Chelsea vs Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result, score and reaction as Nicolas Jackson goal seals win

Tottenham’s Champions League hopes were dealt a damaging blow as they fell to a 2-0 Premier League defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Ange Postecoglou’s side were left trailing fourth-placed Aston Villa by seven points and now have just a single game in hand, as goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson saw Mauricio Pochettino emerge victorious against his former club to enhance his team’s own chances of qualifying for Europe.

This was far from Spurs at their fluid, swashbuckling best, and rarely did they put serious pressure on a Chelsea backline that had already posted the club’s worst league defensive record in more than 30 years.
• None REPORT: Chelsea punish Tottenham to leave Ange Postecoglou with his first Spurs crisis
• None GOAL! Jackson nods in a second after Palmer crashes free-kick against the bar (2-0)
• None GOAL! Chalobah heads in from a free-kick and a lengthy VAR check allows the goal (1-0)

As the saying goes, fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Ange Postecoglou insisted Tottenham had “far more important issues” than defending set-pieces before a second London derby in five days, but a potential problem for the Spurs manager is now growing into a crisis after this defeat to Chelsea.

Chelsea punish Tottenham to leave Ange Postecoglou with his first Spurs crisis

What an evening for Pochettino, and he will hope that the signs of his Chelsea team are starting to appear even if there will be tough times to as well.

When speaking to the BBC, he said: “The first half was fantastic. Then you have to contain and suffer. Tottenham have quality players. Not too much to say, all credit to the players.

“So happy and so pleased. So happy for our players.

“We are in a good place, we have amazing professionals working on set-pieces. The team really showed in the way we wanted to build this way to play.”

“It will be difficult. I don’t want to look up to the Champions League after this game, it was not a good performance from us and it is important we play a good game on Sunday.

“First half we didn’t try to play. We didn’t push forward when we come out. We tried to play in the second half but there was not that confidence today.

“We have to take a look back a this game and bounce back better at the weekend.”

Chalobah opened the scoring with a header, but after a long VAR check it ruled that Marc Cucurella didn’t foul Brennan Johnson in the build-up to Postecoglou’s disagreement.

The Australian said: “I still think their goal is a foul but no one cares about that and we didn’t deserve anything more than that.

“It wasn’t about conceding the goal it was about our approach and we are just nowhere near good enough and we are nowhere near positive to where we need to be. That is on me.

“I didn’t say I wasn’t interested, I said it wasn’t my priority but that is okay, if people want to think that what we are missing is set pieces that is fine, I will do my job.”

It was a disheartening day for Spurs, and the slump in form continues for the north London club, right at the wrong moment in the season.

Postecoglou said to Sky Sports: “We have lost some conviction and belief in our football that is for sure, just in the midfield but again that on me.

“We didn’t play well, do you want me to roll you a dossier on where we went wrong?

“I have to have a look at myself in all of this and see how I have more than an impact.

“When we put in a performance like we did in the first half it obviously means my message isn’t getting through, so that is for me to address.”

Chelsea secure their first win in three games thanks to goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson, while severely denting Tottenham’s top four hopes.

These two wildly inconsistent teams were always going to throw-up an entertaining fixture, but it was a far too common problem for Ange Postecoglou was the difference between them and their fierce London rivals.

Two set-piece goals on either side of the break gave Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino a Premier League double over his former side. Trevoh Chalobah punished Spurs’ sloppy defending by lofting a header over Vicario, while unmarked. Spurs tried to battle back into the game after the break, but as much as they could keep the ball they struggled to do anything with it, and Jackson reacted quickest to Cole Palmer’s free-kick that hit the crossbar, to double the lead.

It was a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea that has seen their European chances massively increase as they move up to eighth, while Tottenham have now lost three games in a row and are losing pace with fourth-placed Aston Villa.

97 mins: Chelsea move up to eighth in the Premier League with a 2-0 win against Tottenham, who have seen their Champions League hopes quickly fall away.

94 mins: Jackson gets a huge standing ovation as he celebrates his fourth goal of the season against Tottenham, only Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink has more against Tottenham in a single season. Jimi Tauriainen comes on for his Premier League debut.

90 min: Bentancur has had two chances in a couple of minutes. He dribbles a shot into the gloves of Petrovic and then waits for the final moments to shoot but takes too long and wastes the chance.

Lo Celso also tries to dagger a shot into the corner but is blocked along the way, while Maddison’s effort clips of a Chelsea player and out for a corner.

