Palmer nets brace as Chelsea beat Spurs and pile pressure on Postecoglou

Chelsea came from two goals behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 and move second in the Premier League table.

Cole Palmer was on target twice from the penalty spot, as Jadon Sancho and Enzo Fernandez scored in another blockbuster between the London rivals.

Much like this fixture last season, it was a frantic opening 45 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs took control of the early stages following two key mistakes by Marc Cucurella.

Brennan Johnson made the most of the defender’s first mistake, snatching the ball from him following a slip and driving down the right, before crossing for Dominic Solanke to open the scoring excellently inside the first five minutes.

Six minutes later, Cucurella fell victim to the slippery surface for the second time when he went down again, this time allowing Spurs to find Dejan Kulusevski on the edge of the box, and he fired the hosts two goals ahead.

Tottenham could not hold on to the two-goal cushion for long, though, as Sancho drilled home from 20 yards to halve the deficit four minutes later.

One of the major talking points in the first half was when Moises Caicedo caught Pape Sarr with his studs high in a late challenge, but after a swift VAR check, the midfielder was controversially cleared.

Chelsea started the second half on the front foot and their persistence paid off on the hour mark as Caicedo won a penalty following a reckless challenge from Yves Bissouma. Palmer was on hand to slot home the spot kick and pull Enzo Maresca’s side level.

In another moment of madness, Sarr shoved Palmer in the back to gift the visitors another penalty, which was dispatched with a Panenka by Palmer.

Spurs grabbed a consolation through Son Heung-min in the final stages, but Chelsea held on for all three points while Spurs slumped to a third game without a win.

In further bad news for Ange Postecoglou and Spurs, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were passed fit to start the match, but both were forced off with injuries.

Maresca looks to have sorted the mess out that was Chelsea and now he has them in contention for the Premier League. It is only December, and they may not go on and win it, but they have proved they are definitely in the race and are currently Liverpool’s strongest contenders.

Manchester City have already fallen eight points behind leaders Liverpool while Arsenal – two points adrift of Chelsea in third – slipped up at Fulham earlier on Sunday.

As for Spurs, it is a totally different story. Just one win in seven games for Postecoglou’s side has seen them drop to 11th after 15 games, and that win was a 4-0 win at champions Man City.

Spurs can be very hit-and-miss – just like their start to Sunday’s encounter showed – but they are far more miss than hit right now.

Chelsea might be in the title race, but they would not be without the sensation that is Cole Palmer.

Two goals from the spot, his 10th and 11th of the Premier League season, and a brilliant contribution for Fernandez’s goal fuelled Chelsea’s comeback.

Another sensational performance from the England star.

Tottenham: Forster 6, Porro 7, Romero 6, Van de Ven 6, Udogie 6, Kulusevski 7, Bissouma 6, Sarr 6, Johnson 7, Solanke 7, Son 7

Subs: Dragusin 6, Gray 6, Bergvall 6, Maddison 7, Werner 6

Chelsea: Sanchez 5, Caicedo 7, Badiashile 6, Colwill 5, Cucurella 6, Lavia 6, Fernandez 7, Sancho 8, Palmer 9, Neto 7, Jackson 6

Subs: Gusto 6, Veiga N/A, Felix N/A, Madueke N/A, Nkunku 6

5’ – GOAL!!! – TOTTENHAM 1-0 CHELSEA (SOLANKE): Dominic Solanke pokes Spurs in front! Spurs fly forward down the right following a slip from Marc Cucurella and Brennan Johnson whips in a delightful ball at the near post which Solanke busts a gut to get to first, before stabbing past Robert Sanchez. Just like last season, Spurs lead early!

11’ – GOAL!!! – TOTTENHAM 2-0 CHELSEA (KULUSEVSKI): Another mistake from Cucurella and Spurs double their lead! The left-back slips, handing possession to Spurs, who find Dejan Kulusevski on the edge of the box and he converts brilliantly beyond Sanchez.

17’ – GOAL!!! – TOTTENHAM 2-1 CHELSEA (SANCHO): What a hit! Jadon Sancho cuts inside on his right foot and sends an arrow of a strike into the bottom corner from outside the box to halve the deficit!

34’ – CAICEDO GETS AWAY WITH ONE – The midfielder totally misses the ball and catches Sarr with his studs in a late challenge. It goes to VAR, but they surprisingly and quickly wave it away.

59’ – CHELSEA PENALTY! Yves Bissouma brings down Caicedo and Chelsea have the chance to equalise! What on earth was Bissouma thinking of there? He completely takes the midfielder out with a really rash sliding tackle.

61’ – GOAL!!! – TOTTENHAM 2-2 CHELSEA (PALMER PENALTY): Chelsea level! No mistake from Palmer who tucks the ball into the bottom left.

73’ – GOAL!!! – TOTTENHAM 2-3 CHELSEA (FERNANDEZ): Chelsea are in front! Palmer does excellently to weave his way in between four white shirts before finding Fernandez in the box, and he smashes the ball past Forster.

83′ – CHELSEA PENALTY! They have another one! Sarr pushes Palmer in the back and Anthony Taylor has no other choice but to point to the spot.

84′ – GOAL!!! – TOTTENHAM 2-4 CHELSEA (PALMER): As cool as you like from Cole Palmer, who dinks the ball down the middle of the goal for Chelsea’s fourth. That should be game over!

90’+6 – GOAL!!! – TOTTENHAM 3-4 CHELSEA (SON): Spurs have one back with two minutes to play! Son stabs home from close range following a corner.

• With just 11 minutes played, it is the earliest Chelsea have been 2-0 down in a Premier League game since December 1996 v Leeds United. (Opta)
• Cole Palmer has scored all 12 of his penalties in the Premier League; the best 100% record of any player in the competition. (Opta)
• Cole Palmer now has 50 goal involvements (33 goals, 17 assists) in 48 Premier League games for Chelsea; only Erling Haaland for Man City (39), Andy Cole for Newcastle (43), and Mo Salah for Liverpool (46) have ever reached 50 in fewer PL games for a club. (Opta)
• This was the 11th time that Tottenham lost a Premier League game after having been 2+ goals ahead – at least four more such defeats than any other side in the competition’s history. (Opta)