Chelsea beat Tottenham in a comfortable 3-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to go top of the Premier League in the first ever major net zero carbon game in an initiative to help with the impacts of global warming and our carbon footprint.
Tottenham Vs Chelsea: Team news
Tottenham had a big boost with the return of Heung Min Son into the starting eleven after the Korean injured his calf during the last international break but was deemed fit enough to start the game. The Argentinian duo of Christian Romero and Giovanni Lo Celso came back into the side after having returned from the training camp in Croatia which followed their decision to break Premier League rules by reporting for international duty in South America. Tanguy Ndombele made his first Premier League start of the season after impressing Tottenham manager Nuno Espírito Santo in their Europa Conference game in midweek. Emerson Royal who made his debut in the Premier League last weekend in Spurs’ 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace, started again for the club.
Chelsea made three changes from the win against Zenit St Petersburg on Tuesday evening. Kepa replaced an injured Mendy who didn’t feature in the squad after taking a knock in the Champions league game in midweek. Cesar Azpilicueta moved into wing back for this fixture allowing Thiago Silva to come back into the side and slot into a back three alongside Christensen and Rudiger. The midfield duo of Kovacic and Jorginho kept their place in the team as well as Marcos Alonso at the left wing back position. Kai Havertz came back into attack for Chelsea replacing Hakim Ziyech and starting alongside Mason Mount. Leading the line for Chelsea in attack once again was the inform Romelu Lukaku. Trevoh Chalobah, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Saul Niguez all dropped to the bench from Chelsea’s last game in the Premier League against Aston Villa with N’golo Kante coming back into the side but only good enough for the bench.
First half
Before the first half got under way, there was a minutes applause for Tottenham and Chelsea legend Jimmy Greaves who passed away today at the age of 81.
Chelsea kicked off and got the game underway. Chelsea got into Spurs’ box in the opening 30 seconds of the game but Lukaku was deemed of side after playing Kai Havertz into the box which came to nothing in the end. Spurs then started to put the pressure on Chelsea in the early goings of the game and had an early free kick on the edge of the box. The strike from Kane hit the wall and went out for a corner which eventually came to nothing.
The opening 10 minutes looked very strong for Spurs and on the other hand, looked quite shaky for Chelsea especially at the back with lots of pressure from Spurs’s front line. However, Chelsea had a chance in the 11th minute when Azpilicueta’s header fell into the path of Kai Havertz in the box but he miss hit his shot and the ball went out for a goal kick. A few minutes later, Chelsea went on the counterattack when Lukaku played the ball into Mason Mount who took the ball forward leading to a three on two situation. Mount played the ball back into Lukaku who tried to find Mount again but the ball just couldn’t reach him and was cleared by the Spurs defence.
Spurs got a free kick a few minutes later and took it quickly but luckily, Thiago Silva read it well and managed to put it out for a corner which was subsequently cleared. The first 20 minutes we’re looking great for Spurs who were dominating the ball and continuously putting pressure on Chelsea’s back line. A minute later there’s a chance for Spurs when Reguilon gets played in by Son who is in lots of space and is looking to tee up the ball with Dele Alli in the box but Rudiger manages to clear the danger before it can get to him.
Chelsea started to calm the game down and got a bit more comfortable on the ball half way through the first half. Chelsea then get a chance in the 26th minute through Andreas Christensen of all people who lays the ball into Lukaku who gives it back to him and he decides to take a strike from 20 yards out which narrowly goes wide of the target. Chelsea are starting to grow into the game with Alonso playing the ball into Kai Havertz in the box who hits it and has his shot blocked but Chelsea retain possession and get the ball out wide to Azpilicueta who crosses the ball back into the box hoping to find Lukaku’s head but the ball doesn’t get there and goes out for a goal kick.
Tottenham get a chance in the 33rd minute when Son is played in one on one with Kepa who manages to get to the ball before Son and keeps it safely in his grasp. Both teams go into the break level at 0-0 making the second half a very important half for both sides to try and get the win.
Chelsea make a change just before the second half taking of Mount and bringing on N’golo Kante and with Thomas Tuchel changing the system to a 3-5-2. Tottenham get the second half underway. Within the first minute, Chelsea start to pressure Spurs’ back line with Thiago Silva putting a fantastic over the top ball to Alonso who is stretching to get a strike on the ball which he does with a volley producing a great save from Hugo Lloris and going out for a corner.
A few minutes later, in the 49th minute, Chelsea take the lead through Thiago Silva. Chelsea get a corner which is delivered in from Alonso. Thiago Silva rises above everyone else to header the ball down into the bottom left corner which has Lloris beaten. Chelsea starting the second half in dominant fashion.
5 minutes into the second half, Chelsea were controlling the tempo of the match which shook Tottenham. This being the complete opposite to the early stages of the first half. Chelsea continued to apply pressure to the back line of Spurs after taking the lead and they nearly made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute when Alonso plays the ball to Havertz who crosses the ball into the box and being collected on the other side by Azpilicueta who passes the ball back into Alonso who shoots. The ball is beating Lloris but Eric Dier makes a goal line block and the ball goes out for a corner.
Then moments later in the 57th minute, Chelsea go 2-0 up through Kante. He gets the ball from around 25 yards out and decides to take the strike on. The ball deflects of Dier and onto the post which then goes into the back of the net with Lloris being left still unable to do anything. Chelsea are in cruise control at this moment in time.
With an hour gone, Spurs decide to make a double substitution with Bryan Gil and Oliver Skipp coming on and Ndombele and Lo Celso coming off. A few minutes later, Chelsea decide to make their second change of the game also bringing on Timo Werner for his German counterpart Kai Havertz.
Chelsea get a corner in the 74th minute which is crossed into Thiago Silva who is looking for his second goal of the game. He gets a great connection on the ball at the near post but Lloris makes a great save to keep it out. Not long after that chance, Timo Werner is found having his first chance of the game when a ball is played into him by Lukaku who skips past a few challenges, but Werner is unable to get a good touch on the ball and it runs through to the goalkeeper. Timo Werner then finds himself being the first man to go into the book in the game and getting a yellow card after a lunging challenge on Bryan Gil.
Chelsea find themselves controlling the game now trying to see out the result when they get another big chance in the 82nd minute. Kante passes the ball into Werner with Lloris coming out to grab the ball as well, he manages to get down and make a save. The ball comes out to Mateo Kovacic who has his follow up shot blocked as well as Alonso’s shot which is also blocked and finally cleared. 5 minutes later, Lukaku gets his big chance of the game when the ball is crossed into him at close range but his header can only fall right into the safe hands of Lloris.
In stoppage time, Chelsea get a third goal to make it 3-0 and cap off a great performance away from home. The ball comes out to Azpilicueta from the corner and he slips in Werner who is in space ahead on the edge of the box. Werner cuts the ball into Antonio Rudiger who placed the ball into the bottom right corner and giving Chelsea all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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Written by Darius Needham (@Darius_Needham)
Edited by Tom Coley (@tomcoley49)
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