The Independent

The new Women's Super League marks the start of a new era for reigning champions Chelsea, with long-serving boss Emma Hayes having departed in summer to start a new adventure with the USA Women's team.

Last year they just about did enough to claim the title on goal difference ahead of Manchester City, while Arsenal will again hope to make it a three-horse race for the WSL title. Meanwhile Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham will hope to progress after further rebuilding this summer.

Crystal Palace were promoted to replace Bristol City in the top flight, while on a wider note, the league is now under the management and operation of a new organisation set up to lead women's football towards further growth and progression, with Nikki Doucet overseeing both the WSL and Championship in a new phase for the game.

Follow the live action below as Brighton & Hove Albion face Tottenham Hotspur today in the WSL:

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou recognises his squad are in the middle of an “extraordinary situation” but has urged them to set up a big second half of the season.

Spurs travel to Southampton on Sunday without nine players and after being forced to deep dig to earn a 1-1 draw at Rangers in the Europa League.

Thursday’s point in Glasgow keeps Tottenham in the mix to clinch a top-eight finish when their European campaign resumes in January, but Postecoglou’s immediate focus is on a crunch week for the club.

A trip to St Mary’s is followed by a midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Manchester United before Premier League leaders Liverpool visit on December 22.

While injury-hit Spurs have registered only one victory in their last eight matches, Postecoglou called on his depleted squad to embrace the challenge.

Postecoglou said: “I’m interested in what happens now. Now is the time we have an opportunity. In these next five games between now and new year we can set up our season.

“(Thursday) was a great point for us because it sets us up for Europe, so we know we’re going to (try to) make the knock-out stages.

“Now we have four league games to get ourselves back up the ladder and make an impact. We’ve got a massive Carabao Cup quarter-final to get to a semi-final. I’m not interested in anything else beyond that.

“It is an extraordinary situation we are in. Where we are squad-wise with the injuries we have and what we ask our players to do, these are extraordinary circumstances.

Tottenham’s list of nine absentees has put a strain on the rest of the squad, especially given Postecoglou’s relentless attacking philosophy.

Destiny Udogie tops Spurs’ list of minutes played this season ahead of Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson. All three started at Rangers and produced mixed displays, but are likely to be included in Postecoglou’s starting line-up at Southampton.

Yet the Tottenham head coach explained why he will not tone down his front-foot style of play.

“How much do you dilute for the situation you’re in? I always think about these things,” Postecoglou reflected.

“What’s the long-term effect? It may relieve some short-term pain, but if that means that people lose belief and conviction in what we’re trying to do, because we have found an alternative path that alleviates that short-term stuff, I don’t think that’s healthy and get us where we want to.

“I have always, in difficult moments, thought that if you stick true to everything you’ve said from the first day and you get through it, then there is nothing holding you back.

“If you change paths, what’s to say players or even staff won’t then question further down the track, ‘well that worked back then let’s change, this doesn’t work, let’s change again’ and then you get into that cycle again. It’s a fine line.”

A dilemma for Postecoglou at Southampton is who replaces Yves Bissouma at the base of midfield. Lucas Bergvall appears in the driving seat to make a first Premier League start after strong cameos in the number six position against Chelsea and Rangers.

Postecoglou added: “I think he’s made a real impact in the last two games he has come on with his calmness and better understanding of the way we want to play.

“He has done really well and with Biss and Rodri (Bentancur) out, he is definitely in the picture for us to use at the weekend.”

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou did not hold back with his criticism of forward Timo Werner after a 1-1 draw at Rangers in the Europa League.

Spurs arrived in Scotland without a plethora of first-team players and looked set for a third consecutive defeat when Hamza Igamane fired the hosts in front after 47 minutes to help a raucous atmosphere at Ibrox move up a notch.

Ex-Celtic boss Postecoglou had already made his first move at half-time with the introduction of Dejan Kulusevski for Werner after an error-strewn display.

Kulusevski would subsequently rescue a point for Tottenham when he rifled into the bottom corner in the 75th minute after being set up by fellow substitute Dominic Solanke.

