Premier League
ChelseaChelsea2TottenhamTottenham Hotspur1

Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

By Phil McNultyChief football writer at Stamford Bridge
Pedro (Chelsea player on right) and Diego Costa celebrate Victor Moses' goal
Chelsea conceded to end a run of 601 minutes without conceding in the league but their two goals ensured they are now unbeaten in 27 league meetings at home to Spurs (W18, D9)

Chelsea returned to the top of the table after coming from behind at Stamford Bridge to inflict Tottenham's first Premier League defeat this season.

Spurs looked on course to recover from their midweek Champions League exit when Christian Eriksen's superb 11th minute strike put them in front.

Mauricio Pochettino's side were completely dominant until the closing seconds of the first half when Pedro curled in a spectacular right-foot effort to draw Chelsea level.

And Spurs' miserable record at Stamford Bridge was extended to 30 games without a win - dating back to February 1990 - after Victor Moses scored what proved to be the winner six minutes after the restart.

Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris and Jan Vertonghen both got touches on Moses' goal-bound strike but the ball flew in as Chelsea recorded a seventh league victory in succession.

Chelsea's transformation continues

Hugo Lloris fails to keep Pedro's shot out
Pedro scored his third goal in five Premier League games

When Chelsea lost 3-0 to Arsenal on 24 September - a scoreline that flattered them - Conte's side dropped to 10th in the table, eight points behind then leaders Manchester City.

Conte was highly emotional in his post-match briefing but promised to put matters right. The Italian has been as good as his word and he has presided over a remarkable transformation.

He switched to three at the back, which has left no place for captain John Terry but has made surprise £30m summer signing David Luiz look more comfortable than in his first spell at Stamford Bridge.

Conte has also brought the best out of Pedro, who had struggled at Chelsea after his move from Barcelona, while Diego Costa is a warrior whose eyes are now right on the ball rather than opponents.

Chelsea look a solid, dangerous, formidable outfit and that desperate day at Emirates Stadium seems an age away after these seven straight league wins.

Reborn Moses stars again

Victor Moses
Victor Moses has scored four times in 14 appearances for Chelsea

Victor Moses seemed destined for life away from Stamford Bridge after a succession of loan spells following his £9m move from Wigan Athletic in August 2012.

The 25-year-old had only made 23 appearances and scored one goal for Chelsea before this season and had stints at Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United before Conte took charge at Stamford Bridge.

Conte's tactical reshuffling saw Moses employed as a right wing-back in his new defensive system, the catalyst for an unlikely revival that has seen him emerge as one of Chelsea's most important players.

Moses is utilising his attacking qualities to give Chelsea width while also revelling in his more defensive duties, adding a new dimension to his own game and rewarding a manager who has complete trust in him.

The crucial goal he scored here was just reward for another fine performance and he fully deserved the standing ovation he was given when he was substituted.

Desperate week for Spurs

Heatmaps - Chelsea v Tottenham
Tottenham (right) had plenty of possession in the Chelsea half but were not clinical enough in the final third

This loss in a game they controlled serenely for almost 45 minutes concludes a desperate week for Spurs and manager Pochettino.

The Argentine's team selection for the defeat in Monaco that confirmed their Champions League elimination almost seemed to have one eye on this game - but two losses suggest the ploy has backfired.

Pochettino restored Jan Vertonghen, Kyle Walker and Christian Eriksen here and while the Dane put Spurs ahead they ran out of steam and ideas after Pedro equalised in the dying seconds of the first half.

Now Pochettino must pick up his disappointed players.

Man of the match: Diego Costa (Chelsea)

Diego Costa
Diego Costa has scored 10 goals in 13 league appearances for Chelsea this season - he scored 12 in total in the league last campaign

What the managers said

This victory wasn't easy - Conte

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte: "I am satisfied with the way we fought back. These games are difficult. It was a tough game with a lot of intensity.

"Tottenham started well. It's not easy to go down 1-0 but I am pleased with the performance and reaction. Now it's important to continue the work.

"It's too early to talk of the title. This league is very tough. Tottenham showed in this league there are six or seven teams that can win the title. It's important to continue in this way and improve the confidence."

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: "If we analyse the game we were better. We competed very well and we were a bit unlucky to concede...never 1-1 at half-time. The second half we conceded a goal very early.

"We are disappointed but we need to be pleased for the performance and the way we competed against a very good team."

Spurs were the better team - Pochettino

Up next?

Chelsea travel to Manchester City next Saturday for a clash between first and joint-second in the Premier League. Tottenham are at home against Swansea on the same day.

Line-ups

Chelsea

Formation 3-4-3

  • 13Courtois
  • 28Azpilicueta
  • 30David LuizBooked at 19mins
  • 24Cahill
  • 15MosesSubstituted forIvanovicat 81'minutes
  • 7Kanté
  • 21Matic
  • 3Alonso
  • 11PedroSubstituted forOscarat 83'minutes
  • 19Diego Costa
  • 10E HazardSubstituted forWillianat 77'minutesBooked at 85mins

Substitutes

  • 1Begovic
  • 2Ivanovic
  • 4Fàbregas
  • 8Oscar
  • 22Willian
  • 23Batshuayi
  • 29Chalobah

Tottenham

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Lloris
  • 2Walker
  • 15Dier
  • 5Vertonghen
  • 27Wimmer
  • 12Wanyama
  • 19DembéléBooked at 26minsSubstituted forJanssenat 83'minutes
  • 23Eriksen
  • 20AlliSubstituted forNkoudouat 73'minutes
  • 7Son Heung-minSubstituted forWinksat 65'minutes
  • 10Kane

Substitutes

  • 9Janssen
  • 13Vorm
  • 14Nkoudou
  • 16Trippier
  • 25Onomah
  • 29Winks
  • 38Carter-Vickers
Referee:
Michael Oliver
Attendance:
41,513

Match Stats

Home TeamChelseaAway TeamTottenham
Possession
Home46%
Away54%
Shots
Home9
Away12
Shots on Target
Home5
Away6
Corners
Home3
Away8
Fouls
Home13
Away16

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Chelsea 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Willian (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marcos Alonso.

  4. Post update

    Attempt saved. Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Harry Winks.

  5. Booking

    Willian (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  6. Post update

    Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Willian (Chelsea).

  8. Post update

    Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea).

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Vincent Janssen replaces Mousa Dembélé.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Chelsea. Oscar replaces Pedro.

  12. Post update

    Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by César Azpilicueta.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Chelsea. Branislav Ivanovic replaces Victor Moses.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Willian (Chelsea).

  15. Post update

    Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by David Luiz.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Victor Moses (Chelsea).

  18. Post update

    Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Chelsea. Willian replaces Eden Hazard.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Diego Costa (Chelsea) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marcos Alonso with a cross.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea13101229101931
2Liverpool1393132141830
3Man City1393129121730
4Arsenal1274125121325
5Tottenham136611910924
6Man Utd125431714319
7Everton125431614219
8Watford125341720-318
9West Brom134541716117
10Bournemouth124351416-215
11Southampton123541212014
12Burnley134271221-914
13Leicester133461622-613
14Stoke123451319-613
15Middlesbrough132651215-312
16Crystal Palace133282126-511
17West Ham123271323-1011
18Hull133281128-1711
19Swansea132381626-109
20Sunderland132291223-118
View full Premier League table

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