On Sunday when the Premier League returns from the October international break, Tottenham Hotspur will take on Aston Villa in a match that usually was a high-stakes one for a spot in European competition. This season, though, Villa have been a shell of themselves, so third-place Tottenham are overwhelming favorites to take down Unai Emery's men.
Thereafter, the schedule will start to get tougher. Tottenham must face Monaco on the road in the Champions League on Wednesday. After that, Spurs have matchups against Everton, Newcastle, and Chelsea in a row. And yes, Everton are now a tough team and a sleeper for European football after the transformative signing of one-time Tottenham transfer target Jack Grealish.
The toughest of those matchups is clearly the Nov. 1 battle against Chelsea, who, like Tottenham, are also darkhorse contenders to steal a Premier League title from top two teams Liverpool and Arsenal this season.
For Tottenham, the good news is that their match against rivals Chelsea just got quite a bit easier. According to Blues manager Enzo Maresca, via Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea superstar attacking midfielder Cole Palmer will have to miss six more weeks with a groin injury that has slowed him this season.
An easier rival match for Tottenham
Chelsea have quite a few star players, such as defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo and new winger phenom Estevao Willian, but there is no question that Palmer is their best player and one of the biggest talents in the Premier League. He is one of the few players in England who is capable of winning a Ballon d'Or one day.
That Tottenham won't have to face him running counterattacks, weaving through defenders, and scoring goals and assists at will is a massive boost. It makes the jobs of midfielders Pape Matar Sarr and new star No. 6 Joao Palhinha that much easier, not having to scramble to track Palmer or contend with his game-changing playmaking.
Obviously, it stinks to even see a rival's player injured, and top competitors always want to beat their opponents when they are at their very best. But Tottenham will take all the bonuses they can get when they come, and facing a Chelsea team without Palmer is just about one of the biggest advantages a team can get in the Premier League. Palmer is an absolute baller, and anyone who watched the Club World Cup can certainly attest to his ability to take games over against any caliber of opponent.