A point for the Premier League outfit keeps them ninth in the league phase of the competition and in a strong position to secure a top-eight finish, which earns direct entry through to the last-16, but while Postecoglou called it an “important point,” he was frustrated with RB Leipzig loanee Werner.

“Yeah, just tactical. He wasn’t playing anywhere near the level he should,” Postecoglou said when asked about Werner being withdrawn at the break.

“It’s not acceptable to me. I said that to Timo. He is a senior international, a German international, with the moment we’re in right now, it’s not like we’ve got many options, I need everyone to at least be going out there and trying to give the best of themselves.

“Yeah, his performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable.

“We just need everyone, including him, to be contributing because we don’t have the depth to leave people out if they perform poorly. We need them to play their part and especially the senior guys.

“When I am asking younger guys to do massive jobs, I expect a level of performance from the senior guys and today wasn’t that.”

Injuries in defence meant Postecoglou used versatile 18-year-old Archie Gray at centre-back, but the summer recruit produced a largely assured display and fellow teenager Lucas Bergvall caught the eye with a second-half cameo off the bench.

Postecoglou said of Gray: “He’s 18, big experience for him and I thought he handled the experience really well.

“As an 18-year-old, in his first year at this level, to play in unfamiliar positions in such big games, it is outstanding what he is doing.

“I thought Lucas was excellent when he came on. He was due to start tonight but wasn’t feeling well today, a bit under the weather, so we had to keep him on the bench, but that’s a positive for us.

“Those two, as 18-year-olds, to already be contributing and experiencing these things will be of enormous benefit to us.”

Spurs required Fraser Forster to be at his best to leave Glasgow with a point after the former Celtic stopper made a brave block to deny Cyriel Dessers late on, which ensures the English club are in a strong position to clinch a top-eight berth with matches against Hoffenheim and Elfsborg in January.

“We weren’t anywhere near our best I think it is fair to say, but at the same time we’re in a period of games where we’re grinding through it with a fairly depleted squad and asking players to get up week in, week out,” Postecoglou acknowledged.

“I thought we worked our way back into the game well and the subs coming on made a difference. We scored a good goal, had a couple of other moments, but in the end, a great save by Frase gets us, in the context of where we are in Europe, an important point.”

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Ange Postecoglou has revealed Tottenham vice-captain Cristian Romero has apologised after he aimed a dig at the club’s board over its transfer policy.

Defender Romero was forced off after only 15 minutes of Spurs’ 4-3 loss at home to Chelsea on Sunday with a fresh injury and this latest defeat made it one victory in seven matches.

Romero publicly backed Postecoglou post-match and also urged the club hierarchy – seemingly in reference to chairman Daniel Levy – to follow the lead of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea in the transfer market by strengthening the squad.

“Those are the things to imitate. You have to realise that something is going wrong. Hopefully they (club board) realise it,” Romero told Telemundo Deportes.

“Hopefully they realise who the true responsible ones are and we move forward because it’s a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year.”

Inconsistency has blighted Tottenham amid a bad run of injuries and Postecoglou discussed Romero’s controversial comments before Thursday’s Europa League tie at Rangers.

“In the context of the day, Cristian was really disappointed obviously, more than disappointed in the fact that he works hard to get back and it was a big game for us,” Postecoglou said.

“He knew that, had to go off and then to watch the team sort of have to feel the pain of another defeat in the manner it happened, he was obviously very emotional.

“He’s a leader in the club, he hasn’t been able to help us and I think it was his way of trying to, as a leader, help us and the group in saying that we’re going through a tough time but he believes in what we’re doing.

“And then the other part of it probably, he went about it sort of the wrong way in terms of, I think he’s passionate about having success at the club.

“I think the way he probably expressed it was not the right way, particularly in a public sense because I don’t feel and certainly it’s not my belief that our kind of challenges at the moment are because of one thing or one person. I don’t believe that. I never have believed that.

