Chelsea v Tottenham preview: Chelsea aim to keep Premier League lead in London derby

Chelsea will look to keep their place at the top of the Premier League table when they host Tottenham in a London derby on Saturday evening.

Antonio Conte's side have won their last six Premier League matches without conceding, with the Blues' last victory a 1-0 win against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in last weekend's Nissan Super Sunday.

Their winning run has moved them a point clear of Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the table while Tottenham remain the only unbeaten side in the league and lie fifth, four points behind the Blues.

Spurs secured a late win against West Ham last weekend but were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday night when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Monaco.

Tottenham will be looking for revenge against Chelsea as the last time the two sides met in May, Eden Hazard's equaliser in the 2-2 draw secured Leicester City the title last season.

Team news

Chelsea captain John Terry is out of the game with a buttock injury.

Terry, 36 next month, has made one start in seven games following an ankle injury and is expected to be out for two to three weeks.

Midfielder John Obi Mikel is to return to training next week following an undisclosed muscular injury.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino will be without both his first-choice left backs for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

Danny Rose is suspended while Ben Davies is out with an ankle injury, meaning Jan Vertonghen is likely to fill in, with Kevin Wimmer continuing at centre-half.

Erik Lamela remains out with a hip problem while Toby Alderweireld is back in training following his knee injury but will not be ready to play this weekend.

Opta stats

Chelsea have won more Premier League matches against Tottenham Hotspur than versus any other opponent in the competition (25).

Tottenham have won none of their last 29 visits to Stamford Bridge in all comps (D11 L18), since a 2-1 win in February 1990. Just six of the 23 players to appear for Spurs this season in the Premier League had been born before this victory.

Spurs have enjoyed just four victories over Chelsea in the Premier League; fewer than against any other side they've played more than 10 times.

Eden Hazard scored in this exact fixture last season in May - the goal that decided the 2015/16 Premier League title. The Belgian has netted in four of his last five PL games against Tottenham.

Spurs were shown nine yellow cards in the last Premier League meeting with Chelsea - the most by a single team in a match in Premier League history.

Harry Kane has scored three goals and provided one assist in his last three Premier League matches against Chelsea.

Kane has netted in each of his last four Premier League games; equalling his joint-best scoring streak in the competition.

Of players to have played in 10+ Premier League London derbies, Harry Kane has the best goals/game ratio (0.82 - 18 goals in 22 games).

Cesc Fabregas has provided 11 Premier League assists versus Spurs; one more would equal the PL record against a single opponent (Ryan Giggs, 12 v Man City and Newcastle).

Spurs have won more points in Premier League London derbies since the start of last season than any other side (20 points - W5 D5 L1).

Chelsea have scored 10 90th minute goals against Spurs - the joint most by a team against an opponent in Premier League history (also Arsenal v Aston Villa).

In their last three Premier League matches, Chelsea have only allowed their opponents two shots on target in total, while attempting 19 themselves.

Merson's prediction

I'm going to go for Chelsea because I think Tottenham will play the same way as Chelsea and set up with three at the back. That's a very difficult system to play off-the-cuff. I know they did it at Arsenal and did well but they're playing against a team who are brilliant at it.

I just think Tottenham are going to try and play the way that Chelsea play and I don't think it will work.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)

Betting

Chelsea are 3/4 with Sky Bet to inflict further misery on Tottenham, who are 100/30 to halt their London rivals' title charge with a win and 11/4 to leave with a point.

The Blues head into the weekend as 9/4 second favourites to win the title, significantly shorter odds their visitors, who are given an 18/1 chance.

Diego Costa heads the first goalscorer betting at 3/1 with Harry Kane naturally rated Spurs' main threat at 15/2, while the strike duo are enhanced from 4/1 to 6/1 to both find the net in Sky Bet's Price Boosts.

Find out what the Soccer Saturday pundits and Jamie Redknapp are predicting here.

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