A massive London derby is fixtured for Sunday afternoon. Chelsea finished three points above fourth-placed Tottenham last season and both are looking to close the gap between them and Liverpool and Man City.
Both sides won their first match of the 2022/23 season and will hoping to take some momentum from the first game into Sunday's clash. The Blues have the better track record when playing Spurs at home and this was highlighted last season, with Antonio Conte's side losing three matches against Chelsea in January, with two of them being at Stamford Bridge.
If either side can secure three points in the game, it will send a clear statement to other Premier League teams, on the threat they could pose this season. Ahead of the clash, both Chris Sutton and Paul Merson have already given their verdicts.
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"This match is massive, and not just because of the rivalry between the two teams. Chelsea beat Tottenham four times last season. They did the double-over Spurs in the Premier League, and that produced a huge 12-point swing in their favour," Merson explained.
"I'm worried for Chelsea this weekend. They were a bit United-ish against Everton if I'm being honest. Their game wasn't fluid and pretty stop-start, and they couldn't put four passes together against an Everton team that wasn't great, to begin with. If Spurs come to Stamford Bridge and win, you'd be worried about Chelsea and their top-four credentials."
The 54-year-old went on to say that a Spurs win "would turn heads" and equally, if they lose, then it would see people start to question whether that even with the new players they have brought in, they still have a gap to close. Merson predicted a draw for the London derby, with neither team wanting to lose.
Merson did identify the threat Tottenham could cause and Sutton believes they will win the game. "Chelsea love playing Spurs – they beat them four times last season, and Tottenham have only beaten them once in the league at Stamford Bridge since February 1990," he said, via HITC.
"Chelsea got a good win at Everton, but the way they got it was not particularly pretty. If they are slightly off it again on Sunday, they won’t get away with it.
"Tottenham, meanwhile, were devastating in attack against Southampton and I am expecting more of the same from them here. Add in Conte going back to Stamford Bridge, and I am going to go with Spurs to take the points," Sutton added.
The threat that both pundits identify Spurs having, going into Sunday's fixture, does highlight the improvement they have made, since the Italian's arrival. Not only the work that has been seen on the pitch, but also the transfer business that has seen six new arrivals make the move to the capital.
Although the result won't define either side's season, with it only being the second match of the season, it will certainly show where both teams are currently at. That is why it is a major three points that are up for grabs and this time, not just for the rivalry.
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