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A bitter London rivalry in the best of times, the 2020-21 edition of Chelsea's meeting with Tottenham Hotspur comes with the added spice of being one between Premier League title rivals while also featuring the master/apprentice dynamic between Jose Mourinho and Frank Lampard.
So far, it is the apprentice who has been doing all the winning, with Lampard doing the double over his former manager last season. However, Jose Mourinho did get one over Lampard when Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur in a penalty shootout in the EFL Cup this season, a game that saw a few sparks erupt on the touchline.
Nevertheless, both Lampard and Mourinho were keen to draw a line under that exchange in their respective pre-match press conferences, but there is certainly some palpable tension in the air.
Moving on from personal battles, this fixture witnesses Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur taking on a Chelsea side who are only two points behind them in third place. With Liverpool and Manchester City's troubled start to the season leaving the door open for a new challenger, these London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are staking their claims.
It's all set to be a high-stakes encounter, as both sides are on winning runs, one of which could end on Sunday. On that note, here are five players that could play a key role in deciding which way the game plays out:
#5 Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Many pundits had written off the Brazilian defender Thiago Silva after his arrival in the Premier League, a perception that was reinforced when the veteran made an error on his league debut against West Bromwich Albion. However, since then, Silva has been the backbone of a Chelsea side that has looked confident in defence, with Kurt Zouma flourishing under the Brazilian's leadership.
Frank Lampard also counts on Silva in an attacking perspective too. The Brazilian leads all Chelsea players in progressive passes into the final third and is also their most frequent switcher of play; the Blues top the Premier League charts in that stat category.
However, Thiago Silva could face a different problem against Tottenham Hotspur though: Spurs are likely to contain and counter, and Harry Kane is expected to drop deep and ask questions of Chelsea's backline.
Having flourished under the tutelage of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, one wouldn't put it past Thiago Silva to have an answer for a problem many Premier League defences haven't managed to solve this season.
#4 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
In seven hours and 46 minutes of football at Stamford Bridge, Harry Kane has scored a meagre two goals, none of which have come in a winning endeavour. The Englishman has a fairly decent record against Chelsea though; he has been involved in eight goals (six goals, two assists) over 13 games in all competitions.
Much like his team, Harry Kane suffers from a Stamford Bridge hoodoo, but with Jose Mourinho reinventing the Englishman's role to that of a provider, perhaps the time has come for Tottenham Hotspur's own to put his mark on this fixture.
Given that he will face a Chelsea defence that looks unrecognisable from the disorganised mess it was last season, Kane certainly has his work cut out. However, if his recent performance against Manchester City is any indication, Kane is all set to lead his side to a memorable win and underline Tottenham Hotspur's title credentials.
#3 Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
"To play Mendy or to play the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of the Premier League. Chelsea have an amazing squad."
That Jose Mourinho's latest attempt at mind games ahead of a big game centred around an attempt to get Frank Lampard to play Kepa Arrizabalaga shows exactly how much Edouard Mendy has brought to the Chelsea side.
The value of a calm head between the sticks in big games cannot be underscored enough. Chelsea fans certainly know it after witnessing blunder after blunder from Kepa Arrizabalaga after years of solidity exhibited by Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois.
The early indications are that Mendy is of the latter mould, which will come in handy against a Tottenham Hotspur side that may not be averse to the dark arts. Having put an emotional home-coming against Rennes behind him, Mendy will have to be at his best against Tottenham Hotspur's fiery strike force.
#2 Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur)
Son Heung-Min's first Stamford Bridge memory was not a pleasant one; he scored in the infamous 2-2 draw that resulted in Tottenham Hotspur losing out to Leicester City in the 2015-16 Premier League title race.
In 287 minutes of football at Chelsea's fortress since then, Son Heung-Min has not managed to score a goal. However, he was involved in Tottenham Hotspur's only win at the home of Chelsea in thirty years when Spurs won at Stamford Bridge in the 2017-18 Premier League season.
The Korean forward has reached new heights this season under Jose Mourinho, and if Tottenham Hotspur are to defeat Chelsea this weekend, one can be sure that Son will be at the heart of it. His driving runs behind the Chelsea backline could cause the Blues problems galore, and one wouldn't bet against Son Heung-Min breaking his goal drought at the Bridge on Sunday.
#1 Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)
It speaks volumes of the plethora of attacking talent at Chelsea's disposal that even Hakim Ziyech is not a dead cert to start under Frank Lampard.
The Moroccan has been involved in four goals in five Premier League appearances for the Blues, yet Lampard seems to trust him more in the UEFA Champions League.
There is little doubt that Hakim Ziyech is Chelsea's most creative player, and if Tottenham Hotspur are set up to contain Chelsea by sitting back, the former Ajax man could become doubly important. His guile and vision will be all the more crucial, as he could combine with the likes of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner to break down the Tottenham Hotspur backline.
It is Hakim Ziyech's first true taste of a blockbuster Premier League game, having only played nine minutes of the goalless draw against Manchester United. He will certainly be keen to make his mark, and one wouldn't bet against him doing so.
