As Chelsea boss, his combined record against Arsenal, Fulham, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Saturday’s opponents Tottenham is 25 wins, 10 draws and just two losses. One of those defeats came against Spurs, but that was way back in 2006.
Mourinho’s main concern ahead of Spurs’ visit to Stamford Bridge is, clearly, a lack of goals from his strikers. He has rotated his forwards smartly, using them more as willing runners and lynchpins, designed to create space or lay the ball off to Chelsea’s rich cadre of attacking midfielders. But he cannot rely on a 15-minute Andre Schurrle hat-trick every week, particularly with Tottenham likely to be less generous with their space than London neighbours Fulham.
Tim Sherwood has been praised for giving Spurs freedom to attack since taking over in December, but his side’s defensive form has been solid of late. Since the 5-1 loss to Manchester City in January, Tottenham have conceded just two goals in five Premier League games. The return to fitness of Paulinho has been crucial in that miserly spell, as the Brazilian international does the hard yards in front of the defence and transfers seamlessly to attack when Tottenham have possession.
Paulinho will need help if he’s to battle on even terms with Chelsea’s midfield, however. A lack of tactical nous has been the main doubt over Sherwood’s stewardship thus far, particularly shown in his team flunking the two toughest tests of his reign (Spurs were picked apart in a 2-0 loss against Arsenal in the FA Cup, as well as that thrashing by Man City at the Etihad).
Perhaps that’s harsh – Sherwood could argue he was up against superior squads and more settled teams. However, the 45-year-old has not yet shown an ability to change the course of a key match with a substitution or a tactical adjustment. Saturday would be the ideal time to change that, particularly because he’s up against the man regarded as the Premier League’s master of the mid-game tactical tweak.
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United (live radio commentary on on talkSPORT.com outside the UK and Ireland); Saturday, March 8; The Hawthorns, 12.45pm
How bad are things at Manchester United? There is one place that can normally be relied upon for insight into life at Old Trafford: the Twitter feed of one Rio Ferdinand.
At time of writing, the usually prolific tweeter has chirped up just once since February 24: the day before United lost 2-0 to Olympiakos in the Champions League. (Relative) silence speaks volumes – and, in this case, it says David Moyes needs his side to start playing like the one that won the league less than 12 months ago.
Saturday’s game is the perfect opportunity, with Pepe Mel’s team winless since January 1. Under former boss Steve Clarke, West Brom scored a shock win at Old Trafford in September. The players are said to be upset by Mel’s different tactical approach; Moyes will sympathise, but it won’t stop him from sinking a few celebratory drams if his side takes three points at the Hawthorns.
Cardiff City v Fulham (live radio commentary on talkSPORT.com outside the UK and Ireland); Saturday, March 8; Cardiff City Stadium, 3pm
It says much about the Premier League’s managerial merry-go-round that when these two teams met in September, they had different gaffers. Fulham have happily hired and fired Rene Meulensteen, Ray Wilkins and Alan Curbishley since.
Felix Magath, the current man in the Cottagers hot-seat, will know this match is a must-win. His side may have the worst defensive record in the league, but in Cardiff are facing a team with just two goals in six league games. The initial positive impact made by Cardiff’s transfer-window additions of Kenwyne Jones and Wilfried Zaha has faded to the point that neither played a minute of last weekend’s loss against Tottenham.
It will be interesting to see whether Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer goes with the five-man defence that restricted Spurs to just one goal last week, and encourage his full-backs to attack in this crunch relegation tie.
Crystal Palace v Southampton (live radio commentary on talkSPORT.com outside the UK and Ireland); Saturday, March 8; Selhurst Park, 3pm
If there was a Football Manager-style ‘sim rest of season’ option
in real life, Mauricio Pochettino would surely be tempted to press it. After two defeats on the bounce, Southampton sit in ninth place, eight points clear of West Ham and nine off sixth-placed Everton. Welcome to mid-table mediocrity.
The good news for Pochettino is that there is a World Cup this summer, and his star quartet of English players needs no further motivation than a place aboard the plane to Brazil.
Crystal Palace are a dangerous beast right now, however. They have averaged just 38 per cent possession this season, but are developing a habit of nicking points without playing well. That’s especially true at home, where they’ve picked up ten points from a possible 15 since the turn of the year. If they can make it 13 from 18, things will start to look very rosy in Tony Pulis’ Palace.
Norwich city v Stoke City (live radio commentary on talkSPORT.com outside the UK and Ireland); Saturday, March 8; Carrow Road, 3pm
Chris Hughton will be relieved to be back on home soil after suffering a fourth consecutive defeat on the road last weekend. The Canaries were thrashed 4-1 at Villa Park, by a side that had scored only 12 league goals at home all season before then.
At Carrow Road, though, Norwich have beaten Tottenham and held Manchester City to a draw in recent weeks. They will hope that form continues against a Stoke side they beat 1-0 at the Britannia in September.
The Potters upset title chasers Arsenal last weekend – but, while they have performed well against the big teams this season, they have one of the worst records in the league against sides in the bottom half. “When the onus is on us to take games to the opposition, we’re not as accomplished,” said manager Mark Hughes. It is something they’ll need to do against Norwich, who have scored the third-fewest league goals this term.
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