Source: SKY_Sports
Chelsea v Tottenham preview
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Capital rivals Chelsea and Tottenham go head-to-head at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.[LNB] Both sides have made bright starts to the current campaign and will be keen to maintain that momentum in their latest outing.[LNB]The Blues have won all five of their Premier League fixtures so far, and sit top of the table, while Spurs' 3-1 defeat to Manchester United last time out was their first setback of the season.[LNB]Carlo Ancelotti certainly seems to have eased into his role at Chelsea, with the Italian yet to taste anything other than success this term - with a 1-0 victory over Porto in the UEFA Champions League in midweek prolonging his record.[LNB]He has helped to build on the solid foundations laid by interim coach Guus Hiddink last term and has the Blues well placed for a title push.[LNB]The men from West London also continue to be an awesome proposition on home soil, going 13 games unbeaten in front of their own supporters since Arsenal took three points in November 2008.[LNB]The omens do not look good for Spurs, as they have failed to win any of their last 19 games at Stamford Bridge.[LNB]They have also failed to beat any of the 'Big Four' away from home since overcoming Liverpool at Anfield way back in 1993.[LNB]Tottenham have also kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League trips out on the road.[LNB]Harry Redknapp does, however, have a striker in Jermain Defoe who is in red-hot form, with the diminutive frontman bagging eight goals in 11 starts for Spurs since making his return to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth.[LNB]Creative blowChelsea could be without Portuguese playmaker Deco for the derby date this weekend.[LNB]The former Barcelona man is struggling to shake off a calf injury in time to make Ancelotti's starting XI.[LNB]Brazilian centre-half Alex is also facing a race against time to prove his fitness and he could miss out with a groin strain.[LNB]Yuri Zhirkov is the only other notable absentee, with a niggling knee problem preventing the Russian from making his full debut for the Blues.[LNB]Joe Cole is pushing for a first start of the season after returning to the bench in midweek.[LNB]Depleted defenceTottenham continue to be depleted at the back, with a number of players yet to regain match sharpness.[LNB]Michael Dawson (Achilles) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) have both shaken off their respective problems, but remain major doubts for Sunday.[LNB]Gareth Bale is also expected to be given more time to recover from a knee problem which has laid him low of late.[LNB]Luka Modric will also be unavailable to Redknapp after breaking his leg against Birmingham last month, but Heurelho Gomes is pushing for a starting berth after coming through a reserve outing in midweek.[LNB]Possible starting XIsChelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.[LNB]Tottenham: Cudicini, Corluka, King, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Huddlestone, Kranjcar, Defoe, Keane.[LNB]
