The Spurs Web

Tottenham host Chelsea in a fixture where Spurs have to defy recent and historic form to get back to winning ways. Let’s take a look at the last ten matches between the two sides.

Spurs have had very little recent success against Chelsea

It would be surprising if any Tottenham fan was not acutely aware of the team’s record against Chelsea. More than a ‘thorn in their side’, Chelsea feel like the bane of Tottenham’s existence.

The rivalry may not go as deep as that with Arsenal but during the Premier League era, Spurs have had to contend with Chelsea’s unrepentant gluttony for squad expansion, frequently signing players under Tottenham’s nose.

Chelsea’s meteoric growth over the last 20 years and often incomparable squad depth has knocked Spurs out of Cup tournaments and even pipped them to League titles. The last ten fixtures are a small sample of this.

Tottenham Record:

Wins: 1

Draws: 2

Losses: 7

Goals for: 5

Goals against: 17

The incestuous managerial rondo between the two clubs has rarely worked in Spurs’ favour

During the Premier League alone, five managers have coached both Tottenham and Chelsea.

Within the last ten fixtures, Spurs were led by Chelsea’s most successful manager in Jose Mourinho, followed not long after by Antonio Conte.

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Without Chelsea’s financial resources, the results have rarely stayed with the manager after they moved to North London. Tottenham’s last win against Chelsea was under Antonio Conte with a 2-0 home win in 2023. However, that only came after Conte lost back-to-back Chelsea games which saw Spurs exit the Carabao Cup Semi-Finals in 2022.

Ange Postecoglou will want to write his own legacy against Chelsea, regardless of what came before

Ange Postecoglou is a person often centred in the ‘here and now’. The fixtures between the two sides before his tenure will mean little to him. However, with Tottenham in need of a win, he will be insistent on a performance that shows this Spurs team are capable of moving in a new direction.

The Spanish press continues to drum up speculation on the future of one Tottenham man, with the latest update suggesting that the time is right for the player to join one of Europe’s elite clubs.

Real Madrid circling around Tottenham star

Spurs fans have come across plenty of reports linking Pedro Porro with a move to Real Madrid over the past few months.

The Tottenham man is said to be one of the names on Los Blancos’ wishlist to take over the reins from Dani Carvajal as the club’s long-term right-back.

However, various outlets have suggested recently that Trent Alexander-Arnold remains Madrid’s top target and that the La Liga giants are optimistic about getting the Liverpool man.

The time is right for Pedro Porro to leave

Sport have now provided an update on Porro‘s future, explaining that although the Liverpool man is still Madrid’s first choice, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are closely analysing the Spurs player as well.

The outlet says that the former Sporting Lisbon man is now ready to move to a ‘giant club’, having proven himself in North London.

They wax lyrical about the way the 25-year-old has developed over the last 18 months and add that ‘now is the time’ for him to join one of Europe’s elite.

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Other clubs also interested in Porro

Sport make it clear that Real Madrid are not the only ones keeping tabs on the Tottenham man, with Manchester City and Manchester United also said to be watching his situation.

It is pointed out that so far in his career, Porro has shown an ability to ‘take the right steps’ at the right time and has had to ‘fight through every adversity’.

The publication describes the Spain international as ‘one of most in-form fullbacks in the world’ and confidently asserts that he will take the next step when the time is right.

It is impossible for Brennan Johnson not to catch the eye during his goalscoring form. However, one United legend in particular is fondly watching the Spurs’ wingers’ career – none other than David Beckham.

Spurs system makes Johnson one of Europe’s most threatening wingers

Those who watch Tottenham Hotspur will recognise the familiar sight of play being worked down the left before the ball is played over and Brennan Johnson appears from your periphery to slot the ball into the goal.

Johnson stands amongst Europe’s best attackers with 0.61 non-penalty expected goals per 90. The only wingers who better this average having played more than 10 matches in the top five leagues are Bradley Barcola and Raphinha.

This statistical superiority comes from the type of chances Johnson often finishes, frequently unmarked and close to the goal. Nonetheless, he appears set to steal headlines while in this rich vein of goalscoring form which is serving Tottenham well in the Premier League and Europa.

David Beckham is closely watching Brennan Johnson

Speaking to Men in Blazers, Brennan Johnson reveals he receives texts of encouragement from football legend, David Beckham.

Explaining further, Johnson said “My dad and David got on well during their time at United’s academy and he’s just kept an eye on my career. The relationship isn’t as strong as people think! It’s not like we are constantly texting but yes he has messaged me a couple of times.

