Chelsea will look to take advantage of the extra two days of recovery they were afforded as they visit White Hart Lane for a London derby against Tottenham in Sunday’s early kick-off. Tottenham, less than 72 hours ago, came out on top in a tough away Europa League fixture on Thursday night against Azerbaijan’s Qarabag.
Harry Kane headed in the only goal of the game, taking his tally to nine goals in six matches. The English striker was a surprise inclusion in Spurs’ eleven as the 5,000-mile roundtrip to Azerbaijan’s capital could pose a fatigue threat to Kane and co. However, defender Jan Vertonghen insists there will be no excuses against Chelsea even though he featured in last Sunday’s game against West Ham and Thursday’s Europa League fixture, playing 90 minutes in both matches.
The champions, who are a whooping 10 points and 10 places behind fifth-placed Spurs, will likely be without the services of skipper John Terry. The defender was stretchered off during Chelsea’s win at Maccabi Tel Aviv with an injured ankle. However, manager Jose Mourinho is hopeful Terry could pass a late fitness test.
Accroding to the BBC , Mourinho had initially ruled him out of the game at White Hart lane but said on Friday: “Today he didn't train, but we have a little hope that it's possible. I don't want to say that it's impossible that he plays, because maybe he plays and you'll say I was hiding.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s fellow Europa League participant Liverpool host a struggling Swansea City at Anfield. The Welsh side have notched up only one point from their last three Premier League fixtures, conceding six goals and scoring only twice in the period.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are on the back of a 2-1 victory over Bordeaux in their Europa League fixture on Thursday.
Sunday fixtures: Tottenham v Chelsea (17:30); West Ham v West Brom (19:35); Liverpool v Swansea City (21:45); Norwich City v Arsenal (21:45)
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