Tottenham vs Chelsea - as it happened: Dele Alli headed brace brings Blues' winning run to an end
Re-live all the action from White Hart Lane
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KICK-OFF: 20:00, Wednesday 3rd January 2017
TV: Live on Sky Sports 1
Teams...
Tottenham: Lloris; Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Walker, Wanyama, Dembele, Rose; Eriksen, Alli; Kane.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Hazard, Costa.
Follow the live action below...
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It’s a big game for…
Gary Cahill. Chelsea have the best defence in the league, conceding just 13 goals in 19 games. However their back-line lapsed in concentration twice in their last outing against Stoke. Cahill, the leader in that defence can’t afford to let that happen here, especially against a free-scoring Spurs side who have netted 13 goals in their last four games.
Best stat…
26. During the period between December 1990 until January 2002, Chelsea managed to remain unbeaten against their London rivals for 26 games - 17 wins and nine draws.
Remember when…
The last time Spurs beat Chelsea was in a 5-3 thriller at White Hart Lane. Diego Costa gave the visitors the lead, but goals from Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Andros Townsend turned it around before the break. Kane added another, Hazard pulled one back for Chelsea but then Chadli made it 5-2 to Spurs. John Terry scored a late consolation goal for the Blues.
Player to watch…
Dele Alli. The 20-year-old attacking-midfielder has been in scintillating goalscoring form of late netting five goals in just three games. The Spurs youngster has been their stand-out performer this year and he’ll want to carry on that red hot form against the table-toppers here.
Past three meetings…
Chelsea 2 (Pedro, Moses) Tottenham 1 (Eriksen), Premier League, November 2016
Chelsea 2 (Cahill, Hazard) Tottenham 2 (Kane, Son), Premier League, May 2016
Tottenham 0 Chelsea 0, Premier League, November 2015
Form guide…
Tottenham: WLWWWW
Chelsea: WWWWWW
Odds…
Tottenham to win: 9/5
Chelsea to win: 9/5
Draw: 23/10
(Odds provided by Betfair)
Dele Alli clearly didn't get the memo from the PFA about turning up for work wearing oversized headphones.
What on earth are these in-ear things? Christmas present?
The players are going through their final warm-ups out on the White Hart Lane pitch, and then the temperature will be cranked up to red hot. There are just 15 minutes until kick-off.
Ok, it's time to strap yourselves in. The players of Tottenham and Chelsea have emerged from the tunnel to greet an intense crowd inside White Hart Lane, and we are moments away from kick-off.
KICK-OFF: Martin Atkinson is the man in the middle, and it's the sharp shrill of his whistle that gets this game underway. Within seconds, a lovely feint from Jan Vertonghen has the Tottenham defending moving forward into Chelsea space, a move ruined straight away by a careless pass to an opponent. Expect skill. Expect attacking. Expect nerves. Expect mistakes.
3 mins: He may be playing his part in a back Tottenham three this evening, but it's Vertonghen who has been the most inclined to attack so far. His early run is followed up by a clever one-two with Dele Alli down the left that takes the Belgian into the Chelsea penalty area. Never in control of the return, however, Vertonghen's cross is wild and wide of any intended target.
5 mins: Do you remember the Eden Hazard of last season who couldn't kick properly? We've just had a glimpse of him again. Played onside by his compatriot Vertonghen, the Belgian was put through on goal by Nemanja Matic's punt forward. With the ball bouncing left of goal, Hazard's strike across Hugo Lloris was scuffed and wide of the far post. It was an extremely good early chance.
7 mins: Imaginary card waving a-go-go! It's Pedro with the hand gesture to infuriate hypocritical football fans, the Spanish forward demanding a caution for Vertonghen after he supposedly blocked Cesar Azpilicueta from taking a quick free-kick. In reality, the Tottenham man had no chance of getting out of the way what with him being an inch away from where the Chelsea defender tried to strike his set-piece.
10 mins: Magic from Mousa Dembele gives Harry Kane a momentary sight of goal, but Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is out quick to smother the danger. Firstly, it's worth noting that Dembele let himself down with his hands when these sides met back in May; with his feet, however, he is a genius. Secondly, how many Belgians are playing in this game?
15 mins: Martin Atkinson is keeping his hands in his pockets early on here, and not just because it's a bitterly cold night in North London. The referee had good reason to take action against Victor Moses as he took out Danny Rose after the wide man had cut across his path on the left touchline. From the free-kick, Gary Cahill headed out for Kyle Walker to shoot into the ground and wide.
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