That is the best flurry of shots they have had all game, as the Spurs’ fans filter out the stadium with six minutes added time.

85 min: Chelsea have made two subs since the goal, Mudryk came off for Casadei moments after Jackson’s strike.

While the Chelsea victory has been slightly tainted as Gilchrist has gone off injured and is replaced by Josh Acheampong to make his debut, three days shy of his 18th birthday.

Tottenham also see Emerson come off for Lo Celso with five minutes left.

81 min: Madueke does well to just marshal the ball out of play with pressure from Gil. It has been a poor showing from Spurs tonight who have offered little with the ball, and have seen their Champions League hopes fade in front of their eyes. Petrovic has had barely any saves to make and he gets a drink of water while Gilchrist gets treated on the turf.

78 min: Johnson has now come off for Bryan Gil. The Welshman was positive for Tottenham but couldn’t really marry his positivity with a clinical edge. Just after Jackson’s goal he arrived at the back post but could only hit it into the side netting.

He loves to face Tottenham and he was the quickest thinker on the pitch after Palmer smashed the crossbar from a free-kick.

The Chelsea striker reacted to the ball hitting the woodwork and manoeuvered his body well to direct his header goalwards, with Vicario nowhere to be seen. It is a vital goal on the night with Spurs building moment.

67 mins: The first yellow card of the night goes to Van de Ven, who tries to make up for his own mistake by dragging down Jackson. The defender took too long on the edge of the box and Jackson snatched it off him and raced way before getting taken down just before he entered the Spurs’ half.

63 mins: Despite the strong 20 minutes after the break, Postecoglou makes a triple change. Bentancur comes on for Sarr, who had attempted an overhead kick in his final moments on the pitch.

Joining the Uruguayan on the pitch are James Maddison and Hojbjerg, who replace Richarlison and Bissouma. The pair had a quiet evening, and Hojbjerg had already tried his luck from distance. Maybe that is what Postecoglou has said to his replacements.

62 mins: Chalobah gifts the ball to Tottenham and they camp outside of Chelsea’s box for almost a minute, just waiting for an opening. It didn’t come and Spurs didn’t manage to create a shooting chance and Chelsea hacked it away.

58 mins: Chelsea haven’t been as threatening on the break, and an attack falls through after Madueke was found one-on-one with Emerson. The Brazilian did well to swipe the ball away from him, and Spurs have enjoyed the ball a lot more.

Postecoglou’s side found themselves out wide on two occasions but Gilchrist blasts the ball into the stand and then Cucurealla dives to block Johnson’s cross.

54 mins: It is a completely new look Spurs side after the break, as Van de Ven surges up the field and finds Son who tries to cross the ball into Richarlison, but Badiashile comes across to knock it out for a corner.

The chance came after Palmer hit a shot high over the bar, from just outside the box.

51 mins: Chelsea have a great chance after Romero passes the ball to Mudryk. He bursts into space but again his end product is lacking and he wastes the chance with Jackson waiting for a delivery.

Spurs now have an opportunity to whip a ball in after Gilchrist fouls Son. Porro’s left-sided free-kick is well cleared away by Chelsea though.

47 mins: It has been a quick start to the second half for Tottenham. Chelsea bodies had to block a shot, and Petrovic flicked away Sarr’s cross.

They now have a corner and put more pressure on the Blues’ goal, but Jones blows his whistle for a foul committed by Van de Ven.

Spurs get us back underway at Stamford Bridge.

47 mins: Spurs’ best piece of play so far gives them a great opening. Johnson, who has been Tottenham’s best player, is found behind Chelsea’s defence and delivers a ball in to Sarr. He swipes at it and his shot is blocked by Chalobah, who celebrates with a massive roar and gets a celebratory slap from Cucurella, very affectionate.

45 mins: There are four minutes of added time in the first half.

41 mins: Chelsea zipped the ball around well, between Palmer, Caicedo, Mudryk and Cucurella, with the latter getting clattered and winning a free-kick.

What resulted from the set-piece wasn’t as slick, with Mudryk cutting in and firing a horrific shot from outside the box well over.

37 mins: Richarlison gets tussled to the ground by Badiashile, and Porro has a chance to deliver from a threatening area, and he finds Romero who beats Gilchrist to the ball but flashes a header wide.

It is Tottenham’s best chance by far, and with the space he had he should of at least directed it on target.

35 mins: Postecoglou is furious on the touchline berating his team and barking orders as Mudryk lies on the floor. It is an unusual sight to see the Australian so worked up, but he wants to see more from his team.

