Thankful. While Americans celebrated Thanksgiving this past Thursday, Tottenham Hotspur has plenty to be thankful themselves. Spurs are in scintillating form, winning 6 of their last 7 in all competitions and lack a loss in Premier League play since their season opener. These last seven games have marked the resurgence of Harry Kane, as the striker now has 11 goals in all competitions, followed in second place by Erik Lamela with just four. Not to be outdone, the Belgian centerback duo of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld have helped Spurs to the second best defensive record in league play. The pressure will be on as a scary attacking team come in for a London Derby.
Chelsea travel to White Hart Lane in the midst of a mini run of form after a horrible start to the season. The Blues sit in 15th place on 14 points, but needed wins in Chelsea's last EPL and Champions League matches have somewhat righted the ship. Chelsea's defense has been less leaky of late, but a rash of injuries to Terry, Ramires, Courtois, and Falcao has thinned what was presumed to be a top squad entering the season. The biggest pressure may come on the combo of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, who will need to score goals in this tough road match.
Which London team will come out on top in this derby match? We shall see.
How to Watch
Date/time: Sunday, November 29, 12:00 p.m. (UK), 7:00 a.m. ET (USA)
Venue: White Hart Lane, London, UK
Official: Michael Oliver
TV: USA Network (USA), BT Sport 1 (UK), TSN 1 (Canada), Fox Sports 4 (Australia), other listings at livesoccertv.com
Streaming: NBCS Live Extra (USA)
Radio: Audio streamed at tottenhamhotspur.com, also BBC Radio London and TalkSport
Projected Lineup
Where art thou, Alli? An unnecessary yellow card has Tottenham's midfield starlet out, and the pressure will be on to replace him. We believe that Erik Lamela, seemingly cleared from a groin injury, seems likely to start at right wing in his absence, although Ryan Mason could be a candidate to start as well. We expect the rest of the lineup to remain unchanged from the West Ham match.
Prediction League
As for the Prediction League, Mechanick foresaw a Spurs win over West Ham, bringing him in a tie for the lead. The rules remain the same in the Prediction League -- one point for a correct prediction and a bonus point for getting the score correct. Here are the current standings:
Name |
Score |
Ed F. | 10 |
Mechanick | 10 |
Ben Daniels | 7 |
Matthew Pachniuk | 7 |
Skipjack | 7 |
Michael Caley | 6 |
Luke Zimmerman | 6 |
GN_Punk | 5 |
Dustin Menno | 5 |
55thVin | 5 |
Jake Meador | 5 |
Brett Rainbow | 4 |
Earl of Shoop | 4 |
Bryan A. | 3 |
Salmon Chase | 3 |
Michael Caley: Chelsea have been playing their best football of the year recently. It's a tiny sample, but they weren't bad against Stoke, then they stomped Maccabi Tel Aviv and Norwich. Eden Hazard finally looked like Eden Hazard. The thing is, even if Chelsea are back to being a good team, Spurs have proven we belong at the top of the table too. And we're at home. And there's a chance that Chelsea aren't back to being a good team. That gives Spurs the advantage on a couple levels. Let's do this. 2-0 Spurs.
Bryan A.: I have no plans to cease my pessimism. Chelsea won last week and that obviously means that Jose has righted the ship. Spurs will be exhausted from their trip abroad and that means a heavy defeat in a London derby. 3-0 Chelsea
GN_Punk: Rotation, Shmotation. Spurs are good. This team is focused and ready to view the Blues away. We won't be talking about any hot takes other than Spurs' title chances. Spurs 3-1
Mechanick: I am a bit afraid of Chelsea after two consecutive wins. But the Belgians are ready to ball on their countryman Hazard, and I think Kane keeps his scoring ways going. Gonna be tight. 1-1 Draw
Ed F.: With Chelsea having looked utterly useless thusfar this sesason, I somehow couldn't be more afraid of Spurs having to play them. Still calling this as 2-1 Spurs.
Skipjack: 2-2 Draw. We ain't played nobody Pawl.
Dustin Menno: I'm terrified about this match. It's so critical for both teams. Counting on home field advantage. 2-1 Spurs.
Brett Rainbow: TBD
Ben Daniels: We've only lost one of our last nine league matches at home against Chelsea. This is the best Spurs have been in that time and the worst Chelsea has been. I don't care about Norwich, Qarabag, or Ryan Mason. 4-1 Spurs
55thVin: I think Mourinho sets up a little bit like he did against us in the League Cup final. That isn't a bad idea as it produced Chelsea's best performance against us all year. We created almost nothing. Problem is it won't create much against this Spurs squad. As for the scoreline, I predict a little individual magic from Eriksen this match as Harry Kane will be crowded and bullied. 1-0 Spurs
Earl of Shoop: I'm more than a little worried about this one, and would be even if Chelsea hadn't started showing signs of life recently. They should be good but somehow aren't? They'd need an almost mathematically impossible run of form to get back into the top-four race? That sounds like our kind of banana peel and a perfect #narrative for the start of just that type of form from Chelsea on their way to a surprise title run. But screw both that narrative and Chelsea (esp the latter). We should be good and actually are good and we're better than Chelsea and the ghost of José Mourinho's ego. We put this one away convincingly (if not comfortably), letting one through from Eden Hazard because he's really good and there always seem to be goals on both sides in our big matchups. Spurs 3-1
Luke Zimmerman: Spurs look so good. I want to believe. I must believe. I … I am a self hating man baby. Chelsea, 2-1 :\
Matthew Pachniuk: An absolutely huge match for November. A win puts Spurs 13 points clear of Chelsea, a formidable point total to overcome at this point in the campaign. Chelsea should be better and we should crumble under the realities of our favored position in a match like this. We won't. If West Ham was our best played game of the term, this will be our strongest statement of the season. 2-1 Spurs.
Jake Meador: Top defensive team vs. Mourinho team. Not many goals in this one. Eriksen and William fks could be big, as could Toby or Cahill on set pieces. 1-1 Draw.
Salmon Chase: It might be the Obscene amount of red wine me and my old man have run through in the last three days (just talking, not bragging, just generally over sharing) but I'm feeling good, I'm feeling confident, and that makes me very afraid. Afraid like your dog when there is a thunderstorm but you can't find the thundervest? #plugolla
But anyhoo I'm going with 3-2 Spurs BECAUSE IVE GOT DREAMS DAMN IT.