Chelsea vs Tottenham is a London derby with a very different feel for Roberto De Zerbi’s side this time, because Spurs arrive at Stamford Bridge with a first Premier League win of the season behind them and Kulusevski and Maddison back in the squad.
Tottenham beat Coventry City 3-1 at home on Monday to climb out of the relegation zone, and De Zerbi says there are no serious injury worries coming out of it. Chelsea, meanwhile, have a goalkeeping problem to solve after Emi Martínez broke his jaw at Everton.
Spurs’ last trip to Chelsea came in a rescheduled fixture during the relegation run-in, and the history there is not kind to them.
Chelsea vs Tottenham kickoff
Date: Saturday 24 October 2026
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Competition: Premier League
Chelsea vs Tottenham team news
Tottenham team news
The headline for Spurs is that Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are available again. Kulusevski returned to the matchday squad against Coventry for the first time in more than 500 days, while Maddison scored in the 3-1 win alongside Omar Marmoush and Ben Davies. Maddison’s comeback follows the ACL injury he suffered in 2025.
Destiny Udogie is the one to watch. He played 70 minutes against Manchester United, suffered a problem with his knee and was left out of the Coventry squad. “Destiny Udogie played 70 minutes and he suffered a problem in his knee and we didn’t take a risk,” De Zerbi said before the game.
Tosin Adarabioyo, Andy Robertson and Marmoush were all taken off in the second half against Coventry, but De Zerbi was emphatic afterwards. “No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important,” he said, according to Football London.
Ahead of the Coventry game, reports said Savio would miss the next few weeks after an injury in Marbella and that Pedro Porro was unavailable, with Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Mykhailo Mudryk long-term absentees.
Chelsea team news
Martínez fractured his jaw in a clash of heads during Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Everton, needed more than eight minutes of treatment and was taken to hospital. He is expected to be out for several weeks, so 21-year-old Mike Penders is expected to start against Tottenham, according to This Is Anfield.
Penders came on for the final 15 minutes at Goodison Park and had made two senior appearances before that, both in cup wins against Luton and Leeds. He is expected to start again when Chelsea visit Liverpool in the League Cup on Wednesday 28 October.
There is also doubt over Pep Chavarria, who dropped out before kick-off at Everton after feeling a problem in training and had tests planned. Jorrel Hato took his place at left wing-back and assisted Pedro Neto’s opening goal. Malo Gusto missed the Everton game through illness, and Reece James, Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emegha were among the sidelined players.
Chelsea vs Tottenham pre-match tactical analysis
De Zerbi has been flexible with shape lately. Against Coventry, Spurs lined up with three at the back while in possession, with Adarabioyo making his first Premier League start for the club. The Italian explained that the idea was to avoid being caught on the counter-attack and to have more control.
Midfield selection forced his hand. “Conor Gallagher came back two days ago, and at the beginning of the week the medical staff told me he might not be available to play,” De Zerbi said. “Bergvall was injured, Mateus Fernandes worked just the last two days because of his son, and I thought three at the back was the best solution to defend the counter-attack.”
That caution could matter again at Chelsea, who will want to attack Spurs on the break. Chris Sutton, writing in his BBC column, pointed out that Chelsea’s attack is highly rated but that the Everton win was their first clean sheet of the league campaign, so that side of the game still needs work.
Chelsea vs Tottenham key players
James Maddison
Maddison got Spurs going against Coventry and returns to Stamford Bridge with form behind him. If De Zerbi is willing to commit to a back three in possession, the way Maddison drifts between the lines will decide how often Tottenham can get out.
Mike Penders
A 21-year-old goalkeeper with a handful of senior games is exactly the type of target a visiting side wants to test early. Penders has a clean sheet at Everton to his name, but this is a much bigger occasion. Chelsea regard him as their backup and cup goalkeeper, and Spurs will be tempted to test him.
Jorrel Hato
Hato produced the assist for Neto’s opener at Everton and may well be needed again at left wing-back if Chavarria is not passed fit. It is a big chance to show Xabi Alonso he can be trusted in a derby.
Chelsea vs Tottenham prediction
Sutton does not expect Tottenham to take anything. “Spurs, meanwhile, do seem to be getting better, albeit slowly. It was a big result for them to beat Coventry on Monday but they have an awful record at Stamford Bridge, with only one win there in the Premier League era,” he wrote. “I don’t see them getting anything this time, either.” He has predicted a 3-1 win for Chelsea.
Chelsea have no European football this season, but they do have a League Cup trip to Liverpool four days later. Even so, a first league win and the return of Kulusevski and Maddison give Tottenham a better platform than they had a week ago.
Our prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham. The home side’s goalkeeper issue and defensive doubts give Spurs a route back into the game, but the record at Stamford Bridge says Chelsea edge it.
