Meeting for the third time in January on Sunday afternoon, Chelsea managed to extend on their rampant record against Tottenham with a deserved 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Watching Liverpool pick up maximum points away at Crystal Palace earlier in the day, Thomas Tuchel’s men dominated proceedings from the opening whistle here as second-half goals from Hakim Zitech and Thiago Silva completed a professional display.
Finally finding a Premier League boost at Stamford Bridge, we have taken a look at the main talking points as the Blues extended their top-four buffer to double digits.
A routine afternoon’s work for Chelsea
Left frustrated earlier in the week after having to settle for a 1-1 draw away at Brighton, it is fair to say that Chelsea have been seeking some stability in recent months.
Watching their Premier League title ambitions go up in smoke and now sat 10 points adrift of defending champions Manchester City, Sunday’s hosts would have simply been glad to have picked up a January boost here.
While Sunday’s victory at Stamford Bridge might be just their second Premier League win in their last eight attempts, Thomas Tuchel was filled with praise for what was a more than deserved victory on home soil.
With Ziyech’s wonder strike two minutes after the break really putting Chelsea into cruise control, the reigning European champions never looked in any danger here.
Widening their buffer in the top-four to double digits, the Blues will enter the winter break with the mood in their camp at a high.
The Blues prove they’re lightyears ahead of Spurs
Fully deserving of their 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Chelsea will be starting to wish that they could play Spurs every weekend.
Coming past their London rivals thanks to a 3-0 aggregate win in the EFL Cup semi-finals earlier in the month, Tuchel’s men have won all four of their showdowns against Tottenham this season.
Never in any real danger of throwing away the lead once Silva doubled their advantage with a flicked header, Sunday’s victory at Stamford Bridge means that Spurs have remarkably won just one of their previous 37 trips to west London.
Likewise, in their 60 meetings since the Premier League’s birth in 1992, Conte’s new squad have won just six of those top-flight matchups.
Toothless Tottenham
Mounting that stunning last-gasp charge away at Leicester in midweek as they eventually snatched a 3-2 win at the King Power, many thought that Tottenham would make the trip to Stamford Bridge riding a wave.
However, much like their EFL Cup meetings against the defending European champions, Spurs failed to ask any real questions of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goal and few can argue they deserved anything on Sunday afternoon.
While Harry Kane might have gone close with a header in the final minutes, Tottenham’s only real moment of class was controversially ruled out by Paul Tierney as the England skipper was adjudged to have pushed Silva in the build-up.
With Antonio Conte electing to go with an ultra-defensive approach after starting with six defenders, Spurs finished the contest with just 35% possession in another London derby that they will want to forget.
An important week for Conte
Clearly left frustrated on the sidelines at Stamford Bridge after once again watching his side get heavily outplayed against his former employers for the third time in as many weeks, there is no doubt that Conte will be demanding a busy week ahead.
Still yet to make a single new addition to his squad since the transfer window opened earlier in the month, both Conte and Tottenham fans have been calling on Daniel Levy to get to work.
With the one-time Chelsea boss making it clear that he does not believe that his side are anywhere near competing at the top level, time is really starting to tick away for an aggravated Conte.
Only having to look at the difference between both benches at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, even the arrival of Wolves’ Adama Traore over the coming days won’t be enough to satisfy fans around north London.
Match Report:
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Silva, Sarr, Jorginho, Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi, Mount, Ziyech, Lukaku
Subs: Alonso, Kante, Saul
Tottenham: Lloris, Tanganga, Dier, Sanchez, Davies, Winks, Højbjerg, Doherty, Sessegnon, Bergwijn, Kane
Subs: Moura, Skipp
Goals: Ziyech 4′, Silva 55′
Yellow Cards: Chelsea: Jorginho, Silva – Tottenham: Tanganga
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Paul Tierney
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