Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea | 2025/2026 | Premier League | Overview  Premier League

Football writer Dan Edwards reports on a majestic performance by Moises Caicedo, creator of Joao Pedro's decisive goal as Chelsea won 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur.

Enzo Maresca said his young Chelsea squad had to “grow up” in midweek after his side received their sixth red card in the space of nine games in their EFL Cup victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

If their dominant display against Tottenham Hotspur is anything to go by, they appear to have taken their manager’s advice on board.

Chelsea defeated Spurs by just a single goal in the end, but their mature and purposeful performance was deserving of a multi-goal victory, and Moises Caicedo, who turns 24 on Sunday, was the star of the show.

Watch: Caicedo was EVERYWHERE against Spurs

Spurs boss Thomas Frank will have been well aware of Chelsea’s strength in the middle of the pitch, with their midfield trio of Caicedo, Reece James and Enzo Fernandez offering a high technical floor and plenty of defensive aggression to boot.

Frank’s solution was to start with Pape Matar Sarr behind the striker and ahead of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha, with Lucas Bergvall – typically a central midfielder – on the left, and Mohammed Kudus on the right as usual.

His hope will have been that Bergvall’s defensive aptitude would allow him to create a numerical advantage in the middle of the park out of possession to disrupt Chelsea’s build-up, but the young Swede was forced off after just seven minutes due to concussion, and his replacement, Xavi Simons, was not as suited to the task at hand.

We will never know quite how much of a difference this change made to proceedings, but Chelsea capitalised nonetheless, displaying clear authority in the battle for midfield control.

Caicedo dominant

Caicedo was no doubt central to this game within a game, and as a result, the whole match itself.

The Ecuadorian already led all Premier League players for combined tackles and interceptions (49) heading into Matchweek 10, but he made sure to build on that total with another two tackles and four interceptions against Spurs with seven ball recoveries in addition.

“I think he's showing how good he is,” Maresca said in his post-match press conference.

“He's top. We judge him inside the pitch, but I have said many times, the best thing from Moi for sure, is he's so humble, he's such a good guy. He's always there to help everyone.

“For me, in this moment, him and Rodri are the two best defending midfielders in the world.”

Two of Caicedo’s defensive interventions came in one sequence that encapsulated his immense quality, dispossessing both Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven before putting the ball on a plate for Joao Pedro, who smashed home from close range.

The Brazilian had not scored a goal since August against Fulham, and he was so enamoured by Caicedo’s efforts that he offered to take his team-mate out for dinner as a result!

Pressure had been building on Joao Pedro to contribute more goals. His Caicedo-assisted strike ended a 705-minute scoring drought across all competitions, and had it not been for Chelsea’s shortage of options at the top of the pitch, he may have been out of the side.

Maresca has admitted that he does not view the young forward as an out-and-out No 9, and he is perhaps more suited to playing with a striking partner, as he is likely to do in future with Liam Delap, who was suspended for the Spurs game.

The Brazilian had five shots on target in the match, having recorded only three such shots across in his prior 11 games in all competitions this season.

Joao Pedro scored with the easiest of those five attempts, but he missed three opportunities that were defined by Opta as "big chances", and had he been more clinical, the game would have been over inside an hour.

Creative concern for Frank

Spurs are fourth in the Premier League, despite losing to Chelsea for the fifth meeting in a row, but the manner of this performance will be of great concern to head coach Frank.

Their three shots, all of which came from Kudus, added up to an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.05. Since such data became available in 2012/13, that is the club’s lowest xG return in 504 games in the Premier League.

“There’s a lot of things that hurt today,” Frank said after the defeat.

“I think we created very, very little — I don’t think I’ve ever managed a team that’s created that little [in a game] — so that’s part of many, many things and sometimes you can analyse too much. I think we lacked the freshness today, unfortunately.”

His Spurs side have now failed to score in three of their last four games in all competitions, and the suspicion is that they often feel more dangerous from dead-ball situations than they do from open play.

They are missing the natural creativity of the injured James Maddison, and attempts to replace him directly with Morgan Gibbs-White or Eberechi Eze failed in the summer transfer window.

The club instead signed Simons, but the Dutchman has often been used on the left of late, and Frank’s side are therefore still missing a genuine creative presence in the middle of the park.

Admittedly, they entered Matchweek 10 with the joint-highest goal total of any side in the top flight (17), but a look under the hood shows that was unlikely to continue.

They ranked only 13th for xG, with the largest difference between xG and actual goals of any side in the division.

All the more strange is the difference between their results at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium compared to their results on the road.

Spurs would be top of the Premier League table if only away games counted, while they would be 17th if the standings were based on results at home.

“I think we just need to keep working very, very hard on it, no doubt about that,” Frank said, when his team’s poor home form was put to him.

“Clearly we are building something that needs to add a lot of things, sometimes it’s very good but unfortunately today was not good and we are very irritated and frustrated about that.”

What’s next?

Spurs will have to improve quickly if they are to avoid sliding down the table.

They face a much improved Manchester United side in next Saturday’s early kick-off, with a trip to Emirates Stadium to face league leaders and north London rivals Arsenal after the November international break.

Chelsea moved up to fifth and level on points with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League table as Joao Pedro's goal guided the Blues to a deserved 1-0 win in Saturday's London derby, their fifth in a row at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Thomas Frank's hosts knew a victory would take them second behind Arsenal, at least until Sunday's game between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth.

But they were punished for an error-strewn showing, as Moises Caicedo pounced on a defensive mix-up to tee up Joao Pedro's close-range finish in the 34th minute.

