The Monday Night Football this week comes from Stamford Bridge as Chelsea look to end Tottenham’s hopes of winning the Premier League. After Leicester’s draw at Old Trafford on Sunday, Tottenham go into this match knowing they have to win or the title is done.
Chelsea
Having looked like they were done for the season, Chelsea turned on the style at Bournemouth last time out and won with ease but there is a world of difference between winning at Bournemouth and playing this Tottenham side so Chelsea will need to be at their best.
After this game Chelsea might lack for motivation with their season ending from a competitive point of view a long while ago but the two clubs aren’t the best of friends so the Blues shouldn’t lack for motivation in this one.
Tottenham
It is do or die for Tottenham here if they are to keep their hopes of a first Premier League title alive. They go into the match eight points adrift of Leicester with three matches to play so they know they have to win all of their remaining matches.
Although they slipped up last week Tottenham have been playing well in the main and if they can win here and extend it to next week they might yet get the chance to take advantage of any lingering Leicester nerves.
Team news
Chelsea are expected to have John Terry and Gary Cahill back for this match which will be a boost defensively and they will need that against a Tottenham side who look free flowing in attack.
One member of that Tottenham attacking core will miss out here though as Dele Alli has been banned for the remaining three matches of the season after punching Claudio Yacob in the draw with West Brom last week.
Betting
This is an interesting match to weigh up in many ways. I’m going to look at it slightly different to how I normally do. I usually like to play the Asian lines but I’m not sure they are much help to us here or offer much value because most of those lines are just a draw no bet line and I’m not convinced the draw is a runner here.
The draw does absolutely nothing for Tottenham so if this is level late on you would think the kitchen sink would be sent for and launched at this Chelsea back line and on the flip side if either side lead they may well just settle for seeing it out.
When looking through the stats for this match I notice that even though they had been in a decent patch of form between January and March, Chelsea have only won one of their last eight matches at Stamford Bridge and if they know that statistic it should give Tottenham plenty of confidence.
Only Leicester have gained more points on their travels than Tottenham this season so this isn’t going to be a walk in the park for Chelsea regardless of how motivated they are. Spurs have only lost one away game since the opening day of the season so they are comfortable on the road.
I think there will be a winner in this match just because of the way the league table is dictating things and given Chelsea’s lack of wins at home and Spurs’ excellent form away I’m going to chance that the win goes to Tottenham and keeps their title hopes alive.
Tips
Back Tottenham to beat Chelsea for a 3/10 stake at 2.63 with Ladbrokes
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