Hello Scorum!

Welcome back to The Big Match Live, the blog that allows anyone who's interested in the game to get involved and interact with other football fans. This week, we'll be covering Saturday's 17:30 (GMT) fixture at Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea.

We've really appreciated the response we've received to the live blogs so far, and we're doing our best to fine tune things as we go along to make the experience as smooth as possible for everyone involved. If you'd like to read a rundown of our thoughts so far and the changes we're implementing then Tales' recent post is the place for you.

Summary of Changes

Before we get into the fun stuff, let's have a quick look at the key changes that have been made to the format of this live blog series.

  • Reduced Blog Edits - Rather than posting 10-minute updates directly to the blog post, we'll be trying to encourage interaction by posting updates in the comment section. Major incidents such as goals and red cards will continue to be posted to the blog itself.
  • Prediction Contests - Keep a lookout for ways to win some SCR by taking part in our comment section contests.
  • Betting Analysis - With the introduction of the betting platform, it's a perfect time to start adding some betting tips for people to consider. Live blog participants may also wish to discuss wagers between themselves that they can now carry out on Scorum Bet.
  • Increased Host Presence - With the changes we've made behind the scenes, we'll now be in a better position to interact with everyone in the comment section as the game is taking place. That means increased content for Scorum and more upvotes for people leaving meaningful comments. Don't forget, the better the content, the bigger the upvote!
Team Members

Now that's out of the way, let's get back to the good stuff and take a look at this week's big match.

Pre-Match Preview - Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea

Game Time: 17:30 (GMT), Saturday 24th November

This is the kind of match I look forward to throughout the working week. Local rivals, both at the top end of the table, battling for both bragging rights and points that could have a say in how the top 4 ends up at the end of the season. Is there anything better than that in football? Not for me.

Tottenham currently find themselves in 4th place in the Premier League table, just 1 point behind Chelsea. Despite losing 3 games already this season, Tottenham have won their other 9 fixtures and have been quietly impressing as the media salivate over teams around them in the league table. Personally, I don't believe that Tottenham are title challengers this season, but they are certainly capable of landing themselves in those coveted top 4 positions. They will be well aware that Arsenal's recent form has put them in a great position and won't want to give them a chance to leapfrog them this weekend.

Chelsea have been remarkable so far this season and currently sit in 3rd position in the league on 28 points. Alongside Manchester City and Liverpool, Chelsea remain unbeaten in the league and are definitely in the running as title challengers. This is the kind of game that they'll need to make the most of if they're serious about putting pressure on Manchester City at the top of the table.

Tottenham are considered the home team here but the fact that this game is being played at Wembley takes away some of that advantage. There is a feeling that supporters and players alike are somewhat frustrated by the stadium issue and this could be something Chelsea look to take advantage of. Harry Kane is the standout player for this team. That's not to say that they're necessarily reliant on him, and indeed I feel that Lucas Moura could have an impact in this game, but they do look to him for inspiration. Kane will need to be at his best here because Chelsea are a serious threat this season and a result either way could come down to very fine margins on Saturday afternoon.

Likewise, although Chelsea have been playing well this season, a lot of the momentum they've gained has come via a resurgent Eden Hazard who is finally starting to improve his final product. I have been critical of Hazard in the past because, although he showed incredible talent, his stats were often lacklustre compared to his potential. This season, he's stepped it up a level and I wouldn't be surprised to see Real Madrid or PSG sniffing around if he continues with this kind of form. If Hazard is at his best here then Chelsea have a great chance of getting something out of this game.

The key battle here will be in midfield and this is perhaps why Chelsea are slight favourites with the Scorum Bet community at odds of 3.00 to win compared to Tottenham at 3.16. The combination of Kante and Jorginho provides Chelsea with a robust midfield that is both comfortable in possession and quick to retrieve the ball. Tottenham will need to find some control over this midfield contest in order to be able to feed Kane with the kind of service he requires. If they are unable to do so then I feel that Chelsea will be able to produce enough opportunities to take all 3 points.

We're looking forward to seeing you at the live blog at 17:30 (GMT) this Saturday! Feel free to give us some of your thoughts about the game in the comment section below and you fancy a bet with another user then now is a great time to try out the Scorum Bet platform.