Two teams heading in opposite directions face off in north London on Sunday afternoon as Tottenham welcome Chelsea in one of the marquee fixtures of the Premier League weekend (16:30).
After a 4-0 Etihad win over Manchester City, Spurs have hit the buffers in two subsequent domestic outings, drawing 1-1 at home to Fulham before a lacklustre 1-0 midweek defeat at Bournemouth.
The Blues, meanwhile, are on a three-match winning run, are unbeaten in six, and went into the weekend in second place with only Liverpool above them.
- CHELSEA TO WIN
- NICOLAS JACKSON FIRST GOALSCORER
- BRENNAN JOHNSON ANYTIME GOALSCORER
In-Form Chelsea Can Put Spurs To The Sword
Despite their inconsistency, Chelsea won home and away against Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino last season and, having taken a step forward under Enzo Maresca, the Blues could again land the London derby spoils.
Chelsea's improvement hasn't escaped the attention of the bookmakers, who make the Blues favourites at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But the manner of their recent performances, coupled with Spurs' struggles, suggests they remain good value at a shade of odds-against.
The visitors have won seven of their last nine meetings with Tottenham in all competitions, including a 4-1 victory in this fixture last season when Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie both saw red for the hosts.
Following Maresca's summer appointment, a talented young Blues squad are playing with verve, creating more chances at the right end of the pitch while also looking more settled at the back, for all that keeping clean sheets remains an issue.
Only Man City and Liverpool have beaten Chelsea in the Premier League this season and, perhaps most worryingly for Spurs, Maresca's men have been more productive on the road, claiming 16 points from seven matches and scoring 19 goals.
While Ange Postecoglou's hosts remain a dangerous outfit, they've looked toothless in recent matches and it's difficult to see them matching their opponents' firepower.
CHELSEA TO WIN
Jackson Looks Value To Land The Opening Blow
Maresca has an embarrassment of attacking riches at his disposal but Nicolas Jackson has been one of Chelsea's chief threats this season it could pay to back the Senegalese striker to open the scoring.
Jackson scored a respectable 14 goals in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, although he was often wasteful in front of goal, as an xG (expected goals) figure of 18.6 illustrates.
This season, Jackson has improved in line with the rest of his team, scoring eight goals in 13 matches and breaking the deadlock on seven occasions.
He was rested for Wednesday's 5-1 victory over Southampton and should be fresh and ready to make an impact against a leaky Spurs defence.
NICOLAS JACKSON FIRST GOALSCORER
Johnson Should Threaten On The Counter
Both teams to score is an understandably short price between two teams who always attempt to play on the front foot and Tottenham's most likely source of goals could again prove to be Brennan Johnson.
Chelsea have proven vulnerable to counter attacks and the Welshman has the pace to expose those frailties once again - he's scored ten goals in all competitions this season and in three of Spurs' last four matches.
BRENNAN JOHNSON ANYTIME GOALSCORER
