Four players to watch in Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea

The London rivalry between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea tends to be a heated one, with tempers often reaching boiling point when the cross-city foes clash each season, and their upcoming clash in the north of the capital could be no different.

The pair are due to meet for the first time this campaign at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 8, and with both sides vying for a coveted place back in the prestigious Champions League, it’s almost impossible to separate the two sides in the Tottenham vs Chelsea odds.

It could come down to individuals to decide this crucial tie. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at four players—two from each side—who could be pivotal to their respective teams in this much-anticipated fixtures.

Dominic Solanke – Tottenham Hotspur

Kicking things off with the home side’s new talisman, eyebrows were raised when Spurs splashed an eye-watering £65 million on Dominic Solanke in the summer.

Indeed, the 27-year-old enjoyed a career-best campaign in the Premier League with Bournemouth last season. But his overall record in the top flight, scoring just 10 times in almost 100 appearances before 2023-24, left some in doubt.

Solanke’s averaging a goal almost every two games at the time of writing, and he will be out to put his former side to the sword after coming through the ranks in west London but never really getting the opportunity to prove himself at Stamford Bridge.

Cole Palmer – Chelsea

A key cog to Enzo Maresca’s setup, Cole Palmer has picked up exactly where he left off last season—with crucial goals and assists in abundance in the opening stages of the 2024-25 campaign in a bid to help the Blues return to the promised land of Champions League football.

Palmer's versatility is crucial to Maresca, with the ability to play on the flanks, behind the striker, and as a No.9.

This year, he has formed fantastic on-field relationships with Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, and Chelsea has already scored more than 40 goals across all competitions.

Spurs’ defence face the tough task of trying to minimise Palmer’s unpredictable creativity, while also limiting his openings on goal.

James Maddison – Tottenham Hotspur

James Maddison has enjoyed another decent start to a Premier League campaign, sitting just off the pace of his goal contributions at this time last season, but he still needs to be more consistent if he wants to catch the eye of new England boss Thomas Tuchel.

Having missed out on Lee Carsley’s final squad for the Three Lions’ remaining Nations League fixtures, pressure is on Maddison. However, we’re sure the German will be watching this game very closely with several English players vying to impress.

If Maddison can spur his team onto a crucial win over Tuchel’s former side, and find some momentum, he might just do enough to get into the England squad for their World Cup qualifiers next year.

Moises Caicedo – Chelsea

After a turbulent first season at Chelsea, in which he seemed to struggle for large parts under Mauricio Pochettino, Moises Caicedo is finally starting to show the quality we have seen from his time at Brighton and Hove Albion.

In fact, the Ecuadorian, who is the most expensive player in Premier League history with a price tag of £115 million, has arguably become Maresca’s most important player at Stamford Bridge—forcing Enzo Fernandez out of the side.

His formidable partnership with Romeo Lavia—who missed the entirety of last season with injury—makes Chelsea incredibly difficult to break down and more favourable in football betting.