It is all on the line for Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge when the Lilywhites take on the Blues in the second to last game of this nightmare of a 2025/26 Premier League season. But after West Ham United lost 3-1 behind a brace from young Newcastle United breakout star William Osula, the stage is set for Spurs to stay up in the Premier League offiically by getting a mere point from their bitter London rivals.
Earlier this season, Spurs lost 1-0 to Chelsea, but they played so poorly under Thomas Frank that the score line may as well have been 10-0. So Tottenham have a lot of work to do, even against a wounded Chelsea, though the Blue are more dangerous from an emotional stand point after confirming the hire of one of the best young managers in the world, Xabi Alonso.
Tottenham need to get better at scoring goals, because even though Roberto De Zerbi has turned around a lot at this club, most of those positives are in the midfield and the defense. Up top, he can't turn water into wine and get the forwards to play markedly better, including failed loan signing Randal Kolo Muani.
Dominic Solanke is still out injured
Unfortunately for De Zerbi, he will still be down one key forward in Dominic Solanke, the main starter in the central No. 9 position. Solanke has been out with a hamstring injury these last few weeks, and the Italian manager confirmed that his striker is still not ready to return against Chelsea.
De Zerbi told reporters at the press conference before Tottenham vs. Chelsea, via Tom Barclay of The Sun, Solanke is not good yet. Heâs not available. He feels something. I donât want to take risk for this game. We hope for Sunday, maybe for Sunday, he can be available for one part of the game."
The positive is that Tottenham Hotspur could have Dominic Solanke available on Sunday for Matchday 38 of the 2025/26 Premier League season against Everton, who are another tough opponent to get a point out of in the relegation fight.
Solanke has not been in his best moment this season with a myriad of injuries, and his worst displays, even under Roberto De Zerbi, have come in the relegation battle. But even in his first season at Tottenham as a blockbuster signing from Bournemouth, he showed a huge clutch factor with goals in the box and all around play en route to the Europa League Final. So while he has been running cold, Solanke is still a big miss in these important games.