Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Chelsea

Tottenham ended Chelsea's attempt to make Premier League history with a 14th successive victory as the title pacesetters were well beaten at White Hart Lane.

Spurs moved up to third place as headers from Dele Alli either side of half-time made the difference to leave Chelsea five points ahead of Liverpool in second place.

Alli rose to meet Christian Eriksen's cross in first-half stoppage time and the same pair combined to put the game out of Chelsea's reach in the 54th minute.

Eden Hazard had Chelsea's two best chances in each half but Spurs closed out the victory in comfort to put north London rivals Arsenal out of the top four and leave themselves seven points off the top after their fifth successive league win.

Spurs on the march?

Tottenham celebrate their opening goal — Spurs have won five straight games in the Premier League

Tottenham's season was at a tipping point after a disappointing Champions League exit at the group stage and the poor performance in defeat at Manchester United in early December - but they have responded magnificently.

Mauricio Pochettino's side are gathering impressive momentum, illustrated by the manner in which they overcame a Chelsea side that was starting to carry an air of impregnability.

The 4-1 wins at Southampton and Watford served as a warning that Spurs were approaching the sort of form that carried them close to the title last season and this performance confirmed their growing confidence and stature.

Spurs have recaptured their intensity and energy and when this is bolted on to the quality provided here by the likes of Alli and Eriksen, it makes them a formidable prospect.

Manchester City had already found Spurs too hot to handle at White Hart Lane this season - and Chelsea suffered a similar fate.

Alli delivers the goods

Tottenham goals — Kyle Walker (no.2), Christian Eriksen (no.23) and Dele Alli (no.20) combined for both goals

Alli endured a quiet start to the season, perhaps in the aftermath of England's debacle at Euro 2016 - but the 20-year-old is firing on cylinders now.

Alli's headed double here made it seven goals his last four games, the third time in succession he has scored twice in a game after doing the same at Southampton and Watford.

Pochettino said before the game that he regarded Alli as "the most important player to emerge in English football in recent years".

And here the £5m signing from MK Dons backed up his manager's confident words with a consummate all-round display crowned by the two towering headers which proved decisive.

Alli received a standing ovation when he was replaced in the closing minutes after showing the quality that will make him an integral part of the future of both Spurs and England.

Chelsea still in pole position

Diego Costa and Pedro had a sharp exchange of views in the first half

Chelsea's perfectionist manager Antonio Conte and his players will be bitterly disappointed they could not achieve Premier League history with a 14th successive win that would have matched the mark set across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons by Arsenal.

However they remain in prime position in the title race.

They still have a healthy five-point lead over Liverpool in second place and have come a long way since their last Premier League defeat at Arsenal on 24 September, a 3-0 loss that left them eight points adrift of then-leaders Manchester City in eighth place.

Conte has transformed the mood around the team and the club and while their superb run may be at an end, this is a team fully equipped to go the distance in the title race.

"A massive victory" - manager quotes

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'Massive victory' thrills Pochettino

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: "It is a massive victory, a very important three points to reduce the gap at the top of the table. It was a very tough game, we were playing one of the best teams in Europe, so the value of the victory is massive.

"It makes us very proud and we showed character and were competitive. It is one step forward for the team and is important to keep going. Football is about belief.

"We have shown we can challenge for the big things. We are in a good position, Chelsea is in a very good position, but we are fighting to get points and to reduce the gap above us."

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Chelsea manager Antonio Conte

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte: "I saw a game with a great balance. It is not easy to play against Tottenham. But we played with a good personality to create the chances to score a goal, but we could not take them.

"It is strange for us to concede these goals because we are defending well, and they are in a crucial moment. At the end of the first half and then in the second half after we miss the chances to score, but this can happen.

"We must work hard and be pleased with our position in the table, but know this league is tough until the end for the Champions League, for the title."

Spurs' proud home record - stats

Chelsea have not won at White Hart Lane since a 4-2 victory in October 2012 (drawing two and losing two since).
Tottenham are unbeaten at White Hart Lane this season, winning eight and drawing two; their longest unbeaten start to a Premier League season at home since 2000-01 (13 games).
Spurs haven't lost a Premier League London derby at White Hart Lane under Mauricio Pochettino (winning eight and drawing four).
Tottenham scored with their only two shots on target in this match.
Dele Alli has equalled his 2015-16 goal tally (10). He has managed to do this in 19 appearances this season, compared to 33 last season.
Spurs have never lost a Premier League match that Alli has scored in (16 games - winning 12, drawing four).
The only midfielders to reach 20 Premier League goals quicker than Alli (52 games) are Rafael van der Vaart (44) and Matt Le Tissier (50)
Only Mesut Ozil (22) has more Premier League assists since the start of 2015-16 than Christian Eriksen (20).
This was only the fourth occasion this season in the Premier League where Diego Costa has failed to produce a goal or an assist.

