Chelsea vs Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result, score and reaction as Nicolas Jackson goal seals win
Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham: Mauricio Pochettino handed his former team a damaging defeat as the Blues improved their own hopes of qualifying for Europe
Tottenham’s Champions League hopes were dealt a damaging blow as they fell to a 2-0 Premier League defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Ange Postecoglou’s side were left trailing fourth-placed Aston Villa by seven points and now have just a single game in hand, as goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson saw Mauricio Pochettino emerge victorious against his former club to enhance his team’s own chances of qualifying for Europe.
This was far from Spurs at their fluid, swashbuckling best, and rarely did they put serious pressure on a Chelsea backline that had already posted the club’s worst league defensive record in more than 30 years.
Chelsea vs Tottenham
Despite the pretty formidable record home record against Spurs, Chelsea’s form going into this game is far from convincing and should give Spurs fans hope they can get another historic win.
They had to produce a really strong second-half performance to come back against Aston Villa, and were then pretty unfortunate to get their last-minute winner taken away from them by VAR.
But there was no sympathy for the side in their previous game as they got battered 5-0 by Arsenal and got knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City in the semi-final the weekend before. There is no better way to get the fans excited again than a derby win, and the Chelsea fans will be dying for a result against Spurs.
One win in 33 tries for Spurs at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge has not been a happy hunting ground for Tottenham to say the least. They have only won once in their last 33 attempts, although the manager to deliver that win was Pochettino. It was a 3-1 victory in 2018, with Christian Eriksen and a Dele Alli brace overturning Alvaro Morata’s first-half strike, the only two players still contracted at either club that played in the game are Son and Davies.
Mauricio Pochettino identifies reason behind Chelsea injury crisis with 14 players out vs Tottenham
Chelsea’s line-up almost picked itself and with 14 first-team players out, Mauricio Pochettino has identified the issues Chelsea have faced as he ruled 14 players out for their Premier League crunch match against Tottenham on Thursday.
Mauricio Pochettino identifies reason behind Chelsea injury crisis
Pochettino is without a wealth of first-team players for their clash against Tottenham and is aiming for his youngsters to rise to the occasion
Chelsea vs Tottenham line-ups
Chelsea: Petrovic; Gilchrist, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Palmer, Madueke, Mudryk; Jackson
Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Emerson Royal; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Johnson, Son; Richarlison
More on Christian Romero
The Argentine got sent off in Tottenham’s 4-1 defeat to the Blues, Postecoglou hasn’t had a problem with Romero’s attitude at all.
He said: “On reflection, when you look at the challenge he got sent off for, I’ve seen half a dozen since, so he may be paid the price for being who he is.
“I haven’t had an issue with his discipline all year. That game we started well, we were flying. I haven’t had a problem. If historically it was different, it wasn’t under my watch. He’s been fantastic this year.”
“Most of the boys don’t like to train against him. He’s a real competitor and I love that about him. Whether it’s training or a game, what you see is what you get with Romero.”
Christian Romero starred in derby defeat for Tottenham
At 3-0 down against Arsenal, it looked all doom and gloom until Romero decided to try and take matters into his own hands to single-handly drag Spurs back into the game.
He scored to make it 3-1 and, despite Heung-min Son’s penalty, Spurs fell to defeat, but Postecoglou couldn’t have been happier with his centre-back’s initiative.
The Australian coach said: “He’s a World Cup winner and I’ve just got to get some of what’s in him into some of the others.”
Werner’s Chelsea reunion destroyed by his north London derby injury
Pochettino was not the only person eagerly waiting to face their former side, as Timo Werner was expected to make his return to Stamford Bridge. That greeting between him and the Chelsea fans was snatched away after he picked up season-ending injuries, and with Spurs yet to announce if they will sign the German permanently he could have already played his final game for the club.
He wasn’t the only casualty in their north London derby defeat with Ben Davies also ruled out for the rest of the campaign, and it has come at a really bad time for Tottenham as their Champions League push gets harder and harder.
Tottenham lacked Arsenal’s ‘maturity’ in north London derby defeat, Dejan Kulusevski admits
Dejan Kulusevski has acknowledged Tottenham Hotspur must improve their mentality and learn from Arsenal if they are to compete with them next season.
Fifth-placed Spurs suffered a painful 3-2 defeat at home to their north London rivals on Sunday, but were staring down the barrel when three goals behind at the break.
Ange Postecoglou’s team produced a stirring second-half rally and yet with their faint top-four prospects nearly over, Kulusevski admitted they must become more consistent.
Tottenham lacked Arsenal’s ‘maturity’ in north London derby defeat
Spurs have enjoyed a fine debut campaign under Ange Postecoglou but it is in danger of ending with a whimper
England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s in contention and who has work to do?
Time is running out for England players, such as Tottenham’s James Maddison and Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher, to impress manager Gareth Southgate and win a place in his squad for Euro 2024.
England will play Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia in Group C when they begin their quest to win the tournament in Germany this summer.
Southgate’s side topped their qualifying group without defeat and are one of the favourites to lift the trophy in Germany on 14 July, given their recent record in major tournaments and the outstanding form of their attacking players this season including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden.
England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane and who has work to do?
A closer look at which England players are heading to Germany for Euro 2024 and who might miss out on the final squad
Cole Palmer is looking to make history
Cole Palmer will be eager to return to Stamford Bridge after his last two outings at home have seen him score seven goals. He bagged a hat-trick as he dragged Chelsea to a last-minute win against Manchester United, and then one-upped himself by scoring four in the next game against Everton. It is unlikely he will get five today, but if he does somehow continue this incredible goalscoring streak, he will join his former teammate Erling Haaland as the only player to score 3 or more goals in three consecutive home games. That isn’t bad company.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments