Live Commentary: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur


Welcome to Nigerianeye's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.


The Lilywhites do not have too many happy memories at this ground, having failed to win in any of the last 29 games here - a run stretching 16 years in all competitions.

This is also the venue where Tottenham's title hopes came to a crushing halt last term, but they make the short trip across the capital protecting an unbeaten start this time around and can move to within one point of their opponents with victory.

Follow all of the action as it unfolds in West London with our extensive updates below.

OFFICIAL LINE-UPS

CHELSEA: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Costa, Hazard

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Wimmer; Wanyama, Dembele; Eriksen, Dele, Son; Kane








The full-time whistle sounds, meaning that Chelsea have done enough to climb back above Liverpool and Manchester City into first place. It was their weakest first-half showing in a long time, with Tottenham Hotspur dominated but only scoring the only goal through Christian Eriksen's belter. Pedro and Victor Moses hit back for the hosts, though, helping to end the Lilywhites' 12-game unbeaten league run in the process. Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match!


90+3 min FULL TIME: CHELSEA 2-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

90+1 min We are one minute into three added on, and it is Chelsea who are looking the more dangerous now. Spurs just haven't offered enough in an attacking sense in this second period, with Conte now urging his supporters to make some noise to see things through.

89 min Willian does well to peel off his marker and find a yard of space, sweeping a cross from the left narrowly over the bar. That certainly relieves some of the pressure on his side, and we are now into the final minute of normal time.


87 min CHANCE! N'Koudou with some slick play to get into the box, but he goes for glory himself and tests Courtois with a rather tame effort. Willian was booked prior to that in a game that has lacked the edge of that previous meeting here.

85 min SUBS! Both managers make their final changes in quick succession; Janssen replacing Dembele and Oscar coming on for Pedro. The closing stages of this game taking a familiar pattern, as Chelsea sit back and soak up all the pressure.

83 min Spurs really dominating possession now, but they are still not doing enough to truly trouble their opponents. The odd set piece is being won but they need to turn into into something tangible, with Courtois happily watching on at the moment.

81 min CHELSEA SUB! Willian is now out on the right and Pedro on the left, with Costa remaining through the middle. A slight bit of tinkering at the back, though, as Ivanovic adds some fresh legs in place of Moses.

79 min An Eriksen corner finds its way through to Courtois. It was a decent delivery, which at the moment is proving to be Tottenham's best hope of finding a way through this stubborn Chelsea backline. Eleven minutes now left to play.

77 min CHELSEA SUB! Not a bad first alteration for Chelsea to make, as Willian comes on in place of Hazard for the remaining minutes. Time fast running down for Spurs now, who are not doing a great deal to alter the scoreline.

75 min Half a chance for Costa, as a cross from the left is helped wide of the target with his shoulder. It may have taken a slight touch off Vertonghen on its way through, but he still had the chance to head that or possibly take a touch of his own.

73 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Pochettino makes the change that many would have anticipated - Georges-Kevin N'Koudou replacing a tiring Dele Alli. Width now provided, Spurs will look to stretch their opponents and finally get in behind.

71 min Tottenham being allowed to bring the ball forward a little more now, but Chelsea have been so strong defensively, conceding just that one Eriksen goal in nearly 11 hours of play.

69 min Not a great deal happening at the moment, with the match showing signs of petering out following a frenetic hour or so of football. Alli almost through on goal but the offside flag worked against him, so still just the one goal in it.

67 min Hazard's ball is almost flicked on by Luiz, but Dier remains strong at the back. Spurs will feel confident of nicking a second goal in the remainder, though they cannot afford to concede another as we approach the final quarter of the match.

65 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Not seen a great deal from Son this evening, and he is the first to make way in place of Harry Winks. The youngster enjoyed a goalscoring full debut last week, so he will be on a real high right now.

63 min SAVE! A mistake in midfield allows Kane to charge in behind. The angle is soon against him but he has the vision to spot Eriksen, who volleys into the hands of Courtois from eight yards out. This match is so finely poised, with just over 25 minutes to go.

61 min Hazard sees his shot well blocked down, as Chelsea continue to knock on the door for a killer third. As things stand the Blues will end the weekend at the top of the Premier League pile, while Spurs are at risk of drifting further afloat.

59 min Credit to Spurs, because they have managed to click back into gear with some click passing inside the Chelsea half. Kante is such a force and wins his battle with Alli, but the ball is spread towards the right where a corner is eventually won.

57 min All of a sudden it is Pochettino who is no doubt feeling stressed on the touchline, with Chelsea the side with a spare man during every attack. They win a corner which Matic flicked wide, bringing an end to their latest attacking move.

55 min I did say when Spurs were dominating that games so often turn with the blink of an eye, and that has proved to be the case because it's now all Chelsea. Moses sends in a cross that was crying out for a touch at the back post, but in the end it went right the way through.