“I think whatever we need to do, we have the power to do that, but it’ll only happen if we kind of stay united as a group, particularly through difficult times, and get through on the other side. I really believe if you can do that, you come out stronger.

“Cristian, he realises what he said. A lot of what he said was good. Some of what he said wasn’t right and shouldn’t be done in the public.”

Asked if Romero will be punished, Postecoglou insisted: “I think I’m pretty consistent in saying I just don’t think that that’s important.

“I think what’s more important is an understanding of how we should deal with these things and deal with them better.

“I’ve already spoken to Cristian about it. He’s apologised for the way he said it, particularly in the public sense, wasn’t the right way to go about things.

“He is a human being, he got emotional and I think he just expressed what he wanted to express publicly in the wrong way. He does care.

“I think it would have been easier for him not to say anything. He does care, but like I said, there’s a way to do these things.”

Romero’s comments overshadowed Postecoglou’s return to Glasgow where he will be without at least seven players, including Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven and Richarlison.

The ex-Celtic boss acknowledged it was the worst injury crisis of his managerial career but is excited about being back in Scotland.

“I think you know what kind of reception I’ll get,” Postecoglou smiled.

“European nights here, you know it is something you want to be a part of and hopefully overcome.”

Ange Postecoglou has revealed Tottenham vice-captain Cristian Romero has apologised after he aimed a dig at the club’s board over its transfer policy.

Defender Romero was forced off after only 15 minutes of Spurs’ 4-3 loss at home to Chelsea on Sunday with a fresh injury and this latest defeat made it one victory in seven matches.

Romero publicly backed Postecoglou post-match and also urged the club hierarchy – seemingly in reference to chairman Daniel Levy – to follow the lead of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea in the transfer market by strengthening the squad.

“Those are the things to imitate. You have to realise that something is going wrong. Hopefully they (club board) realise it,” Romero told Telemundo Deportes.

“Hopefully they realise who the true responsible ones are and we move forward because it’s a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year.”

Inconsistency has blighted Tottenham amid a bad run of injuries and Postecoglou discussed Romero’s controversial comments before Thursday’s Europa League tie at Rangers.

“In the context of the day, Cristian was really disappointed obviously, more than disappointed in the fact that he works hard to get back and it was a big game for us,” Postecoglou said.

“He knew that, had to go off and then to watch the team sort of have to feel the pain of another defeat in the manner it happened, he was obviously very emotional.

“He’s a leader in the club, he hasn’t been able to help us and I think it was his way of trying to, as a leader, help us and the group in saying that we’re going through a tough time but he believes in what we’re doing.

“And then the other part of it probably, he went about it sort of the wrong way in terms of, I think he’s passionate about having success at the club.

“I think the way he probably expressed it was not the right way, particularly in a public sense because I don’t feel and certainly it’s not my belief that our kind of challenges at the moment are because of one thing or one person. I don’t believe that. I never have believed that.

“I think whatever we need to do, we have the power to do that, but it’ll only happen if we kind of stay united as a group, particularly through difficult times, and get through on the other side. I really believe if you can do that, you come out stronger.

“Cristian, he realises what he said. A lot of what he said was good. Some of what he said wasn’t right and shouldn’t be done in the public.”

Asked if Romero will be punished, Postecoglou insisted: “I think I’m pretty consistent in saying I just don’t think that that’s important.

“I think what’s more important is an understanding of how we should deal with these things and deal with them better.

“I’ve already spoken to Cristian about it. He’s apologised for the way he said it, particularly in the public sense, wasn’t the right way to go about things.

“He is a human being, he got emotional and I think he just expressed what he wanted to express publicly in the wrong way. He does care.

“I think it would have been easier for him not to say anything. He does care, but like I said, there’s a way to do these things.”

Romero’s comments overshadowed Postecoglou’s return to Glasgow where he will be without at least seven players, including Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven and Richarlison.

The ex-Celtic boss acknowledged it was the worst injury crisis of his managerial career but is excited about being back in Scotland.

“I think you know what kind of reception I’ll get,” Postecoglou smiled.

