Chelsea head into this weekend’s London derby as the form side. Xabi Alonso’s team sit fourth in the Premier League, while Tottenham are down in 16th and only picked up their first win of the season against Coventry last weekend. History is on Chelsea’s side too: they have won 14 of the last 20 meetings, with three draws and three defeats. The catch is that Spurs won the most recent one.

In our new video we go through the tactics Alonso should use to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Watch the full breakdown below, then read on for the key points.

Why the 3-4-3 is the right call

For this game the 3-4-3 makes the most sense. Mike Penders starts in goal. Behind him, a back three of Levi Colwill, Maxence Lacroix and Josh Acheampong has worked before: Colwill and Lacroix are strong in the air and understand each other’s positioning, and Acheampong gives the side licence to step forward.

The big change is in midfield. Romeo Lavia and Moisés Caicedo should start together, because this game will be won in the middle of the pitch. Jorrel Hato fits on the left, Pedro Neto can work the right flank, and the front line of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and João Pedro picks itself.

How Tottenham are likely to line up

Expect Spurs in a 4-2-3-1. James Maddison is back and will be vital for them, Rodrigo Bentancur returns from suspension and Mohammed Kudus is back from injury. With Kudus and Omar Marmoush out wide, Tottenham have real creativity in their front line, and those two are the players Chelsea have to deal with.

Winning the midfield battle

Tottenham’s midfield is where the space is. Their holding pair do most of the defending, while Maddison spends much of his time in the attacking third. That leaves room for Palmer and João Pedro to drop in, collect the ball and drive into the open space. Caicedo can hold the line while Lavia steps up, so the midfield effectively morphs into a 3-3-1 shape that frees Rogers, Palmer and Pedro to push on, with Neto and Hato providing width and support.

If Spurs’ full-backs are forced to sit deep, Chelsea can pin back Kudus and Marmoush, keep the ball in Tottenham’s half and let Acheampong push up as well. Pull one of Micky van de Ven or Jan Paul van Hecke out of the back line and the gaps appear for Palmer to drift in or for Neto, fresh off a brace last week, to attack the box.

The danger: counter-attacks and a low block

The biggest worries are the counter-attack and the goalkeeper position. Kudus and Marmoush both have the pace to hurt Chelsea in transition, so Neto and Hato may need to track them closely at times. And if Tottenham get a goal ahead, they can sit deep and make it a long afternoon. Chelsea have unlocked plenty of low blocks this season, but it only gets harder the more bodies a side puts behind the ball, and Roberto De Zerbi may have a few answers of his own.

Verdict

On paper, Chelsea have all the right pieces to take all three points. If they control the middle of the pitch and dictate the tempo, Tottenham will struggle to get into the game. Watch the full tactical breakdown on YouTube and let us know in the comments: is this the right setup for Alonso, and who would be in your starting XI?

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