Tonight we see the latest act in an ancient grudge between two teams, both alike in dignity, in fair London, currently separated only by goal difference. Chelsea travel across town to a sad Tottenham (according to their coach), a Hotspur without Harry, wounded by recent setbacks.

The revitalised Blues could win back-to-back league matches at Spurs for the first time since a run in 2004-05 – when Jose Mourinho was in the visiting dugout. His old team could now inflict successive home league defeats on him for the first time in his career.

It is nine years since the hosts lost three league fixtures in a row, but Mourinho claims ‘positive feelings’ arising from the last 30 minutes of his side’s most recent defeat, at Brighton on Sunday.

This is Chelsea’s third successive away game against a team managed by a former Blue, and five of the next six fixtures in all competitions are on the road.

Chelsea have had the upper hand in this Premier League derby encounter for some time, enjoying 30 victories, more than against any other top-flight team. A clean sheet for the Blues in the 16th London derby of the season would make Thomas Tuchel the first Chelsea boss since Mourinho not to concede in each of his first three top-flight fixtures.

Chelsea team news

Thomas Tuchel has not had to sing for his supper yet, with two goals scored and none conceded, but he faces an early test on the road in this trip to rivals Tottenham.The Bavarian continues to impress and be impressed, appreciating the quality and mentality of his players and their determination to make his new approach work. Tuchel has profusely praised the Blues’ Academy graduates as well as senior pros, such as Marcos Alonso, who have come in from the cold. They are starting to deliver on the pitch where it matters, but he warned selection will not be handed out for free to anybody and that progress must continue.

He has an almost full squad to choose from, though Kai Havertz and Kurt Zouma suffered knocks in training. Hakim Ziyech is available again having been rested at the weekend.

One likely starter is the increasingly unplayable Callum Hudson-Odoi, so effective against Burnley from a deeper wing-back role that at one stage Robbie Brady shouted back to his complaining coach, ‘I know where he is, I just can’t stop him.’

An assist and yet another woodwork denial was scant reward for the number of times the 20-year-old exposed the Lancastrians, but Cesar Azpilicueta, who struck his first of the season from Hudson-Odoi’s shrewd cutback, is not complaining.

Restored at wing-back, Marcos Alonso’s nerve-settling second took the contribution of defenders to the team’s 35 league goals up to 11. The Spaniard scored the winner a year ago at the Bridge against tonight’s opponents and, more famously, hit both in the 2-1 victory at their temporary home, Wembley, in 2017.

Alonso’s involvement may depend on whether the Blues’ head coach resolves to stick with the 3-4-2-1 formation that has helped restrict opponents to five shots in his two games to date, and none on target.

Edou Mendy’s nine clean sheets from 17 Premier League appearances means a 53 per cent shut-out ratio, second only to City’s Ederson, and no one has found a way past him for two-and-a-half matches.

Another man with a positive history against Tottenham, striker Timo Werner, may be confident of a reverse in fortunes this evening. He will have been buoyed by all three shots against Burnley being on target – his first in the league since Arsenal – and has already scored at Spurs’ ground for former club Leipzig and the Blues in the Carabao Cup this season.

'Sad' Spurs

Tottenham have lost half their past eight top-flight matches, and Jose Mourinho recognised ‘low self-esteem’ in their defeat last time out at Brighton.

A key reason for that could be the continued absence of Harry Kane, who had completed all except nine minutes of Spurs’ league campaign prior to succumbing to injury. The striker has been responsible for 12 of the Lilywhites’ 34 goals (35 per cent) and 11 of their 29 assists (38 per cent).

In his absence Mourinho tried to offer Son Heung-min ‘the same dynamic he usually has’ in the centre, rather than drafting in Carlos Vinicius (whose goals have come in the Europa League group and FA Cup against Marine).

In the defeat at Brighton the coach liked the focal point and energy provided by the more recognised striker after he came on, though, and he may retain his place this evening especially as, at 6ft 4in, he brings the height Mourinho favours in big games.

In recent weeks Spurs have set up as a back three that morphs into five, but individual defensive errors have still cost them dearly. Inexperienced centre-back Joe Rodon was excused for the mistake that led to Liverpool’s third goal recently, but the Welsh defender made a similar misjudgment late on in the 0-0 at the Bridge this season. Sadly, on that occasion, Olivier Giroud was unable to take full advantage.

Their central midfield pair are Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and the less safety-minded Tanguy Ndombele, offering dynamism but less pragmatism than the traditional Mourinho model.

