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Match preview - Chelsea vs. Tottenham - Ancelotti out to prove title credentials
Thursday 17 September 2009
Sunday sees two of the early season success stories go head-to-head as Tottenham travel to Stamford Bridge to take on the Premier League pace-setters. Spurs will be out to banish last weekend’s defeat to Manchester United but with Chelsea representing the third meeting with one of the ‘big four’ in six games - Harry Redknapp will be happy sitting in the top half after a tough opening. Spurs look a real force this season and a trip to title favourites Chelsea may well provide the answer of whether or not this improving side is ready to launch a genuine assault on the ‘big four’. For Carlo Ancelotti, its been a perfect start but the visit of Spurs represents their biggest challenge also, but one they will be confident in winning as they look to prove their title credentials.
Chelsea - On paper it reads well - five played, five won, 15 points, but it would be fair to say Ancelotti has been fortunate to have encountered Hull, Sunderland, Burnley, Fulham and Stoke as opposition - all sides Chelsea would be expected to beat. Opting to use a midfield diamond to (successfully) accommodate last season’s Golden Boot winner Nicolas Anelka and the imperious Didier Drogba, the Italian tactician appears to have a winning formula. However, results have hardly been totally convincing, as Chelsea fell behind to Hull, Sunderland and Stoke before grinding out all three points. With a back five and front two that picks itself, the chosen midfield personnel will be interesting. Michael Essien and Frank Lampard are certainties but the return to fitness of Joe Cole intensifies the competition for places even further. Deco, John Obi Mikel, Florent Malouda and Michael Ballack will compete with the returning Cole for the remaining slots but Ancelotti will be wary of changing a winning formula so expect Malouda and Ballack to come through.
1 Cech
17 Boswinga - 6 Carvalho - 26 Terry - 3 A.Cole
5 Essien
13 Ballack - 8 Lampard - 15 Malouda
39 Anelka - 11 Drogba
Tottenham - Against Chelsea, Spurs must continue to use their width as it's likely Ancelotti will favour his diamond midfield formation. With Ledley King and Sebastian Bassong suitably assured at the back, Wilson Palacios bustling in the centre of the park and Aaron Lennon and Defoe in potent attacking form for club and country, Redknapp will look to fill the creative void left by leg break victim Luka Modric - and he has options. New-boy Niko Kranjcar is an obvious choice offering more guile than the out-of-favour Jermaine Jenas whilst David Bentley could too slot in. The presence of Peter Crouch alongside Defoe could be favoured against John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, although the former Portsmouth man will be competing with captain Robbie Keane who may be favoured as he gives the side more flexibility if Redknapp wants to go five across the middle at any point.
1 Gomes
22 Corluka - 26 King - 19 Bassong - 32 Assou-Ekotto
7 Lennon -12 Palacios - 6 Huddlestone - 21 Kranjcar
18 Defoe - 15 Crouch
Chelsea's first real test this season throws up some interesting duels. Lennon and Ashley Cole, Palacios and Essien and three of the Premier League’s most in-form strikers - Anelka, Drogba and Defoe - share one field. Redknapp's men will be fearless having already faced Liverpool and Manchester United and even with home advantage, Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea must beware.
Match previews Burnley vs. Sunderland
Chelsea vs. Tottenham
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