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Chelsea vs Tottenham news: Tuchel’s tired old excuses won’t wash in this one

Chelsea are struggling in the Premier League but at least they had Wednesday off, while Tottenham are looking to build on a stunning win over Leicester.

These two sides come into the game with their confidence levels on different ends of the spectrum.
Chelsea are tired. You can't have failed to notice it. Thomas Tuchel has mentioned it so often that even if the Blues players weren't tired, the constant drip, drip of their manager talking about it would be enough to drain them. They've won two of their last nine. Glass half full followers may point out that they have only lost two of their last nine.

Tottenham fans don't have to massage the stats, however. Wednesday's stunning injury-time win over Leicester City was their ninth Premier League game without defeat - they've won six of them.

When: Sunday, January 23, 16:30 GMT

Where: Stamford Bridge

Where to watch: Sky Sports

Follow Chelsea vs Tottenham via our score centre

Who is the ref for Chelsea vs Tottenham

Paul Tierney will take charge of what will be his 17th top-flight fixture this season. Tierney took charge of the reverse fixture in September, dishing out just one yellow card. He has refereed Chelsea four times this season with the Blues winning all four - three of them 3-0 - and yet to concede a goal.

2021/22 season stats: Premier League matches (16), yellows (64), reds (1), penalties (3)

Recent form

Chelsea were top of the Premier League on December 1 and following on from their Champions League success, it seemed Thomas Tuchel could do no wrong.

However, since a somewhat fortuitous 2-1 win over Watford, the wheels have come off. And it is quality at both ends of the pitch that has been the problem. The Blues kept eight clean sheets in their first 12 Premier League games but have now only kept one in their last 11. Combined with just eight goals from their last seven games, it makes winning games difficult - Chelsea scored 38 in their opening 16.
Spurs, in contrast, are still riding their Antonio Conte wave. Ninth when the Italian was appointed, Tottenham are now just a point behind West Ham in fourth with three games in hand. They have played four less than Chelsea, who sit just eight points above them in third.

Chelsea and Tottenham players in form

Speculation continues to surround the future of Antonio Rudiger who leads the way for Chelsea in passes (1,494) and aerial battles won (44). The German centre-back, branded "incredible" by team-mate Timo Werner is out of contract at the end of the season. He has not missed a minute of Premier League football since October but there may be signs of fatigue setting in - he has been booked in three of his last six outings.

You can't get more in-form than Tottenham's Steven Bergwijn who in his last 11 minutes of Premier League soccer has scored twice. Looking slightly longer term, Harry Kane finally appears to be finding some kind of form, with his goal against Leicester his fourth in his last five top-flight appearances - he bagged an assist on Wednesday night, too.

Managers' thoughts

Thomas Tuchel said: "We decided we would give the players two days off after Brighton to de-connect a little bit. But the two days alone doesn’t solve everything.

"It was good to have, and after this Tottenham game we will have another chance to give the majority of the players another two days off, because we simply need it."

Antonio Conte said: "You have to be very calm and go game by game. Don’t forget that we won against Watford in the last minute, we won against Leicester in the last minute, I have to be realistic and for sure I am happy.

“It is a pleasure to see my team fight until the end."

Predicted Chelsea vs Tottenham teams

Trevoh Chalobah and Reece James have returned to training but Sunday comes too early for them, while Andreas Christensen remains out. 

Chelsea likely team: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, Sarr, Kovacic, Kante, Mount, Pulisic, Werner, Lukaku

Tottenham have a fresh injury concern over Emerson Royal who was replaced at half-time against Leicester. Eric Dier has trained and is available but Heung-min Son is not expected to return until after the international break. Bergwijn is pushing for a start after his heroics from the bench in midweek.

Tottenham likely team: Lloris, Sanchez, Dier, Davies, Doherty, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Winks, Reguilon, Bergwijn, Kane

Chelsea vs Tottenham prediction

Chelsea may be tired but Tuchel has little to moan about here - they have had an extra 24 hours to rest up compared to Tottenham. And while the visitors will be buoyed by that late, late show against Leicester, it will have taken long into Thursday morning for the adrenaline to die down. You imagine both teams would take a point right now, regroup and then go again after the international break.

Planet Sport predicts: Chelsea 1 Tottenham 1

READ MORE: The eight hardest working players in the Premier League - Rudiger, Rice, Cancelo, Bowen and more

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