Chelsea erased a 2-0 halftime lead to rampage past Spurs in a 4-3 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Jadon Sancho began the comeback, Enzo Fernandez also scored, and Cole Palmer converted two penalties as Enzo Maresca’s men strengthened their second place footing on the Premier League table.
[ MORE: Postecoglou’s post-match reaction | Maresca reaction ]
Spurs scored through Heung-min Son deep in seven minutes stoppage time, but they did not have enough time to find a dramatic equalizer. There will more questions and growing pressure on boss Ange Postecoglou.
Chelsea’s 31 points are four behind Liverpool, who have a match-in-hand, and two clear of Arsenal. Spurs’ 20 points are good for 11th place, ahead of Newcastle on goal differential.
[ MORE: JPW’s Tottenham vs Chelsea player ratings from North London ]
When Tottenham and Chelsea collide sparks usually fly and it was no different between the great rivals on Sunday, as Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski gave Spurs a two-goal advantage by the 13th minute in North London.
Spurs deserved their halftime lead with a 8-5 shots edge and a 1.30-0.65 edge in expected goals, but the second half was almost exclusively Chelsea. The Blues put five of nine shots on target, piling up 2.18 xG.
Maresca a maestro with his attackers
So many managers — a few of them Chelsea managers — have struggled to keep a hold on a talented attacking group inside one club, as the stereotypical ego amongst finishers makes every minute matter. But Enzo Maresca continues to push all the right buttons, as he emphasizes that the Blues players cannot slow down given the players nipping at their heels for playing time. Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson have been there more often than not, but Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, and Jadon Sancho have all been working whether they got zero minutes or 90 the previous game. It’s an “everybody eats” scenario, and it may not be a coincidence that every sub looks driven to make the most of every moment on the pitch. Chelsea’s in this, and their new boss is helping in a big way.
What’s next?
Chelsea go to Astana for an early 10:30am ET Thursday kickoff in the Conference League, then host Brentford for a late 2pm ET kickoff on Sunday.
Spurs go to Glasgow to meet Rangers on Thursday in the Europa League, then visit Southampton at 2pm Sunday.
How to watch Tottenham vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET, Sunday (December 8)
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — London
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Tottenham vs Chelsea score: 3-4
Solanke 5', Kulusevski 11'; Sancho 17, Palmer pen 60', pen 84', Fernandez 74', Son 90+7'
Tottenham vs Chelsea live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Fulltime — Tottenham 3-4 Chelsea
Regardless our last update, it was too little too late.
Heung-min Son goal — Tottenham 3-4 Chelsea
Substitute Maddison drives the touchline and cuts back to Son for a fine finish, but it’s seven minutes into seven minutes stoppage.
Too little, too late?
Chelsea penalty, Palmer scores panenka — Tottenham 2-4 Chelsea
Pape Sarr fouls Palmer, who was back to goal on the left edge of the 18. It’s an easy penalty.
Cole Palmer faces Fraser Forster from the spot again, and beats him again... this time with a panenka!
84th minute.
Triple change for Tottenham
Archie Gray, James Maddison, and Lucas Bergvall will try to help Spurs rescue a point or better, taking the place of Micky van de Ven, Dejan Kulusevski, and Yves Bissouma.
Enzo Fernandez goal — Tottenham 2-3 Chelsea
Cole Palmer dribbles into and out of several phone booths on the right flank, shaping to shoot but seeing his effort spin off the shin of a Spurs defender.
It falls onto the path of Enzo Fernandez, who slices through a shot to beat Fraser Forster..
Chelsea have come all the way back to take a 74th minute lead.
Penalty to Chelsea... and Palmer slots it home — Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea
Penalty kick to Chelsea. Bissouma slides in and catches Caicedo. Great ball from Sancho. Obvious penalty kick. Cole Palmer slots it home, as expected, and Chelsea are deservedly level. 30 minutes to go. Can they win it? They have all the momentum. The home fans have gone really quiet here in north London all of a sudden...
It is all Chelsea
Spurs have been doing a lot of defending since half time. Chelsea cranking up the pressure.
Forster denies Sancho
Great stop from Forster to deny Sancho from close range. Then the game goes end-to-end again with Kulusevski’s cross just missing its target, then Fernandez curls inches wide at the other end. And so it continues, back and forth and back and forth. What a wild game.
Lavia off and Gusto on for Chelsea
Romeo Lavia hasn’t come back out for the second half. Malo Gusto is on at right back with Caicedo shifting in to midfield. Lavia was excellent in that first half and did go down with an injury just before the break, but this was supposedly a tactical switch.
Half time: Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea
What a first half of football that was. Amazing attacking play from both teams. Tottenham pressed Chelsea into so many mistakes, while Spurs were sloppy with the ball at the back themselves too. Spurs should probably be further ahead but Chelsea will fancy their chances of turning this around.
🚨 What a first half here at Spurs! Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea… but it could easily be 4-3 to Spurs!