“It’s a nice feeling that he kept an eye out and when I came here he was very supportive but that’s about as far as the relationship goes.”

Beckham has ties with Tottenham

Younger fans are less likely to be aware, but growing up in East London, David Beckham was part of Tottenham’s youth set-up before he joined Manchester United. Additionally, at the tail end of his career, Beckham trained with Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham and rumours spread of a desire to play for Spurs during LA Galaxy’s off-season.

Sunday’s clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium promises to deliver drama, excitement, and plenty of talking points as Chelsea aim to continue their fine form while Tottenham look to rebound from their recent struggles. Let’s take a look at how to watch Tottenham vs Chelsea.

Tottenham vs Chelsea: A crucial clash for both clubs

This Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur are set to host Chelsea in what promises to be a pivotal Premier League encounter, but the timing could not be worse for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Spurs currently find themselves languishing in tenth place in the league standings, trailing second-placed Chelsea by a significant eight points, with Liverpool perched atop the table.

Chelsea, on the other hand, come into this clash brimming with confidence after a dominant 5-1 victory over Southampton.

Their recent form has been formidable, with four wins and a single draw against Arsenal in their last five matches.

Spurs, by contrast, are struggling to find any semblance of consistency, having secured just one win in their last five outings—a convincing 4-0 victory over Manchester City.

Their most recent performance was a disheartening 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth, further compounding their woes. Injuries have also ravaged Tottenham’s squad, leaving them particularly vulnerable in defence.

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Ben Davies, who has been filling in as a makeshift centre-back, picked up an injury against Bournemouth, leaving Postecoglou with only one fit centre-back heading into Sunday’s clash.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are expected to field a well-rested squad, having given several key players a break in their last match.

When and where is the game?

The game will be hosted at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, 8 December 2024, with kick-off scheduled for 4:30 pm UK time.

How to watch Tottenham vs Chelsea

Fans in the UK can watch the game live on Sky Go UK NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Ultra HD, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, BBC Radio 5 Live.

Team news: injury woes for both sides

Tottenham’s injury list continues to grow, with key players including Wilson Odobert, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Mikey Moore, and Richarlison all ruled out.

Cristian Romero could feature as he is due to train with the squad, while Rodrigo Bentancur is unavailable as he is still suspended – this game makes it his fourth game out of seven. Ben Davies is also expected to miss this clash.

Chelsea on the other hand, have two major absentees with Recce James and Wesley Fofana both out due to a hamstring problem.

The Spurs Web prediction

This weekend’s fixture, however, holds substantial weight for both sides. Chelsea’s pursuit of league leaders Liverpool hinges on maintaining their momentum, while Tottenham desperately need to arrest their decline.

With injuries mounting for Spurs and Chelsea riding high, I am tempted to lean towards Chelsea. The Blues have one of the best attacks, while the Lilywhites are struggling to put together a back four, for that reason, I go for a 3-1 win for Chelsea.

The rematch of the fixture that unravelled Spurs’ stellar start to last season. Tottenham will be looking for inspiration as their depleted squad hosts Chelsea.

Tottenham vs Chelsea: Two London teams in very different circumstances

The fixtures continue to come thick and fast as Tottenham play Chelsea in the Premier League. Chelsea travel to North London with a plentiful squad and unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions.

Tottenham on the other hand suffered another injury in Ben Davies in their loss to Bournemouth and could go into Sunday’s match with seven first-team players unavailable.

Spurs and Chelsea are eight points and eight places apart in the Premier League table. A deficit that Tottenham will be desperate to lessen.

Mark Lawrenson predicts the score for Tottenham vs Chelsea

Speaking to PaddyPower, Mark Lawrenson has given a surprise prediction for the London derby.

Lawro said: “I’m going with Spurs to win this. They haven’t won too many big games but I think this might be right up their street. The way Chelsea will come at them will play into their hands. Spurs are good at home and I just have a feeling this will float their boat.”

Even when at home, a Spurs win against Chelsea is a rare feat. While Tottenham’s 4-1 win against Manchester City may have inspired the prediction, the loss of Ben Davies and Guglielmo Vicario since then, make this matchup an entirely different prospect.

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Spurs won’t want a repeat of the last time they hosted Chelsea

Chelsea’s last visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was an iconic match which seemed to define Spurs’ bravery and commitment to playing attacking football, during an implosion of injury and discipline.

