Tottenham’s attacking quartet look to secure the edge over Chelsea

After so many lean years, Tottenham Hotspurs’ attacking threat makes them contenders while Chelsea are left to rely on Raheem Sterling

ATTACKING THREAT: Tottenham Hotspur's Richarlison during a pre-season friendly. Pic: Steve Welsh/PA Wire.

As Chelsea and Tottenham contemplate Sunday afternoon at Stamford Bridge and the latest instalment in their own sub-epic two-hander, it is tempting to see another example of the Trigger’s Broom thesis, the search for the essence of things. Change the stadium, change the vibe, change the recruitment. Change the manager (key detail: get one who likes holding up trophies). Change the objective level of expectation. Is this thing still Spurs?

Or at least, is it still Spurs in that defining performance mode? Can this team be expected to defeat high-level opponents when victory matters most; or conform to muscle memory, romping proudly on those delicate foal-like legs before collapsing in a whirl of hooves whenever the prospect of actual success looms into view?