Frustration could be heard around the stadium throughout the second half, and Chelsea could have won by a more handsome margin if not for a string of saves by Guglielmo Vicario.

The result leaves the teams fourth and fifth, respectively, in the table, with Spurs boasting a marginally better goal difference.

How the match unfolded

After a quiet opening, the game burst into life around the half-hour mark, with Vicario denying Joao Pedro following a blocked clearance from Pedro Porro, before Mohammed Kudus just fired over at the other end.

But Joao Pedro would not make the same mistake when Spurs played themselves into trouble again soon afterwards. Xavi Simons' poor pass – intended for Micky van de Ven – was intercepted by Caicedo, who squared for the Brazilian to finish.

Only a reflex save from Vicario denied Joao Pedro his brace when he met Malo Gusto's cross on the volley, before Robert Sanchez parried Kudus' shot in first-half stoppage time.

Vicario was worked on several more occasions in the second half as the Spurs supporters grew restless, with Enzo Fernandez trying his luck before Pedro Neto was denied on two occasions.

And there was to be no grandstand finish from Spurs as the best stoppage-time chances fell to Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro, with the hosts being booed off at full-time.

Home is not where the heart is for Spurs

There has been a Jekyll and Hyde feel to Spurs' season so far. For as brilliant as Frank's men have been on their travels - they have the best away record - they have mostly been disappointing at home.

Last week, Spurs produced a streetwise, efficient performance to become the first away victors at Hill Dickinson Stadium, scoring two of their three goals from corners and producing a resolute defensive display when Everton got on top in the second half.

But their start to Saturday's game could hardly have been more different. Spurs got a major reprieve when Porro's blocked clearance did not result in a goal, but they would not be so lucky when Caicedo profited from the mix-up between Simons and Van de Ven.

Spurs had a half-chance early in the second period as Rodrigo Bentancur almost pounced on a long Kevin Danso throw, but that brief moment of hope aside, the hosts were fortunate to avoid further damage on the counter-attack.

The defeat capped a disappointing day for Spurs, which started with Lucas Bergvall being substituted with a head injury in the seventh minute and ended with them eight points adrift of Arsenal.

They are at home again on Tuesday, against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League, before Manchester United come to town next weekend.

Caicedo leads much-improved Chelsea to victory

Discontent never seems to be too far away at Stamford Bridge, and a nervy 4-3 EFL Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers – in which the Blues were almost pegged back from 3-0 up – did little to atone for last weekend's 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland.

There was some pressure on Enzo Maresca coming into Saturday's game, but he oversaw a strong first-half performance, which set Chelsea on their way to three points.

The Italian fielded captain Reece James as a central midfielder, and his physicality in the challenge and crisp passing through the thirds helped the Blues control the engine room.

Caicedo was busy alongside him and played a key role in the game's telling moment, showing great awareness to dispossess Van de Ven, maintain his balance under pressure in the area, then pick out Joao Pedro.

Maresca would have been braced for a Spurs onslaught after the interval, but that pressure never came as the Blues' back line stood up to a series of hopeful set-piece deliveries and Neto led several blistering counter-attacks.

Chelsea will now look to rest up ahead of a mammoth trip to Azerbaijan, to face Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday, before winless Wolves visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Club reports

Spurs report | Chelsea report

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Key facts

Chelsea have lost just one of their last 18 games against Spurs in all competitions (W14 D3), winning each of the last five in a row since a 2-0 loss in February 2023.

Spurs have won just three of their last 19 home Premier League games (D4 L12), with no ever-present side winning fewer home matches during this period (since 10 November 2024 - level with West Ham).

Joao Pedro’s goal for Chelsea ended his goalless run of 705 minutes across all competitions, netting for the first time since August against Fulham.

Only Wolves (four) have made more errors leading to opposition goals than Spurs in the Premier League this season (three – level with Man Utd, Nottingham Forest and Fulham).

Chelsea moved up to fourth and level with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League table as Joao Pedro's goal guided the Blues to a deserved 1-0 win in Saturday's London derby, their fifth in a row at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Thomas Frank's hosts knew a victory would take them second behind Arsenal, at least until Sunday's game between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth.

But they were punished for an error-strewn showing, as Moises Caicedo pounced on a defensive mix-up to tee up Joao Pedro's close-range finish in the 34th minute.

Frustration could be heard around the stadium throughout the second half, and Chelsea could have won by a more handsome margin if not for a string of saves by Guglielmo Vicario.

The result leaves the teams third and fourth, respectively, in the table, with Spurs boasting a marginally better goal difference.

How the match unfolded

After a quiet opening, the game burst into life around the half-hour mark, with Vicario denying Joao Pedro following a blocked clearance from Pedro Porro, before Mohammed Kudus just fired over at the other end.

But Joao Pedro would not make the same mistake when Spurs played themselves into trouble again soon afterwards. Xavi Simons' poor pass – intended for Micky van de Ven – was intercepted by Caicedo, who squared for the Brazilian to finish.

Only a reflex save from Vicario denied Joao Pedro his brace when he met Malo Gusto's cross on the volley, before Robert Sanchez parried Kudus' shot in first-half stoppage time.

Vicario was worked on several more occasions in the second half as the Spurs supporters grew restless, with Enzo Fernandez trying his luck before Pedro Neto was denied on two occasions.

And there was to be no grandstand finish from Spurs as the best stoppage-time chances fell to Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro, with the hosts being booed off at full-time.

