Match of the week – Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea, 8 December 2024
A London grudge match is our pick for Match of the Week, as Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea gear up to renew their rivalry in a Premier League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the early evening of Sunday 8 December 2024.
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Match background
The mutual enmity between Spurs and Chelsea stretches back many years, but the most fervent example was the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ in 2016 – a match which finished 2-2 at Stamford Bridge and saw the Blues end Tottenham’s title hopes (handing Leicester City a shocking triumph).
Ever since then, there has been a real ‘edge’ to games between these clubs, and both will be hungry to win on Sunday evening – ostensibly to boost their own league campaign aspirations, but really more to earn the bragging rights over opponents they simply cannot stand.
What the teams are saying
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou on his team’s showing against Chelsea:
“My responsibility is preparing the team every game to make sure we reach certain levels. We didn't do it [against Chelsea last season] so that lies on my feet and I've got to fix that.”
Enzo Maresca on the improvement in defence his side has shown in recent times:
“If people think we are not going to concede any goals, that is only on the PlayStation, not real football. We are going to concede goals until the end, for sure, 100 percent. We decide in which way we are going to risk conceding goals, but in the end you are always going to concede goals.”
Players to watch
Dominic Solanke, Tottenham Hotspur
A former Chelsea player from very early in his professional career, Dominik Solanke will be hungry to score against the Blues and continue his strong start to life with Tottenham. The 27-year-old striker will need good service, but has the finishing skills to hurt the Blues on Sunday.
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Cole Palmer, Chelsea
The ‘cool as ice man’ is one of the most gifted attacking players in the Premier League, able to provide defence-splitting passes, inch-perfect crosses and net-busting shots – all seemingly at will. If Palmer has a good game in North London, it’s likely the visitors will come away with all three points.
Head-to-head
In head-to-head stats, Tottenham and Chelsea have met in 177 matches across all competitions since 1909, with the Blues claiming 79 wins compared to 56 for Spurs, while 42 games have been drawn.
Chelsea did a league ‘double’ over Tottenham last season, winning 4-1 in North London in November 2023 and 2-0 in the return at Stamford Bridge in May 2024.
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Broadcast details
Sunday 8 December
18:30: Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2