Tottenham vs Chelsea - as it happened: Dele Alli headed brace brings Blues' winning run to an end
Re-live all the action from White Hart Lane
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KICK-OFF: 20:00, Wednesday 3rd January 2017
TV: Live on Sky Sports 1
Teams...
Tottenham: Lloris; Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Walker, Wanyama, Dembele, Rose; Eriksen, Alli; Kane.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Hazard, Costa.
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It’s a big game for…
Gary Cahill. Chelsea have the best defence in the league, conceding just 13 goals in 19 games. However their back-line lapsed in concentration twice in their last outing against Stoke. Cahill, the leader in that defence can’t afford to let that happen here, especially against a free-scoring Spurs side who have netted 13 goals in their last four games.
Best stat…
26. During the period between December 1990 until January 2002, Chelsea managed to remain unbeaten against their London rivals for 26 games - 17 wins and nine draws.
Remember when…
The last time Spurs beat Chelsea was in a 5-3 thriller at White Hart Lane. Diego Costa gave the visitors the lead, but goals from Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Andros Townsend turned it around before the break. Kane added another, Hazard pulled one back for Chelsea but then Chadli made it 5-2 to Spurs. John Terry scored a late consolation goal for the Blues.
Player to watch…
Dele Alli. The 20-year-old attacking-midfielder has been in scintillating goalscoring form of late netting five goals in just three games. The Spurs youngster has been their stand-out performer this year and he’ll want to carry on that red hot form against the table-toppers here.
Past three meetings…
Chelsea 2 (Pedro, Moses) Tottenham 1 (Eriksen), Premier League, November 2016
Chelsea 2 (Cahill, Hazard) Tottenham 2 (Kane, Son), Premier League, May 2016
Tottenham 0 Chelsea 0, Premier League, November 2015
Form guide…
Tottenham: WLWWWW
Chelsea: WWWWWW
Odds…
Tottenham to win: 9/5
Chelsea to win: 9/5
Draw: 23/10
(Odds provided by Betfair)
45 mins: We will have two minutes of added time here but surely this game between the two best defences in the division will go in goalless at the break.
45+2 mins: GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1 CHELSEA 0:
No, it will not! With half-time just seconds away, Dele Alli has headed Tottenham into the lead at White Hart Lane. The Chelsea defence and midfield - lauded for so long - afforded Christian Eriksen too much space as he came in off the right wing, and that allowed the Dane to carefully pick out his teammate in the middle with a chipped cross. Ghosting between two opponents, Alli rose gracefully to meet the delivery, looping an effort past Thibaut Courtois and into the top right corner. It's a sixth goal in four games for the England youngster, and this is the most important one yet. Tottenham lead at the break!
SECOND HALF KICK-OFF: A gloved Diego Costa starts the second half, and if Chelsea are to claim a record 14th straight Premier League victory, they are going to have to go some. Trailing to Dele Alli's header late in the first half, the leaders are behind in an away game for the first time since they came from behind to win at Manchester City a month ago.
49 mins: Chelsea have come out firing in the second period, and have had Tottenham fans nervous on three separate occasions in its opening minutes. After Diego Costa had cut inside and forced Lloris into a save with a fierce 18-yard drive, Eden Hazard then missed a glorious chance to equalise. The Belgian heading wide from close range after Marcos Alonso had brilliantly worked the ball back into the danger area.
That wasn't the end of it for Spurs; seconds later, Victor Moses burst into the penalty area, only to be brought down by Dembele. Inside or out - and it was probably out - Martin Atkinson waved play on.
54 mins: GOAL! TOTTENHAM 2 CHELSEA 0:
Déjà vu Dele Alli! Chelsea hadn't conceded a single headed goal all season half an hour ago, they've let in two now! Martin Atkinson waved play on as Marcos Alonso dived in on Kyle Walker on the right, and that proved a good decision from the home side's point of view. Dropping to the feet of Christian Eriksen, the Dane once again picked out Alli with a pinpoint curler to the far post, and the youngster did the rest. A big task for Chelsea is now even bigger.
57 mins: White Hart Lane is rocking, and not even a header of Chelsea's own - Pedro's straight at Lloris - can spoil the party at the moment. The whole songbook is being given an outing: When The Spurs Go Marching In, We've Got Dele...er...the other one.
62 mins: Tottenham are playing keep ball now. Out on the touchline, Antonio Conte appears to have forgotten what to do when your side falls two goals behind. Then he remembers. You bring on Willian for Marcos Alonso.
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