Chelsea tackle Tottenham at this time in an enormous sport which is able to go a good distance in the direction of defining how the season of every workforce might be perceived, with greater than a 3rd of the Premier League marketing campaign performed.
Punters playing in an internet on line casino making an attempt to determine who will end increased would have had the 2 sides at comparable odds to make the highest 4 this season, however the sides have already diverged considerably since these preseason predictions have been made.
After a troublesome summer time, Chelsea have come out of the blocks tremendous rapidly and have racked up 28 factors from 14 video games to place themselves in second. Win tonight they usually’ll be simply 4 factors off prime spot.
4 wins and two attracts within the final 6 are a certain signal of a workforce in kind, and Enzo Maresca will fancy his workforce’s probabilities at this time, even taking part in an away sport at their outdated rivals.
Tottenham haven’t had the identical type of begin – they’ve bought 20 factors from 14 video games, and have misplaced 3 and received 2 of their final 6. That included a draw with Fulham, defeats to Bournemouth and Ipswich – but additionally potent wins over Manchester Metropolis (4-0) and Aston Villa (4-1).
If Chelsea have stunned everybody with their consistency and quick begin, Spurs have stunned no one by being good at occasions and dangerous at different beneath Ange Postegolou.
The coach looks like he’s beneath actual stress now – massive wins over prime sides are rapidly cancelled out by disappointing losses just like the one they suffered in midweek.
It could be going too far to say that Chelsea can beat the Tottenham coach out of a job, however this actually looks like a definitive sport for him. Win and the scrappy losses are forgotten – lose and the wins over Metropolis and Villa are fairly meaningless as his workforce slip in the direction of the decrease finish of the desk.
Maresca has no such worries – he’s thus far forward of expectations that even a loss at Tottenham can’t damage him now. However his CV continues to be lacking an actual assertion win (beating a crumbling Aston Villa final weekend is his excessive water mark thus far).
The scenes at full time in midweek noticed the coach serenaded by away followers at Southampton. It felt like a watershed second for Maresca, who now has his supporters’ affections and full backing.
A convincing win at White Hart Lane at this time would make these scenes look tame, and would actually really feel like the beginning of one thing particular.
