Tottenham v Chelsea Betting Preview – 4 January 2017

Could be a cracker down at the Lane

Premier League Tips

Wednesday 4th January 2016 Kickoff: 2000hrs

Tottenham v Chelsea

Football – England – Premier League

The first half of the season has came and went by in a flash and now we’re in 2017, thoughts are already turning to the battle for the title. Two teams currently embroiled in the battle for the Premier League meet at White Hart Lane on Wednesday as Tottenham host leaders Chelsea. Spurs are currently 10 points behind their rivals and desperately need to win if they are to seriously threaten the Blues dominant hold. The match will also be the last ever league meeting between the two at the Lane which adds something extra to what already way likely to be an explosive fixture.

December turned out to be a decent month for Spurs in the end up as they won four of their five games in the league, with their only defeat coming in a disappointing performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford. It was a month that Mauricio Pochettino would have targeted a few victories as they faced three of the teams struggling at the foot of the table. The most impressive performance and result was the 4-1 success away to Southampton, particularly as they went a goal down early on in that game. Spurs repeated that feat on New Year’s Day away to Watford which should ensure maximum confidence heading into their most important game of the campaign. Tottenham are yet to be defeated at home in the league this season with seven wins from their nine games thus far. That run has included a win over Manchester City and a share of the points with Liverpool – easily their two stiffest challenges at home. Chelsea will represent another real threat to that unbeaten home record, arguably the biggest yet, but it’s one that Spurs simply have to pass if they are to have any chance of finishing on top.

This campaign has just been getting better and better for Chelsea over the festive period. Not only have the Blues been able to win both of their games this side of Christmas with relative ease, but they have also seen their nearest rivals slip up. Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City have all dropped points in the last fortnight and it has left Chelsea clear at the top of the table to five points but with a game in hand to stretch that. The schedule list at this time of year has been relatively kind for Antonio Conte as they faced Bournemouth and Stoke at home – two games where they would be expected to take maximum points from, which they accomplished and scored seven games in the process. Everything has been gearing up to this game knowing full well that a win would put them in an extremely strong position to regain a title they lost last season. Their away form has been the best in the league this season and come into this having won their last six on their travels – conceding in only one of those, scoring 10. Considering that run started after they were ripped to shreds by Arsenal, it’s pretty impressive.

One of the key aspects of Spurs’ recent performances has been the return to form of their key trio. Harry Kane, Deli Alli and Christian Eriksen. They are without doubt the most influential players within the squad but had struggled to find the same consistent level of performance we have come to expect from them. Whether that was down to the fact that they were combining domestic competitions with participation in the Champions League is another issue, the main thing is it appears they are returning to those levels. Alli has scored in each of his last three games whilst Kane has three in his last two. Eriksen is beginning to have much more of an impact on the game as a whole and all three will be vital if Spurs are to take three points on Wednesday.
Failing to qualify for this year’s Champions League was of course seen as a disappointment at the time but it has been a blessing in disguise for Chelsea and Conte in his first season. The extra rest in between games is an obvious positive but with the manager switching systems a couple of months into the new season it has allowed plenty of extra coaching sessions to ensure his players are aware of their responsibilities and roles. That extra coaching has proved crucial as Chelsea’s formation has proved elusive for opposition managers and players thus far. That’s only one part of it, however, and has been supported with quality performances and form of the likes of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante. It has also provided much more support and cover for what had been a porous defence.

Tottenham v Chelsea Betting Tips

These two do not like each other. The fans don’t like each other and never will, and the players are beginning to develop a similar rivalry on the park. That was evident when Chelsea put paid to Tottenham’s fading title hopes towards the end of last season. The game eventually ended 2-2 at Stamford Bridge but it was a tempestuous affair throughout and ended with a number of FA charges being brought against both clubs. They have already met this season when Chelsea edged Spurs out 2-1 towards the end of November but the visitors were on top for the first half hour of that game and should have scored more than the one goal they managed.
In terms of tonight’s game it’s one I am really looking forward to and have been throughout the entire festive football programme. Both teams are in excellent form approaching this form and scoring plenty of goals in the process. Kane and Alli will be vital for Spurs whilst Costa and Hazard have proved decisive on so many occasions already for the away team. It’s a match that traditionally produces goals with 34 in the last 10 league meetings. The recent goal scoring form of both leads me to think that this game will follow suit and suggest back both teams to score and over 2.5 goals in the game at odds against. In what has been a pretty underwhelming fortnight of football thus far lets hope this game lives up to it’s potential and we get 2017 off to a flying start.

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals 5/4 @ Coral