Tottenham Hotspur – Chelsea: Blues Confirm Title Challenge With Derby Win Despite Slippery Moments (3-4)

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea came back from going two goals behind to win 4-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs took a two goal lead via Dominic Solanke & Dejan Kulusevski in the opening fifteen minutes. But Chelsea came back with goals from Jadon Sancho, Enzo Fernandez & a brace from the penalty spot for Cole Palmer. Despite a late goal by Son, Chelsea got the win to move into second place in the table, four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.  

Tactical analysis and match report by Gaurav Krishnan. 

In the fabled hallways of football rivalries, London derbies hold their own special place in the hearts & minds of fans. The Tottenham vs Chelsea London derby might tilt towards Chelsea having the upper hand, and Blues fans chidingly refer to it as ‘three point lane’ but this Spurs side under Ange Postecoglou are far from pushovers. Ask any Chelsea fan whether they thought they thought they’d be in the title race at the start of the season & it’s certain that the majority of Blues fans would have written it off. But such has been the upturn of results under Enzo Maresca that Chelsea find themselves just four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, as things stand. 

The results under Enzo Maresca speak for itself. The Blues have only lost to Manchester City & Liverpool in the league all season, as we nudge slowly towards the halfway point of the 2024/25 campaign. It’s hard not to perhaps say that Maresca's tactics are identical to the Guardiolista model; after all Maresca was under Guardiola’s tutelage as . . .