No team had a worse week than Chelsea last week. The Blues were told that they would not be allowed to sign new transfers until 2020 after breaching rules regarding tampering with minor players. That will really hurt Chelsea in their bid to be competitive next season, and it could mean the departure of Eden Hazard in the offseason. On Sunday, things got even worse. Following weeks of acrimony between players and manager Maurizio Sarri, there was an explosion on the pitch. Kepa took exception to Sarri’s attempt to sub him off near the conclusion of the Carabao Cup Final, and that led to a full-on meltdown from the player and the manager. There is rampant speculation that Sarri could be sacked as early as Monday, leaving an interim in charge against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Stamford Bridge in London at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
EPL Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chelsea FC +143
Tottenham Hotspur +192
Draw +239
Over/Under 2.5
Odds Analysis
Tottenham Hotspur had a frustrating week of their own. Spurs were unable to get much going against Burnley’s defense even with Harry Kane returning to action, and they missed out on a golden opportunity to come within three points of Liverpool and two points of Manchester City. Tottenham lost to Burnley 2-1, causing Mauricio Pochettino to blow up on referee Mike Dean, and the manager conceded that his club will probably be unable to finish better than third in the league after the loss.
There were encouraging signs of life from Chelsea against Manchester City before the ignominious end. The Blues defended incredibly well against the Citizens after allowing City to score six against them just two weeks prior, allowing a scant three shots on goal in 120 minutes of action. It showed that Sarri was possibly willing to adapt, but no one knows what will happen over the next week as the manager might be on his way out.
Key Injuries
Eric Dier might miss this match for Tottenham due to illness. He was unable to go against Burnley, and there has been no word given on his health as of early Monday morning. The club is hoping that Dele Alli might be able to return to the lineup. Alli has been out for the last couple months with a thigh injury, but Tottenham thinks he could be healthy enough to see action here.
Marco Van Ginkel is a long-term absence for Chelsea, and both Gary Cahill and Danny Drinkwater have been ruled out for this match too. No timetable has been given regarding when any of the three might return. Davide Zappacosta is listed as probable to play through an illness.
Player to Watch
Keep your eyes on Kepa here. The high-priced goalkeeper has been worth his hefty transfer fee since coming over from Athletic Bilbao, but he might not feature in this match. Chelsea may feel the need to discipline him for his insubordination on Sunday, so keep an eye on his status. If he doesn’t play, Willy Caballero will be in net, and he is a significant step down in terms of quality.
Previous Meeting
It was all Tottenham when these two teams met in late November. Spurs got out to a 2-0 lead in the first 16 minutes thanks to goals from Alli and Kane, and Son Heung-min made it a 3-0 laugher shortly after halftime. Olivier Giroud netted late for Chelsea to prevent the shutout, but this was all Spurs.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
There is far too much drama with Chelsea at this point for me to like them in this spot. The Blues’ players clearly want Sarri gone, and this is reminiscent of the situation with Manchester United and Jose Mourinho earlier in the year. I love this spot for Tottenham.
English Premier League Odds: Tottenham Hotspur 2, Chelsea FC 0
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