Spurs lost Micky van de Ven to injury and both Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie received red cards. This led to the memorable moment of Tottenham playing with their defensive line near the halfway line but with only 9 outfield players.

The last thing Tottenham need are any more injuries or suspensions but as they continue to struggle for form and energy, perhaps the ferocity of a fiercely contested derby is what the team need to galvanise them. Be it a low-block counter or a gallant high-line, Spurs need to find the means to play convincingly and with pride in a game, which with a win, could substantially change their fortunes.

Chelsea fans have been left fuming after learning that referee Anthony Taylor will officiate their upcoming Premier League clash with Spurs, reigniting memories of a controversial encounter between the two sides last season.

Tensions rise ahead of Chelsea vs Spurs

The upcoming clash between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium promises to be an electrifying contest, but a familiar subplot has reignited tensions among Blues supporters.

Anthony Taylor, one of the Premier League’s most seasoned officials, will be in charge of the match—a decision that has not gone down well with the Chelsea faithful.

This is not the first time Taylor has courted controversy in a fixture involving the two London giants. Back in August 2022, Stamford Bridge bore witness to a heated 2-2 draw marred by contentious decisions.

Tottenham’s equalising goal, scored by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, came under scrutiny as Chelsea players and fans alike believed Rodrigo Bentancur had fouled Kai Havertz in the build-up.

To add fuel to the fire, Spurs’ second goal—courtesy of Harry Kane—followed a corner during which Cristian Romero appeared to pull Marc Cucurella’s hair, an incident that baffled onlookers as no foul was awarded.

Chelsea’s then-manager Thomas Tuchel did not mince words, suggesting Taylor should be barred from officiating their games in the future.

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Despite this, Taylor’s return to referee another high-stakes encounter has only served to stir up lingering resentment among the Blues’ fanbase.

Fans rage over Anthony Taylor appointment for Spurs vs Chelsea

The announcement of Taylor’s appointment for Sunday’s clash did not go down well with Chelsea supporters.

Their reaction has been relayed by The Sun: One supporter said: “I sound like a broken record but how is he still allowed to referee our games? Especially after what happened a couple of years ago.” Another added: “Why does he get all of our big games? It’s every season.”

Others took a more resigned approach, with one saying: “It was fun while it lasted…” Another simply remarked: “FFS!” And one fan summed up the anticipation with: “Drama loading.”

Why Tottenham must focus on the win

Chelsea fans’ frustration is understandable given the history, but Tottenham’s priority should be their performance on the pitch. Securing three points against their bitter rivals is crucial, and letting external narratives affect their gameplay could prove costly.

As for Taylor, his appointment ensures that all eyes will be on him come Sunday, with both sets of fans hoping for a fair and decisive display from the man in the middle.

Ange Postecoglou was sat back in front of the media this morning as part of the pre-Chelsea press conference a matter of hours since the club’s latest loss.

Tottenham’s injury problems continue to grow

Tottenham’s season took yet another turn for the worse on Thursday night when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to a Bournemouth side who were unfortunate not to have won the match by a significantly higher scoreline.

Injuries have been a problem for for a number of weeks with the head coach unable to call upon a number of his Tottenham first-team squad who are currently sidelined.

Ben Davies became the latest casualty when the Welshman suffered a hamstring issue in the second half at the Vitality Stadium which forced him off the pitch with Pedro Porro coming on in his place.

Davies’ absence has meant that Postecoglou was left with Radu Dragusin as his only fit senior central defender, with Archie Gray asked to slot in as his defensive partner for the remainder of the defeat.

Will Cristian Romero be fit to face Chelsea on Sunday?

Cristian Romero has not played since the 2-1 defeat to Ipswich at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month and returned early from international duty with Argentina as a result of his foot injury.

His first-choice central defensive partner Micky van de Ven is not yet ready to return from his own hamstring problems, while Guglielmo Vicario, Richarlison and Wilson Odobert are long-term absentees.

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Rodrigo Bentancur is once again unavailable as he continues to serve the remainder of his seven-match domestic suspension.

Postecoglou told Football.London: “Ben too early again [to tell], he’ll go for a scan today. Cuti is due to train, we’re not doing much today but we’ll see tomorrow.”

Tottenham vs Chelsea takes place in North London on Sunday with kick-off at 4:30pm UK time.

Tottenham Hotspur dropped yet more precious Premier League points this evening at the Vitality Stadium, handing Bournemouth a 1-0 victory on a platter.

Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from the match:

Up there with Palace and Ipswich

Of course, losing at home to Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town was bad – handing both teams their first wins of the season – but this was up there in terms of how toothless it was. The most frustrating thing was how much of the ball Tottenham had – over 65% of possession. Apart from a big Dominic Solanke chance, a Heung-min Son offside goal and a shot Maddison curled wide of the post, Spurs barely created anything.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, were able to create chances just by looking at the Tottenham goal. 21 shots to Tottenham’s 12, eight on target to Tottenham’s four, and three much-deserved points for the Cherries. I would love to say that Spurs just looked fatigued and injuries are to blame, which is probably a factor, but in all honesty, they just didn’t look up for it tonight.

Creativity is the biggest worry

Spurs have been a little open at the back for much of Postecoglou’s tenure, but you have always been able to rest easy on the fact that Tottenham can also blow teams away at the other end. At times this season, that has been missing completely.

Maddison really struggled to find space today, the two full-backs didn’t find many dangerous pockets, and the wingers were barely in the game. The only player who looked consistently creative was Dejan Kulusevski once again, but he can’t drag the team kicking and screaming every week.

Leaking goals at the back without key players is one thing, but Tottenham need to rediscover that spark that makes them so consistently dangerous going the other way… and soon.

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What has Djed Spence done wrong?

Pedro Porro needed a rest – anyone could see that. But why is Djed Spence not even being given a kick in this team? He was handed a contract extension and kept at the club this season, yet was left out of the Europa League group stage squad and can barely even get on the pitch in the Premier League. Yes, Archie Gray is a fantastic talent, but he is also not a natural right-back. Would it really have been the worst thing in the world to give Spence 45 minutes of football?

Ben Davies – another Tottenham injury

Another day, another Tottenham injury, and it could not be in a worse position. Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven are hopefully nearing their respective returns because Tottenham ended the match this evening with a centre-back duo of Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray. Add the likes of Vicario, Odobert, Richarlison, and Moore to the list, as well as the absence of Rodrigo Bentancur. Spurs are running on fumes at the moment.

Ange Postecoglou is not to blame

I am not saying the manager should not be questioned, but I just know I am going to see calls for his head this week, especially if Spurs lose to Chelsea. We have been a manager merry-go-round for so many years now. We finally have a coach who is able to absolutely blow teams away when Tottenham are at their best. Why would you not give that project a real chance?

Tottenham Hotspur fell to yet another Premier League defeat this evening at the hands of Bournemouth, continuing the Lilywhites’ inconsistent 2024/25 campaign. Let’s take a look at our Spurs player ratings.

Tottenham player ratings vs Bournemouth

Fraser Forster – 7 – Made a number of key stops to keep the score respectable. Has really stepped up since Vicario’s injury – unfortunately not many others have. One nervy moment when playing out from the back but ended up making up for it by smothering the shot.

Archie Gray – 5 – Started the game at right-back (which remember is not his actual position). Ended the game at centre-back. Not up to his usual standards on the ball and got overrun a little off the ball.

Radu Dragusin – 3 – Lost his man when Bournemouth scored from the corner. Looked shaky playing out from the back and ultimately resorted to hopeless clips down the channel that rarely hit the mark.

Ben Davies – 4 – Much like Dragusin, he wasn’t up to scratch this evening. Better on the ball than his centre-back partner at least, but not defensively sound. Went off injured in the second half.

Destiny Udogie – 4 – Really struggled with the challenge of Bournemouth’s speed up front. Got burned for pace a couple of times and, unfortunately, didn’t make his opportunities to cross count at the other end.

Yves Bissouma – 4 – Spurs needed so much more from him this evening. With each passing game, he looks less and less like a natural number six. Tottenham really miss Rodrigo Bentancur.

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Pape Sarr – 5 – Wasn’t able to use his best weapon much tonight – his high press – simply because Tottenham were usually either in control of the ball or running back toward their own goal. Came off for Heung-min Son early in the second half.

James Maddison – 5 – Spurs needed him to control the match and he fell a long way short. He did get fouled a lot, to be fair, but he didn’t create enough or look after the ball well enough. Went close to scoring from a corner and a clipped effort in the box.

Brennan Johnson – 3 – Barely noticed him on the pitch. Looked like a ghost on the left side which does not suit his game, but also didn’t come into the game when he switched to the right either.