32 mins: The crowd has been electric here at Stamford Bridge, with Tottenham fans bringing the noise to the game, and Chelsea often responding with a chant of their own.

It is adding to an exciting opening 30 minutes, but the away side are going to have to improve because, Mudryk nearly added a second but couldn’t find enough whip on his effort.

Yep it counts, it took its time but Robert Jones declares it as a goal.

Chalobah gives Postecoglou more set-piece worries as he meets Gallagher’s free-kick and lofts his header over Vicario.

It was getting thoroughly checked for offside, which was cleared and then for a potential foul from Cucurella on Johnson. He blocked him slightly but it wasn’t enough for the goal to get overturned and Chelsea lead.

24 mins: Mudryk has had a strong start to this game. Adding to a couple of the through balls he has played, he goes on a dribble which gets him into the Spurs box, via a couple of deflections, and he just loses his footing before rolling the ball into Vicario.

The Ukranian again sprays a ball across the pitch to Madueke, and he charges inwards but his finish is a bit wild and doesn’t test the Italian in goal.

20 mins: Caicedo wins a free-kick after Kulusevski clips his foot. It allows Gallagher to hit a floating ball in, which is only cleared as far as Badiashile, who has his shot blocked.

18 min: Jackson founds himself on the left wing and, this time Cucurella is in a more orthodox left-back position and blasts the ball across the box. It goes through everyone and Gilchrist meets it just outside the box and fires it over.

Tottenham then go up the other end and Petrovic has to get down low to block Johnson’s cross. It is the first thing that he has had to do this game nearly 20 minutes in.

13 mins: Emerson tries to win a penalty for Tottenham as he goes down after a slight touch from Madueke, it took VAR a split second to decide it wasn’t a penalty and the play goes on.

Chelsea regrouped and built an attack, with Cucurella operating in a midfield role. It is an unusual position to see the Spaniard but he is trying to get on the ball and create something but he couldn’t get onto Mudryk’s pass.

9 mins: Johnson finds himself with a good position to cross but he hits a floating effort over everyone and it goes out for a goal-kick. Tottenham have had more of the ball but Chelsea are very direct whenever they get the ball.

4 mins: Jackson has the first attempt and it almost comes as a surprise to everyone, Mudryk races into the Chelsea half, and plays in Jackson. The striker nutmegs Vicario but Van de Ven races to clear it off the line.

The Dutchman gets a bit fortunate with his clearance cannoning off Palmer and out for a goal-kick.

Mudryk then tries his last but hits an uncontrolled shout into the crowd. A good start from Chelsea.

Chelsea get us underway here, and it is a lively atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, with Spurs rallying up the crowd just before kick-off.

After Dortmund beat PSG last night, Spurs now know they need to finish in the top four to get Champions League football, so a win is vital here.

The players are coming out here. Kick-off is fast approaching...

“The young kids are in the club as they wanted to have the opportunity to go into the first team.

“It is a good challenge for us and for them to be there.

“That is the reality we are living - we need to be positive.”

After a quiet game against Arsenal, Maddison is named as a substitute with Brennan Johnson coming to fill his place. The Welshman isn’t as creative as the former Leicester midfielder, but does offer a more direct style of play if needed, with his smart runs in behind potentially going to cause problems for Chelsea’s defence.

Richarlison also gets his first start since February, with injuries causing the Brazilian to have a stop-start season. He has had a much improved second year with Tottenham, scoring ten league goals compared to his sole goal last campaign.

The average age of the Chelsea bench is 19.88 years old, and that also includes 31-year-old back-up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. The most experienced player on the bench bar the keeper, is Cesare Casadei who has been brought on a couple of times in the Premier League but is yet to start a game for the club. If things get difficult for Pochettino, he is going to have to trust the youth.

Both teams were victims of controversial VAR calls in their last games, and it has left Tottenham boss Postecoglou losing his emotion in the sport at times. Read what he said after his side weren’t given a penalty against Arsenal.

Spurs: Postecoglou slams VAR after 3-2 derby loss: 'I don't celebrate goals any more'

Alfie Gilchrist starts for Chelsea, and what a moment for the Blues’ youth product. He got his first goal for the club in their last home game capping off a 6-0 victory against Everton, but today will be tasked with stopping Son. It is not an easy feat, but he will be as pumped up as anyone in that Chelsea line-up.