“European nights here, you know it is something you want to be a part of and hopefully overcome.”

Spurs were 2-0 up after 12 minutes, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was shaking with noise and Chelsea’s stumbling defender Marc Cucurella was so harrowed by his nightmare start that he’d had to change his boots. So perhaps the greatest indictment of this Spurs side is that even in that moment of utter dominance, with the game gift-wrapped and in the palm of their hands, you just knew they could fumble it at any moment.

Behind some brilliant Chelsea play to engineer a four-goal comeback was a comedy of Spurs errors, an unravelling of devastating proportions. Jadon Sancho was allowed to dribble from the touchline to the edge of the box and shoot. Yves Bissouma gave away a needless penalty with a lunge that could be seen long before it happened, yards before he actually clattered through Moises Caicedo. Pape Matar Sarr’s bungled challenge on Cole Palmer was even more foolish, given the forward was facing the corner flag at the time.

Palmer’s panenka penalty could be interpreted as a piece of genius from arguably the best player in the Premier League right now. But it also felt like a piece of insolence saved for an opponent he didn’t much respect, whose fans had earlier pelted him with paper missiles while taking a corner, causing the game to stop. As he celebrated, he cupped his ears to Tottenham fans.

From 2-0 up, Spurs had slipped to 4-2 in less than an hour. A weary-looking Ange Postecoglou later said their mistakes were “born out of desperation”.

“Both penalties were poor on our behalf,” the Spurs manager said. “It’s kind of self-inflicted, unnecessary challenges, and you’re giving two goals away for no reason. You give yourself a mountain to climb, which proved too hard.”

It was not just defensively that Spurs erred. At 2-2, Son Heung-min wasted a huge chance to lead, when the captain raced through on goal and steadied himself before whipping a shot wildly off target. One of the most deadly finishers in the Premier League looked bereft of confidence, like his team, and his tap-in at the death was not enough to make amends as Spurs went down 4-3. Postecoglou rued a “big moment” that slipped by.

Yet that sense of self-sabotage might also be levelled at the manager. Spurs played with typical abandon which produced moments of joyous football in the first half, but when the momentum of the game swung, Postecoglou failed to react. His midfield was inexplicably open, with the overrun Bissouma understandably drawn to Palmer, leaving the advancing Enzo Fernandez in wide-open space time and time again.

“Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happened again,” sang the Chelsea fans, and there was a devastating simplicity to that refrain. It was losing to Chelsea, the team who have enjoyed more success than any other visiting this stadium; it was letting another lead slip away in a cliched collapse; it was how they seemed to melt in the middle.

What now for a manager who had spent midweek remonstrating with his own fans? Spurs supporters had roared their team on to a perfect start here, but as soon as Sancho’s reply hit the net, the wall of noise disintegrated and tension filled the air. There were smatterings of boos after Palmer’s second penalty, though that may have been for Chelsea’s pantomime villain of the night. Yet how long can Spurs fans put up with this wild inconsistency, not only from game to game but within them too?

Perhaps more pertinent is the patience of Daniel Levy, the man who appointed Postecoglou. He stood in the stands looking stoney-faced after the full-time whistle blew. This, Postecoglou argued, was a partially good performance against a top side. But it was also part of a streak of one win in seven games, while Chelsea have now won five in a row. Spurs are 11th in the table, below Bournemouth, Brentford and Fulham, having now lost more than they’ve won this season.

There are caveats in the injuries they have suffered, and here Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven were both rushed back from the treatment table to start the game. Romero departed early with what appeared to be a fresh injury while Van de Ven was later subbed feeling “tightness”. Brennan Johnson, arguably Spurs’ best player this season, was also taken off after feeling unwell.

But that does not begin to answer why Tottenham collapse so readily, why the team appears so easy to cut through, with a centre made from papier mache. It doesn’t excuse allowing 17 shots, or 46 touches in their area. It’s happened again, and Postecoglou must fix it fast.

Derby day provided a timely reminder of a certain talent that resides within Chelsea’s attacking ranks.

