Mauricio Pochettino returns to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday evening knowing that a Chelsea win would not only end Spurs' unbeaten run in the Premier League but also prevent his former club from returning to the top of the table.
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It will no doubt be an evening of mixed emotions for both Pochettino and the Spurs supporters, with both fondly remembering the five years that the Argentinian spent in north London, where he led the club to their record Premier League points tally and four successive seasons in the UEFA Champions League.
See: A Spurs fan's view of Pochettino's return
Since taking over the reins at bitter London rivals Chelsea at the start of the summer, it has so far been a story of inconsistency and frustration in front of goal, leaving the Blues 13th in the table with 12 points from 10 matches.
As for Spurs, the appointment of Ange Postecoglou has paid dividends, with the Australian delivering Spurs' best ever start to a Premier League season, having collected 26 from a possible 30 points and being named the Barclays Manager of the Month for both August and September, the first time a manager has done so in their first two months in charge in the league's history.
See: How Son has stepped up to fill Kane void
Team news
Spurs left-back Desinty Udogie has been passed fit to play, while Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon and Manor Solomon are also sidelined for the foreseeable future.
As for the visitors, Reece James makes his first start since August and Mykhailo Mudryk returns to the bench, having returned to full training last week.
Last five meetings
26 Feb 2023: Spurs 2-0 Chelsea
14 Aug 2022: Chelsea 2-2 Spurs
23 Jan 2022: Chelsea 2-0 Spurs
19 Sep 2021: Spurs 0-3 Chelsea
04 Feb 2021: Spurs 0-1 Chelsea
Key facts
Postecoglou is looking to become the first Premier League manager to win his first five Premier League home matches since Craig Shakespeare in May 2017 for Leicester City. Spurs last won five home matches in a row in 2018 under Pochettino.
Only Manchester United, with 15, have won more Premier League away matches against Spurs than Chelsea's 14, while the Blues have scored more away goals against Spurs in the competition than any other side, with 51.
Since Chelsea’s first match after the departure of Graham Potter (starting on 4 April v Liverpool), the Blues have won the fewest matches of any Premier League side, with four, and only Bournemouth have won as few points as they have (both 18).
Chelsea have given more minutes to players aged 21 or younger in the Premier League than any other side this season, and have awarded the most debuts to a player aged 21 or younger in the opening 10 matches of a season in Premier League history.
What the managers have said
Postecoglou: "It's a big game, it's a London derby. Chelsea traditionally, particularly over the last 15 years, have been one of those sides that have set a benchmark for success and I think any time you play in these kind of games you look forward to them.
"The atmosphere is going to be great. We're at home, which is brilliant for us. All of our home games so far have all been fairly exciting and it should be another big night for us."
Pochettino: "It is true we didn’t get to say goodbye, because in the moment that we left the club it was also a difficult situation, a difficult moment. Now is the opportunity to go back and see many people that are still working there. It is going to be an exciting moment.
"Ange and all the coaching staff that I know very well, they are doing a fantastic job. Then of course they have very good players, a very good team, and you can feel they can be a contender for the title."
