Tottenham v Chelsea: Soccer Saturday pundits make their predictions
Wednesday 4 January 2017 19:49, UK
Chelsea are bidding for a record 14th straight win when they face Tottenham on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports - but do the Soccer Saturday pundits think they will do it?
Antonio Conte's leaders make the short trip to north London on the back of 13 straight Premier League triumphs - including a 2-1 comeback win in the reverse fixture - but face a rejuvenated Spurs side boasting four successive victories of their own.
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Arsenal claimed 13 straight victories to end the 2001/02 season before winning the first game of the 2002/03 campaign but a White Hart Lane triumph would make the Blues the first side to record 14 consecutive top-flight wins in one season.
We asked Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Paul Merson for their big-match verdicts...
Matt Le Tissier
I think football has a tendency to even things out and, after Chelsea put the final nail in the coffin of their title hopes last season and were also the first team to beat them this season, I think Spurs will be desperate for a bit of retribution.
Even if Chelsea do win I think it will still be pretty open despite their unbelievable run because of the amount of games still to be played, but I think it will be a draw.
Le Tiss predicts: 2-2 and Diego Costa to score first (45/1 with Sky Bet)
Charlie Nicholas
I think it's two very evenly-matched sides. If I'm matching them up in terms of best players, there isn't much in it with the form recently of Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen against Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas.
Toby Alderweireld being back is a huge boost but I think the positions Spurs can win it are the wide areas. Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso have to do a hell of a lot of work and it's going to be even harder with Danny Rose and Kyle Walker up against them. Conte's system is perfect for David Luiz and Gary Cahill but I think Alli and Eriksen can exploit it with their runs beyond Kane.
It would also be great for the league if Chelsea could be stopped. I'm an Arsenal man, as everybody knows, so backing Tottenham isn't something that comes easily to me but I genuinely think they'll get the win here.
Charlie predicts: 2-1 and Toby Alderweireld to score first 160/1 with Sky Bet
Phil Thompson
I don't think Tottenham will beat Chelsea but I think they will end their winning run with a draw.
As a Liverpool man I'll certainly be hoping Spurs can get at least that as the run Conte's side are on is becoming increasingly troubling, especially after we dropped points at Sunderland. I'm sure Manchester United and Manchester City fans will be thinking the same and even Arsenal fans will be wanting Tottenham to get a result for once.
Thommo predicts: 2-2 and Harry Kane to score first (60/1 with Sky Bet)
Paul Merson
Chelsea are looking to break the Premier League record for consecutive wins, but I don't think they'll do it because this is a really hard game.
I watched Chelsea's game against Stoke for Soccer Saturday and they have weaknesses. Despite the record, I think Conte will look at the next two fixtures away at Spurs and Leicester and he'd take four points. That would make them major, major favourites to win the Premier League. This will be a very good game and I think it will be a draw.
Merse predicts: 1-1 and Gary Cahill to score first 175/1 with Sky Bet
