Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham
The evening began with talk about one goalkeeper and ended with the focus very much on another.
‘Will he, won’t he’, was what many a fan and SBOBET followers were wondering after the Kepa Arrizabalaga episode.
A mixture of cheers and boos emanated around Stamford Bridge as the stadium announcer read his name on the team-sheet before this Premier League match kicked off.
Yet by the time the game had finished, it was another goalkeeper who was firmly under the spotlight.
Highlights of the game
Of course, Arrizabalaga was dropped to the bench by Maurizio Sarri for undermining his manager’s authority and credibility with his one-man rebellion 72 hours earlier.
Now, Sarri needed a result to match the conviction he showed with his selection.
A month after these two sides could only be separated by penalties in the League Cup semi-final, this initially seemed like one encounter too many for two jaded teams who either cancelled each other out or were devoid of their usual spark.
Seven minutes in, and Gonzalo Higuain hit the post with a sliced effort with the outside of his boot which was moving away from Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Two minutes from the break, and the frame of the other goal was shaking.
Harry Winks saw his effort come back off the bar before Arrizbalaga’s replacement, Willy Caballero, managed to fingertip a low Son Heung-Min ball away before it reached the lurking Harry Kane.
Tottenham were looking to win three consecutive league games against Chelsea for the first time since a run of five between March 1961 and September 1963.
But for two sides who have produced a number of Premier League 2019 highlights, this game was still waiting to burst into life.
It finally did.
Early after the restart, Higuain had the ball in the net but was fractionally offside as he raced onto Jorginho’s neat pass.
Then, 12 minutes into the second half, Pedro dribbled into the box, dropped a shoulder and rifled low through the legs of Lloris, the pace surprising the 2018 World Cup-winning goalkeeper.
Spurs briefly looked like they would threaten with the introduction of Fernando Llorente, but their frustrations were complete six minutes from time when Kieran Trippier, under no pressure, rolled the ball back to Lloris, failing to realise the keeper had sprinted out to the edge of his box.
Whether it was the fault of Trippier, Lloris or a bit of both, it was a frustrating and farcical end to the evening for Spurs and their unconvincing number one.
How Chelsea crowed as the Premier League 2019 betting odds took another twist, and they improved their chances of a top-four finish.
Key statistics
Chelsea have now hit the woodwork 18 times in the Premier League this season.
Before tonight, Spurs had won three of their last four Premier League meetings with Chelsea, as many as they had in their previous 20 attempts.
The last time Chelsea lost both league games in a season to Tottenham was in 1970-71.
The Blues are unbeaten in all four Premier League home matches this season against other established top-six teams (won three, drawn two).
Sarri’s side have scored 20 goals in their last 16 league matches, compared to 27 goals in their first 11 fixtures this season.
Tottenham have taken 15 points from seven London derbies this season; now Chelsea, with 16, have earned more.
Spurs have gone a Premier League record 32 consecutive fixtures without a draw since April. It’s the longest top-flight run since Portsmouth’s 38-game streak in 1928-29.
This is the first time Spurs have lost four consecutive away matches in all competitions since a run of seven in a row under Harry Redknapp from December 2008 to February 2009.
Mauricio Pochettino has won four Premier League games against Chelsea as Tottenham manager – more than every other Spurs boss combined.
However, Pochettino has lost nine times to Chelsea, more than any other opponent in his managerial career.
What’s next?
The big matches keep coming for these two sides.
Both have London derbies this weekend also. Spurs host Arsenal at Wembley in the North London derby, while Chelsea make the short journey to neighbours Fulham.
A hectic period for Chelsea continues with two home games in four days: they face Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League and Wolves in the Premier League.
Likewise, Spurs travel to Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, albeit with a 3-0 first-leg advantage, and then face strugglers Southampton on March 9.
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