race by winning here at 11/5 with William Hill.
We’re anticipating goals here, which is hardly surprising given the quality of attacking players on the pitch.
Chelsea can call upon Eden Hazard plus January loan signing Gonzalo Higuain who will be keen to prove a point after being left out of the starting eleven at Wembley on Sunday, whilst Spurs have Harry Kane back from injury and Son Heung Min who has been in fine form in his absence at their service.
Five of the last six meetings between these two sides have seen both teams find the net so we’re backing the same again here at 7/10 with Bet365.
That man Harry Kane returned from injury for Spurs over the weekend and scored his side’s goal in their defeat at Turf Moor. The England captain has, despite injury problems, already racked up 21 goals in all competitions including strikes against the Blues in both the Premier League and the EFL Cup. He’s our anytime scorer tip at 7/5 with William Hill.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Last six meetings: Chelsea W2, Tottenham W4
All-time meetings: Chelsea W68, Tottenham W54, D40
THE TEAM NEWS
CHELSEA
Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso; Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic; Willian, Higuain, Hazard
Unavailable: Van Ginkel (Injured), Drinkwater (Out of favour), Cahill (Out of favour)
Doubtful: Zappacosta (Illness)
TOTTENHAM
Predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Sissoko, Winks; Lucas Moura, Eriksen, Son; Kane
Unavailable: Alli (Injured), Janssen (Injured)
Doubtful: Dier (Illness)
