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It was a humbling 3–1 home loss to Crystal Palace back in March that persuaded the majority of the Tottenham Hotspur faithful that the threat of relegation was no longer something to be dismissed with a chuckle.
Even during Spurs' suffering under Thomas Frank, few could have envisioned such an unthinkable outcome. Yet their situation worsened considerably under Igor Tudor. The Croatian's inexplicably poor 44-day tenure left the Lilywhites sitting 17th, just a single point above the relegation zone.
West Ham United's convincing win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in early April saw Spurs drop into the bottom three for the first time in ten years, fewer than 48 hours before Roberto De Zerbi took charge for the first time.
There was little to encourage on the Italian's debut at Sunderland, but Spurs have steadily improved with their talented head coach in the dugout. Eight points from their last four matches has the north Londoners on the verge of safety, with the once-dreaded trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea now looking far less threatening for De Zerbi's squad.
Here's what needs to happen for them to secure their Premier League survival when they take on the beaten FA Cup finalists on Tuesday.
If Spurs Beat Chelsea
Spurs are aware that a win in west London isn't essential, but it would be a monumental result. The Lilywhites have claimed just one Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge since the league's formation—a 3–1 triumph in April 2018, with Dele Alli netting a brace.
A rare victory would confirm Tottenham's place in the Premier League for 2026–27, as they would sit five points ahead of West Ham with only one fixture left to play.
Chelsea, meanwhile, would see their slim Champions League aspirations extinguished entirely. Those hopes may already be gone by the final whistle anyway, given that sixth-placed Bournemouth kick off against Manchester City 45 minutes earlier.
If Spurs Draw With Chelsea
A point at Stamford Bridge would be equally rare for Spurs, and could well be sufficient to keep them in the top flight, even if not yet mathematically confirmed.
It would put them three points ahead of West Ham going into the final day, and the Hammers would need a 13-goal swing to leapfrog De Zerbi's side. That's precisely why Opta considers Spurs to be safe.
Therefore, a draw—however scrappy or hard-fought—would be enormously significant for the visiting side.
If Spurs Lose to Chelsea
Consecutive defeats for the Hammers have significantly boosted Tottenham's survival prospects, but the deep-rooted pessimism that lives within every Spurs fan means few are getting ahead of themselves. This battle is far from over.
What's more, far stronger Spurs sides have arrived at the Bridge only to crumble. It has been a notorious ground for so many Lilywhite generations, and the fact that Chelsea are struggling so badly only heightens supporters' anxiety.
The cushion over West Ham certainly takes some pressure off this fixture, but another loss at the Bridge would drag the relegation fight all the way to the final day. At that point, Spurs would need at least a draw against a faltering Everton at home, or rely on West Ham failing to beat a stubborn Leeds United at the London Stadium.