Tottenham Hotspur require just a point from their remaining two games to stay in the Premier League, but news of Xabi Alonso's agreement to join Chelsea doesn't bod well for the Lilywhites ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge.
Once again, Spurs were aided by Newcastle United at a critical juncture. After helping our Champions League hopes by beating Arsenal on the penultimate matchday four years ago, the Magpies recorded a 3-1 victory over our sole relegation rivals to embolden our survival hopes.
West Ham's wretched start on Tyneside left them with too much to do, even if Nuno Espírito Santo's substitution facilitated a recovery. Their defeat has eased the pressure on Spurs ahead of Tuesday's trip to west London, but the innate pessimist within all of us will be prevalent until safety is confirmed.
This nightmare isn't over just yet.
Xabi Alonso's Chelsea move likely to work against Tottenham on Tuesday
Liverpool's dire Premier League title defence and the scrutiny Arne Slot continues to find himself under meant there was an expectation that the Reds would make their move for Alonso at the end of the season.
However, the Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have shown few signs of adhering to fan pressure and sacking the Dutchman, who'll once again be heavily backed this summer and lead Liverpool into 2026/27.
That opened the door for alternative Alonso suitors, and Chelsea moved with impressive efficiency to strike a deal with the highly-regarded Spaniard. He joins on a four-year contract, with early reports suggesting the former midfielder will be afforded more authority at Stamford Bridge compared to his predecessors.
Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Xabi Alonso as Manager of the Men’s Team.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 17, 2026
The Spaniard will begin his role on July 1, 2026, having agreed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Welcome to Chelsea, Xabi!
While his time at Real Madrid was brief, there's no denying just how good a coach Alonso is. It's some coup for Chelsea, who will end the season without silverware after losing Saturday's FA Cup final.
They sunk to new lows with Liam Rosenior at the helm, and are merely aiming to get through a bitterly disappointing campaign before resetting with Alonso. News of the Spaniard's arrival arrives ahead of trip to Stamford Bridge, so expect the hosts to perform with an extra spring in their step, buoyed by a suddenly optimistic home crowd that remains desperate to see us go down.
This is a bad Chelsea team, but I wouldn't expect them to appear so incompetent midweek. Plus, we tend to succumb at the Bridge no matter the quality of the hosts. Do I need to remind you that we've won just one Premier League game there since the competition's inception?
Fortunately, a scrappy, ugly point will do.
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