This weekend, Chelsea are away to Tottenham in the second Premier League fixture of the 2017/18 season.
The Blues made a disastrous start to the new season, as they were beaten 3-2 at home by Sean Dyche’s Burnley side.
Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas were sent off, as Chelsea’s title defence got off to the worst possible start. A positive for Antonio Conte would be Alvaro Morata; the Spaniard scored and assisted David Luiz on his debut.
Last season’s runners-up, Tottenham, started the new season off with a win against Newcastle. Dele Alli and Ben Davies were on the scoresheet for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
This fixture will be Tottenham’s first at their new temporary home of Wembley. The side will play their fixtures at the 90,000 seater stadium while their new home is built.
Ahead of Sunday’s fixture against Tottenham, we take a look at four players that could cause Chelsea problems in different areas of the pitch.
Harry Kane
Striker Harry Kane will be Tottenham’s biggest and best goal threat at Wembley on Sunday.
Last season, Kane scored 29 goals in 30 Premier League games and won the Golden Boot for the second season running. The Englishman scored 20 of these goals with his right foot, so the Blues defenders will need to get him onto his weaker left foot to stop Kane.
Despite his incredible scoring record, Kane is yet to score a Premier League goal in the month of August. The striker will want to change that with a goal against their London rivals.
Dele Alli
Another player that Chelsea will need to keep an eye on is Dele Alli.
The midfielder scored in Tottenham’s win over Newcastle on the opening weekend is capable of unlocking the Chelsea defence. In the Premier League last season, Alli scored 18 times and registered seven assists. Nine of his goals came from his right foot, and five from his left, so the 21-year-old is capable on either foot.
Alli is also capable scoring headed goals. Four of his league goals last season came from his head, including a brace of headers against Chelsea in Tottenham’s 2-0 win in January.
Mousa Dembélé
Chelsea will have to beat at their best going forward to get past the impressive Mousa Dembélé.
Strong and assured in midfield, the Belgian is a key player in the Tottenham team. Last season, he made 64 tackles with a success rate of 86%, so the Chelsea attack will have a tough time getting past Dembélé. The 30-year-old also won 185 duels and won 23 aerial battles.
With Fabregas suspended and new signing Tiemoue Bakayoko still not fully fit, it is unclear how Chelsea will perform in midfield. but however the Blues line up they will face a tough task keeping Dembélé under control.
Christian Eriksen
Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen is another player that will be influential for Tottenham on Sunday.
Like Kane and Alli, Eriksen is another attacking player that will hope to challenge the Chelsea defence. Last season, the Dane scored eight Premier League goals, including a goal against Chelsea in November. However, the midfielder is more of a creative force and registered 15 assists last season. A number only bettered by Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne.
The 25-year-old continued his form from last season, as he set up both goals in Tottenham’s opening weekend victory over Newcastle. Eriksen will hope to be the creative spark on Sunday, with a win over Chelsea.
