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Tottenham vs Chelsea EPL Matchday 18 Odds & Pick: Spurs Favored as Mourinho Faces Hot Derby Date

John Dillon

by John Dillon in Soccer News

Updated Mar 30, 2021 · 9:25 AM PDT

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Tottenham's Son Heung-min receives medical attention during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates stadium in London, England, Sunday, March 14, 2021. (Julian Finney/Pool via AP)
  • Portuguese boss takes on Blues for first time in big London clash
  • Four wins in five EPL Games for The Special One
  • Lampard battles against winter slump after four defeats in five matches

Tottenham Hotspur can climb above their stuttering city rivals Chelsea with victory in the English Premier League’s big London derby clash on Sunday.

Spurs have won four of their five EPL matches since manager Jose Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pocchettino last month.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have lost four of their last five EPL games in a sharp down-turn in performances following a run of six consecutive league victories

EPL 2019-20 Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total Odds
Tottenham Hotspur pk, -½, +108 +149 Ov3 -109
Chelsea pk, +½ -128 +174 Un3 -111
Draw N/A +230 N/A

Odds taken Dec. 18

The oddsmakers make Tottenham favorites at +149 as the clubs kick-off English football’s traditionally hectic Christmas and New Year period on December 22, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, 11:30 am EST.

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The price for a Chelsea victory is +174 with the draw a more inviting +230.

Spurs have scored 14 times in Mourinho’s five league games. But Chelsea will set out to deliver a resolute defensive performance to end their poor run, making a draw a big possibility.

Clung to Fourth Place

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea team have managed to cling on to fourth place in the table during their recent struggles.

Tottenham have climbed from 14th to fifth place since former Chelsea coach Mourinho – nicknamed The Special One  –  took command.

The game in north London is sure to be highly-charged with Mourinho leading a rival club against Chelsea in a traditionally volatile and hostile London derby for the first time.

He has managed Chelsea twice and led them to three EPL titles.

Spurs acted swiftly after firing Pochettino, who guided them to the Champions League final last June.

There was a 3-1 win for Tottenham in the corresponding fixture last November. While Chelsea won the return match 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs acted swiftly to bring in Mourinho after firing Pochettino, who guided them to the Champions League final last June.

EPL 2019-20 Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea Statistics

Tottenham Hotspur
VS
Chelsea
7 Wins 9
5 Losses 6
5 Draws 2
32 Goals 31
24 Goals Against 25
2 Clean Sheets 3
82% Passing Accuracy 85%
2 Red Cards 0
The club hierarchy believed the team had quickly gone stale under the former boss and appointed Mourinho less than 24 hours after Pochettino was axed.

The Portuguese coach made an instant impact with a 3-2 derby victory away against London rivals West Ham United.

Defeat at Old Trafford

That was followed by a 3-2 win at home against Bournemouth before a 2-1 road trip defeat at Manchester United’s Old Trafford.

A 5-0 win at home against Burnley followed before a hard-fought 2-1 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the most recent fixture last weekend.

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He also confirmed qualification for the Champions League last 16 after taking up his post for the final two group games – a 5-2 defeat of Olympiakos and a 3-1 “dead rubber,” defeat away at Bayern Munich when he fielded a weakened side.

Things were going better than expected until the run of six straight wins was ended by a 3-1 defeat away at reigning champions Manchester City.

Lampard is in his first season in charge at Chelsea in what many believed would be a transitional period for the club.

But things were going better than expected until the run of six straight wins was ended by a 3-1 defeat away at reigning champions Manchester City on November 23.

A 1-0 home defeat by West Ham United followed before a 2-1 home win against Aston Villa.

Chelsea then succumbed 3-1 at Everton before out-of-form Bournemouth scored a 1-0 win in the most recent fixture in West London last Saturday.

Lampard has steered Chelsea into the UCL’s last 16 by finishing second in Group H behind Valencia.

All things considered, I see a tight match between two top-six sides resulting in a draw.

Pick: Draw (+230)

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