Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will put their Premier League title battle on hold this weekend as they go head to head in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Just four points now separate the two sides in the table and Spurs could deal another blow to Chelsea’s campaign by reaching the final for the first time since 1991.
For the vast majority of the season it has looked as though Antonio Conte’s first campaign in English football would end with at least one piece of silverware.
The Blues’ imperious form in the Premier League also made them favourites to go all the way in the FA Cup, but in recent weeks the previously unflappable West Londoners have begun to waver.
It could be the case, then, that Spurs are responsible for ending Chelsea’s hopes on both fronts, although Conte will be reminding his side that they still have the upper hand despite the form book being in Tottenham’s favour.
Chelsea have not lost back-to-back matches for more than a year, but defeat to Spurs could have an even more damaging effect than seeing them crash out of the FA Cup and would certainly ramp up the pressure ahead of tricky fixtures against Southampton and Everton in the league next week.
There is nothing quite like a trophy to truly mark progress and, while Tottenham’s hopes in the league look significantly better now than they did at the start of the month, the FA Cup remains their best chance of picking up silverware this season.
It is a trophy that Spurs have not won for 26 years – too long a drought for a club of their calibre. Only Arsenal and Manchester United have won the competition on more occasions than Tottenham’s eight, but the Gunners have lifted the trophy seven times and United have added five more to their tally since Spurs’ last triumph.
Team News-
Chelsea could once again be without Thibaut Courtois, who missed Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United with an ankle injury sustained while filming an NBA commercial.
Asmir Begovic is expected to deputise once again, then, but Marcos Alonso should be fit to start having withdrawn in the warm-up at Old Trafford due to illness.
Despite his side’s recent form, Pochettino could make a tactical switch in order to match up against Chelsea’s 3-4-3 system having done so during their 2-0 Premier League win over Chelsea in January.
That would likely see Eric Dier drop back into defence and Victor Wanyama come into the side, possibly in place of Son Heung-min despite the South Korean’s recent hot streak in front of goal.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Costa, Hazard
Tottenham possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Dier, Vertonghen, Alderweireld; Walker, Wanyama, Dembele, Davies; Eriksen, Kane, Alli
This promises to be a great match. Drop Your Predictions!!!
