According to a report by Football London on Thursday October 22, 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso faces a demanding week, beginning with Saturday’s Premier League showdown against Tottenham before difficult encounters with Liverpool and Manchester United test his squad further.

The Blues have recovered encouragingly with consecutive league victories, moving into fourth place and raising expectations among supporters. However, Tottenham’s recent improvement means Chelsea cannot afford complacency heading into this London derby.

Alonso will also have selection concerns, with Emi Martinez and captain Reece James unavailable following surgeries for jaw and knee injuries respectively. Their absences could influence Chelsea’s preparations for the crucial weekend fixture.

Former England striker Peter Crouch and ex-Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell have both backed the Blues to secure victory. Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast, Crouch believes Chelsea’s attacking quality gives them a significant advantage.

“Chelsea are clear favourites. Spurs have been poor, although they did win against Coventry. Such a big win for them,” Crouch explained while discussing Tottenham’s recent 3-1 victory.

Despite acknowledging Tottenham’s latest result, Crouch remains confident Chelsea will prevail at Stamford Bridge. He added: “I still fancy Chelsea at home. They score goals; I’m going to go, Chelsea 3-1.”

Sidwell also expects the hosts to collect maximum points, highlighting Chelsea’s current form and home advantage. However, he acknowledged Tottenham’s creative players could make the contest challenging for Alonso’s team.

“Tottenham have Kulusevski and Maddison back; they’ve missed that creativity. But Chelsea are flying; they are at home. Clean sheet. Chelsea 2-0,” Sidwell predicted.

Chelsea’s recent record against Tottenham provides another reason for optimism. The Blues have dominated their meetings, winning 14 of their last 18 encounters, while Spurs have managed only two victories during that period.

Chelsea have also won their previous six consecutive meetings against Tottenham, including two victories last season. That impressive sequence gives Alonso’s players additional motivation to extend their dominance.

Although Tottenham arrive after a confidence-boosting victory, Chelsea’s attacking strength could prove decisive. Nevertheless, Alonso must ensure his team remains defensively disciplined if they hope to continue their winning run.