Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are two teams heading in opposite directions coming into this match. Spurs have shown signs of life under Jose Mourinho, and they have won four of their last five matches to move within three points of Chelsea for a spot in the top four in the Premier League table. Meanwhile, the Blues have lost four of their last five matches, and they have fallen behind both Leicester City and Manchester City in the table. Chelsea needs to stop the drop quickly as a loss would lead to Tottenham passing them in the standings on Sunday.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, December 22, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on NBC.
EPL Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Tottenham Hotspur +139
Chelsea +180
Draw +264
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
No one will begrudge Chelsea and Frank Lampard for losing to Manchester City, but the Blues’ offense has fallen flat over the last month in domestic action. They have scored four goals in their last five Premier League games, and they were shut out at home by both West Ham United and Bournemouth. Those losses really hurt Chelsea as they were big favorites per the Premier League betting odds, but at least they managed to secure three points at home against Aston Villa.
Chelsea have had some trouble in the back line this year though. Their inability to add anyone in the transfer window hurt their defense, and they have conceded 25 goals in 17 league matches. That’s too many for a club with Chelsea’s resources and a goalkeeper like Kepa.
Spurs have given up multiple goals in three of their last five matches, but they have been shorthanded in net. Their top two goalkeepers have been hurt, so the relatively untested Paulo Gazzaniga has been forced into action. Gazzaniga hasn’t played poorly, but he has only played in 34 matches over the last seven seasons.
During their run, Tottenham have only defeated one top team in Wolves. Their other victories came against Bournemouth, West Ham, and Burnley, and they only just squeaked by Wolves thanks to a Jan Vertonghen extra time goal. Spurs lost to Manchester United in Old Trafford in their other game during this stretch.
Key Injuries
After a prolonged period on the sidelines, Marco van Ginkel and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are close to coming back for Chelsea. That’s good news for the club, but Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori are both doubtful. Giroud is dealing with an ankle injury, while Tomori has a groin issue.
Hugo Lloris and Michel Vorm are still out for Tottenham, leaving Mourinho without his two best goalkeepers. Additionally, Spurs are without Ben Davies, Erik Lamela, and Tanguy Ndombele for this match.
Player to Watch
Tammy Abraham is having a great season for Chelsea. Abraham has 11 goals, and he has an outside chance to win the Golden Boot. His play has helped make the Blues competitive despite the transfer pan, and his ability to link up with Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic means the future is bright at Stamford Bridge.
Prop Bet – Over 3.5 Goals +173
Given what we have seen from both teams in the back, the over is a good call. These teams both have loads of talent on the attack, but the defense is an issue, so we should see plenty of goals scored.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
If you’re looking to play a side, the draw is a good option. These teams have a difficult time stopping Big Six teams, so this should be a level result.
English Premier League Odds: Tottenham Hotspur 2, Chelsea 2
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