James Mason’s selections for Thursday’s London derby at Stamford Bridge include a positive result for the visitors with a centre-forward finding the net.
Two teams battling at different ends of the Premier League table meet at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, when Chelsea face Tottenham.
Spurs have had a disappointing campaign and are currently housed in the bottom half of the standings, but they do have a Europa League quarter-final tie on the horizon and a win over rivals Chelsea would provide a momentum boost.
As for the Blues, they will be hoping to rally after a poor recent run and keep themselves in the hunt for a top-four finish. Here are our football betting selections.
Best bets
Tottenham or draw double chance 5/4
Dominic Solanke to score 5/2
James Maddison to have a shot on target 31/40
Visitors may be value
Chelsea had a strong start to the season but have been on the slide for some time in the Premier League, winning just four of their last 13 league matches.
Three of those victories came against teams currently in the bottom four – Wolves, Leicester and Southampton – and as a result it is hard to be interested in them at such a short price in this clash.
Enzo Maresca’s side have lost four of their last seven in the league and they could find things difficult against a well-rested Tottenham side.
Spurs have struggled with injuries throughout the campaign but seem to be out of the worst of that and they have not played a game in 18 days so have had time to regroup.
Ange Postecoglou’s men may have lost two of their last three league games, but they came against a resurgent Manchester City and in-form Fulham and those defeats can be excused.
Coming up against a Chelsea side struggling for consistency, Spurs, who have won two of their last three away games in the top flight, should be able to avoid defeat.
Solanke dangerous
One big bonus for Tottenham has been striker Dominic Solanke’s return to full fitness and, selfishly, Spurs will have been pleased that the former Bournemouth man did not feature in either of England’s two matches during the international break.
Solanke has 11 goals in all competitions despite his injury-hit campaign and could unsettle the Chelsea defence with his physicality.
Side with the Tottenham striker to get on the scoresheet in this one.
Maddison happy to take a crack
James Maddison is another Tottenham player who has struggled with injuries this season but he has been influential when he has featured, netting nine times and registering five assists in the league.
The former Leicester man is always happy to have an attempt at goal and he is averaging 0.97 shots on target in all competitions this term.
Only eight teams in the top flight have allowed more shots on target than Chelsea this season and Maddison, who netted two games ago against AZ in the Europa League, could add to that tally.
