Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League preview and team news

With the two-week international break coming to an end, Tottenham Hotspur travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in a London derby on Thursday.

It seems like it’s been ages since we last saw Premier League football, though the UEFA Nations League knockout matches kept things interesting.

For Tottenham Hotspur fans, however, the break may have felt even longer; not because of the lack of matches, but due to the constant news and rumours surrounding the club’s managerial situation, transfers, and ownership.

Despite all that, let’s be honest, have we missed watching Spurs? Or was this a much-needed break for the fans?

What time does Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur kick-off?

• Location: London, England
• Stadium: Stamford Bridge
• Date: Thursday 3rd April 2025
• Kick-off Time: 8:00 pm BST
• Referee: Craig Pawson
• VAR: Jarred Gillett

How both teams go into Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur

If Spurs’ form in February gave fans some hope, March brought them back to reality. Tottenham failed to win a single league game in March, though they only played three matches (two defeats and one draw).

Ange Postecoglou’s men have struggled to climb the Premier League table and currently sit 14th with 33 points from 29 games, suffering 15 defeats along the way.

Their last match before the break ended in a 2-0 loss to Fulham, following a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City. Two weeks should have been enough time to reassess things. Let’s see if April brings a change in fortunes for the Lilywhites.

Sitting 15 points and 10 places above them, Chelsea haven’t had it all smooth sailing either. They started the season strong and were title contenders at one stage, but their struggles have become evident. A 1-0 defeat to Arsenal before the break leaves them just a point above Manchester City in fifth.

While they won four consecutive matches before that, those victories came either in the Europa Conference League or against relegation-threatened sides.

On paper, Chelsea’s March looked solid, but the bigger picture tells another story. Since late December, the Blues have won just seven of their 17 matches across all competitions. Two of those were against Copenhagen, while the other five came against Morecambe, Leicester City, Wolves, West Ham, and Southampton.

Spurs’ head-to-head record vs Chelsea

It almost feels like Chelsea exist just to ruin things for Tottenham and they have a long history of doing so. Last season, the Blues were the ones who triggered Spurs’ downfall under Ange Postecoglou.

The reverse fixture was nothing short of a disaster for Tottenham. They led 2-0, and dominated large parts of the match, but still somehow ended up gifting Chelsea a 4-3 win. The less said about that game, the better (not unless you’re a Spurs fan).

Spurs’ last victory against Chelsea was back on 26th February 2023, courtesy of an Oliver Skipp masterclass.

The last time Tottenham won at Stamford Bridge? A 3-1 victory in April 2018; more than seven years ago. Safe to say, no other team gives Spurs as much trouble as Chelsea

Tottenham team news

Tottenham have most of their first-team players back, with a few more potential returns over the break.

Ange Postecoglou previously mentioned that Dejan Kulusevski and Kevin Danso were expected to return after the international break, but their timelines remained uncertain. Updates from Wednesday’s press conference will clarify their availability, along with Richarlison’s. However, Kulusevski was recently seen without a protective boot; an encouraging sign.

The only confirmed absentee as per the latest updates is Radu Dragusin.

Chelsea team news

Chelsea look set to receive a triple injury boost, with Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, and Nicolas Jackson all nearing returns. The only sidelined players are Gabriel Slonina, Marc Guiu, and Omari Kellyman.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison; Odobert, Solanke, Tel.

Kulusevski and Danso are unlikely to start, so Bentancur and Van de Ven slot in. While some fans may want Van de Ven reserved solely for the Europa League, it’s a very unrealistic expectation if you ask us.

A likely scenario sees him starting against Chelsea, resting against Southampton, and then returning for Frankfurt. Expect Davies to come on after Van de Ven’s spent a good hour on the pitch.

Son played two full 90-minute matches during the international break, making Tel a likelier starter on the left for Tottenham. Brennan Johnson struggled with Wales, while Odobert shone for France’s U23s, making him the more deserving starter on the right.

Key players to watch

Djed Spence. Despite putting in solid performances since breaking into the Spurs XI and even ranking as the best-rated defender in the league until February 2025, Spence was overlooked by Thomas Tuchel for England. He’ll have a point to prove

Wilson Odobert. Who else plays on the right? He’s in much better form than Johnson and performed well for the France U23s during the break. Cucurella will have a tough time dealing with him.

Cole Palmer. Stats may show his form has dipped: just two goals in all competitions in 2025. His last strike came in mid-January against Bournemouth. Some claim he only turns up against bottom-half sides; well, Spurs fit that bill. He also bagged a brace in the reverse fixture.

Reece James. The 25-year-old last faced Spurs in Chelsea’s 4-1 win back in 2023. Since then, injuries have kept him away from these clashes. He had a fantastic international break, scoring a stunning free-kick for England against Latvia. When fit, he’s arguably the best full-back in Europe.

Our Prediction

The Premier League table may no longer excite Spurs fans anymore, but a London derby victory always means something. Ange Postecoglou has never beaten Chelsea, and a win here could ease some of the pressure surrounding him.

Tottenham’s pre-international break form was dreadful, but their post-break performances have often been a stark contrast. Expect a different Spurs side to turn up.

Predicted score: Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur.

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