Preview: Tottenham Hotspur - Chelsea - 7M sport

Preview: Tottenham Hotspur - Chelsea

Posted Saturday, April 17, 2010 by Goal.com

Blues aim to take a step closer to title against rejuvenated Spurs...

Kickoff: Saturday 17 April, 17:30 GMT
White Hart Lane, London

Expect the unexpected in football: just three days after crashing out of the FA Cup against relegated Portsmouth after extra time, Tottenham Hotspur were in action once again, entertaining their bitterest of rivals Arsenal at White Hart Lane and winning 2-1 thanks to a thunderous volley from 19-year-old Premier League debutant Danny Rose and a cool Gareth Bale finish.

From a promising season that looked to be in disarray after defeats to Sunderland and Portsmouth, Spurs are back on track in their charge at fourth place. The North Londoners are just a point behind frontrunners for the position Manchester City after effectively ending the Gunners' title hopes.

It gets no easier for Spurs, though, as they face league leaders Chelsea. The Blues have been playing like a team scorned and with a point to prove since their Champions League defeat to Jose Mourinho's Inter. A draw with Blackburn Rovers has been followed by five consecutive victories, the latest coming against Bolton Wanderers in midweek.

Chelsea are moving closer to winning their first league championship since Mourinho's departure, but know that, despite having a four-point lead over Manchester United, they must not slip up against Spurs, as their experienced title rivals will be ready to pounce.

The Blues were convincing 3-0 victors over Spurs at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, but Tottenham got the better of their fellow Londoners in N17 during the last campaign, thanks to a solitary Luka Modric goal.

FORM GUIDE

Tottenham

Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Tottenham 0-2 Portsmouth AET (FA Cup)
Sunderland 3-1 Tottenham (Premier League)
Tottenham 2-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Tottenham 3-1 Fulham (FA Cup)

Chelsea

Chelsea 1-0 Bolton (Premier League)
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea (FA Cup)
Man Utd 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
Chelsea 7-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Portsmouth 0-5 Chelsea (Premier League)

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham

Niko Krancjar will play no further part in Tottenham's season after picking up an ankle injury against Portsmouth at Wembley.

Reports suggesting Aaron Lennon would be fit to face Chelsea could prove to be wide of the mark, while Jermaine Jenas and Jonathan Woodgate (both groin) are out.

Wednesday night's hero, Danny Rose is a doubt and Wilson Palacios serves the last of his two-match suspension.

Possible Starting XI: Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto; Bentley, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale; Defoe, Crouch.

Chelsea

Ashley Cole is fully fit and will be in the squad to face Spurs, but is set to start on the bench.

Deco, Joe Cole and Florent Malouda will all return to the starting XI for the Blues, possibly at the expense of Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Michael Ballack.

There are no new injury worries for Ancelotti, but Jose Bosingwa, Michael Essien (both knee) and Ricardo Carvalho are still unavailable. Branislav Ivanovic is a doubt.

Possible Starting XI: Cech; Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov; Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Deco, Malouda; Drogba.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham

Several of Redknapp's charges dug deep to produce hallmark performances on Wednesday night, but the continued improvement of Gareth Bale is one of the stories of Spurs' season. Not an automatic choice before an injury to Benoit Assou-Ekotto offered him a chance, the Welshman has been rampant on the left wing, terrorising some of the league's finest defenders. Bale could get the better of an ageing Paulo Ferreira on Saturday.

Chelsea

Rested for the majority of Chelsea's victory over Bolton, Florent Malouda will be restored to the starting line-up on Saturday and ready to continue his hot streak. The French winger has made his greatest contribution to the club since he first arrived at Stamford Bridge, and his importance was underlined by Ancelotti's decision to bench him before the meeting with Spurs.

White Hart Lane was once a comfortable stomping ground for Chelsea, but after going 17 years unbeaten at what was previously dubbed 'Three Point Lane' the Blues have failed to win there since 2005.

So much is riding on this game for both sides, and Chelsea must continue their ruthless streak if they are to edge closer to the Premier League title.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Chelsea



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