Dominic Solanke – 4.5 – I’m being kind because he is unlikely 100% fit after his flu, but Solanke missed Tottenham’s biggest chance of the game in the early minutes and looked a little out of sorts at times.

Dejan Kulusevski – 6.5 – The only outfield player who really looked decent in possession. Carried the ball well quite a few times but the quality around him just wasn’t there this evening.

Substitutes:

Heung-min Son – 5 – Scored an offside tap-in he should not have been offside from. Almost assisted Maddison with a lovely pass through the lines.

Pedro Porro – 4 – Almost scored a well-taken volley but failed to add much more than that to the game.

Lucas Bergvall – N/A

It’s time for Spurs vs Bournemouth player ratings, as the first half of Premier League action on the South Coast has come to a close. After an uninspiring first-half display from Spurs, the score-line lies in the hosts’ favour at 1-0.

Spurs’ inconsistency issues

Tottenham‘s troubles with inconsistency as of late has amplified over recent weeks, as the Lilywhites have struggled to overcome an out-of-form Roma side, as well as ten-man Fulham at home. These results came just a week after Ange Postecoglou‘s men dismantled the champions away from home, putting four past Ederson in what was a historic victory for Spurs at the Etihad.

Spurs will be hoping to steady the ship tonight with what would be an important win against a strong Bournemouth side. Although Postecoglou stresses the importance of focusing on one game at a time, he would be foolish to not have at least one eye on Chelsea at the weekend.

The Cherries are in a similar rut in terms of form, although they did undo Wolves last weekend, winning 4-2 away from home. They have already beaten Manchester City and Arsenal at the Vitality this season, and will be looking to add Spurs to the list tonight.

Over the duration of the first half, we’ve analysed each Spurs player’s individual performance, rating them on a scale of 1-10. Let’s take a look at our Spurs vs Bournemouth half-time player ratings.

How the Tottenham players rated in the first half vs Bournemouth

Fraser Forster: Despite his 6’7 frame, Forster was unable to deal with the corner which led to the opening goal. He made a big save just prior to that after sloppiness from Dragusin, as well as a huge stop to deny Tavernier late in the half, but it wasn’t enough to go into the interval with the clean-sheet still intact. 6.

Archie Gray: It’s a landmark occasion for the 18-year-old as he makes his first Premier League star. The midfielder, who has been preferred to Djed Spence and Porro tonight, will be eager to impress. He played in an advanced role in possession, but kept it simple, combining with Kulusevski to try and create something. Defensively, he wasn’t troubled. 6.

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Radu Dragusin: Perhaps should’ve been keeping an eye on Huijsen for the Bournemouth goal, and the Lilywhites were made to pay as the teenage centre-back headed home. It seems that for every few Dragusin mistakes, there’s a goal conceded. Poor. 4.

Ben Davies: The Welshman marks tonight as his 300th Premier League appearance, but will be disappointed to have conceded in such cheap fashion. He didn’t manage many disruptions to Bournemouth attacks either. 5.

Destiny Udogie: Misjudged the flight of the corner which led to Bournemouth’s opening goal. Looked like he didn’t even know Huijsen was there. Also, he was rather ineffective going forward. Another lacklustre performance so far from Destiny, which seems to be becoming a theme this season. 3.

Yves Bissouma: The Mali international battled hard throughout the first-half, and he needed to as the hosts posed a substantial physical challenge. In transition, Biss struggled to deal with the rapid Bournemouth counter, and will be disappointed with his first-half performance. 5.

Pape Sarr: It was a sub-par display from all of the Spurs team, but particularly Sarr, who would’ve been hoping to have been more effective in the midfield tonight. He was ran past in transition on multiple occasions, failing to put his usually energetic running to use. 4.

James Maddison: Captaining the side tonight, Maddison faltered in his favoured number 10 position, as he struggled to create anything real for Tottenham. Despite the odd outburst of pace or skill, he was largely ineffective throughout the half. 5.

Brennan Johnson: Spurs’ top goalscorer started on the left-hand side with an eye on adding to his goal tally which has already reached double-digits this season. The Welshman was kept quiet in the first forty-five, but we know full-well his ability to pop up and score even in his quietest displays. 4.

Dominic Solanke: Solanke returns to the Vitality for the first time since departing the Cherries last summer, and the Spurs striker blazed an early one-on-one over the bar; a chance he would surely wish to have back! Outside of that, he had the odd chance but struggled to get into the game enough to make an impact. 5.