English Premier
2025-04-03 - Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Thursday 3rd April 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Chelsea
Enzo Maresca was surprisingly upbeat about Chelsea's performance in their 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium before the March international break, and not many fans would have agreed with his assessment. Despite the result, Chelsea are still battling away for a return to the Champions League and it feels like Maresca's first season in charge at Stamford Bridge will be judged in that light.
The Premier League title race that Chelsea threatened to join before Christmas evaporated pretty quickly for the team, but they are 4th in the table as we move into the final two months of the season. By the time this fixture is played on Thursday, there is every chance that Chelsea will have slipped a couple of places and that will put pressure on the players to improve the 8-4-2 record here in the top flight.
Chelsea had won 4 in a row in all competitions before the largely limp display at Arsenal and they do have a Conference League Quarter Final to look forward to this month as well as chasing the top four places in the Premier League. The home form has been more impressive than the away form in recent weeks and Chelsea have won 5 in a row at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer surprisingly missed the defeat at Arsenal, but has been back in training and is expected to play a part. Noni Madueke is more of a doubt, while Nicolas Jackson may return this week.
Tottenham Hotspur
Mauricio Pochettino spoke about one day returning to manage Tottenham Hotspur a couple of weeks ago and that has sparked the rumour mill with many expecting the club to part ways with Ange Postecoglou at the end of the season. That tide can be turned if the manager can lead Tottenham Hotspur to Europa League success, but the inconsistent form continues to frustrate even his most optimistic of supporters.
With two months left of the season, Tottenham Hotspur are sitting in 14th place in the Premier League table and their lowest previous finish since the formation of this Division is 15th. There have been a couple of 14th place finishes in that time too, but the pressure is on Postecoglou considering Spurs have not finished in the bottom half since 2008. The side have a 5-1-8 record away from home in the Premier League this season, despite having a plus eight goal difference in those matches.
Tottenham Hotspur earned their place in the Europa League Quarter Final after beating AZ Alkmaar 3-1 in the Last 16 Second Leg, but that is the only win they have produced in 5 games in all competitions. They were beaten 2-0 at Fulham before the March international break and Tottenham Hotspur have lost 4 of their last 5 games played on their travels in all competitions.
Kevin Danso, Lucas Bergvall, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison are all hoping to be passed fit in time for this fixture on Thursday evening. This will give Ange Postecoglou an almost fully fit squad for the return to action ahead of some hugely important fixtures.
Head to Head
Chelsea fought back from 2-0 down to earn a 3-4 win at Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season.
The Blues are unbeaten in 8 at Stamford Bridge against Spurs and Chelsea have won 6 of those matches.
Prediction
The priorities will have changed for Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur as the season has developed, but this is a big rivalry game and so will have plenty on the line for both.
Injuries have not helped Tottenham Hotspur, but Ange Postecoglou is well aware that the record is not good enough and 14th in the Premier League table is a massive disappointment. While he has called for improvement in the League form, it has meant Tottenham Hotspur's focus is on the Europa League and winning that competition would certainly make everyone feel better about this season.
Next week the Quarter Final First Leg is played, but momentum is important and Tottenham Hotspur could have a much stronger squad available on Thursday. The away form has not really been good enough recently, but Tottenham Hotspur play with attacking intent and that could cause problems for Chelsea, even if the Europa League is a potential distraction for the manager and the visiting players.
For Chelsea a top five finish has to be the ambition.
This should be good enough for a return to the Champions League and give Enzo Maresca an opportunity to take the team forward. The manager has been under some pressure from the stands with his team perhaps being a little predictable and overly reliant on Cole Palmer, whose personal form has really dipped and dragged Chelsea with him.
Home form has been better and Chelsea will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing effort in losing 1-0 at Arsenal in mid-March. Cole Palmer missed that game, but is back in training, while Nicolas Jackson's return could be key for Chelsea with a proper focal point to their attacking play.
Chelsea's defence can be tested, but they will certainly feel they can exploit Tottenham Hotspur's vulnerabilities too and it could be another entertaining scrap between these London rivals. Seven goals were shared out when they met in North London before Christmas and both teams may look to get forward as their best means of protecting the defence.
Games between these teams at Stamford Bridge have largely favoured Chelsea in recent years though and they have beaten Spurs in 6 of 8 at home in all competitions. That includes a 2-0 win last season and the feeling is that Chelsea's key attackers being back can spark the home team to a positive performance and an important three points.
They will likely need to score at least twice to do that and that is the best way to back Chelsea to win this fixture to round of this week of Premier League action.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Chelsea 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
