The mood inside Chelsea is at an all-time high under Xabi Alonso after their two recent wins over AFC Bournemouth and Everton.

Chelsea made a positive start to the season under the Spaniard, but the Premier League form in September, which saw the Blues go winless in their three matches, dampened the feel good factor.

The international break offered Alonso to reset, analyse and identify what Chelsea needed to work on and whatever was worked on has clearly translated onto the pitch and into results.

The return of Moises Caicedo has clearly made a noticeable difference and played an influential role in helping Chelsea claim back-to-back wins, but it has been a team effort from all areas of the Blues' side. 

Alonso's relationship with the players is beginning to blossom. He has brought instant authority to life at Stamford Bridge, helped by the results and start to the season, and now his biggest game awaits.

Tottenham make the short trip to Stamford Bridge. It's a London derby where Chelsea have had a lot of joy, and one they've continued to enjoy bragging rights over. Now it's Alonso time to face the Spurs test. Can he pass?

Chelsea have won their last six Premier League games against Spurs and will make club history if they reach seven consecutive wins, the first time they have achieved that feat.

Spurs have been a welcome opponent for Chelsea, who have won more games in all competitions against them than against any other club (83).

Since 1990, Chelsea have lost just once in 41 home matches against Tottenham in all competitions, winning 27 and drawing 13. That sole defeat came in April 2018.

Given where Spurs are in the league and their record under Roberto De Zerbi, Chelsea are heavy favourites. They have home advantage, and they're building momentum. Alonso must seize this chance to win. You can't beat the feeling of a London derby win, especially against Spurs.

Alonso acknowledges the special derby games and knows what is required. That is exactly what is needed from the Chelsea head coach ahead of the game.

"Every derby is special," previewed Alonso. "You feel the energy, you feel the excitement from the stands. We need that energy to be used on the pitch, because that will connect well and we know that can be a boost.

"We need to have a good mentality for that. We need to have good emotional control as well, because in the derbies there's a lot of passion, there's a lot of commitment from both sides. Play football with heart, this is what we want."

Regardless of who Saturday's opponents are, the key for Chelsea is to build on what they have built in recent weeks.

Five goals against Bournemouth, then a serious performance against Everton, which saw them win away from home and keep a clean sheet in the league.

That was their first league clean sheet in nine months. A dismal record was finally brought to an end by a performance to be proud of that got them over the line.

Losing to Spurs is deemed unacceptable at Chelsea. Alonso is not exempt from that. He will be confident in adding to the club's positive tally. But if they can't, he and the team must expect heavy criticism, and the two wins will be wiped out and forgotten, and it's back to zero and another run to begin.

The positive for Chelsea is that they will focus solely on exposing Spurs' fragile defence and sparking fireworks as they chase three points. Nothing beats a London derby win at home under the lights, and Alonso will be desperate to feel that come full-time on Saturday.

He's already felt it during his time as a player and manager at clubs like Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen, and Real Madrid. Chelsea are next up.