Maurizio Sarri showed his teeth by deciding to drop first-choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for arguably Chelsea’s biggest game of the season against staunch London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Incredulously, however, Sarri’s team still nursing the bruises and fatigue of Sunday’s ultimately unsuccessful exploits battled their way to a well deserved 2-0 victory.
The game was for so much of the first-half bogged down in an unrelenting exchange of turgid midfield passing, but out of the mire came a couple of superb efforts from either side, as Gonzalo Higuain’s scuffed effort hit the post before Harry Winks left the bar shaking with a thunderous long-range strike with just minutes till half-time.
Chelsea took charge of proceedings on the ball after the restart, although this is not to say they created too much in the way of clear cut opportunities. The clinical edge that had deserted them on Sunday struck back with a vengeance, and when Pedro spun off Toby Alderweireld with a deft flick his finish was drilled under Hugo Lloris with unerring power. Having gone a goal down Tottenham pushed on in search of an equaliser, but as they had done so immaculately against Manchester City the Blues’ defence stood firm.
They were justly rewarded with five minutes to play when Kieran Trippier, under no sort of real pressure, passed the ball into his own net after a miscommunication with a haphazard Lloris.
The win keeps Chelsea in the hunt for Champions League places, with just three points to make up and a game in hand following their involvement in the Carabao Cup final.
Here is how we rated Chelsea’s players…
