Chelsea take their 13-match winning streak to White Hart Lane on Wednesday night, hoping to break the record for most consecutive Premier League victories in a single season. Here are five match-ups we feel will be important against Tottenham.
Very little love is lost between the pair and the winner of their duel may be the one who keeps their cool the longest. While Antonio Conte has talked of Costa’s “passion”, the man himself, to give him his due, has let his football do the talking this season. Vertonghen will have a tough 90 minutes – Costa has either scored or set up a goal in each of his four starts against Tottenham.
One of the key beneficiaries of Chelsea’s 3-4-3 system, Hazard has scored seven goals in 12 appearances since the formation change, more than doubling his return from last season. He has only ever been on the losing side once in 10 games against Tottenham and it will be again up to England full-back Walker, expected to return having been suspended for Spurs’ win at Watford on New Year’s Day, to stop him.
Conte has made it clear he favours a Matic-N’Golo Kante partnership in midfield in games where the Blues need a safety net, or a more physical presence than Cesc Fabregas can offer. Matic is likely to have to keep a close eye on the movement of Alli, who has five goals in his last three games – but Chelsea are also a tougher nut to crack than Watford, Southampton and Burnley.
After the beanpole Peter Crouch on New Year’s Eve, Luiz faces a slightly different challenge against Kane, whose all-round game has often posed Chelsea’s defence problems. The England striker has three goals and two assists in five Premier League appearances against the Blues, but Luiz has been excellent in recent weeks. It should be an interesting tussle.
Rose played as a wing-back in a 3-5-2 on New Year’s Day as Spurs mimicked Watford’s formation – he could so again if Mauricio Pochettino wants to match up Chelsea as well. Either way, he will be up against an opponent in Moses who is enjoying a renaissance under Conte and looks as good tracking back to aid his defence as he does going forward.
This post was last modified on 04/01/2017