Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s home clash with Chelsea, each team’s UAE Supporters Clubs preview the game for Sport360, including predicting the likely XIs and picking their players to watch.
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Raad Jaboori Al-Shaikh, SPURS UAE
This is the third successive London derby for Spurs having already drawn at Arsenal and beaten West Ham at White Hart Lane in the last two games. Certainly an unusual sequence of matches!
For the first time in a very long time, Spurs go into a game against Chelsea as favourites. But we all know that form goes out of the window during derby matches, and this one will be no exception. Despite Chelsea’s well documented problems so far this season, they are still a formidable outfit and on their day they are capable of giving anyone a game.
.@SpursOfficial host @ChelseaFC on Sunday… will we see a repeat scoreline from New Year’s Day this year? #TOTCHE https://t.co/mpPgVjW5jF
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 27, 2015
Spurs will need to continue playing the pressing / high energy game that has become a hallmark of the team under Mauricio Pochettino this season. If this happens then I expect Spurs to put the Chelsea defence under serious pressure, especially with John Terry suspended.
We are only about a third of the way into the season and there is a long way to go. However, it could prove to be a pivotal moment for both teams and I think Spurs will seize the initiative!
PREDICTION: A nervy but deserved 1-0 victory for Spurs.
LIKELY TOTTENHAM XI: Lloris, Walker, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Rose, Dier, Mason, Dembele, Eriksen, Son, Kane.
TOTTENHAM PLAYER TO WATCH: Ryan Mason. A massively underrated player, he could be the key to unlocking the Chelsea midfield and allow the likes of Eriksen and Dembele and push forward and supply Kane with incisive passes
Chelsea PLAYER TO WATCH: Eden Hazard. He started to find his form in the last couple of games and Spurs to need to ensure effective marking is done on him.
FAVOURITE SPURS-Chelsea MOMENT: Spurs 5-3 Chelsea from last season. A great game and a fantastic team performance by Spurs. It was an unexpected yet fully deserved victory.
WHERE TO WATCH: Icon Bar (home of the official UAE Spurs supporters club), Radisson Blu hotel, Dubai Media City: https://www.radissonblu.com/en/hotel-mediacitydubai/restaurants
FACEBOOK: For all Spurs supporters in the UAE, please send a facebook friend request to Raad Jaboori Al-Shaikh to be added to the UAE Spurs facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/uaespurs/ (Official link: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/supporters-clubs/uae-spurs/
Toby Young, CHELSEA SUPPORTERS CLUB UAE
Tottenham Hotspur versus Chelsea is one of those fixtures that for the last 25 years Chelsea fans have looked forward to and Spurs fans have dreaded.
For many years Chelsea fans have referred to the White Hart Lane as Three Point Lane.
Sadly that changed last season in what could be termed the pivotal fixture in Chelsea’s uninspiring run-in, change in football and downturn in form. Sadly that seems to have carried through into this season’s nadir.
Thankfully, recent performances have picked up. The rumoured unrest in the dressing room seems to have abated and players seem to be coming back to form.
The only issue as was shown last week seems to be the striking department and actually putting the ball in the back of the net.
Flashback Friday: Marcel Desailly with a last-minute winner for Chelsea in our 3-2 win at Tottenham in 2001… #CFC https://t.co/DToBwXGQip
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 27, 2015
Mourinho’s mood seems to have softened in the last few weeks as results have turned, and possibly after being directed by others within the club.
Chelsea’s injury list seems to consist of a player from each position; Thibaut Courtois is known to be out until mid Dec.
Doubts surround both John Terry and Ramires, while Radmael Falcao is definitely out with a mystery muscle injury.
Branislav Ivanovic returned last week after missing the past six weeks and played the best he has all season.
PRDICTION: Spurs are flying and Chelsea are returning to form. I can see it be exciting but the spoils shared. The result I am plumping for this week is 1-1.
LIKELY CHELSEA XI: Begovic; Ivanovic , Cahill, Zouma, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Costa
CHELSEA PLAYER TO WATCH: Eden Hazard is slowly coming back to form and showed real desire last season in the 5-3 defeat. Quite possibly WHL is a ground he likes.
SPURS PLAYER TO WATCH: Harry Kane. His recent return to form bodes well for England this summer, but possibly not for Chelsea. He has now scored in 4 consecutive Premiership games, and 5 in total.
FAVOURITE SPURS-Chelsea MOMENT: In 1994 Chelsea went 2-0 before the half hour at Stamford Bridge, before heading in 3-2 up after goals from Donaghy, Stein and Spencer. Spurs drew level through an Andy Grey (No not that one) penalty, before missing a second penalty to not go 4-3 up. Chelsea immediately went down the end, got a penalty of their own, which Steino comfortably put away to give Chelsea a dramatic 4-3 victory.
TWITTER: @UAECSC
FACEBOOK: Chelsea Supporters Club UAE