An occasion that always promises its fair share of thrills and spills, the Blues showcased their powers of recovery to overcome a two-goal deficit and come out 4-3 victors away to fierce London rivals Tottenham.

As “Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happened again” rang out from the away end, Enzo Maresca revelled in his biggest win yet as Chelsea boss, which propelled his side to second in the league and extended their unbeaten run to eight in all competitions.

While an imperfect display, the result speaks volumes of Chelsea’s newfound resilience under Maresca, with one of the league’s forgotten assets coming to the forefront on a wet and windy Sunday afternoon in North London.

Jadon Sancho, a player much maligned for his inconsistency during his Premier League career thus far, was at the heart of Chelsea’s triumph. Showcasing his so far unfulfilled potential, Sancho was the bright spark and the catalyst behind a fightback that after 15 minutes looked all but unlikely.

In a weekend characterised by red alerts, Chelsea found themselves at panic stations early on, falling behind inside just five minutes. Dominic Solanke provided the golden touch, diverting into the top corner after Brennan Johnson hounded Marc Cucurella into a critical error down the right-hand side.

Six minutes later, Spurs were two to the good – Dejan Kulusevski this time finishing into the bottom corner after yet another Cucurella mistake, something which prompted a hasty change of boots for the Spaniard.

Chelsea had a mountain to climb and with little falling their way, Sancho produced a moment of magic to provide a reprieve. Darting in from the left wing, the 24-year-old drove into space before firing a low shot in off the far post, putting the Blues right back into the game on 18 minutes.

Sancho would continue to prove a nuisance up against Pedro Porro, who was having a hard time containing the ex-Manchester United man. And while Spurs would hold out until half-time, more damage was soon to be inflicted.

Maresca’s side came out of the tunnel hungry to equalise, bombarding Fraser Forster’s box and quickly fashioning an opportunity to bring parity, with Sancho once again at the centre of attacking play.

After dropping the shoulder on Timo Werner, he dinked through a deft pass to wrong-foot the Spurs back-line and allow Caicedo to charge into the box, who was promptly wiped out by Yves Bissouma to earn a stonewall penalty.

Cole Palmer converted his first of the afternoon and with Chelsea in the swing of things, Spurs were taken by the tide. Granted more and more space, Sancho continued to shine down the flanks, playing his part as Enzo Fernandez put the Blues in front before a Palmer Panenka took the game out of sight.

Making it four wins in five against Spurs, the victory acts as a statement in the title race, with fans now beginning to truly believe Chelsea’s status as a serious contender.

All the pieces seem to be coming together under their new boss, whose players are at long last proving value for investment week on week.

And while some saw the signing of Sancho in particular as a gamble on damaged goods, Maresca had little doubt the once £73m-man would come good. Now, what the Spaniard demands is dependability.

“I said since the start that the reason why Jadon came here is because we think that Jadon is going to help us,” Maresca said in his post-match press conference.

“Unfortunately, he had some small problems, so he was out for a while. Now he’s back. The only thing he has to do is to continue in the same way. He cannot drop, otherwise he’s not going to play.”

However, it would not be the first time Sancho instilled false hope that he was returning to the stellar form of his Borussia Dortmund days.

Consistency is key for the winger, something he failed to find at a Man Utd shirt for three seasons. There have been bright sparks and good games, but success on the pitch has never been enjoyed on a long-term basis since the Kennington prodigy returned to his homeland in 2021.

After falling out of favour under Erik ten Hag, a loan spell back to Dortmund during the second half of last term allowed Sancho to begin to demonstrate that all was not lost. But even after showing glimpses of brilliance in black and yellow, United opted for a clean break in the summer.

A fresh start was offered to Sancho in West London, with the Chelsea hierarchy recognising that at 24, much of his career is yet to be known. And what Sunday’s performance proved, without a shadow of a doubt, is that there is still very much a player in there.

