Premier League: Tottenham v Chelsea match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at White Hart Lane

Andre Villas-Boas comes up against Chelsea for the first time since they sacked him (GETTY IMAGES)

Andre Villas-Boas comes up against his old charges this weekend as Spurs welcome Chelsea to White Hart Lane.

The Portuguese manager will be hoping to impress against his former club and there’s no better way to do that than inflicting, upon them, their first defeat of the season.

Gareth Bale will be looking to build on his impressive displays for Wales during the international break, eager to justify the praise he has received in the past week. Jermain Defoe will also be a worry to the Chelsea defence as the England striker has six goals to his name this season, but with Chelsea boasting the best defence in the league, something’s got to give.

Not only will AVB be seeking vengeance, Spurs will want to avenge the 5-1 thrashing they suffered at the hands of Chelsea in their last meeting in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley last season. To add further fuel to the fire, in case you’d forgotten, it was Chelsea that denied Tottenham a place in the Champions League this season by winning the competition in May this year.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 12.45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Tottenham 1 (Bale) Chelsea 5 (Drogba, Mata, Ramires, Lampard, Malouda), FA Cup Semi-final, April 2012

Chelsea 0 Tottenham 0, Premier League, March 2012

Tottenham 1 (Adebayor) Chelsea 1 (Sturridge), Premier League, December 2011

STATS...

Defeat by Tottenham would leave Chelsea with an identical record to the same stage last season when managed by Andre Villas-Boas (W6, D1, L1).

If fit, Frank Lampard could make his 500th Premier League start, while Ramires is one shy of 100 appearances for Chelsea.

Chelsea have not won on their last six league visits to White Hart Lane.

ODDS...

Tottenham to win: 2.55

Chelsea to win: 2.75

Draw: 3.25

TV: Live on Sky Sports 2 at 12.45pm and highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm