Mauricio Pochettino's side return to Stamford Bridge this evening for one of the most anticipated Premier League matches of our campaign – the visit of Tottenham Hotspur.

The 7.30pm kick-off is the first of two London derbies in quick succession at the Bridge and our first league action on home soil since the 6-0 evisceration of Everton.

Chelsea need to claim points to boost their aspirations of a European finish in the top flight. It is the same for tonight's opponents and West Ham United, who travel across to west London on Sunday. Neither will be dead rubber, end-of-season affairs.

When the two sides met earlier in the campaign in north London, the Blues thrashed Spurs 4-1. Two Tottenham players were dismissed in that fixture and Nicolas Jackson struck a second-half hat-trick.

That victory was one of 24 from our past 38 games against the Lilywhites across all competitions. Thirteen of those matches ended in draws while just one – when Pochettino was in the opposition dugout – ended in defeat for Chelsea.

In fact, the Blues have chalked up more Premier League wins over Tottenham (34) than any other opponent in the division while no team has scored more goals (114) against the north Londoners in the Premier League.

The home comforts of Stamford Bridge have also paid off for Chelsea in recent outings, with 19 points from a possible 24 secured. Only Manchester City (20 points) have fared better.

A win today would see us record our tenth Premier League ‘double’ against Tottenham (15th all-time), equaling our club record against Manchester City in the competition.

Chelsea team news

Cole Palmer will look to extend his fine form at Stamford Bridge – and also continue to write new club history.

The 21-year-old has found the net in seven successive top-flight home games, the best run by a player in the club's Premier League history, and will hope to add to the hat-trick netted against Manchester United and four-goal haul struck against Everton.

With five matches still to play, the Blues are four points better off compared to this stage last season. We have also won 13 of our previous 17 home matches in all competitions under Pochettino.

The Chelsea head coach's half-time words – and his decision to bring Marc Cucurella infield when in possession – saw the Blues battle back from two goals down to earn a draw against Aston Villa last time out.

Noni Madueke started the comeback and completed six dribbles at Villa Park. Conor Gallagher, meanwhile, scored our stunning equaliser and has regained possession in the final third (38) more times than any other player in the Premier League this season.

That endeavour will again be required tonight, although Pochettino will be limited in his team selection. Fourteen players are set to miss the game, with Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi added to the injury list.

Two positives are the respective returns to full training for Levi Colwill and Christopher Nkunku this week, but Pochettino has confirmed tonight's fixture will come too soon for them to feature.

Goal contributions in all competitions 2023/24

Opposition scout: Tottenham

Tottenham will be looking to respond after defeat in the North London derby on Sunday damaged their top-four hopes. Set-pieces proved crucial to Arsenal's victory in that game and only five clubs have conceded more from corners and free-kicks than Spurs.

As showcased in our first meeting, Tottenham operate with a high defensive line to squeeze opponents back into their own half. Their high line has snared 106 opponents offside this season, although that's far fewer than Aston Villa's division high (154)

Naturally, there is space behind the Spurs' backline to exploit, but Micky van de Ven's recovery pace and Cristian Romero's defensive instincts are huge assets in closing this off.

The injury van de Ven sustained in the first half of our meeting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium played a role in the Blues turning the tide and running out comprehensive winners, with Raheem Sterling and Jackson breaking through.

Son Heung-min's penalty against Arsenal ended his month-long wait for a goal, but there is set to be a change in the Tottenham attack with Champions League-winning former Blue Timo Werner ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

Destiny Udogie, Ryan Sessegnon and Ben Davies are also set to miss the context. That could force Ange Postecoglou to deploy Emerson Royal at left-back. Winger Manor Solomon is also ruled out but midfielder Oliver Skipp may be fit.

The history

This fixture was first played at the Bridge in December 1909 before an audience of 50,000 – who saw James Bradshaw and Jimmy Windridge claim a 2-1 victory for Chelsea. It is the top flight’s original west versus north London derby with Arsenal based south of the river till 1913.

Between 1990 and 2006, Chelsea were unbeaten against Tottenham home and away. It was a run that lasted 32 league matches. More recently, the standout game was the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ in 2016.

Tottenham needed to win at the Bridge to keep pace with surprise title challengers Leicester City. Spurs led 2-0 at half time but Chelsea roared back in the second period and a goal from Gary Cahill and a special Eden Hazard strike saw the game end 2-2.

With the Premier League title slipping away, Spurs lost their heads and ended the contest with nine players booked. Meanwhile, Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri rang his former club with a message of thanks soon after the full-time whistle.

Last season's meeting at Stamford Bridge also ended 2-2 and contained its own drama. The Blues twice led through goals from Kalidou Koulibaly and Reece James but Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and a last-minute equaliser from Harry Kane saw the points shared.

There was, however, frustration with Kane's late strike with Romero having yanked the hair of Marc Cucurella moments earlier.

Palmer closes in on Drogba

After scoring seven goals in his last two matches at Stamford Bridge, Palmer has quickly moved one shy of Didier Drogba's club-record 16 league goals at Stamford Bridge in a single season.

The Ivorian legend did so in his third campaign (2006/07) and was matched by Frank Lampard three seasons later.

Palmer has already joined our elite band of 20-plus goalscorers in a Premier League campaign: Diego Costa (20, 2016/17), Drogba (29, 2009/10) and Lampard (22, 2009/10), and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (23, 2001/02 and 2000/01).

Few derby delights

Chelsea are involved in two of the three London derbies still to play in the Premier League this season. Tottenham's visit tonight is swiftly followed by West Ham coming to the Bridge on Sunday. Fulham also face Brentford this weekend.

This is Tottenham’s sixth and last cross-town trip of the season. So far, they have just one away win to their name, with three derbies drawn and one ending in defeat.

The four all-London games at the Bridge this term have produced two Blues wins, a draw, and a loss.