Having won just one of their last four away games in the Premier League, Chelsea visit White Hart Lane knowing that nothing less than a win against Tottenham will do, if they are to maintain their gap over second-placed Manchester City. Spurs on the other hand will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in the League to six games and exact revenge for their 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge at the start of the month.
With both sides desperate for a win, it should be a cracking game at White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day. Here are the three key battles that will decide the outcome of the game.
1. Harry Kane vs John Terry
For all the money spent of foreign players, it is Harry Kane, the club’s academy graduate who has established himself as the club’s first-choice striker. The Englishman is already into double digits for the season and his vision, tireless running and ability to be in the right place at the right time means that he is a menace to any defense, even one as well-drilled as Chelsea.
As good as John Terry is, he doesn’t have the pace he once had and that was evident from Southampton’s goal on Sunday. While he is still one of the best centre backs in the country, it is fair to say that the pace and the work-ethic of Kane should be a handful for the 34-year-old. Neither he nor Gary Cahill have the pace to cope with the 21-year-old. If Kane is able to able to make use of this and pressurize the Chelsea captain into a mistake and capitalize on it, the title race would become wide open for the first time this season.