Without a doubt the highlight fixture of this Premier League weekend is Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur. After a long international break, this London derby is a matchup to get fired up about. Let’s take a look at the fitness and injury reports for both sides starting with the hosts, who are still awaiting the further delayed opening of their new home stadium.
Danish sensation Christian Eriksen is expected to return to the first team on Saturday. Tottenham have looked in better form as of late, winning six of their last eight in the league and four in a row across all competitions. Much of it is due to their getting more of their key players healthy again.
However, they are not at full strength as of yet. Davinson Sanchez and Danny Rose not quite ready to return to action, and Jan Vertonghen remains a long term absentee. He won’t be back until December at the earliest. They head into this rivalry clash fourth in the table, just one point behind the visitors.
For the Blues, summer transfer window addition and midfielder Mateo Kovacic is the biggest injury concern, but it is not deemed to be a severe issue at all. He’s suffered a muscular problem that could limit him to only substitute minutes.
Ethan Ampadu, who has not seen action anyway, is confirmed out after being sent back to club early from Wales over the international break.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea FC FYIs
Kickoff: 530 pm local, Wembley Stadium, Saturday Nov 24
Odds via Oddschecker: Tottenham 9/5, Draw 5/2, Chelsea 17/10
Maurizio Sarri Press Conference Quotes: go to this link
Starting XI Predictions for both teams: go to this link
Score Prediction: Chelsea 1, Tottenham 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.