Chelsea secured a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, April 3, to spice up their bid to qualify for the UEFA Champions League subsequent season. The Blues are actually fourth within the Premier League desk with 52 factors from 30 matches, some extent above Manchester Metropolis and two factors above Newcastle United, who’ve a recreation in hand.
The hosts grabbed the one aim in a intently contested recreation when Cole Palmer arrange Enzo Fernandez within the fiftieth minute. VAR intervened twice to rule out a second aim for the hosts for offside within the sixtieth minute earlier than canceling Pape Matar Sarr’s 71st minute strike for a foul within the build-up.
Listed here are 5 speaking factors from the conflict between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur:
5. An excellent efficiency from the keepers
Each Robert Sanchez and Guglielmo Vicario had formidable video games for his or her respective sides within the London derby. The Chelsea shot-stopper made two high-quality saves whereas his reverse quantity made 4 saves.
Vicario will doubtless take the defeat hardest among the many two keepers, with the Italian stopping 0.8 of 1.8 xGOT, confronted in comparison with the 0.74 xGOT that Sanchez confronted and denied.
4. Jadon Sancho and Nicolas Jackson fail to impress
Two of essentially the most disappointing performances within the London derby got here from Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho and Chelsea’s Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson.
Though Sancho produced a high-quality strike at aim, which Vicario did effectively to disclaim, the Englishman was timid in assault and misplaced six of seven duels. Jackson misplaced six of eight duels in a recreation that cried out for attacking high quality at occasions.
3. James Maddison underwhelms for Tottenham Hotspur
The previous Leicester Metropolis midfielder didn’t have a great recreation for Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday. Typically the beating coronary heart of the north London aspect’s attacking intents, he merely failed to lift any alarms throughout his time on the pitch.
Maddison misplaced all 5 duels he entered, dedicated 4 fouls, and managed a mixed xG + xA of 0.11.
2. Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez shine for Chelsea
Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez mixed for the sport’s solely aim, underlining the duo’s distinctive qualities. They had been the 2 finest gamers on the pitch by a ways earlier than being subbed off for defensive reinforcements.
Palmer created two possibilities, gained three tackles, and gained 5 of 9 duels. Fernandez had a equally spectacular displaying, finishing 41 of 45 passes, making 4 recoveries, and making one sort out within the match.
1. Tottenham Hotspur are in huge bother
Ange Postecoglu’s aspect have been surprising this season and are under a shambolic Manchester United within the Premier League desk.
Following their loss to Chelsea, Spurs are 14th with 16 losses after 30 video games. One other huge summer time seems to be on the horizon for Tottenham Hotspur because the Australian tactician’s job is now below intense scrutiny.