Home is not where the heart is for Spurs

There has been a Jekyll and Hyde feel to Spurs' season so far. For as brilliant as Frank's men have been on their travels - they have the best away record - they have mostly been disappointing at home.

Last week, Spurs produced a streetwise, efficient performance to become the first away victors at Hill Dickinson Stadium, scoring two of their three goals from corners and producing a resolute defensive display when Everton got on top in the second half.

But their start to Saturday's game could hardly have been more different. Spurs got a major reprieve when Porro's blocked clearance did not result in a goal, but they would not be so lucky when Caicedo profited from the mix-up between Simons and Van de Ven.

Spurs had a half-chance early in the second period as Rodrigo Bentancur almost pounced on a long Kevin Danso throw, but that brief moment of hope aside, the hosts were fortunate to avoid further damage on the counter-attack.

The defeat capped a disappointing day for Spurs, which started with Lucas Bergvall being substituted with a head injury in the seventh minute and ended with them eight points adrift of Arsenal.

They are at home again on Tuesday, against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League, before Manchester United come to town next weekend.

Caicedo leads much-improved Chelsea to victory

Discontent never seems to be too far away at Stamford Bridge, and a nervy 4-3 EFL Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers – in which the Blues were almost pegged back from 3-0 up – did little to atone for last weekend's 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland.

There was some pressure on Enzo Maresca coming into Saturday's game, but he oversaw a strong first-half performance, which set Chelsea on their way to three points.

The Italian fielded captain Reece James as a central midfielder, and his physicality in the challenge and crisp passing through the thirds helped the Blues control the engine room.

Caicedo was busy alongside him and played a key role in the game's telling moment, showing great awareness to dispossess Van de Ven, maintain his balance under pressure in the area, then pick out Joao Pedro.

Maresca would have been braced for a Spurs onslaught after the interval, but that pressure never came as the Blues' back line stood up to a series of hopeful set-piece deliveries and Neto led several blistering counter-attacks.

Chelsea will now look to rest up ahead of a mammoth trip to Azerbaijan, to face Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday, before winless Wolverhampton Wanderers visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Club reports

Spurs report | Chelsea report

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Key facts

Chelsea have lost just one of their last 18 games against Spurs in all competitions (W14 D3), winning each of the last five in a row since a 2-0 loss in February 2023.

Spurs have won just three of their last 19 home Premier League games (D4 L12), with no ever-present side winning fewer home matches during this period (since 10 November 2024 - level with West Ham).

Joao Pedro’s goal for Chelsea ended his goalless run of 705 minutes across all competitions, netting for the first time since August against Fulham.

Only Wolves (four) have made more errors leading to opposition goals than Spurs in the Premier League this season (three – level with Man Utd, Nottingham Forest and Fulham).

Micky van de Ven’s first-half double helped Tottenham Hotspur secure a 3-0 win over Everton, who were beaten at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time.

The Spurs captain scored twice from corners, nodding clinical close-range finishes past Jordan Pickford, to put the visitors in control by the interval.

Everton had started well and had a potential equaliser ruled out shortly after Van de Ven’s opener, with Jake O’Brien denied by a VAR check for offside in the build-up.

David Moyes’ side threatened a comeback, but Spurs' in-form goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario kept them at bay before Pape Matar Sarr headed home in the 89th minute to secure the three points.

Spurs' reward for becoming the first team to win at the Hill Dickinson stadium is a climb into third place, five points behind leaders Arsenal, while Everton are down in 14th on 11 points.

How the match unfolded

The visitors took the lead from their first chance in the 19th minute. Van de Ven flicked in from close range after Rodrigo Bentancur helped Mohammed Kudus’ corner back across goal.

James Garner then saw a curled shot tipped behind for a corner five minutes later, which O'Brien thumped home. Luckily for Spurs, the goal was ruled out following a VAR review, with Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye adjudged to have obstructed Vicario from offside positions.

And in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time, Van de Ven got his second, with Porro’s stunning whipped corner glanced in ahead of Pickford.

Beto almost pulled one back for Everton in the 54th minute, meeting Ndiaye’s cross with an audacious overhead kick, but Vicario was equal to it, getting a strong hand behind the shot.

Vicario made another impressive save to deny Ndiaye before Spurs countered in style. Porro curled in another pinpoint cross and former Toffee Richarlison, who had earlier seen a volley smothered by Pickford, set up Sarr to guide his header past the goalkeeper.

Everton’s fortress breached

Everton’s new home had so far proven a fortress, with no team able to get the better of Moyes’ side since their switch from Goodison Park.

And, with confidence high after earning a last-gasp comeback win over Crystal Palace in their last home match, Everton started on the front foot, helped by the return of Grealish, who was ineligible to play at Manchester City last weekend.

Just three minutes in, Grealish met Ndiaye’s cross on the volley, but Porro was on hand to block it on the line ahead of a scrambling Vicario.

After twice being caught out when Spurs crowded bodies into the box on corners – and seeing a goal of their own chalked off – the home faithful’s frustration was clear at half-time, but Everton took motivation from it.

Ndiaye, a bright spark throughout, sent an audacious flicked attempt wide of the post and forced Vicario into a sharp stop at his bottom-right corner on either side of Beto’s strike as Everton put up a fight.

It fell flat in the end, though, with Spurs getting their insurance goal late on, and Everton will look to respond to their back-to-back defeats when they travel to Sunderland next weekend.

Spurs flying high on the road

Spurs have had their troubles at home in recent weeks, but their outstanding away form continued on their first trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

No team has won more points on the road than Thomas Frank’s side this term, and they were clinical to keep themselves in the mix at the top of the Premier League table.

