It has been a superb season for Tottenham Hotspur, but their hopes of winning the Premier League title might be over by the time they go to Chelsea for a third straight Monday night affair in two days' time.
Leicester City will seal the title if they win at Manchester United on Sunday and that could certainly change the complexion for Spurs a day later.
Chelsea
© Getty ImagesThe fact that Leicester and Spurs, two teams with only two top-flight titles between them and not one since 1961, are the only ones in with a shout of winning the league just shows had crazy a season it has been in the Premier League.
Chelsea cantered to the title last term but their defence has been one of the worst in recent memory. With four matches to go, the Blues lie ninth and they are seven behind Southampton above them. European football will not be coming to Stamford Bridge next season and Antonio Conte's task when he takes the manager's job will be to get them back there.
Last weekend Guus Hiddink's side got back to winning ways after losing two on the bounce by comprehensively beating Bournemouth 4-2 at the Vitality Stadium.
Eden Hazard ended his 29-match wait for a league goal by scoring two, while Cesc Fabregas dazzled with a commanding midfield performance that included three assists.
Fabregas now has 95 assists in the Premier League; only Ryan Giggs (162) and Frank Lampard (102) have more in the history of the competition.
Chelsea lost their last Premier League home game against Manchester City; they haven't lost two in a row in the competition at Stamford Bridge since November 2011.
Recent Premier League form: DDWLLW
Recent form (all competitions): LDWLLW
Spurs
© Getty ImagesEven if Spurs had won as expected against West Bromwich Albion on Monday night it would have been a tall order to topple Leicester at the top, but to not win was a huge blow.
Mauricio Pochettino's side started brightly and Craig Dawson's own goal had them in front, but it all went wrong in the second half as the Baggies began to pile on the pressure and eventually equalised as Dawson atoned for his earlier goal at the wrong end.
Spurs are still five clear of Man City and Arsenal and on course to finish second, and the future looks very bright after Pochettino revealed news of a contract extension yesterday.
The Argentine, who wants to become Spurs' equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson, has committed until the end of the 2020-21 season and with the North Londoners having such a young core, plenty will be expected of them next season and in years to come if they can keep the bulk of their squad together.
The brightest talent of all might be 20-year-old Dele Alli, but the PFA Young Player of the Year will not take to the field again this season after being caught aiming a punch towards Claudio Yacob's midriff on Monday night.
He has since been banned for Spurs' remaining three matches and that is good news for England fans as he can now fully focus on Euro 2016 this summer.
Whatever the situation after Leicester's match at Old Trafford, Spurs will be confident going to Stamford Bridge as they have lost just one of their last 10 Premier League London derbies (W5 D4 L1).
Pochettino's side have attempted 131 more shots on target than they have allowed their opponents this season (236 vs. 105); the biggest differential by a Premier League side in 2015-16.
Recent Premier League form: WWDWWD
Recent form (all competitions): LWDWWD
Team News
© Getty ImagesDefenders John Terry and Gary Cahill are expected to be available for the home side.
Terry is likely to be fit, although possibly not to start, after missing 10 of the last 12 matches with a hamstring and then Achilles problem, while illness ruled Cahill out of last week's win at Bournemouth.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois completes his two-match suspension, while Loic Remy (groin) and Kurt Zouma (knee) are out.
Spurs will make a late decision on Eric Dier after he suffered a bout of concussion against West Brom.
Alli will miss the game at Stamford Bridge as he begins his three-match ban, while Nabil Bentaleb remains out with a knee injury.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Baba; Mikel, Fabregas; Pedro, Willian, Hazard; Costa
Spurs possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Lamela, Eriksen, Son; Kane
Head To Head
The reverse was a bore draw, but Chelsea have not lost a home league game against Spurs since February 1990, winning 17 and drawing eight of their 25 meetings at Stamford Bridge since.
In their last three meetings in West London, the aggregate scoreline reads 9-0 in the Blues' favour.
Tottenham have lost 25 Premier League games against Chelsea; only against Manchester United (31) have they suffered more.
The Dugout Podcast
Hit play below to listen to Sports Mole's new podcast 'The Dugout' for our take on the week's biggest football talking points:
We say: Chelsea 2-2 Spurs
Defeat would be Chelsea's 200th in the Premier League, but Spurs will be wounded and it would be a surprise if they were to win, especially given their rubbish record at the Bridge.
