This could be the most interesting clash to date in the Premier League this season as 3rd place Chelsea host 2nd place Tottenham Hotspur with the winner of the match heading top of the table.
They are both in great form heading into Sunday with Chelsea winning their last three games and Tottenham having won four in a row, the joint-longest (Everton) win streak in the Premier League this season.
It’s not only an interesting match-up on the pitch but also on the touchline as it’s yet another meeting between Frank Lampard and Jose Mourinho. The Spurs’ coach was Lampard’s manager at Chelsea in two separate stints.
Lampard is unbeaten against his former manager in the Premier League, having completed the double over him last season in a 2-0 and 2-1 win.
The Englishman did lose his last match against Mourinho as they lost on penalties in the fourth round of the EPL Cup.
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With Christian Pulisic back from injury after a month out, conversations about his ability being similar to former Chelsea man Eden Hazard have been reignited and Lampard was quick to pour water on expectations from not only Pulisic but new signing Hakim Ziyech.
Lampard said: “It is very hard to fill one-for-one a player of Eden’s talents.
“His input at the club was huge.
“I’ve been talking a lot about Harry Kane today and it’s an impact relative to the kind Harry has had with goals and assists they make for their team.
“To lose that, you have to try to find a way around it.
“With the transfer ban last year, it was more about the younger players coming in and how we could become more efficient as a team.
“We made really good steps and now, with the players we have brought in, I would hate to give any of them the job or idea of ‘you must replace Eden’.’
After losing Hazard, Lampard was backed in the transfer market and the pressure was apparent earlier on in the season when results weren’t as positive as they are now for Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho, who knows a few things about pressure said he enjoys having less pressure at a side like Tottenham where the financial capabilities of the club is not as strong as his former sides such as Chelsea or Real Madrid.
“What I felt is that when I was in these clubs, there was huge pressure on me and now there is not huge pressure on the coaches of these teams. Put a little bit of pressure on them and leave us in peace, doing our job.”
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You can tell that it is paying off as Tottenham look like early title contenders and a win over their bitter rivals can only strengthen that cause.
I think both teams play out to an exciting 1-1 draw which would result in Tottenham going top of the league on goal difference.
Odds on a Chelsea win open at +105. Odds on a Tottenham Hotspur win open at +190. Odds on a draw between the two sides open at +170.
