Chelsea vs Tottenham Preview, Team News, Likely Line-Ups & Predicted Score

Chelsea welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night for a crucial clash that will go a long way to determining how the top-four will shape up this season.

The Blues head into the game sitting third in the Premier League table, just one point above Arsenal and three above fifth-placed Tottenham, so the home side can all but secure Champions League qualification with a win tonight.

An away win however, will throw the top-four wide open and put Spurs right in the mix with north London rivals Arsenal left as the club most likely to miss out on that all-important ticket for Europe’s most prestigious competition.

Chelsea moved third on Sunday with a 1-0 win over champions Manchester United at Old Trafford, when a deflected Juan Mata strike in the 86th minute secured all three points.

Spurs also left it late last weekend when Gareth Bale stepped up to fire home a 25-yard winner against Southampton to ensure they kept in touch with the chasing pack and boss Andre Villas-Boas will be hoping for some more magic from the Welshman tonight.

To add extra spice to the occasion, Andre Villas-Boas will make his first return to Stamford Bridge since being sacked by Roman Abramovich last season, and the Portuguese coach will be hoping to get one over his former side.

Team News

Rafa Benitez has been boosted by the return of attacker Eden Hazard who has been passed fit after missing the game against United with a calf strain.

John Obi Mikel and Ryan Bertrand both miss out though while Oriol Romeu is pushing for a return after making a quicker-than-expected recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Fernando Torres and John Terry will be hoping for recalls after being left on the bench at Old Trafford last time out.

AVB has confirmed that Mousa Dembele is fit and available after being forced off early in the win over Southampton with a muscle problem. The Belgian has trained this week and is back in contention to face the Blues.

Winger Aaron Lennon was also forced off early against the Saints but he too is back in the squad along with Jake Livermore, but Sandro, Younes Kaboul and William Gallas remain on the sidelines.

Likely Line-ups

Predicted Score

Chelsea are in excellent form, particularly at home where they’ve won their last six league games, and Tottenham haven’t won a league game in 20 visits to Stamford Bridge, therefore we can see the Blues edging this one. Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham

What would be your line-up for the game and what’s your score prediction? Share your views in the comments section below.