Chelsea host Tottenham at Stamford Bridge this evening.
Mark Lawrenson
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Chelsea will beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Stamford Bridge this evening.
Chelsea head into this weekend’s games sitting top of the Premier League table, having beaten Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium last Sunday thanks to Diego Costa’s goal.
It’s now six straight wins for Chelsea since manager Antonio Conte switched to a 3-4-3 system, with 17 goals scored and none conceded over the course of that run.
The Blues are now emerging as real title contenders given that they have no European football to juggle this season, and they will be hoping to keep up their superb form against fierce rivals Tottenham this evening.
Spurs have won just one of their last nine games in all competitions after a 2-1 defeat to Monaco in the Champions League on Monday, but they did win their last Premier League game, coming from 2-1 down to claim a late 3-2 victory.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino desperately needs to find a result from somewhere, but form and history aren’t on his side, given that Spurs haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since February 1990, whilst memories of last season’s corresponding fixture – where Spurs were 2-0 up before losing their heads, drawing 2-2 and ending their chances of winning the Premier League title.
Chelsea’s Diego Costa scores against Middlesbrough
Now, ahead of this evening’s game, Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Tottenham’s wait for a Stamford Bridge win is about to continue, as he predicted a 2-0 win for Chelsea.
Lawrenson noted that Tottenham’s defence simply isn’t the same without star centre back Toby Alderweireld, whilst he still thinks striker Harry Kane is short of fitness after only just returning from almost two months out through injury.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli looks dejected at full time against Monaco
“On form, it is hard not to go with Chelsea at the moment,” said Lawrenson. “They are top of the Premier League, and flying. In contrast, Tottenham are going through a dip, even if they did fight back to beat West Ham last time out.”
“Spurs do not look the same at the back without Toby Alderweireld, who will miss this game through injury, and Harry Kane is still getting his sharpness back up front. As lots of people reading this will know, it is more than 26 years since Tottenham last won at Stamford Bridge. I think they will have to wait a bit longer to finally put that record to bed,” he added.
What’s your prediction for Chelsea v Tottenham?
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