More set-pieces gave them joy, with Van de Ven twice left with simple finishes in front of the goalkeeper, with Porro putting in a particularly inviting cross at the end of the first half, giving Pickford no chance.

However, even with a strong 2-0 lead, Spurs may not have felt overly confident given their recent history of squandering advantages, including in their loss to Aston Villa last week.

But they were happy to sit back and frustrate their hosts, with Vicario picking up where he left off in their 0-0 draw with Monaco in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, making several fine saves to protect his clean sheet.

Their defensive base, spearheaded by the match-winner Van de Ven, stood firm to the very end, and Spurs can now turn their attentions to a trip to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup before hosting Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

Club reports

Everton report | Spurs report

What the managers said

David Moyes: "It wasn’t a 3-0, but it ended up 3-0 because we didn’t defend our set pieces well enough. I thought we did a lot of positive things, but it wasn’t a positive result, which is what we were after."

Thomas Frank: "I said from the beginning when we came in what I wanted to improve a lot and one of them was being defensively strong and also set-pieces needed to be better. Two very good goals but also the desire and mentality to defend the box."

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Key facts

Tottenham Hotspur have won four of their five Premier League away games this season (D1), just one fewer than they managed across the whole of the 2024-25 campaign (W5 D2 L12).

Micky van de Ven became the first defender to score twice in a Premier League game for Tottenham Hotspur since Jan Vertonghen in March 2013, who also did so on Merseyside against Liverpool.

Only Nottingham Forest (6) have failed to score in more Premier League games this season than Everton (4), while only in 2005-06 (2) have the Toffees scored fewer goals after nine games of a league campaign under David Moyes than their nine this term.

Van de Ven double sets up impressive Spurs win at Everton  Premier League

Micky van de Ven’s first-half double helped Tottenham Hotspur secure a 3-0 win over Everton, who were beaten at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time.

The Spurs captain scored twice from corners, nodding clinical close-range finishes past Jordan Pickford, to put the visitors in control by the interval.

Everton had started well and had a potential equaliser ruled out shortly after Van de Ven’s opener, with Jake O’Brien denied by a VAR check for offside in the build-up.

David Moyes’ side threatened a comeback, but Spurs' in-form goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario kept them at bay before Pape Matar Sarr headed home in the 89th minute to secure the three points.

Spurs' reward for becoming the first team to win at the Hill Dickinson stadium is a climb into third place, five points behind leaders Arsenal, while Everton are down in 14th on 11 points.

How the match unfolded

The visitors took the lead from their first chance in the 19th minute. Van de Ven flicked in from close range after Rodrigo Bentancur helped Mohammed Kudus’ corner back across goal.

James Garner then saw a curled shot tipped behind for a corner five minutes later, which O'Brien thumped home. Luckily for Spurs, the goal was ruled out following a VAR review, with Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye adjudged to have obstructed Vicario from offside positions.

And in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time, Van de Ven got his second, with Porro’s stunning whipped corner glanced in ahead of Pickford.

Beto almost pulled one back for Everton in the 54th minute, meeting Ndiaye’s cross with an audacious overhead kick, but Vicario was equal to it, getting a strong hand behind the shot.

Vicario made another impressive save to deny Ndiaye before Spurs countered in style. Porro curled in another pinpoint cross and former Toffee Richarlison, who had earlier seen a volley smothered by Pickford, set up Sarr to guide his header past the goalkeeper.

Everton’s fortress breached

Everton’s new home had so far proven a fortress, with no team able to get the better of Moyes’ side since their switch from Goodison Park.

And, with confidence high after earning a last-gasp comeback win over Crystal Palace in their last home match, Everton started on the front foot, helped by the return of Grealish, who was ineligible to play at Manchester City last weekend.

Just three minutes in, Grealish met Ndiaye’s cross on the volley, but Porro was on hand to block it on the line ahead of a scrambling Vicario.

After twice being caught out when Spurs crowded bodies into the box on corners – and seeing a goal of their own chalked off – the home faithful’s frustration was clear at half-time, but Everton took motivation from it.

Ndiaye, a bright spark throughout, sent an audacious flicked attempt wide of the post and forced Vicario into a sharp stop at his bottom-right corner on either side of Beto’s strike as Everton put up a fight.

It fell flat in the end, though, with Spurs getting their insurance goal late on, and Everton will look to respond to their back-to-back defeats when they travel to Sunderland next weekend.

Spurs flying high on the road

Spurs have had their troubles at home in recent weeks, but their outstanding away form continued on their first trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

No team has won more points on the road than Thomas Frank’s side this term, and they were clinical to keep themselves in the mix at the top of the Premier League table.

More set-pieces gave them joy, with Van de Ven twice left with simple finishes in front of the goalkeeper, with Porro putting in a particularly inviting cross at the end of the first half, giving Pickford no chance.

However, even with a strong 2-0 lead, Spurs may not have felt overly confident given their recent history of squandering advantages, including in their loss to Aston Villa last week.

But they were happy to sit back and frustrate their hosts, with Vicario picking up where he left off in their 0-0 draw with Monaco in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, making several fine saves to protect his clean sheet.

Their defensive base, spearheaded by the match-winner Van de Ven, stood firm to the very end, and Spurs can now turn their attentions to a trip to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup before hosting Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

Club reports

Everton report | Spurs report

Next PL fixtures

Key facts

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Football writer Ninad Barbadikar reports on the third UEFA Champions League matches of the season for Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Historic night for Blues' teen stars

Chelsea 5-1 Ajax

Chelsea set the ball rolling on a night when both they and Liverpool won 5-1, to complete a record tally of goals for one nation in a single Champions League matchweek.

