LONDON CURSE OF SPURS: NICOLAS JACKSON CONTINUES GOAL SHOW AGAINST POSTECOGLOU'S NIGHTMARE

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Chelsea – Tottenham Hotspur

April 3rd, 2025

Chelsea has Tottenham figured out like an open book. The Blues have lost only one of their last 12 Premier League matches against their London rival, winning the last three duels with an impressive score of 10:4. Stamford Bridge has become a nightmare for Spurs, and manager Ange Postecoglou could establish an unflattering record - no Tottenham manager in history has lost his first four league games against Chelsea.

Chelsea's historical dominance is stunning. Against no other opponent have the Blues won more matches (36) and scored more goals (120) in the Premier League than against Tottenham. Only three teams in the history of the competition have scored more goals against one specific opponent - Arsenal and Manchester United against Everton and Liverpool against Newcastle (all 124).

Tottenham has significant problems with London derbies this season. With just 10 points (3 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses), they are, together with Brentford, the worst team in these prestigious battles. If Spurs lose at Stamford Bridge, they would record their sixth defeat in metropolitan encounters, which would be their worst result since the 2004-05 season, when they fell seven times.

Chelsea, on the other hand, is growing stronger at home. They've won their last four league matches at Stamford Bridge, keeping a clean sheet in the last two. If they again concede no goals, they would record three consecutive home wins with clean sheets for the second time in the last five seasons.

Away form is Tottenham's Achilles heel. They've already lost eight times away from their own stadium, which is the third-worst record in the league after Leicester (10) and Southampton (12). Spurs last recorded a worse result on foreign grounds in the 2008-09 season, when they lost eleven times away.

The duel will offer a clash of fast counterattacks. Chelsea, with 42 shots from quick breaks, is second-best in the league after Liverpool (56). Tottenham, meanwhile, has managed to score 10 goals from fast counterattacks, which is again the second-best result after Liverpool (13).

Nicolas Jackson has become a disaster for Tottenham's defense. Chelsea's Senegalese striker has already scored four goals against Spurs, which is his highest number against any opponent (the same as against West Ham). Jackson generally specializes in London derbies - he has scored 11 of his 23 Premier League goals in them (47.8%). Of players with more than 20 goals in the history of the competition, only Manuel Lanzini has a higher proportion of goals in these prestigious duels (48.1%).

Son Heung-min stands before a personal milestone. The South Korean star has nine assists this season, and if he adds a tenth, he would become only the second player in Tottenham's history (after Christian Eriksen) to record 10+ assists in four different Premier League seasons. Paradoxically, however, Son has never managed to assist against Chelsea despite facing the Blues 17 times - that's Son's highest number of matches against one opponent without a single assist.

We thank OPTA for providing the statistical data.