Following up on a strong display at Southampton in midweek, Sancho is fast stamping his mark on Chelsea’s left-wing spot and if he continues in this stead, he could prove crucial in bringing the Premier League title back to Stamford Bridge.

Given his temperamental footballing past, it is a big if at this stage - just ask any United fan. But Maresca seems up to the challenge and should he manage to eke the best out of Sancho, his summer signing could prove the coup of the season.

Cole Palmer was pelted with missiles by Tottenham fans as he tried to take corners during a heated London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Chelsea and Spurs shared an entertaining first half as two quick goals for the home side were pegged back by one from the Blues’ Jadon Sancho.

But the game twice had to be stopped as stewards cleared up and contained fans when Palmer, Chelsea’s outstanding player this season, was bombarded with balls of paper which had been provided on seats for Spurs to make a mosaic before kick-off. There also appeared to be a bottle thrown among the objects aimed at the Chelsea player.

Palmer appeared to shrug off the incidents, kicking them away before taking the set-pieces. The playmaker had an otherwise uneventful half, kicking thin air with his best opportunity after getting on the end of a cut-back in the box.

Spurs are likely to face some disciplinary action from the Football Association after the incident.

Tottenham took the lead when Cucurella slipped on the ball early in the game and Brennan Johnson pounced, racing down the right side before crossing for Dominic Solanke, who dived in at the near post and diverted the ball into the top corner.

And there was another disaster for Cucurella, who slipped once more and Spurs stole it again. This time Dejan Kulusevski drove inside on to his left foot, dummying the shot once, and then twice, before firing back into the bottom right corner.

Sancho responded as Chelsea went into the break trailing 2-1.

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Tottenham host Chelsea in Sunday’s late Premier League kick off hoping to respond positively after a surprising 1-0 loss to Bournemouth during the week.

Ange Postecoglou’s side were unable to overturn Dean Huijsen’s first half strike as the Cherries collected a vital three points on Thursday evening. Saturday’s results mean Spurs have slipped into the bottom half of the table but they will jump up to seventh if they can defeat Enzo Maresca’s high-flying Chelsea this afternoon.

The Blues come into the game on a six-match unbeaten run in the league following a 5-1 mauling of Southampton in their last outing. Maresca’s team sit second just seven points behind leaders Liverpool and with Arne Slot’s men having their game versus Everton postponed yesterday, Chelsea can cut that gap to just four points ahead of a busy Christmas period.

Follow all the action from the Tottenham Hotspur stadium with our live blog below:

Tottenham v Chelsea – line-ups

Kick-off is just around the corner. A reminder of how the two sides line up today:

Tottenham: Forster; Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bissouma, Sarr; Johnson, Solanke, Son.

Subs: Austin, Spence, Dragusin, Reguilon, Gray, Bergvall, Maddison, Werner, Lankshear.

Chelsea: Sanchez; Caicedo, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Enzo Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Pedro Neto; Jackson.

Subs: Jorgensen, Gusto, Disasi, Tosin, Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall, Joao Felix, Madueke, Nkunku.

Lawrence Ostlere8 December 2024 16:23

Match facts

Chelsea have won 35 Premier League games and scored 116 Premier League goals against Tottenham, more than they have vs any other opponent.

The Blues have won five of their seven games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in all competitions (D1 L1), the most wins any visiting side has picked up at the ground since Spurs moved there in 2019.

Nicolas Jackson has scored four goals in his two Premier League games for Chelsea against Tottenham, netting a hat-trick in this exact fixture last season.

Chris Wilson8 December 2024 16:15

Maresca: Chelsea are "ahead of my expectations"

Speaking in his pre-match conference, Maresca said that he had “nothing to add” on talk regarding his side being in the title race.

“I said I don’t think we are there and ready to compete with Arsenal, Liverpool and City. We are not thinking about April, May or June. It’s too early. Things can change quick in football.

On his expectations, he said that Chelsea are “ahead of my expectations”, adding: “In terms of points and how we want to play on and off the ball, I was convinced we’d reach that moment but not so early. It’s because the players are doing fantastic.”

