Chelsea’s Mauricio Pochettino has joined a chorus of Premier League managers criticizing VAR, claiming it has "diminished" the game following a contentious decision that denteam a late victory against Aston Villa.
Despite his frustration, Pochettino found solace in his team's resilience, rallying from a two-goal deficit at Villa Park, a commendable feat after their recent heavy defeat to Arsenal.
Now returning to Stamford Bridge, where they have been formidable, losing just once in their last ten Premier League games (W7, D2), Chelsea faces Tottenham in a fixture known for drama.
Pochettino, having experienced the intensity of the 'Battle of the Bridge' in 2016, knows the unpredictability of these encounters well.
In the reverse fixture this season, Tottenham emerged victorious 4-1, albeit with two players sent off.
Despite Tottenham's defensive woes, conceding seven goals in consecutive league losses, Ange Postecoglou bemoans their lapse in concentration, which led to a 3-0 deficit against Arsenal.
Their late resurgence fell short, denting their hopes for a Champions League spot.
Tottenham's away form compounds their troubles, winning just one of their last seven league matches on the road (D3, L3).
Their historical struggles at Stamford Bridge add to the challenge, having won only once in 33 league visits since 1990.
A focal point will be the midfield battle, with Chelsea's Conor Gallagher, linked with a move to Tottenham, impressing with ten goal contributions in the league this season.
However, he faces a resilient Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who has endured 12 losses against Chelsea throughout his career.
Tottenham's reliance on second-half goals is evident, scoring the majority of their goals after the break, a trend that persisted against Arsenal.