Football writer Alex Keble analyses Chelsea's 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the latest London derby at Stamford Bridge.
It was fraught and fractious, tense and at times unruly; a match that had everything – apart from quality at either end of the pitch, that is.
Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur had disallowed goals, VAR checks, angry confrontations, and even an unusual incident when Ange Postecoglou cupped his ear to his own supporters, a gesture that appeared confrontational but was dismissed by the Spurs head coach as a desire only “to hear them cheer.”
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And thankfully for the hosts, it had one brief glimpse of the real Cole Palmer, whose outstanding cross for Enzo Fernandez’s winner was the only moment of magic in a scrappy affair at Stamford Bridge.
In that sense, order was restored.
Chelsea won a Premier League match against a side sitting outside the relegation zone for the first time since beating West Ham United over two months ago, while Palmer ended a sequence of seven matches in all competitions without a goal or assist.
Meanwhile Spurs struggled throughout, which, in truth, is also ordinary service resumed; only the Premier League’s current bottom four teams have lost more matches this season than the 16 of Postecoglou's side.
Gusto gave Chelsea control in midfield
The tactical battle was one-sided, even if the result ultimately was not.
From the outset Chelsea used Malo Gusto, inverting from right-back, as an extra body in central midfield, giving them a four-on-three against the Spurs midfielders and full control.
In the two images below, showing the two teams’ average positions, note Chelsea’s compact midfield square involving the right-back (RB) Gusto and then contrast it to the wide-open Spurs midfield with defensive midfielder (DM) Rodrigo Bentancur isolated.
Chelsea and Spurs' average positions
Chelsea also attempted lots of long balls over the top of the Spurs defence, which appeared to push them back further.
From here, Chelsea then played switches out to the left wing in particular, where Wilson Odobert struggled to help an over-worked Djed Spence up against Jadon Sancho.
Chelsea's long balls v Spurs
Put together, that overload in midfield allowed Chelsea to weave through the Spurs press or push them back with long balls, in turn creating space for long passes out wide for a winger to attack the full-back.
Enzo Maresca has received some criticism for his tactical set-ups in 2025, but he got it spot on here, to overwhelm and confuse the away side.
A better final ball, or more conviction to shoot when the chance presented itself, and Chelsea could have been several goals clear at the break.
Spurs fail to learn from first-half issues
Eventually, those tactics would lead to the winning goal.
Such was Chelsea’s dominance in the first half you might have expected Spurs to change their approach at the break.
They did not – and Chelsea dominated from the off before scoring from exactly the tactical mismatch that defined the opening 45.
Gusto’s positioning helped Chelsea dominate the ball (88 per cent between half-time and the goal), then a long switch of play out to the left saw Pedro Neto run at the full-back.
A short phase later, with Spurs unable to clear, Palmer crossed without any pressure on the ball from Odobert.
It was the umpteenth time that had happened and, at long last, Chelsea punished Postecoglou’s side for failing to learn – and failing to adapt their strategy.
Playing such an open style was always going to play into Chelsea’s hands, as Maresca said after the match.
After playing four matches against teams who “sit back and wait for us,” Spurs' style was “in some ways better” for Chelsea, Maresca said.
It wasn’t the first time Postecoglou’s lack of tactical flexibility has affected the outcome, and indeed it contrasted starkly with Maresca’s words after the match.
“Our game plan depends on the opposition,” he said, in response to a question about Chelsea’s long-ball tactics today. “We cannot do the same game-plan against Tottenham and Leicester.”
Palmer and Jackson returns boost Champions League chances
It is no coincidence Palmer’s goal involvement was on the day Nicolas Jackson returned to the starting line-up after a two-month absence.
Jackson was a threat throughout, his runs on the shoulder causing havoc when Chelsea pumped long balls over the top in the first half in particular, while his link-up play between the lines also marked a clear upgrade on his stand-in Christopher Nkunku.
Jackson's touch map v Spurs
Palmer will have been relieved to see that kind of movement ahead of him – and will be looking forward to the run-in now after providing a first Premier League assist since 1 December.
He has created 39 chances between those two assists, the fourth most of any Premier League player in that time, according to Squawka.
Clearly, Palmer has missed having a proper No 9 in front of him and now that he is reunited with Jackson, Chelsea – back up in fourth place – are in the driving seat for UEFA Champions League football.
They could be joined there by Spurs, of course, if Postecoglou can mastermind victory in the UEFA Europa League.
But after this performance, and a fourth defeat in four against rivals Chelsea, the Spurs manager faces an uphill battle to end the 2024/25 campaign on a high.