Man of the match - Dele Alli

Mauricio Pochettino and Dele Alli — Alli's two goals were Tottenham's only efforts on target

What's next?

Tottenham play Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Sunday before resuming their league campaign at home to West Brom on Saturday 14 January.

Chelsea take on Peterborough in the FA Cup on Sunday before travelling to defending Premier League champions Leicester six days later.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Tottenham

1Lloris
15Dier
4Alderweireld
5Vertonghen
2Walker
19DembéléSubstituted forWinksat 74'minutes
12WanyamaBooked at 40mins
3RoseBooked at 87mins
23Eriksen
20AlliBooked at 45minsSubstituted forSissokoat 86'minutes
10KaneSubstituted forSon Heung-Minat 90+2'minutes

Substitutes

7Son Heung-Min
13Vorm
16Trippier
17Sissoko
27Wimmer
29Winks
33Davies

Chelsea

13Courtois
28Azpilicueta
30David Luiz
24CahillBooked at 38mins
15MosesSubstituted forBatshuayiat 85'minutes
21Matic
7KantéSubstituted forFàbregasat 79'minutes
3AlonsoSubstituted forWillianat 65'minutes
11PedroBooked at 18mins
19Diego Costa
10E Hazard

Substitutes

1Begovic
2Ivanovic
4Fàbregas
5Zouma
22Willian
23Batshuayi
29Chalobah

Referee:: Martin Atkinson
Attendance:: 31,491

Match Stats

Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamChelsea

Possession: Home45%; Away55%

Shots: Home9; Away11

Shots on Target: Home2; Away2

Corners: Home1; Away6

Fouls: Home9; Away8

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Chelsea 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Chelsea 0.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+2'

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Son Heung-Min replaces Harry Kane.

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. David Luiz (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by César Azpilicueta with a cross.

Posted at 89'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Harry Winks.

Booking

Posted at 87'

Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 87'

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur).

Substitution

Posted at 86'

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Moussa Sissoko replaces Dele Alli because of an injury.

Substitution

Posted at 85'

Substitution, Chelsea. Michy Batshuayi replaces Victor Moses.

Posted at 85'

Attempt blocked. Diego Costa (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas.

Posted at 79'

Offside, Chelsea. Cesc Fàbregas tries a through ball, but Diego Costa is caught offside.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Chelsea. Cesc Fàbregas replaces N'Golo Kanté.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Victor Moses (Chelsea).

Posted at 76'

Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 74'

Offside, Chelsea. Eden Hazard tries a through ball, but Pedro is caught offside.

Substitution

Posted at 74'

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Winks replaces Mousa Dembélé.

Posted at 73'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Eric Dier.

Posted at 72'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Kyle Walker.

Posted at 69'

Attempt blocked. Diego Costa (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 66'

Attempt blocked. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kyle Walker.

Substitution

Posted at 65'

Substitution, Chelsea. Willian replaces Marcos Alonso because of an injury.

Posted at 65'

Attempt missed. Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Jan Vertonghen.

Posted at 62'

Foul by Victor Moses (Chelsea).

Posted at 62'

Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 62'

Foul by David Luiz (Chelsea).

Posted at 62'

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 60'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Victor Wanyama.

Posted at 60'

Attempt blocked. N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 59'

Attempt saved. Pedro (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcos Alonso with a cross.

Goal!

Posted at 54'

Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 2, Chelsea 0. Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a cross.

Posted at 53'

Attempt missed. Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by César Azpilicueta.

Posted at 51'

Attempt missed. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mousa Dembélé.

Posted at 51'

Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Jan Vertonghen tries a through ball, but Dele Alli is caught offside.

Posted at 48'

Attempt missed. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Marcos Alonso with a headed pass.

Posted at 48'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Danny Rose.

Posted at 47'

Attempt saved. Diego Costa (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by N'Golo Kanté.

Second Half

Posted at

Second Half begins Tottenham Hotspur 1, Chelsea 0.

Half Time

Posted at 45'+3'

First Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 1, Chelsea 0.