Three memorable Chelsea vs Tottenham moments in recent years

This game has always been a close-fought rivalry and it has resulted in some crazy moments throughout the years.

Spurs came back from behind to record an incredible 2-1 against their London rivals at Wembley. Although since they lifted that trophy they haven’t managed to do it since.

2) Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham - The Battle of the Bridge

After a shocking season for Chelsea, they stepped up to spoil Tottenham’s, as Eden Hazard’s late strike drew the game level and saw Leicester City complete an unimaginable title win.

I don’t think you can put this game into words, but we all remember. VAR, red cards, injuries, hat-tricks and a winning streak brought to an end. Let’s see if today can create its own magical moment.

Tottenham’s last two games have seen them ship seven goals

Tottenham were also affected negatively by VAR in their last game, having a penalty not given by Michael Oliver as Bukayo Saka went up the other end and scored Arsenal’s second in a 3-2 win for Mikel Arteta’s side.

That was their first game in two weeks, and Postecoglou was probably relieved with the mini-break after his side were dismantled by Newcastle 4-0. Neither side is in great form and have shown they are also shaky in defence which means anything could happen.

Despite the pretty formidable record home record against Spurs, Chelsea’s form going into this game is far from convincing and should give Spurs fans hope they can get another historic win.

They had to produce a really strong second-half performance to come back against Aston Villa, and were then pretty unfortunate to get their last-minute winner taken away from them by VAR.

But there was no sympathy for the side in their previous game as they got battered 5-0 by Arsenal and got knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City in the semi-final the weekend before. There is no better way to get the fans excited again than a derby win, and the Chelsea fans will be dying for a result against Spurs.

One win in 33 tries for Spurs at Stamford Bridge

Stamford Bridge has not been a happy hunting ground for Tottenham to say the least. They have only won once in their last 33 attempts, although the manager to deliver that win was Pochettino. It was a 3-1 victory in 2018, with Christian Eriksen and a Dele Alli brace overturning Alvaro Morata’s first-half strike, the only two players still contracted at either club that played in the game are Son and Davies.

Mauricio Pochettino identifies reason behind Chelsea injury crisis with 14 players out vs Tottenham

Chelsea’s line-up almost picked itself and with 14 first-team players out, Mauricio Pochettino has identified the issues Chelsea have faced as he ruled 14 players out for their Premier League crunch match against Tottenham on Thursday.

The Argentine got sent off in Tottenham’s 4-1 defeat to the Blues, Postecoglou hasn’t had a problem with Romero’s attitude at all.

He said: “On reflection, when you look at the challenge he got sent off for, I’ve seen half a dozen since, so he may be paid the price for being who he is.

“I haven’t had an issue with his discipline all year. That game we started well, we were flying. I haven’t had a problem. If historically it was different, it wasn’t under my watch. He’s been fantastic this year.”

“Most of the boys don’t like to train against him. He’s a real competitor and I love that about him. Whether it’s training or a game, what you see is what you get with Romero.”

At 3-0 down against Arsenal, it looked all doom and gloom until Romero decided to try and take matters into his own hands to single-handly drag Spurs back into the game.

He scored to make it 3-1 and, despite Heung-min Son’s penalty, Spurs fell to defeat, but Postecoglou couldn’t have been happier with his centre-back’s initiative.

The Australian coach said: “He’s a World Cup winner and I’ve just got to get some of what’s in him into some of the others.”

Pochettino was not the only person eagerly waiting to face their former side, as Timo Werner was expected to make his return to Stamford Bridge. That greeting between him and the Chelsea fans was snatched away after he picked up season-ending injuries, and with Spurs yet to announce if they will sign the German permanently he could have already played his final game for the club.

He wasn’t the only casualty in their north London derby defeat with Ben Davies also ruled out for the rest of the campaign, and it has come at a really bad time for Tottenham as their Champions League push gets harder and harder.

Dejan Kulusevski has acknowledged Tottenham Hotspur must improve their mentality and learn from Arsenal if they are to compete with them next season.

Fifth-placed Spurs suffered a painful 3-2 defeat at home to their north London rivals on Sunday, but were staring down the barrel when three goals behind at the break.

Ange Postecoglou’s team produced a stirring second-half rally and yet with their faint top-four prospects nearly over, Kulusevski admitted they must become more consistent.

England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s in contention and who has work to do?

Time is running out for England players, such as Tottenham’s James Maddison and Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher, to impress manager Gareth Southgate and win a place in his squad for Euro 2024.

