Cole Palmer @Getty Images

Second-placed Chelsea will attempt to extend a three-game Premier League winning streak and a six-game unbeaten run in the league on Sunday when they visit a 10th-placed Tottenham side still struggling to string together positive results .

Despite being just seven points behind league leaders Liverpool and above Arsenal on goal difference, first-year manager Enzo Maresca continues to insist his Chelsea side is not yet at the point where she can seriously consider challenging for the championship title.

But it will become harder to temper expectations if the nature of recent performance continues.

Sunday.

Spurs Chelsea in the #PL. pic.twitter.com/lx9nxlYgKM

– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 6, 2024

The Blues (8-2-4, 28 points) beat Aston Villa 3-0 and Southampton 5-1 in their two league matches last week.

Cole Palmer scored in both matches to take his season tally to nine goals and six assists in his second campaign as a Premier League regular.

Nicolas Jackson also has eight goals after becoming a much more efficient finisher.

“Yes, but we have to do many other things, not just score goals,” Maresca warned this week. “We need to avoid conceding goals. Overall, I think defensively we are doing pretty well, but like I said, we are only focused on the game on Sunday. We are not thinking about May or June, that sort of thing, because it’s too early.”

Meanwhile, the Spurs have shown themselves capable of winning or losing to any opponent this season, but without doing so consistently.

Case in point: second-year manager Ange Postecoglou’s side have not won a match since a superb 4-0 league win at Manchester City on November 23.

More recently, Spurs (6-6-2, 20 points) lost 1-0 at Bournemouth on Thursday and were lucky not to concede more goals against the Cherries.

“For me, what was disappointing last night was the repeat of the cycle where we go into games, starting well enough but allowing the opposition to score a sloppy goal like we did last night or not seizing our opportunities,” Postecoglou said on Friday. “We need to break this cycle, no matter where we are right now.”

Brennan Johnson is the only Spurs player to score from open play in the last three matches, scoring a goal in a 2–2 draw against Roma on November 28 in the UEFA Europa League competition and a 1-1 draw against Fulham last Sunday.

Postecoglou continues to deal with several absences, including the ongoing suspension of midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and the injury of striker Richarlison.