Hakim Ziyech scored for the second game in a row, after also finding the net in a 1-1 draw at Brighton on TuesdayTwo second-half goals, including a brilliant strike from Hakim Ziyech, helped Chelsea beat Tottenham for the third time in three weeks.
After a goalless first half, Ziyech scored within two minutes of the restart, superbly curling the ball into the top corner from 20 yards after a fine run from Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The hosts doubled their lead eight minutes later when defender Thiago Silva headed in from Mason Mount’s excellent free-kick delivery.
In the first half, Tottenham thought they had taken the lead as Harry Kane slotted past Kepa Arrizabalaga, but the goal was ruled out as the England striker was adjudged to have pushed Silva to the ground.
This victory follows Chelsea’s wins in both legs of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Spurs, cruising through 3-0 on aggregate to set up a Wembley final against Liverpool.
It is Tottenham’s first defeat in the league since Antonio Conte, a Premier League and FA Cup winner while in charge of Chelsea, replaced the sacked Nuno Espirito Santo in November.
Tuchel praises ‘brilliant’ Ziyech goal in Chelsea winChelsea v Tottenham as it happened, plus reaction and analysisGo straight to the best Chelsea contentVisit our Tottenham pageChelsea keep their title hopes aliveFor Chelsea this was a welcome return to winning ways in the league.
They were top of the Premier League after a 2-1 win at Watford on 1 December but a run of only 11 points from their next nine games has severely damaged their hopes of becoming English champions for the first time since Conte guided them to the title in 2016-17.
They remain third and are 10 points behind leaders Manchester City, although Thomas Tuchel’s side will not play in the league again until 19 February as a result of their participation in the Fifa Club World Cup, following their Champions League success.
Conte opted for a back four, the first time he has done so in a league game at Tottenham, as he looked to keep it tight and hit his former team on the counter attack.
But the hosts nearly broke through inside the opening minute when Romelu Lukaku shot over on the turn, before Chelsea failed to convert further chances through Hudson-Odoi, Silva and Ziyech.
Lukaku, who has only scored eight times in 24 appearances in all competitions following a £97.5m move from Inter Milan last summer, had another glorious chance following good work by Mount, but missed the ball when eight yards out.
Harry Kane thought he had given Tottenham the lead in the 39th minute, but saw the goal ruled out for a push on Thiago SilvaWhile Conte was unhappy with the officials for ruling out Spurs’ first-half goal, Tuchel was also furious that Japhet Tanganga, who had already been booked, was not shown a second yellow card when he had a hold of Hudson-Odoi’s shirt late in the first half.
It was the second time Chelsea thought their opponents should have had a player sent off after Matt Doherty had earlier caught Malang Sarr by standing on his ankle – but a video assistant referee check decided it had been accidental.
However seventh-placed Tottenham, who would have moved into the top four with a win, saw their resistance broken early in the second half thanks to Ziyech’s wonder strike, before Silva’s goal took the game beyond them.
Chelsea could have won by a bigger margin as Lukaku, Mount and Cesar Azpilicueta missed chances.
Tottenham scored two injury-time goals in their last match to come from behind and beat Leicester 3-2 in a remarkable match on Wednesday but there was to be no dramatic repeat at Stamford Bridge.
Arrizabalaga did well to keep out Kane’s powerful header late on as Chelsea maintained their clean sheet for their first Premier League win in three matches.
Gap between Spurs and top teams is very large – ContePlayer of the match
ZiyechHakim Ziyech
with an average of 7.89
ChelseaSquad number22Player nameZiyech
Squad number19Player nameMount
Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number2Player nameRüdiger
Squad number20Player nameHudson-Odoi
Squad number1Player nameArrizabalaga
Squad number7Player nameKanté
Squad number31Player nameSarr
Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Squad number5Player nameJorginho
Squad number3Player nameAlonso
Squad number17Player nameSaúl
Squad number9Player nameLukaku
Tottenham HotspurSquad number29Player nameSkipp
Squad number1Player nameLloris
Squad number15Player nameDier
Squad number10Player nameKane
Squad number19Player nameRyan Sessegnon
Squad number6Player nameD Sánchez
Squad number27Player nameLucas Moura
Squad number25Player nameTanganga
Squad number33Player nameDavies
Squad number23Player nameBergwijn
Squad number2Player nameDoherty
Squad number11Player nameGil
Squad number8Player nameWinks
Squad number5Player nameHøjbjerg
Line-upsChelseaFormation 4-3-3
1Arrizabalaga
28Azpilicueta2Rüdiger6Thiago Silva31Sarr
19Mount5Jorginho8Kovacic
22Ziyech9Lukaku20Hudson-Odoi
1Arrizabalaga28Azpilicueta2Rüdiger6Thiago SilvaBooked at 24mins31Sarr19Mount5JorginhoBooked at 42minsSubstituted forKantéat 73’minutes8Kovacic22ZiyechSubstituted forSaúlat 90+1’minutes9Lukaku20Hudson-OdoiSubstituted forAlonsoat 87’minutesSubstitutes3Alonso7Kanté10Pulisic11Werner13Bettinelli14Chalobah17Saúl18Barkley29HavertzTottenhamFormation 4-4-2
1Lloris
25Tanganga15Dier6D Sánchez33Davies
2Doherty8Winks5Højbjerg19R Sessegnon
10Kane23Bergwijn
1Lloris25TangangaBooked at 37minsSubstituted forSkippat 56’minutes15Dier6D Sánchez33Davies2Doherty8WinksSubstituted forGilat 89’minutes5Højbjerg19R SessegnonSubstituted forLucas Mouraat 56’minutes10Kane23BergwijnSubstitutes3Reguilón11Gil12Emerson Royal14Rodon22Gollini27Lucas Moura29Skipp42White44ScarlettReferee:Paul Tierney
Attendance:40,020
Live TextMatch ends, Chelsea 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Foul by Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea).
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea).
Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Chelsea. Saúl Ñíguez replaces Hakim Ziyech because of an injury.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Bryan Gil replaces Harry Winks.
Substitution, Chelsea. Marcos Alonso replaces Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Attempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Harry Winks with a cross.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Antonio Rüdiger.
Attempt missed. Steven Bergwijn (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Harry Kane.
Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
Steven Bergwijn (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Eric Dier tries a through ball, but Oliver Skipp is caught offside.
Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ben Davies.
Attempt saved. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Hakim Ziyech.
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