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 LIVE
Pochettino obviously has emotions in both camps after spending five fruitful years at Tottenham, before a year managing Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi at PSG brought him back to London to as Chelsea’s head coach. His most famous game at Stamford Bridge probably came as Spurs boss, in the Battle of the Bridge eight years ago today.
When asked about the chaotic 2-2 draw, Pochettino said: “It was a derby, we were fighting to win the title and Chelsea were fighting to try and win.
“We were all involved. When you play for the title and play a big team like Chelsea, they want to win. It was normal emotion, fighting on the pitch is not a good example, for both teams.”
Chelsea vs Tottenham LIVE
The last time Tottenham made the trip to Stamford Bridge it was Antonio Conte’s Spurs facing off against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, the game ended 2-2 and a fierce handshake between the two occurred right at the end. Since then there have been three new managers at Tottenham and four at Chelsea. The north London club seem to be happy with Postecoglou, after Christian Stellini and Ryan Mason’s brief spells in charge, while Pochettino still needs to prove himself to some of the Chelsea fanbase.
Chelsea vs Tottenham - LIVE
The Blues have been wildly inconsistent this season but have had a few big performances against perceived rivals. In the first game between these two London rivals Chelsea ran out 4-1 to hand Ange Postecoglou his first defeat as Spurs manager. It partly derailed Tottenham’s strong opening to the season, but they still remain in contention for the Champions League, while Chelsea are focussed on getting into any European competition right now.
Why playing Premier League games in the US is the last thing football needs
Even for football, it was a fairly brazen display of how these things actually work. As recently as Friday, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the game’s calendar is at a “tipping point” - “there is too much football being played and there is constant expansion,” he said. A week couldn’t even pass without NBC executive Jon Miller tellingThe Athletic about bringing Premier League matches to the United States.
Miller’s suggestion wasn’t quite the notorious plan of the Premier League’s ‘39th game’ - rejected in 2008 followng a backlash from fans and opposition from Fifa - but you can see the way it’s going. Perhaps of most concern was Miller’s comment that it’s “something we’ll continue to push for”.
These are actually words that all of football should be alert to.
Read Miguel Delaney’s feature on the future of Premier League broadcasting:
Why playing Premier League games in the US is the last thing football needs
Comment: As the Premier League’s American TV partner said it would ‘push’ for fixtures to be played in the US, the prospect of more global expansion is an insult to football fans and further proof of clubs detaching from their community roots
Thiago Silva’s Chelsea exit leaves key issue for Mauricio Pochettino to solve
The time has eventually come, Thiago Silva’s Chelsea chapter is soon to close, albeit three years later than expected.
A one-year contract was all that was signed when he arrived in west London in 2020, after an eight-year spell at PSG, but as he called time on his Chelsea career on Monday, he will leave a huge void.
The relatively inexperienced Frank Lampard was the manager who bought him in, but he entered a dressing room filled with leaders and accomplished professionals. Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Olivier Giroud were all part of the Blues squad then - compared to now, where he is the only outfield player over 30.
Age isn’t the only qualification for experience, but throughout Silva’s career he has managed to galvanise his teammates while also speaking out against problems or injustices.
In Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday, Silva delivered a team talk at half-time that inspired his team to fight back from 2-0 down at Villa Park, and once the Brazilian veteran leaves it is difficult to see who at the club might be able to offer a similar role.
Thiago Silva’s Chelsea exit leaves key issue for Pochettino to solve
The mentality at Stamford Bridge has to change if Pochettino is to push on towards success
Good afternoon!
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of this evening’s Premier League action as Chelsea host Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
This anticipated contest should provide plenty of excitement as well as potentially season-defining consequences for both clubs who are targeting a positive end to the season.
For Chelsea, currently ninth in the table, a victory would send them within three points of Manchester United in sixth and give them a realistic chance of qualifying for one of the European competitions next year despite a topsy-turvy campaign.
Spurs have loftier ambitions and are hoping to secure the final Champions League spot. Aston Villa currently sit in fourth, seven points ahead of Tottenham, but Ange Postecoglou’s men have two games in hand on the Villa and must win both if they hope to make a late charge for Europe’s top-flight.
We’ll have all the team news, line-ups and updates for tonight’s game throughout the afternoon so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 7.30pm.
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