53 min CHANCE! Chelsea really should be two ahead; Alonso somehow failing to find the target when picked out 12 yards from goal with nobody around him. The wing-back got under Costa's pull-back, sending it into the stands.

51 min Just like that Chelsea have the lead for the first time this evening! Costa did well to create it, charging into the box and biding his time before playing the ball right across for a completely unmarked Moses to smash home. It took a touch off Lloris and Vertonghen on its way, but the Nigerian will claim that.

50 min GOAL! CHELSEA 2-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (VICTOR MOSES)

48 min No sign of Conte changing his system, but it would have been interesting to see what he did had Pedro not scored that world-class goal on the brink of half time. As it is, we are locked at 1-1 here with 42 minutes remaining.


46 min RESTART! No changes made by either manager at the break, as we get back under way at Stamford Bridge. Kante, of all people, with a shot on target in the early stages of this second half - a lack of precision costing him.


Referee Michael Oliver blows his whistle, bringing an end to a first half that Chelsea probably did not want to see end. They were second best for 44 minutes, but a late Pedro strike - and what a goal it was - has helped bring the scores level against Tottenham Hotspur. We should now be in for a thrilling second half at Stamford Bridge!



45+2 min HALF TIME: CHELSEA 1-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR


45+2 min Absolutely superb goal from Pedro, who curled the ball into the far corner following a cheeky Cruyff Turn to set himself up for the shot. A half dominated by Tottenham is going to end with the scoreline level, as we are seconds away from the interval.


45+1 min GOAL! CHELSEA 1-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (PEDRO)


45 min SAVE! Pochettino would have been fuming had this gone in, as Lloris passed the ball straight to Hazard, who set himself up for a shpt which the Frenchman did well to get down and collect. Half time fast closing in now.

44 min Spurs keeping that shot count ticking along, with Dembele again shooting wide from long distance. I'd be shocked if Conte does not change things around at the break; this formation has worked brilliantly for so long, but against this Spurs setup they are all over the place.

42 min Eight goal attempts for Spurs in this first half compared to Chelsea's one - a Luiz free kick which Lloris comfortably kept out. Costa with the worst cross you will see all season, meanwhile, blasting the ball right through the box and out for a throw.


40 min Shockingly bad from Alli who, after doing well to bring a long ball into the box under control, goes to ground after the smallest of flicks on his ankle. Eriksen, in seven yards of space, drives a shot over the bar when he had other options.

38 min Finally Moses gets high down the right, a good 20 yards further forward than his average position, sending a cross into the box which is deflected behind. A small step for Chelsea, but a sign perhaps that they are finally about to move out of first gear.

36 min SAVE! Another Courtois stop, this time to help Kane's bullet strike over the bar. We have seen games like this so often in the Prem this term - one team completely dominating, failing to make it count and then being made to pay.

34 min SAVE! Walker does brilliantly to drift past Alonso down the right and gets a shot away to test Courtois at the end of it. The ball goes behind for a corner, where Dier meets it only to send the ball right down the throat of Courtois.

32 min This formation has been so good to Chelsea in recent weeks, but it is looking so weak at the moment. Kane being marked by three centre-backs, leaving the players in the hole to drift around completely at will. Alonso and Moses in turn are struggling to get out of their own half.

30 min SAVE! A first save of the match for Courtois to make, coming at the end of one of Luiz's trademark free kicks. The ball swerved in the air but caused little trouble for the Frenchman, who just stood his ground and collected the ball.

12 min Spurs have completely dominated the last six or seven minutes of this game, playing more like the home side than away, and they have a deserved breakthrough through Christian Eriksen's wonderstrike. The Danish midfielder let leash from 20 yards out, putting his boot through the ball and getting enough on it to prevent Courtois from finding a touch.

11 min GOAL! CHELSEA 0-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN)

9 min Spurs win another free kick from around 27 yards out, this time towards the left flank, which Dier decides to take on. It was an arrowed effort that was always rising, failing to do anything to test Courtois who has not conceded in 590 minutes now.

7 min Tottenham have looked the brighter side in the opening seven minutes, putting themselves on the front foot and looking to get in behind. Chelsea already having to do more defending than they have become accustomed to in recent weeks.

5 min DISALLOWED GOAL! Spurs not willing to be bullied, as they start to get bodies forward themselves. A smart turn from Kane on the edge of the box earns the visitors a free kick, which Eriksen floats towards the Englishman. Kane was too eager, though, and when he smashed the ball home the flag was quickly up for offside.

3 min A direct start from the hosts, who are certainly not willing to waste any time in trying to open the scoring. Man City and Liverpool have both taken turns to top the table over the course of Saturday - can Chelsea now join them and end the day top?

1 min KICKOFF! Chelsea, in their traditional blue shirts and blue shorts, get us up and running at Stamford Bridge. The Blues go direct right from the word go, but Tottenham Hotspur - sporting their home kit this evening - are alert to it.

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