Page 5 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea: 5 players who could decide the outcome

Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea: 5 players who could decide the outcome | Premier League 2019-20

Modified Dec 17, 2019 12:33 GMT

Jose Mourinho's Tottenham take on his former side Chelsea this weekend

#5 Toby Alderweireld

Toby Alderweireld's long passes could be dangerous for Chelsea's defence

If they want to win this fixture, Tottenham’s defence will have to be at the top of its game - something that hasn’t really been the case during the majority of 2019-20. Since the arrival of Mourinho, however, the Spurs defence has looked a little stronger, and Belgium’s Toby Alderweireld in particular has seen an improvement in form.

Alderweireld seems to be the biggest benefactor of Mourinho’s decision to switch to a more direct way of playing. His long balls from the centre of defence are amongst the best in the Premier League, and Spurs fans witnessed how dangerous they can be when the Belgian set up two goals for Dele Alli in the recent win over Bournemouth.

It’s also likely that Alderweireld will be tasked with attempting to prevent the dangerous Tammy Abraham from holding the ball up during Chelsea’s attacks. And that's not an easy job to do given the England striker has scored 11 Premier League goals.

But if he can keep Abraham quiet and also contribute to Spurs’ attacks, the Belgian could be key to them winning the game.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Musab Abid