England will play Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia in Group C when they begin their quest to win the tournament in Germany this summer.

Southgate’s side topped their qualifying group without defeat and are one of the favourites to lift the trophy in Germany on 14 July, given their recent record in major tournaments and the outstanding form of their attacking players this season including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden.

England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane and who has work to do?

Cole Palmer is looking to make history

Cole Palmer will be eager to return to Stamford Bridge after his last two outings at home have seen him score seven goals. He bagged a hat-trick as he dragged Chelsea to a last-minute win against Manchester United, and then one-upped himself by scoring four in the next game against Everton. It is unlikely he will get five today, but if he does somehow continue this incredible goalscoring streak, he will join his former teammate Erling Haaland as the only player to score 3 or more goals in three consecutive home games. That isn’t bad company.

Pochettino obviously has emotions in both camps after spending five fruitful years at Tottenham, before a year managing Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi at PSG brought him back to London to as Chelsea’s head coach. His most famous game at Stamford Bridge probably came as Spurs boss, in the Battle of the Bridge eight years ago today.

When asked about the chaotic 2-2 draw, Pochettino said: “It was a derby, we were fighting to win the title and Chelsea were fighting to try and win.

“We were all involved. When you play for the title and play a big team like Chelsea, they want to win. It was normal emotion, fighting on the pitch is not a good example, for both teams.”

The last time Tottenham made the trip to Stamford Bridge it was Antonio Conte’s Spurs facing off against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, the game ended 2-2 and a fierce handshake between the two occurred right at the end. Since then there have been three new managers at Tottenham and four at Chelsea. The north London club seem to be happy with Postecoglou, after Christian Stellini and Ryan Mason’s brief spells in charge, while Pochettino still needs to prove himself to some of the Chelsea fanbase.

The Blues have been wildly inconsistent this season but have had a few big performances against perceived rivals. In the first game between these two London rivals Chelsea ran out 4-1 to hand Ange Postecoglou his first defeat as Spurs manager. It partly derailed Tottenham’s strong opening to the season, but they still remain in contention for the Champions League, while Chelsea are focussed on getting into any European competition right now.

Why playing Premier League games in the US is the last thing football needs

Even for football, it was a fairly brazen display of how these things actually work. As recently as Friday, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the game’s calendar is at a “tipping point” - “there is too much football being played and there is constant expansion,” he said. A week couldn’t even pass without NBC executive Jon Miller tellingThe Athletic about bringing Premier League matches to the United States.

Miller’s suggestion wasn’t quite the notorious plan of the Premier League’s ‘39th game’ - rejected in 2008 followng a backlash from fans and opposition from Fifa - but you can see the way it’s going. Perhaps of most concern was Miller’s comment that it’s “something we’ll continue to push for”.

These are actually words that all of football should be alert to.

Read Miguel Delaney’s feature on the future of Premier League broadcasting:

Why playing Premier League games in the US is the last thing football needs

The time has eventually come, Thiago Silva’s Chelsea chapter is soon to close, albeit three years later than expected.

A one-year contract was all that was signed when he arrived in west London in 2020, after an eight-year spell at PSG, but as he called time on his Chelsea career on Monday, he will leave a huge void.

The relatively inexperienced Frank Lampard was the manager who bought him in, but he entered a dressing room filled with leaders and accomplished professionals. Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Olivier Giroud were all part of the Blues squad then - compared to now, where he is the only outfield player over 30.

Age isn’t the only qualification for experience, but throughout Silva’s career he has managed to galvanise his teammates while also speaking out against problems or injustices.

In Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday, Silva delivered a team talk at half-time that inspired his team to fight back from 2-0 down at Villa Park, and once the Brazilian veteran leaves it is difficult to see who at the club might be able to offer a similar role.

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of this evening’s Premier League action as Chelsea host Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

This anticipated contest should provide plenty of excitement as well as potentially season-defining consequences for both clubs who are targeting a positive end to the season.

For Chelsea, currently ninth in the table, a victory would send them within three points of Manchester United in sixth and give them a realistic chance of qualifying for one of the European competitions next year despite a topsy-turvy campaign.

Spurs have loftier ambitions and are hoping to secure the final Champions League spot. Aston Villa currently sit in fourth, seven points ahead of Tottenham, but Ange Postecoglou’s men have two games in hand on the Villa and must win both if they hope to make a late charge for Europe’s top-flight.

We’ll have all the team news, line-ups and updates for tonight’s game throughout the afternoon so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 7.30pm.