On Spurs, he added: “First of all they have good players and a good manager.

“It’s very clear what they want to do on and off the ball. What kind of problems they have, I don’t know. You have to be there to understand. A fantastic team - they beat City 4-0 two weeks ago.”

Chris Wilson8 December 2024 16:10

Chelsea’s December fixtures

Chelsea’s winter fixtures are altogether more easy to navigate, though there could be some difficult matches in there:

Chris Wilson8 December 2024 16:05

Match facts

Tottenham were unbeaten in their first four Premier League London derbies under Ange Postecoglou (W2 D2) but have lost seven of their last 13 (W4 D2). Five of their six London derby wins under the Australian have been at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, however.

Spurs have kept just one clean sheet in their last 22 Premier League home games (4-0 v Everton this season), a run which started with a 4-1 loss against Chelsea last November.

Since the start of November 2023 no side currently in England’s top four tiers have recorded fewer home league clean sheets than Spurs.

Ange Postecoglou has lost each of his two league games against Chelsea but has only lost his first three top-flight league meetings with three clubs: Adelaide City (1996-97) and Sydney United (1996-97).

Among teams he has played 1,000+ minutes against, Tottenham forward Son Heung-Min’s worst minutes per goal rate in the Premier League is against Chelsea, netting just twice in 16 appearances.

Chris Wilson8 December 2024 16:00

Postecoglou: “I don’t need support"

In his pre-match press conference, Ange Postecoglou emphasised that he doesn’t “need support”, nor does he “worry about contracts”.

“I don’t worry about support. I just want to set out to achieve what I wanted to and that’s to bring success to this football club.

“[Fans] aren’t behind me, they are behind the club. I have got no interest in who is behind me. You have to figure the fans who travel to Bournemouth are fairly hardcore supporters. They weren’t happy with what they saw and they felt like they needed to give some feedback.

“The disappointment last night was that there was a repeat cycle of us going into games, starting well enough but then allowing the opposition to get a grip on it by either conceding a sloppy goal or not taking our opportunities. It was a disappointing night and we have a lot of work to do.

“Chelsea are going really well, they are in a good space at the moment with a fairly healthy squad and in good form. It is always a tough game against them but we are at home and we need to make sure we produce a performance like we have in the other games.”

Chris Wilson8 December 2024 15:55

Spurs’ December fixtures

The busy winter period means it doesn’t get any easier for Spurs, who have some tough fixtures around Christmas. Their remaining fixtures this month include:

Chris Wilson8 December 2024 15:50

Match facts

Tottenham have won just one of their last 11 Premier League games against Chelsea (D2 L8), picking up a 2-0 home win in February 2023.

After a run of just two wins in 13 Premier League away games against Tottenham between 2006 and 2018 (D5 L6), Chelsea have now won four of their last five visits to Spurs (L1).

Chris Wilson8 December 2024 15:45

Ange Postecoglou defends Tottenham’s controversial transfer strategy: ‘It will bear fruit’

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has defended the club’s summer transfer policy and insisted the decision to sign a number of teenagers will eventually bear fruit.

Spurs are in the middle of a difficult period after they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Thursday night and also lost Ben Davies to a hamstring injury, which made it eight players unavailable.

Barely a fortnight on from a remarkable 4-0 victory at Manchester City, Postecoglou received abuse from a section of Tottenham’s travelling support on the south coast and his task does not get any easier, withLondon rivals Chelsea set to visit on Sunday.

Ange Postecoglou defends Spurs’ controversial transfer strategy: ‘It will bear fruit’

Injury-hit Spurs dropped to 10th after a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth to leave Postecoglou under pressure

Chris Wilson8 December 2024 15:40

Head-to-head

These two teams have met a total of 161 times, with the first meeting dating back to 1909. Overall, Chelsea have won 72, Spurs have won 50 and 39 have ended as draws.

Chelsea won both encounters last season, winning 2-0 at home and earning a 4-1 win away in a crazy match that involved two red cards for Spurs.

Chris Wilson8 December 2024 15:35