Tottenham Hotspur are currently perched at the top of the Premier League table after nine matches, and they recently passed their first test of a tricky run of fixtures after defeating Manchester City by two goals to nil.
Next up for Jose Mourinho's outfit is Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and based on the usual tactical approach of Frank Lampard, it is reasonable to suggest that Spurs could thrive against the Blues similarly to how they did against Pep Guardiola's side.
Chelsea have experienced a stronger start to the new campaign than City; they are ranked third in the table just two points behind Spurs and have lost only once, with that defeat coming against holders Liverpool after Andreas Christensen was sent off on the 45th minute.
Lampard's men have certainly improved and the club's summer additions have made a difference to fortunes on the field, but Mourinho will recognise the counter-attacking opportunity that lies ahead of him.
Spurs are very much a team that thrives when they are able to transition from defence into attack very quickly rather than building slowly. It is no coincidence that they scored more goals in matches against Manchester United and Southampton than they did when facing West Brom and Burnley.
With Harry Kane leading the line but retreating into midfield while Son Heung-min runs in behind, Spurs have a two-way problem for opponents to handle and that dynamic is what opened the scoring against City last Saturday, with Aymeric Laporte being lured out of position by Kane before his teammate found the net.
Such a tactic can prove to be highly effective seconds after the ball has been regained, with teams like City and Chelsea keen to immediately regain it. They tend to press in order to regain possession before starting another attack, but with Kane and Son, Spurs have a means of escaping.
Mourinho has also been deploying the likes of Tanguy Ndombele and Steven Bergwijn, both of whom are suited to such a playing style. The former is very press-resistant and capable of eluding opponents who close him down, while the latter is quick and has similar qualities to Son.
Chelsea have certainly improved their ability to nullify counter-attacks in recent weeks, but they haven't yet played an opposing team with the offensive quality of Spurs. Lampard managed to restrict Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men at Old Trafford, but he sacrificed his own attack in the process and the clash ended 0-0.
The Blues are prone to committing too many players forward and ahead of the ball, which makes them vulnerable whenever possession is lost and Spurs are one of the best in England at punishing such naivety.
Will Lampard sacrifice his attack again to stop his rivals, or will he attack as normal given the home advantage that Chelsea will have, which could consequently allow Spurs to flourish on the break? Mourinho will hope for the latter.
