Chelsea head into the game against Tottenham Hotspur tonight with an incredible record in the Premier League.
They have only drawn two games in the Premier League, against both Manchester sides, and they are already being talked about as potentially going the entire season undefeated, a feat that only Arsenal have achieved during the Premier League era.
While it seems likely that Jose Mourinho’s troops will finish the season as champions, with no other team in the league a clear rival to their top spot, there is a lot of football to be played before the likes of Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois can go down in footballing folklore for their roles in an incredible season.
Spurs have struggled so far this season and sit in a disappointing ninth place. They could, however, climb to sixth with a win.
While the odds are in favour of a home win, here is why Chelsea should not rest on their laurels ahead of the Spurs clash tonight.
1. Form goes out of the window in a high tempered derby clash
There’s no love lost between Chelsea and Spurs fans, and with a raging atmosphere driving the players forward, poor decisions and mistakes could give Spurs a shock result.
2. Don’t laugh – Roberto Soldado
It’s fair to say that Soldado hasn’t had the best of time since his £26 million move to the Premier League. That said, confidence begets confidence, and Soldado’s first goal since March will have almost certainly reminded him that he can score. Maybe that’s what he will need to get firing again. Chelsea’s defence will almost certainly deal with him, but Everton’s will have thought exactly the same thing at the weekend.
3. Hugo Lloris
Lloris won’t be a threat at the other end, but he’s a top class goalkeeper who probably deserves to be playing for a more successful side in the league. If Spurs hope to nick a result and Lloris is on form, he could provide the shot-stopping basis for a surprise victory.
That said, Chelsea will almost certainly win.