Premier League clubs scored 19 goals in total across the two nights with four for Arsenal, three for Newcastle United and two for Manchester City on Tuesday evening. Only Spurs failed to score but they still earned a point (0-0).

As for Chelsea, they dispatched Dutch giants Ajax in a comfortable showing at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca made wholesale changes to his starting XI with this one, naming 10 different players from the team that started the win against Forest, including a start for Marc Guiu u[ front.

The Spaniard opened the scoring with a well-taken goal after just 18 minutes. Before that though, Ajax’s downturn had already begun with a red card for Kenneth Taylor, who was sent off just a minute before Guiu’s opener.

It would soon get bad to worse for the visitors, with Moises Caicedo doubling the Blues' lead from range, a deflected shot that deceived Remko Pasveer in goal. A chaotic start to the game which was only a sign of things to come.

A penalty for Ajax would soon follow, confidently dispatched by former Manchester United and Burnley forward Wout Weghorst. But it wouldn’t be enough to spark the visitors back into life.

The Ajax goalscorer would go on to commit the foul that gave Chelsea the first of two penalties on the night. The first was confidently converted by captain Enzo Fernandez, marking his return from a knee injury.

The second spot-kick was won by the exciting Brazilian winger Estevao, who was given the chance by his captain to step up and deliver and so he did. At the age of 18 years and 181 days old, he became Chelsea’s youngest ever scorer in the Champions League. The record had been held by Guiu earlier in the game, for only 15 minutes.

Going into half-time with a comfortable 4-1 lead, the Blues came out in the second half wanting more and got just that.

Another teenager rising to the occasion, Tyrique George scored a deflected fifth goal to then become Chelsea’s second youngest scorer in the Champions League at the age of 19 years and 260 days, with Guiu now ranking third on that list.

It was the first time ever that a team in the Champions League had three teenagers on the scoresheet. With all of the changes he made for this game, Maresca will feel vindicated for placing his trust in the talented youth at his disposal.

Quoted on Chelsea's official website, Maresca said: "I'm very proud. It's a special night for the club, for the young players.

"It's the strategy of the club. We have so many young players. I think already last season we were the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League, so this season we continue in the same way."

Ten-man Ajax were powerless on the night, managing just one effort from open play, as Chelsea ended with a tally of 22 shots to their name, in an impressive display on home turf.

Away from the spotlight stolen by the teenagers, Jamie Gittens was a bright spark on the left for Chelsea all night, becoming the youngest player since the 2003/04 season to create more than five chances in a Champions League match, eclipsing a record last held by Eden Hazard.

Liverpool paint Frankfurt red

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-5 Liverpool

Liverpool ended a run of four defeats in all competitions in style with a 5-1 comeback demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt.

The start of the game was anything but easy for Arne Slot’s men, however. The Germans took the lead just before the half-hour mark through Rasmus Kristensen, who finished off a superb counter-attack move which started with the dispossession of Florian Wirtz high up the pitch.

Hugo Ekitike scored the all-important equaliser within 10 minutes of Frankfurt’s opener as Liverpool gave the home side, his former club, a taste of their own medicine on the break.

The biggest exception for me today compared to the other games we've played was the playing style of our opponent. We got some energy out of the moments we could press them, which in the last four or five games we played we were not able to press the opponent because the ball wasn't on the ground, it was in the air.

Starting alongside fellow summer signing Alexander Isak for the first time in attack, both players looked to occupy central areas, acting like a front two of sorts. However, Ekitike of the two, had more license to drop off and link play.

Slot said after the match: "The first goal we scored was special. You could see [Ekitike's] pace in a moment like that. These were moments we were hoping for. We were able in the last few weeks to create many, many, many chances but unfortunately we were not always able to score them. Today with Alex and Hugo, I brought two players on the pitch who are usually able to score goals."

For the second Champions League game in a row, Mohamed Salah was not named in Liverpool's starting XI — it's the first time he has been on the bench for back-to-back games in the competition since joining the club in 2017.

Jeremie Frimpong, who was named from the start, was given license to park himself high and wide up the pitch, with Wirtz playing inside on the right and Cody Gakpo holding the width on the left. Frimpong had to exit the action after 19 minutes though, with Slot later reporting he had a hamstring injury. Conor Bradley replaced him.

Even without Salah in the side, Liverpool’s attackers showed promise in their link play and movements, upping the pressure on the Frankfurt defence as the half went on. That pressure paid off from corners, with goals from Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk putting them in a comfortable position before the break. Konate has now scored four of his six goals for the club in the Champions League.

Set-piece goals seem to be in fashion in the Premier League at the moment and Slot will take great pleasure from his side scoring twice from corners on the night, having only netted once from set-pieces in the top flight so far this season.

The first of two Liverpool players to get a goal and assist in the game, Gakpo complemented his first-half delivery for Van Dijk with a strike of his own after 66 minutes, connecting with a well-placed cutback from Wirtz to further extend the Reds' advantage.

Dominik Szoboszlai was next in line to get a goal and assist, firing home past Michael Zetterer unopposed after getting a layoff from Wirtz just outside the Frankfurt box.

Within the space of four minutes, Wirtz managed to provide two assists, after going 10 games for the Reds without goal contributions.

The German playmaker looked a lot more comfortable on the ball and kept things ticking along nicely with his movement between the lines. No doubt that was another welcome sight for Slot.

