English Premier League: Mourinho seeks revenge in Battle at the Bridge
Tottenham coach Jose Mourinho involved in an exchange of words with his former player turned coach at Chelsea, Frank Lampard, during a previous meeting. PHOTO/COURTESY.
What you need to know:
- Four straight wins have taken Spurs to 20 points after nine games, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.
- Frank Lampard’s Chelsea are just two point behind them, but Jose Mourinho will fancy this scalp.
The Premier League has not only attracted the best players in world football but also some of the best managers in the modern era.
Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Jose Mourinho (pic inset) at Tottenham Hotspur represent that group.
And the English top-flight stage has as well allowed former players join dugouts of big clubs like Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United and Frank Lampard (pic inset) at Chelsea.
Now an intriguing affair awaits the global Premier League audience when Lampard his former manager Mourinho as Chelsea clashes with Tottenham at Stamford Bridge in a London derby tonight.
The Battle of Bridge brings together Lampard and Mourinho for a third managerial league meeting with the former having triumphed 2-1 and 2-0 last season.Ironically, Lampard, 42, won the Premier League twice, FA Cup once and the Carabao Cup under Mourinho at Chelsea.
The two have known each for about 16 years and they meet at a time when Tottenham is pursuing its first league title in six decades. Mourinho, who guided Chelsea to its first Premier League gong in 50 years back in 2005, put Spurs at the summit with 20 points from nine matches after they defeated Manchester City last weekend.
His striking combo of Son Heung-min and Harry Kane has 16 goals together with Tottenham conceding just nine times, the best defensive line thus far.On the other hand, Lampard has made most of the quality in his side to amass 18 points and 22 goals, the best tally heading into this weekend.
The former England international will however have some selection on whether to start in-form Tammy Abraham, Timo Werner or Olivier Giroud, who netted their winner away at the Rennes in the Uefa Champions League on Tuesday.
English Premiership...Today's fixtures
Southampton vs. Man Utd (SS 223, 5PM)
Chelsea vs. Tottenham
(SS 223, 7.30PM)
Arsenal vs. Wolves
(SS 223, 10.15PM)
