Chelsea Beat Spurs To Close Gap To Premier League Leaders Liverpool

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Tottenham defeated Chelsea 4-3 on Sunday, just four points clear of Premier League leaders Liverpool, to win the game.

Spurs raced into an early 2-0 lead but Enzo Maresca’s men turned the match on its head, scoring four times, including two penalties from England forward Cole Palmer, before a late goal from Son Heung-min.

However, as Chelsea rallied back to extend their unbeaten Premier League streak to seven games, his cavalier attacking style will come under even more scrutiny.

Before dominating the second half, Jadon Sancho gave the visitors a foothold, with Palmer twice cool from the spot on either side of Enzo Fernandez’s strike.

Chelsea are now just four points clear of Liverpool, who are still playing after their Saturday game against Everton was postponed due to high winds.

Spurs, who have lost just once in seven games and are currently 11th in the table, found little comfort with Son Heung-min’s 96th-minute goal.

Following a disappointing display against Bournemouth on Thursday, Postecoglou was forced to confront his own supporters in an enraging altercation.

Spurs have frequently saved their best for the biggest games this year, winning three games against Manchester United and beating Manchester City twice.

Postecoglou’s men flew out of the traps to leave an in-form Chelsea chasing shadows in the early stages.

Brennan Johnson’s cross was headed in the net by Solanke at the near post.

Kulusevski then scurried along the Blues’ box before firing a low past Robert Sanchez to make it 2-0 after 11 minutes.

Sancho scored his first Chelsea goal in a 5-1 romp at bottom-of-the-table Southampton in midweek to earn himself a start.

With a brilliant long-range strike past Fraser Forster, the loanee from Manchester United quickly brought the visitors back into the game.

On December 8, 2024, Chelsea’s English midfielder #20, Cole Palmer, celebrates scoring his team’s second goal at the Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea English Premier League game in London. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)

In a frantic, fast-paced first 45 minutes with plenty of chances at both ends, somehow that was the scoring.

Solanke should have saved Son’s cross after Pape Sarr had headed off the crossbar, prolonging Tottenham’s lead.

Forster then extended his protracted legs to equalize for Palmer and Pedro Neto.

With 11 players still on the field, both teams had a chance to reach the break.

Moises Caicedo’s studs-up challenge on Sarr was deemed not to have excessive force by the VAR official.

Likewise, Kulusevski escaped further punishment for a stray elbow on Romeo Lavia.

Led by Palmer, Chelsea took control after the break to rub more salt in Spurs wounds and leave Postecoglou’s future up for debate.

Ange Postecoglou, the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, reacts on December 8, 2024, at the end of the English Premier League game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. – Chelsea wins 4 – 3 against Tottenham. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) /&nbsp,

This week, the former Australia boss complained that his team frequently “shoot themselves in the foot,” which was evidenced by the crucial fourth goal.

Caicedo was unnecessarily dived in by Yves Bissouma to concede a penalty, which Palmer coolly dispatched level.

Palmer played a significant role in Chelsea’s third, and Fernandez shot from the edge of the area after a weaving run into the Spurs box was blocked.

Both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, who were both rushed back from injury to start, were forced to be replaced, to add to Tottenham’s issues.

Sarr’s barge over Palmer’s area provided yet another example of madness.

The England international this time impudently dinked the spot-kick Panenka-style down the middle of Forster’s goal.

Son turned in James Maddison’s cross to set up a nervy finale.