Betting: Chelsea to extend winning run over out-of-form Tottenham at Stamford Bridge
The last time Tottenham won away at Chelsea, Dele Alli and last week’s goalscorer Harry Winks were still six years away from being born.
Since Gary Lineker’s late winner in 1990, 26 years and 29 games have passed without Spurs tasting victory at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side travel to west London tomorrow knowing they missed a golden chance to end that unwanted run in May.
From 2-0 up, and needing a win to keep the title race with Leicester alive, second-half goals from Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard rescued Chelsea, broke Tottenham hearts, and gifted the league to the Foxes.
That point was a rare highlight for the Blues last season, where they only won five home league games all term.
They’ve already won that many in just six attempts this time around, and sit on top.
Since Antonio Conte’s switch to the 3-4-3 system, the Blues are playing scintillating football, and have won all six games, without conceding. They haven’t even changed their starting XI during the run.
Research from SmartBets has found pass completion, shots on target, and more importantly goals/game has gone up since changing shape – and they currently look like the Premier League’s team to beat.
Tottenham, on the other hand, seem to struggling from a real lack of form.
Despite being the only unbeaten side in England’s top seven divisions, Spurs sit fifth, after drawing half of their 12 games.
Two late Harry Kane goals against West Ham last weekend turned a 2-1 defeat into a 3-2 win – but it masked an indifferent performance.
Any momentum from that smash-and-grab win will have disappeared in a 2-1 Champions League defeat against Monaco on Tuesday night.
That result knocked Tottenham out of the competition with a group game still to play, and means that West Ham win is Spurs’ only victory in in their last nine in all competitions.
Chelsea have won 3-0, 4-0, and 5-0 in their last three home games.
Making it 6-0 might be beyond them, but against a fragile Tottenham, I still will be backing Betway’s 7/10 for a Blues win.
The last eight league games between these two have seen 31 goals.
Diego Costa has netted 10 times in 12 games, and with Kane back in top form too, I can see a few flying in tomorrow.
Buy total goals at 2.9 with Sporting Index.
Pointers
Chelsea – 7/10 (Betway)
Buy total goals – 2.9 (Sporting Index)