The loss of Sergio Reguilon has complicated their wing-back selections, with Serge Aurier and Matt Doherty seemingly found wanting in recent games. Moussa Sissoko, usually the box-to-box man, played down the right on Sunday with Ben Davies on the left.

On home soil in the league the Lilywhites are very much a team of two thirds: yet to concede in the opening half-hour, they have found the net just twice in the final 30 minutes.

How to watch Tottenham vs Chelsea

All matches in this round have been covered live by BT Sport in the UK. To find the relevant broadcaster where you are, see the Premier League’s broadcast schedule pages.

Highlights will be available on this website from midnight.

Our Matchday Live show’s early team news, exclusive interviews and analysis are available worldwide on the 5th Stand app, Facebook Live and the official YouTube channel from 6.50pm.

Derby day again

Tuchel can be forgiven for revealing that as a child he was unaware Tottenham Hotspur were in London, but he has been made very much aware by everyone at Cobham that this is one of the capital’s most fiercely-contested derbies.

Just past the midway point, Chelsea are leading the way on goal difference in the unofficial London championship, while Spurs are so far unbeaten but have drawn four of their five derby games.

Cesar strikes again

Following his opening strike of the Tuchel era against Burnley, Cesar Azpilicueta has notched 14 goals for the Blues under six different coaches.

That is impressive for a member of the Blues’ rearguard, but Dave is not the most prolific in that regard. Legendary centre-back Micky Droy notched for seven different managers, and ‘two-goal’ Branislav Ivanovic eight. The player to have contributed to the most coaching eras, though, is of course JT.

Goals under different managers

6 - Cesar Azpilicueta (Mourinho, Hiddink, Conte, Sarri, Lampard, Tuchel)

6 - Eden Hazard (Di Matteo, Benitez, Mourinho, Hiddink, Conte, Sarri)

7 - Salomon Kalou (Mourinho, Grant, Scolari, Hiddink, Ancelotti, Villas-Boas, Di Matteo)

7 - Dennis Wise (Campbell, Porterfield, Webb, Hoddle, Gullit, Vialli, Ranieri)

7 - Micky Droy (Sexton, Suart, McCreadie, Shellito, Blanchflower, Hurst, Neal)

8 - Branislav Ivanovic (Hiddink x2, Ancelotti, Villa-Boas, Di Matteo, Benitez, Mourinho, Conte)

8 -  Didier Drogba (Mourinho x2, Grant, Scolari, Hiddink, Ancelotti, Villas-Boas, Di Matteo)

10 - Frank Lampard (Ranieri, Mourinho x2, Grant, Scolari, Hiddink, Ancelotti, Villas-Boas, Di Matteo, Benitez)

13 - John Terry (Vialli, Ranieri, Mourinho x2, Grant, Scolari, Hiddink x2, Ancelotti, Villas-Boas, Di Matteo, Benitez, Conte)

Calendar space

The Burnley game was our first daylight Premier League performance since Newcastle in November and the signs of spring are everywhere, but there is little let-up in the Blues’ intense match schedule.

In case you missed it, the Sheffield United league fixture slipped back to 7.15pm on Sunday 7 February, with the FA Cup trip to Barnsley set for Thursday at 8pm, covered live on BBC One, followed by Newcastle’s visit at the same time on Monday, after which there is a five-day break.

The next FIFA-designated international break is set for the end of March.

Consecutive Conti Cup finals

Chelsea Women will meet Bristol City or Leicester in the final of the Conti Cup after carving West Ham apart by six goals to nil on Wednesday night at Kingsmeadow, including prolific Pernille Harder’s first hat-trick for the Londoners.

It will be the second successive appearance in the annual showpiece for Emma Hayes’ brilliant team, who beat Arsenal 2-1 last season. This year’s final is scheduled for 14 March at Vicarage Road, Watford.

King Canners

Everyone at Chelsea is hoping Paul Canoville, our former player and matchday host at the Bridge who is critically ill in hospital, makes a speedy and full recovery.

Midweek Premier League results (all on BT Sport)

TuesdaySheffield Utd 2 West Brom 1Wolves 2 Arsenal 1Man Utd 9 Southampton 0Newcastle 1 Crystal Palace 2

WednesdayBurnley 0 Man City 2Fulham 0 Leicester 2Leeds 1 Everton 2Aston Villa 1 West Ham 3Liverpool 0 Brighton 1