It was Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham in microcosm. A few steps ahead; extra in the other way. The place it left the supervisor was the largest query as Chelsea roared again from 2-0 all the way down to win but once more, surging into second place within the Premier League desk.
They’re forward of Arsenal and solely 4 factors behind Liverpool, albeit the leaders have a recreation in hand. It’s changing into more and more tough to consider the supervisor, Enzo Maresca, when he argues that Chelsea will not be title contenders. They’d a lot great things right here. Above all, they’d Cole Palmer.
The TV cameras made the compulsory cut-aways to the Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, with about quarter-hour to go, inviting everyone to surprise what he’ll do with Postecoglou, who had mentioned two weeks in the past that he can be in bother if his staff was nonetheless in mid-table at Christmas. They’ve solely two matches to play earlier than then – away at Southampton, house to Liverpool.
It isn’t simply that they’re now 11th. One of many foremost takeaways was how little perception they confirmed, even when they did handle a late purpose for 4-3 from Son Heung-min. It was over by then.
Assurance will not be an issue for Chelsea. Or Palmer. He had already equalised from the penalty spot for 2-2 when he mesmerised Future Udogie and three different Spurs defenders on the suitable earlier than sending over a cross that deflected and located Enzo Fernández, who blasted Chelsea in entrance.
It seemed as if Spurs had had sufficient of Palmer, pushed to distraction. It was the one rationalization for why Pape Sarr barged into the again of him on the right-hand aspect of the realm. It was one other clear penalty. Palmer pulled off an audacious Panenka; the last word snapshot of Chelsea’s supremacy.
After every little thing that occurred between Postecoglou and the travelling Spurs assist at Bournemouth final Thursday, it felt vital to see the supervisor applaud the South Stand at size earlier than kick-off. Buddies once more? It was the case after 11 minutes, Spurs making the dream begin. It by no means seemed like lasting.
The opening exchanges had been the stuff of nightmares for Chelsea and particularly Marc Cucurella, who misplaced his footing twice – with devastating penalties. The primary was the actual howler, Cucurella making an attempt to show onto a sq. cross from Levi Colwill and feeling no buy in his studs. Brennan Johnson robbed him and raced up the suitable to cross however credit score to Dominic Solanke, whose motion inside the realm was too sharp for Colwill. The primary-time end was deadly.
Maresca couldn’t consider the errors from his gamers on the outset, despite the fact that they seemed menacing once they moved up the sector. That was the case all through. It was deja vu when Cucurella slipped once more and Spurs regained possession, Dejan Kulusevski skating from proper to left, alongside the sting of the realm, earlier than jamming a low shot contained in the close to submit. It was the immediate for Cucurella to hurry over and alter his footwear.
Chelsea by no means panicked. They by no means misplaced the sensation that they’d have sufficient to return again. The primary half was wild, end-to-end, so open and it was no shock when Chelsea pulled one again. Spurs had been boosted by the returns of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven from accidents; the latter was the shock. Romero didn’t final lengthy. He appeared to really feel one thing in his thigh within the eighth minute after pulling off a high-risk again heel inside his personal space and he discovered that he couldn’t proceed.
On got here Radu Dragusin and he was one of many Spurs defenders who couldn’t get out to the wonderful Jadon Sancho because the Chelsea winger sliced inside from the left. Sancho’s low shot was a magnificence, formed into the far nook. Van de Ven can be pressured off earlier than the top, one other harm added to the insults.
There was controversy earlier than the interval and we’re not speaking in regards to the South Standers who threw screwed-up bits of tifo cardboard at Chelsea’s corner-takers, together with Palmer. They had been instructed to pack it in at half-time, which was a bit late. Maybe Palmer took it personally.
Moisés Caicedo was a fortunate boy when he adopted by laborious into Sarr’s decrease shin. Anthony Taylor missed the flashpoint and the VAR, Jarred Gillett, deemed there was no severe foul play and due to this fact no purple card. Kulusevski would additionally get away with an elbow on Roméo Lavia. Once more, there was no motion.
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Chelsea, fast and enterprising in possession, had the possibilities to equalise earlier than the break, the large one being created by Fernández for Palmer; extremely, he missed his kick from close-range. Pedro Neto prolonged Fraser Forster after jinking and banging low for the close to nook.
Spurs had their first-half alternatives, too. Son curled simply previous the far high nook; Sarr headed towards the crossbar from a Son nook; Solanke couldn’t end from a low Son cross.
Maresca made a change for the second-half, Malo Gusto on at right-back, Caicedo into midfield on a full-time foundation. Beforehand, he had been there solely in possession. Lavia made approach. It was to shore up towards the specter of Son.
Chelsea piled ahead. They may sense vulnerability in Spurs as a defensive entity. Everyone might. In all probability even Postecoglou. It was one-way site visitors after the restart. Sancho drew a wonderful save out of Forster. Fernández bent a shot simply broad.
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Spurs misplaced Johnson to a muscle harm and it was clear that the equaliser was coming. Postecoglou’s staff had been jittery. The stadium was a sea of hysteria. When the purpose for 2-2 got here, it was due to a rush of blood by Yves Bissouma. He had misplaced the ball initially on the Spurs left and when Sancho, again on the opposite aspect, labored it by for Caicedo, Bissouma leapt in to scythe him down. The Spurs substitute, Timo Werner, had his head in his fingers earlier than the penalty was given.
The result was by no means unsure with Palmer. He was excellent within the second half and there can be a lot extra to return from him. Son and Van de Ven would go shut at 2-2 however there was solely inevitability in regards to the outcome.
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