Tottenham Faces Injury Crisis Before Chelsea Derby

What is the responsibility of the medical staff? Nothing, said Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham head coach. Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge this Saturday, October 24, 2026, in a Premier League derby as Chelsea enter unbeaten in six league meetings against their London rivals while Tottenham face an injury crisis.

Tottenham Faces Injury Crisis Before Derby

Roberto De Zerbi has defended his medical staff against criticism as Tottenham’s injury list continues to grow ahead of the trip to west London. The Spurs manager will be without Destiny Udogie for the derby, confirming the defender is not available after a difficult period managing his fitness.

Other long-term absentees include Lucas Bergvall and Savio, while James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski remain doubts following disrupted training sessions.

MATCHDAY 🤍🆚 Chelsea🏟️ Stamford Bridge🏆 @premierleague ⏰ 5.30pm BST pic.twitter.com/S28b33CZwz

— https://x.com/SpursOfficial/status/2113888242277781958

What is the responsibility of the medical staff? Nothing.

Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham head coach

Despite the mounting selection issues, there is positive news regarding Pedro Porro, who is back in contention after recovering from a hamstring injury. De Zerbi emphasized a cautious approach to player recovery, noting that rushing stars back has previously led to setbacks, such as Porro’s re-injury following his appearance against Aston Villa on September 19. The manager promised a full review of the situation at the end of this season but insisted that for now, the club is suffering a normal situation in football. Tottenham arrive at Stamford Bridge with a tough historical record at the venue, having won just one of 33 Premier League visits to the ground. De Zerbi noted that this negative historical mark provides motivation rather than pressure for his squad.

Spurs secured their first league victory of the campaign on Monday by defeating Coventry City 3-1 at home. For the upcoming match at Stamford Bridge, De Zerbi will also have Andy Robertson available after the player was substituted in the win against Coventry City, while strikers like Dominic Solanke are reported to be in good condition. However, Rodrigo Bentancur remains unavailable as he serves the second match of his suspension following a red card at Old Trafford, and knee and muscular problems continue to sideline Bergvall, Udogie, and Sávio.

Roberto De Zerbi has revealed why Dominic Solanke is beginning tonight's clash against Chelsea amongst our substitutes.🔗 https://t.co/zYfH43wduF pic.twitter.com/RIlHaBilpG

— https://x.com/SpursOfficial/status/2114025860605018121

Chelsea Prepares Under Xabi Alonso

Chelsea head into the fixture in strong form, currently sitting fourth in the Premier League table on 13 points after accumulating four wins, one draw, and two defeats through their opening seven league matches.

Chelsea’s recent form includes an impressive 5-1 victory over Bournemouth followed by a 2-0 win away at Everton, where Pedro Neto scored both goals on his 187th appearance to register his first Premier League brace. The Blues went into the season following squad changes, which included selling Enzo Fernández to Manchester City on deadline day for a fee matching the British record of £125 million. Alonso’s side has generated 2.43 goals per match while maintaining an undefeated home record at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham Faces Injury Crisis Before Chelsea Derby — Photo: ESPN

Alonso spoke pre-match regarding his tactical approach, noting that a 2-0 lead does not mean a team can rest on its laurels in a top-flight environment. Meanwhile, Mike Penders is slated to start in goal for Chelsea in the absence of Martinez.

Opta Gives Blues Edge Over Spurs

Data from the Opta supercomputer gives Chelsea a 55.0% probability of victory, reflecting their historical dominance in this fixture at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham’s only league win at the venue this century came in 2018, when Dele Alli scored twice in a 3-1 victory under Antonio Conte. Markets on the Polymarket exchange currently price a Chelsea win at 55.5 cents, compared to 20.5 cents for a Tottenham victory, with the draw priced at 22.5 cents, drawing roughly $61,870 in trading volume.

A London derby beckons for @ChelseaFC and @SpursOfficial 👀Take a look at some BIG team news from Stamford Bridge ➡️ https://t.co/o1ncNQ0fYE pic.twitter.com/4y3yNQXGc3

— https://x.com/premierleague/status/2114015415173325202

Betting markets also point toward specific goalscoring metrics, noting that Joao Pedro represents an elite anytime goalscorer option with odds at +120 at BetMGM, supported by strong offensive volume from a Chelsea side that has scored 17 goals across their first seven Premier League matches. Total-goals markets lean toward the Under, with under 3.5 goals priced at 58 cents on Kalshi, reflecting historical trends that show four of the last five head-to-head encounters staying under that threshold. As the teams prepare for the 12:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. UK) kick-off on Saturday, October 24, 2026, the match will be broadcast via various legal streaming services and television networks including Fubo, Peacock, and Telemundo in the United States.