Despite being 5-1 up with almost 20 minutes to go, Liverpool looked hungry for more, giving Frankfurt little space to breathe until the end.

The injuries to Frimpong and then Isak, replaced at half-time by Federico Chiesa, took some shine off the result for Liverpool. Slot said of Isak's groin issue: "Let’s hope it’s not too bad."

Vicario the hero for Spurs

Monaco 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Thomas Frank’s side came away from Monaco with a share of the spoils, drawing 0-0 against the Ligue 1 side.

Their second successive draw means that Spurs remain unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League league phase; they won 1-0 against Villarreal in the opening matchweek.

A midfield trio of Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha struggled to help Spurs prosper against Sebastien Pocognoli’s Monaco side, who enjoyed greater control of possession and looked the more threatening team as well.

Spurs’ well-known ball progression came to the fore again, with Bergvall seeing very little of the ball before being substituted at the hour mark.

Wilson Odobert on the left was the only bright spark in attack for the Londoners, with Richarlison and Mohammed Kudus being unable to create an impact in the final third.

Spurs' hero on the night was at the other end of the pitch, in Guglielmo Vicario, who made the first of a string of incredible saves after 29 minutes, denying Maghnes Akliouche the opener inside the six-yard area, after he was put through by former Arsenal man Folarin Balogun.

The aforementioned American was next to test Vicario’s reflexes and the Italian stood tall to the task yet again.

Going into half-time, Spurs made it six Champions League games out of seven without a goal at the break. The alarm bells in attack were ringing throughout the first half and it didn’t get any better in the second.

Vicario was reserving his best work for rush hour in the second half though. Aleksandr Golovin, Takumi Minamino and Jordan Teze each forced the Italian into incredible saves, leaving Monaco players almost feeling helpless towards the end of the game.

Frank told Spurs' official website after the game: "It’s a contrast to the last game against Aston Villa where we played with good intensity, had a very competitive performance and basically gave nothing away and Vic [Vicario] didn’t have a save.

"Then in this game, we didn’t play with enough intensity – especially in the second half – and needed Vic nine times. We’d like to defend better as that’s too much. But sometimes you need your 'keeper and Vic was fantastic tonight."

For all the chances that they did concede, Spurs almost had a lifeline of their own late on, suddenly springing to life in added time after the 90 minutes were played.

With the talents of Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani and Brennan Johnson on the pitch, the visitors fashioned a chance late on for the latter in added time, only for the Wales international to strike right at the Monaco keeper Philipp Kohn.

Spurs will gladly take a share of the spoils on the night but will look for an improved display when they face Everton away on Sunday.

The Premier League’s return brought another weekend of drama as Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table and Liverpool’s troubles deepened.

The champions suffered a first home defeat against Manchester United for almost a decade, which dropped them four points behind Arsenal, who had beaten Fulham the day before.

Two more Erling Haaland goals saw Manchester City beat Everton to replace Liverpool in second, while Tottenham Hotspur missed the chance to overtake them by losing at home to Aston Villa.

Defeat against Chelsea meant Postecoglou lost his job as Nottingham Forest manager after only 39 days, while Burnley were the solitary club in the bottom seven to emerge victorious, seeing off Leeds United.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have failed to win any of their opening eight Premier League matches for successive seasons.

Here is all you need to know about Matchweek 8.

Postecoglou’s departure as Forest head coach within minutes of this defeat leaves the Australian with the unwanted record of the second-shortest Premier League tenure, relinquishing his post just 39 days after taking the role.

The Australian did not win any of his eight games in charge at the City Ground. In fact, coupled with the end of his time at Spurs, he has claimed only 35 points from the last available 120.

Forest captain Ryan Yates said: “We’re all extremely disappointed with how recent results are going.

“It’s down to us individually to look at ourselves in the mirror and do everything we can to turn it around.

"We can do more, we can do better. We need to dust ourselves down really quickly. Whatever steps the club take we need to be fully behind it.”

Forest had, in fact, been dominant in the first half against Chelsea. But as before under Postecoglou they paid the price for a failure to take chances, with Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James all scoring for the visitors in an improved second period.

Malo Gusto’s late sending-off means Chelsea players have received four red cards in their last six matches across all competitions.

A Danny Welbeck double ensured the continuation of two contrasting records at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton & Hove Albion are now unbeaten in eight Premier League home matches, with Newcastle United winless in their last seven on the road in the competition.

Just over a month out from his 35th birthday, Welbeck showed he remains as sharp as ever, twice putting the hosts ahead either side of a sublime Nick Woltemade goal.

It took Welbeck’s tally to four goals in his last three Premier League games – more than he managed in his previous 15 appearances in the competition combined.

Watch Welbeck's opener v Newcastle

“If the team plays well, then the individuals will shine,” said Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler of Welbeck. “He is always there for his team-mates and he’s a great goalscorer.”

Woltemade’s wonderful backheel flick was his fourth goal in five Newcastle appearances.

“Nick has done really well, and we’re delighted for him, but we need more from the rest of the team,” said Magpies head coach Eddie Howe.

While Sunderland fly high, the other two Premier League newcomers are battling it out near the foot of the table, giving this meeting even greater importance.

Great goals from Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaouna mean Burnley have now beaten both teams they came up alongside from the Championship.

Watch Tchaouna's superb strike v Leeds

It was a victory that never seemed particularly likely, with Leeds wondering how on earth they did not manage to score.