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) December 8, 2024
WATCH LIVE + videos, analysis & more ➡️ https://t.co/OmvC439dyG
Here are my thoughts on the first half + want I want to see in the second half ⤵️ #CFC #THFC pic.twitter.com/pjGzI6U3Sa
Sarr hits the bar; Solanke then goes close
A corner is whipped in by Son and Sarr flicks it towards goal from close range but it his the bar. A poor Chelsea giveaway moments later allows Son to run in on goal and his cross for Solanke comes in quick and the Spurs striker can’t quite sort out his feet as his tame effort is saved.
Palmer denied by Forster, then Neto’s shot is blocked
Cole Palmer is in and has a lot of time to think about it. His low shot is pushed away by Forster, then Neto’s rebound is blocked. As Neto hit that something from the crowd was thrown towards him from the South Stand.
This is beautiful chaos. Son curls just over this time
How have we only played 24 minutes!? It could be 4-4. Son curls a wonderful effort inches over the bar. We are watching basketball here. Basically.
Sancho scores a beauty — Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea
Well then! Jadon Sancho makes it 2-1. He cuts in from the left, is allowed to dribble to the edge of the box and his low shot finds the bottom corner. Game on! Only 18 minutes gone! Chaos.
Romero is off with an injury
He’s only just come back from injury but after 15 minutes Cristian Romero is off. He has his shirt over his head as he comes off. Dragusin is on for him. He’s played well recently and Spurs are in a great position. Still, far from ideal for Spurs.
Kulusevski squeezes it home — Tottenham 2-0 Chelsea
2-0 to Tottenham! Cucurella slips, again, and Spurs advance. Kulusevski cuts inside and his low shot squeezes past Sanchez. Cucurella has now gone to the sidelines to change his boots. Have never seen anything quite like this. It is chaos in here.
Solanke slots home early — Tottenham 1-0 Chelsea
1-0 to Tottenham! Johnson makes the most of Cucurella slipping and sends in a perfect cross which Solanke finishes at the near post. Perfect start for Spurs. Chelsea have looked shaky when pressed high. Huge moment for Solanke.
🚨👋 Welcome to north London! What a beauty this Tottenham v Chelsea game promises to be.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) December 8, 2024
WATCH live + analysis, videos, reaction & more here ➡️ https://t.co/OmvC438FJ8
3 things I want to see in #THFC v #CFC ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/WN1GqpNZ7U
Big team news for Spurs!
Hello from rain-soaked north London, where there is huge team news for Spurs. Both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are back fit and start at center back, so basically Spurs’ only absence from their strongest lineup is Vicario in goal. Forster continues there. Caicedo starts at right back for Chelsea in that hybrid role Maresca loves. Badiashille starts at center back with Fofana out. Neto and Sancho start out wide with Madueke on the bench.
👋 Tottenham vs Chelsea. Blustery. Stormy. Rainy. Perfect day for a London derby!
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) December 8, 2024
WATCH here + analysis, videos, reaction & more ➡️ https://t.co/OmvC439dyG#THFC #CFC pic.twitter.com/i3QyzfhLwC
Tottenham lineup
Forster; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Sarr, Bissouma; Johnson, Solanke, Son
Chelsea lineup
Sanchez; Caicedo, Badiashille, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Tottenham team news, focus
Spurs will be hoping that Cristian Romero is fit as they only have one senior fit center back (Radu Dragusin) remaining. Son and Porro were rested from the start at Bournemouth on Thursday but will surely start this game.
OUT: Guglielmo Vicario (fractured ankle), Ben Davies (hamstring) Wilson Odobert (thigh), Mikey Moore (illness), Richarlison (thigh), Rodrigo Bentancur (suspension)
Chelsea team news, focus
Maresca has such a huge squad and he’s rotated it expertly in recent weeks. Sancho, Felix, Neto and Madueke are all playing their part, while Palmer and Jackson are guaranteed starters in attack. Lavia and Caicedo have some competition from Fernandez in central midfield too, while there are some intriguing selection decisions in defense with Fofana and James still out. Will Gusto and Tosin start at right back and center back respectively? Or will Caicedo go to a hybrid right back role like he did so well against Villa?
OUT: Omari Kellyman (thigh), Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (hamstring)
Tottenham vs Chelsea prediction
This should be fun, open and both teams will get plenty of chances. Go for a Chelsea win in a thriller. Tottenham 3-4 Chelsea.
Tottenham vs Chelsea preview
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs have been hit by a raft of injuries recently but that doesn’t excuse some of the performances in recent games. They lost 1-0 at Bournemouth on Thursday and Postecoglou was confronted by angry Tottenham fans at the final whistle. Spurs are swashbuckling in attack but are having plenty of issues at the back, both with injuries and giving up big chances. Backup goalkeeper Fraser Forster has a huge job on his hands over the next few months with Guglielmo Vicario out.
Chelsea are flying under Enzo Maresca, with their 5-1 win at Southampton on Wednesday making it three Premier League wins in a row. They’re being talked about as title contenders and although that might be slightly premature, this young team are not showing any fear. Cole Palmer is leading the charge but Chelsea’s squad is stacked and Maresca has so many attacking options and is very flexible tactically to change things up each game.
