Chelsea host Spurs in London derby: kick-off, teams and stakes
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Chelsea host Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 24 October 2026.
- Kick-off is 5:30pm BST, which is 9:30pm PKT and 12:30pm ET.
- Chelsea sit fourth with 13 points, while Spurs sit 17th with six points.
Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur in a London derby on Saturday. The game is at Stamford Bridge in west London. It is a Premier League game in week eight.
Kick-off is 5:30pm BST. That is 9:30pm in Pakistan. It is 12:30pm in New York.
Chris Kavanagh is the referee. Fans in the UK can watch on Sky Sports. Fans in the US can watch on Peacock.
This is a derby. A derby is a game between two local rivals. Chelsea and Spurs are both from London.
Their games are often fast and tense. This one has extra stakes for both teams. Chelsea want to stay near the top.
Spurs want to climb away from danger.
What happened so far
Chelsea have had a mixed start to the season. They have won four games. They have drawn one game.
They have lost two games. That gives them 13 points from seven games. They sit fourth in the table.
They have scored 17 goals so far. They have let in 13 goals. Their last two league games were wins.
They beat Bournemouth first. Then they beat Everton.
Spurs have had a hard start to the season. They have won one game. They have drawn three games.
They have lost three games. That gives them six points from seven games. They sit 17th in the table.
They have scored six goals so far. They have let in 10 goals. Their first league win came on Monday.
They beat Coventry City 3-1 at home.
The last meeting between these teams was in May. Chelsea won that game 2-1. That game was also in the Premier League.
It took place on 19 May 2026. Chelsea will want a repeat result. Spurs will want revenge for that loss.
Why this game matters
Chelsea are five points behind second-placed Arsenal. A win here keeps them in the top four race. It also builds on two wins in a row.
Two wins in a row can build belief in a team. A loss would slow that progress at once. It would also give hope to teams just below them.
Spurs need points for a different reason. They are only just above the drop zone. The drop zone is the bottom three places.
Teams in those places go down a league. A win at Stamford Bridge would be a big lift. It would take them to nine points.
It would also show that the Coventry win was no fluke. A loss would keep them near the bottom. It would add pressure on the whole squad.
The managers add another layer to this game. Xabi Alonso leads Chelsea. Roberto De Zerbi leads Spurs.
Both men want their style to win. Alonso wants Chelsea to attack with pace. De Zerbi wants Spurs to press high up the pitch.
Pressing means chasing the ball near the rival goal. That clash of styles should make the game open. An open game has more chances at both ends.
Confirmed Chelsea team
Chelsea start with Mike Penders in goal. Penders steps in for Emiliano Martinez. Martinez is out after jaw surgery.
He hurt his jaw in the win at Everton. He had a clash with Jarrad Branthwaite in that game.
Lacroix, Colwill and Acheampong play in defence. Neto and Hato play wide for Chelsea. Caicedo is the captain in midfield.
Henderson plays next to him in midfield. Palmer and Rogers play in attack. Quenda also plays in attack for Chelsea.
The Chelsea bench is strong too. Sharman-Lowe is the back-up goalkeeper. Palestra, Fofana and Barco are also on the bench.
Welbeck, Gusto and Nicoll-Jazuli are options too. Estevao and Lavia complete the bench for Chelsea.
Chelsea miss some key players through injury. Captain Reece James is out with a knee problem. Winger Jamie Gittens is out with an ankle problem.
Pep Chavarria is out too. Emmanuel Emegha is also out. Those absences test the depth of the Chelsea squad.
Depth means how good the back-up players are.
Confirmed Spurs team
Spurs start with Antonin Kinsky in goal. Robertson plays at left back for Spurs. Van Hecke and Van de Ven play in central defence.
Van de Ven is the Spurs captain. Gray plays in midfield for Spurs. Tonali and Fernandes play there too.
Maddison plays in attack for Spurs. Kudus and Tel play wide. Marmoush leads the line up front.
De Zerbi made two changes from the Coventry game. Tosin Adarabioyo misses this game. He played against his old club last time.
Mateus Fernandes comes in for him. Fernandes starts for the first time since the Aston Villa defeat. Mathys Tel also returns to the starting team.
Tel last started in the draw at Nottingham Forest in September. Dominic Solanke drops to the bench.
The Spurs bench has some big names. Dubravka is the back-up goalkeeper. Senesi, Gallagher and Davies are also on the bench.
Solanke, Kulusevski and Porro are options in attack. Olusesi and Williams-Barnett complete the bench.
Spurs also miss many players through injury. Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended. He serves the second game of a three-game ban.
Mykhaylo Mudryk is out with an ankle problem. He also cannot face his parent club. Wilson Odobert is out with a knee injury.
Xavi Simons is out with a knee injury too. Lucas Bergvall is out with a knee injury. Savio is out with a muscle problem.
There is good news for Spurs on the bench. James Maddison keeps his place in the team. He is still building his match sharpness.
Sharpness means how fit and quick a player feels. Dejan Kulusevski is back in the matchday squad. He is on the bench after his return last time out.
Pedro Porro is also on the bench. Porro returns after an injury from the Villa defeat.
What to watch
Cole Palmer is the key man for Chelsea. Palmer has been directly involved in five goals in his last five league games against Spurs. Directly involved means goals plus assists.
An assist is the final pass before a goal. Palmer plays in an advanced role for Chelsea. That means he plays close to the rival goal.
James Maddison is the key man for Spurs. Maddison scored on his return from injury against Coventry. He gives Spurs craft in midfield.
Craft means clever passes and calm play on the ball. Mohammed Kudus gives Spurs pace out wide. Omar Marmoush gives them a threat in the box.
The box is the area right in front of the goal.
The goalkeepers could decide this game. Penders is young and new to this stage. He must stay calm in a loud derby.
Kinsky must deal with Chelsea pace in attack. A single error can change a derby. A single save can also lift a whole team.
Set pieces could matter too. A set piece is a free kick or a corner. Both teams have tall players for headers.
A header is a shot with the head. Van de Ven is a threat for Spurs. Colwill is a threat for Chelsea.
Watch for late runs into the box.
What happens next
The result will shape the week for both clubs. A Chelsea win keeps them fourth or better. It would give them 16 points from eight games.
It would also extend their winning run to three games. That is a strong run in a tough league.
A Spurs win would change their story fast. It would take them to nine points. It would give them back-to-back league wins.
Back-to-back means two wins in a row. That run would ease the pressure on De Zerbi. It would also show that Spurs can win away from home.
A draw would help neither team much. Chelsea would move to 14 points. Spurs would move to seven points.
Both teams would still have work to do. Chelsea would need to win their next game. Spurs would still sit near the bottom.
NBC Sports tips Chelsea to win this game 3-2. That tip is just one view before kick-off. Derbies often break the form book.
The form book is what past results suggest. Past results do not decide a derby on the night. The team that stays calm may win this one.
Check back for the result once the final whistle blows.
Read more about Spurs in Tottenham claim first league win. Read about another London side in Everton beaten by Chelsea. Read about a big Saturday game in Villa lead City at half-time.
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