The visitors had 69 per cent possession, took 42 touches in the opposition box, delivered 47 crosses – the most by a team in a Premier League match this season – and took 19 shots to Burnley’s four. Their Expected Goals (xG) was 1.68 to the hosts’ 0.45.

Frustratingly for Leeds manager Daniel Farke, wastefulness is becoming a theme. In three of their four league defeats, they have had more shots and taken more touches in the opposition box than the eventual winners.

“We won each and every statistic, but in football it is also just about goals,” said Farke. “They were more effective than us. Once you miss so many clear chances, the expected goals, shots on target, blocks, we were so clearly the better side.”

A Jean-Philippe Mateta hat-trick denied AFC Bournemouth the chance to go top of the Premier League – albeit temporarily – in a six-goal thriller at Selhurst Park.

The visitors twice looked to be on track for victory; first when teenage striker Eli Kroupi put them two goals ahead by half-time on his first Premier League start, and again when they led 3-2 deep in stoppage time.

But Mateta struck from the penalty spot in the 97th minute to ensure the spoils were shared. It has been quite some period for the Frenchman, who made his international debut and scored his first goal for his country during the recent international break.

Watch Mateta's hat-trick v Bournemouth

He should, perhaps, have scored a winner in the ninth minute of stoppage time but blazed over the bar from close range. Instead, he became the first player to score a home Premier League hat-trick and not win since 2016.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner suggested team spirit was to thank for battling back to draw. “We have created this in the team and in the stands,” he said. “That’s why we were able to come back. It shows the character of this group.”

Bournemouth, who thought they had secured victory through Ryan Christie’s 89th-minute goal, are now unbeaten in seven Premier League matches.

Where will this extraordinary Haaland streak end? With both of Man City’s goals here, he now has 11 goals in eight Premier League games this season, three in two UEFA Champions League appearances, and a ridiculous nine in three for Norway.

Barely halfway through October, he has already notched 23 goals in 13 appearances.

In truth, Haaland might well have had more against Everton, spurning a couple of prime chances for a hat-trick late on.

“Disappointed he did not score four or five,” said Pep Guardiola. “All jokes aside, really pleased, but we cannot rely on just him, we need other players. Wingers, attacking midfielders. They have to make a step up and score. The chances were clear and they have to score.”

Guardiola recognised that City were not near their best against an Everton side unable to convert any of the multiple chances they created. But with Haaland in their team they did not need to be.

Half of Sunderland’s last eight seasons outside of the Premier League were spent in League One, but they continue to do a remarkable job of looking at home in the top flight.

Regis Le Bris’s side now have 14 points from their opening eight fixtures – the most by a promoted club since Wolves in 2018/19.

Much of that joy has come from their Stadium of Light form, which has seen them accrue 10 points at home, more than any other team, with only Arsenal (one) conceding fewer home goals than Sunderland’s two.

A first-half Nordi Mukiele goal gave the hosts the lead before Ladislav Krejci’s late own goal wrapped up victory.

The result leaves Wolves marooned at the bottom of the table on just two points, still without a league win this season. It is the second season running that Wolves have failed to win any of their opening eight league games.

“I understand why the fans are angry,” said Wolves boss Vitor Pereira. “I understand why they’re disappointed. But this is a moment for the supporters to believe in our players, in our team. This is football. Now we must keep working, start scoring and start winning.”

They were not at their brilliant best, but a familiar goalscoring route helped Arsenal open up a three-point lead at the top of the table.

Bukayo Saka’s corner was flicked on by Gabriel, for Leandro Trossard to knee home from close range. It was Arsenal’s seventh Premier League goal from corners this season, and their 63rd since the start of 2021/22. No other side have more than 47.

It means Arsenal top the Premier League table with 19 points – the third time in four campaigns they have earned at least 19 points from their opening eight Premier League games.

Ominously, of the eight previous instances they have accrued 19+ points at this stage, they have won the title only once.

Helpfully, Arsenal did not face a single shot on target for a second game in a row, having also done so in a dominant win over West Ham United before the international break.

Fulham have now lost three successive Premier League matches for the first time since 2023.

Ahead of this game, Spurs head coach Thomas Frank had urged supporters to help their team improve their poor form at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. “We would like our home to be a fortress,” he said.

That ambition remains some way off after his side fell to another defeat, taking their record to just four points gained from four Premier League home matches this season – Spurs’ worst home start to a league campaign since 2008/09.

Rodrigo Bentancur gave the hosts an early lead after just five minutes, as Spurs eyed the opportunity to move second in the table.

But a wonderful Morgan Rogers strike from range preceded a brilliant Emiliano Buendia goal, his third in four matches to complete Villa’s comeback win.

Watch Buendia's superb strike v Spurs

Since the start of last season, Spurs have dropped 19 points from winning positions at home in the Premier League, more than any other side.

Following a difficult start where they failed to win any of their opening five Premier League games, Villa have now won their last five in all competitions, moving into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

A first Man Utd away win at Anfield since January 2016 delivered Liverpool’s fourth successive defeat across all competitions for the first time since November 2014 and sent the champions down to fourth in the Premier League table.

Should Arne Slot’s side lose again against Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, it would be the first time Liverpool have lost five straight matches since 1953.

Cody Gakpo hit the woodwork three times before finding an equaliser to cancel out Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. But Harry Maguire powered home a late header to seal United’s first back-to-back league wins since the final two fixtures of the 2023/24 campaign.

Watch Maguire's late winner v Liverpool

Liverpool’s xG of 2.76 was their highest total in any Premier League game since beating Southampton in March. But, as Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was eager to point out, they are not taking their chances and continue to concede from set-pieces.

