Two of the top six clubs, Chelsea and Tottenham, go head to head at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night in a big game at the top of the table. Both teams would love three points in the bag to aid their chances and with just 10 games to go after this one, this is a hugely important time for both clubs.

Chelsea are in a battle right now for a place in the top four, and that is something they have to get to see this season as a success. Going into the midweek games they are in 6th position though, two points behind Manchester United and three behind Arsenal. However, they do have a game in hand on those two teams due to playing in the Carabao Cup final last weekend. A win in that game would pull them level, but that is of course assuming they do not lose any further ground over the coming games.

However, Chelsea have not been in the best form recently, and that is something they need to turn around. They have lost three of their last four league games, have been knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United and lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City. That is not good enough for a team to get into the top four, and it is especially the case when Manchester United are playing as well as they are doing, they are still unbeaten under new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The pressure is mounting on Maurizio Sarri, and it is time for him to stand tall and turn this team around.

Tottenham welcomed Harry Kane back to their starting eleven on Saturday when they travelled to Burnley, but they were beaten in that game, and have to get back on track. They are stuck in no mans land a little at the moment, they are too far behind to challenge for the title but they are clear of the battle for fourth spot, and may find themselves cruising to the end of the season because of that. They are six points off the top of the table and eight clear of Manchester United in fifth, only a hugely impressive finish or a really disappointing one would put them in those fights. They cannot afford to go on a losing run, but that looks unlikely, especially now that Kane is back in the fold.

Is Sarri the Man for Chelsea?

After a nice start to his run as Chelsea boss, Maurizio Sarri is now under fire and he has a tough task on his hands to turn this into a successful season. Had The Blues failed to get into the top  four but won a trophy then he could maybe have got away with things, but he has lost the chance to win two trophies in recent weeks.

Firstly he was beaten by Manchester United in the FA Cup at home, which was a disappointing performance and then his team played better, but were beaten by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. Those two results leave Chelsea involved in the Europa League and nothing else, so they have to try and get up into the top four to rescue their season. Of course a win in the Europa League will make their season successful, but that competition is very difficult to win and there are many top teams still remaining in it.

As far as the top four goes, Chelsea are three points off going into these games, although they do have a game in hand on the two teams above them. They are not in great form, but if Sarri wants to stay as the Chelsea boss then he is going to have to get them playing and drag them into the top four.

Something else that looks as though it is going against him right now is that his players appear to be losing faith. We saw a bizarre incident in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday when goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga seemingly went against the wishes of his manager by remaining on the field when Sarri wanted to substitute him. Both parties have come out and said the mix up was just a miss-understanding, and the goalkeeper has been fined for his actions, but it was an insight into the Chelsea dressing room, and right now that doesn’t look a good picture.

This could just be the tip of the iceberg for Chelsea, and bubbling under the surface we could have a number of other problems that we don’t yet know about. There is something not right at the club, and whatever it is needs to be put to one side and left as the club desperately try to climb up into the top four.

Chelsea vs Tottenham Betting Tips

A big game in the Premier League that both teams will want to win. Tottenham are where Chelsea want to be right now, inside the top four, but if The Blues are to get up there they are going to have to play a lot better than we have seen from them in recent weeks. They have lost the chance to win a domestic trophy by being knocked out of the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup in recent weeks, piling even more importance on where they finish in the league.

Tottenham will feel a lot better about their prospects now that Harry Kane is back in the team, but a title challenge looks very unlikely after a loss at Burnley on Saturday. They are clear of the rest in the top four battle though, and should be able to stay clear of that.

While it was disappointing to see Tottenham lose at the weekend to Burnley, they have to be backed again here, against a Chelsea team that is beginning to struggle, and one that could be full of underlying problems off the field in the dressing room. With those hanging over the club, they are not a team that I would want to be backing against another top team.

I am happy to side with Tottenham here, they offer good value in what should be a close game. Spurs have not drawn a game yet, they like to attack and they like to play to win, which is enough to put me off backing the draw, and instead siding with them to take all three points from this one and give Chelsea their fourth league defeat from their past five games.

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