Mohamed Salah has now gone seven consecutive Premier League appearances without scoring a non-penalty goal for the first time in his Liverpool career.

“If you lose four times in a row, you need to be concerned,” said Slot. “If we keep bringing in these performances we will have a fair chance of winning more football games. Losing four times in a row definitely does something with the team.”

Igor Thiago and Mathias Jensen earned Brentford a 2-0 win over West Ham United, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s suffered defeat in his first home match in charge.

Brentford dominated throughout and broke the deadlock just before the break when Thiago beat Alphonse Areola for power, having previously hit the crossbar.

The Brazilian had a second goal ruled out for offside, and though Brentford saw more chances go begging, Jensen’s stoppage-time strike ensured Keith Andrews’ team earned their first Premier League away win of the season.

West Ham, who saw Jarrod Bowen go closest only to be denied by Caoimhin Kelleher, offered little in return as they fell to a fourth consecutive loss at the London Stadium.

Brentford rise to 13th on 10 points, while West Ham remain in the relegation zone, three points behind Burnley in 17th.

Emiliano Buendia scored a superb winner as Aston Villa came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Sunday.

Buendia came off the bench to seal a hard-fought victory for Unai Emery’s team at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Morgan Rogers had cancelled out Rodrigo Bentancur’s earlier effort.

Bentancur broke the deadlock in the fifth minute with his first Premier League goal of 2025, but Rogers fired the visitors level before half-time with his maiden top-flight strike of the campaign.

The game appeared to be drifting towards a draw until the 77th minute, when Buendia curled in brilliantly from the edge of the box.

Brennan Johnson blazed over a chance for Spurs to equalise in stoppage time, as Villa held on to move up to 10th place on 12 points. They are now just two points behind Spurs, who are sixth.

How the match unfolded

Spurs came flying out of the blocks and hit the front after just five minutes. Joao Palhinha nodded Mohammed Kudus’ deep ball back across the area for Bentancur to finish, via a slight deflection off Amadou Onana.

Kudus thought he had doubled the lead moments later, but was quickly denied by the offside flag, while Emiliano Martinez just about gathered Wilson Odobert's fierce low drive.

However, Villa responded against the run of play in the 37th minute, Rogers jinking away from Xavi Simons before whipping a wonderful 20-yard effort beyond Guglielmo Vicario's despairing dive.

Spurs went close to regaining their lead early in the second half – Odobert seeing a shot blocked by Ezri Konsa and Martinez tipping Palhinha’s effort around the post.

But Villa snatched all three points when Lucas Digne took in Matty Cash’s brilliant pass and laid it off to Buendia, who curled a low strike past a flat-footed Vicario and into the bottom-left corner, with Johnson’s wild effort late on the closest Spurs came to a leveller.

Spurs’ home struggles continue

Spurs’ seven-match unbeaten streak in all competitions came to an end, as they suffered their 11th defeat in the space of 18 Premier League home games.

The hosts made a bright enough start. The loss of Cristian Romero, who was injured during the warm-up, initially did not appear to affect them, as they twice had the ball in the net inside the opening stages – albeit the latter effort was rightly ruled out for offside.

Spurs had won each of their four previous league games when scoring the opening goal this season. However, Rogers showed his quality when he left the helpless Vicario grasping at thin air for Villa’s equaliser.

Thomas Frank, who stuck with Mathys Tel up top to start with after the forward’s goal against Leeds United last time out, got a response from his players after the break but a lack of cutting edge in front of goal handed Villa the impetus they needed to claim a spirited victory.

Spurs, who also have matches against Monaco and Newcastle United coming up in the UEFA Champions League and EFL Cup respectively, are back at home in the top flight when they host Chelsea on 1 November, before then welcoming Manchester United to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a week later. Before that, though, they head to Everton next Sunday.

Three in a row for resurgent Villa

Villa have recovered from a slow start to their Premier League season, winning each of their last three matches to move into the top half of the table.

Martinez and Konsa were celebrating their 200th starts in the English top flight, but they were fishing the ball out of their own net in only the fifth minute after Spurs’ superb start, and Emery will have been hugely frustrated with his team’s marking in that instance.

The visitors took a while to find their rhythm but, when they did, their man back in form delivered the goods; Rogers demonstrating he is brimming with confidence after dancing around Simons and beating Vicario from distance, with the England international now looking sharp after a sluggish start to the campaign.

Villa’s defensive resolve was tested again early in the second half, but a combination of smart goalkeeping and important blocks kept Spurs at bay.

Buendia, though, was the matchwinner. He has now scored three goals in his last four games as Villa made it five straight wins in all competitions.

With Manchester City, Liverpool and AFC Bournemouth providing their next three league opponents before the November international window, Emery’s side will certainly head into those fixtures full of momentum and confidence.

Club reports

Spurs report | Aston Villa report

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Key facts

Since the start of last season, Spurs have dropped more points from winning positions at home in the Premier League (19) than any other side. They have lost five times after leading at home in the division in this period, also a league-high tally.

Villa enjoyed their first Premier League comeback win away from home for exactly one year (since 19 Oct 2024 v Fulham), having lost 10 of their previous 11 away league games in which they trailed before today (D1).

With just four points in four home league games this season (W1 D1 L2), this is Spurs' poorest home start to a league campaign since 2008/09, when they had one point from their opening four at home.

Since the start of 2023/24, Spurs have won just 23 per cent of their league games without Romero (6/26), compared to a 50 per cent league win rate when he has played in this period (29/58).