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In an incredibly cagey game in the 2020-21 Premier League at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur split points following a goalless draw.
The Blues went into the game in the knowledge that a win would take them to the top of the Premier League table, but instead, the stalemate took Tottenham Hotspur back to the summit on goal difference while Chelsea remain third.
Chances for both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were few and far between throughout the match, as the game had the air of a high-stakes chess contest rather than a swashbuckling affair. To tell the truth, a draw was probably the fair result.
On that note, let us have a look at five talking points from Chelsea’s goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
#1 The draw probably suits both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur
Neither side could really complain about the match ending in a draw. Chelsea did boss possession – ending with 60% of the ball – but as was seen in Tottenham Hotspur’s game with Manchester City, possession isn’t everything.
Against Spurs, Chelsea took 13 shots but only managed three on target while Tottenham Hotspur had five attempts with one on target. Essentially, this was a game of half-chances, and neither side really came too close to scoring; Mason Mount’s long-range effort did draw a fine save from Hugo Lloris, though.
It raises a pertinent question: which side is the happier with a point? On the surface, one will have to say Tottenham Hotspur, as Jose Mourinho’s side moved back to the top of the Premier League table after being on the defensive for large swathes in the game.
However, it was Chelsea’s first test against a tough side in some time, and Tottenham Hotspur are probably the most dangerous counter-attacking unit in the Premier League. So for Frank Lampard’s men to shut down most of that danger was impressive.
Overall, a draw will probably please both Jose Mourinho and Frank Lampard and should send a message to the rest of the Premier League that both teams are bonafide title contenders.
#2 Joe Rodon impresses on his Tottenham Hotspur debut
When Toby Alderweireld went down with a groin injury against Manchester City and was ruled out of this match, Jose Mourinho had a big decision to make.
Would he bring Davinson Sanchez back to partner Eric Dier in the heart of Tottenham Hotspur’s defence – a partnership that has looked dodgy in the past – or would he throw a curveball?
Eventually, Mourinho chose the latter – starting 23-year old Joe Rodon alongside Dier - in the process handing Rodon his first Premier League start with Tottenham Hotspur.
It was a huge risk by the Portuguese tactician, as it put a massively inexperienced player up against the most potent goalscorers in the Premier League right now. Thankfully for Tottenham Hotspur fans, Rodon was more than up for the challenge.
The Welsh international won five defensive aerial duels, completed four clearances and managed two interceptions – making him, from a statistical perspective, Tottenham Hotspur’s most effective defender in the game.
Sure, he had a wobble at the very end of the game – more on that later – but overall, it was a hugely impressive debut for Rodon. It should be clear now that in the young Welshman, Mourinho has another defender who can be relied on.
#3 Frank Lampard’s 'safe' tactics against the big boys could cost Chelsea
There have been plenty of crazy, swashbuckling games in the 2020-21 Premier League, but it’s safe to say that Chelsea's clash with Tottenham Hotspur was not one of them.
While both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will probably be pleased to come away from Stamford Bridge with a point, Frank Lampard’s tactics were questionable against the high-flying visitors.
Chelsea came into the Spurs game on the back of three Premier League wins and as many in Europe, but those victories came against admittedly far weaker sides than Tottenham Hotspur.
The last time the Blues faced one of the Premier League’s ‘big boys’ – Manchester United – the result was a 0-0 stalemate. That game saw Chelsea set up in a more defensive way than they were against Tottenham Hotspur.
While Lampard’s side bossed possession against Spurs, it definitely felt that they were holding back at times for fear of being caught on the counter. There was certainly no hint of the free-flowing, attacking football that Chelsea employed to shred Newcastle United or Sheffield United in recent weeks.
It remains to be seen whether this kind of tactic would be Lampard’s go-to one against the bigger sides, or whether it was a gameplan purely designed to shut down the counter-attacks of Tottenham. However, with one of the richest attacks in the Premier League, it’s hard not to be a little disappointed with a showing like this.
#4 Both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur squandered big chances to steal a win
While a draw was arguably a fair result, incredibly, both sides had a chance to steal all three points in the dying moments of the game.
Chelsea’s opportunity came first. A long ball over the top was misjudged by debutant Joe Rodon – probably the only mistake the Welshman made in the game – and his attempted header to Hugo Lloris fell woefully short.
Substitute Olivier Giroud was onto the loose ball quickly, but the French striker failed to loft the ball over Lloris and into the net.
Moments later, with the game nearing its end, Tottenham Hotspur had their chance. A loose pass from Kurt Zouma found its way to substitute Lucas Moura, and suddenly, Chelsea were vulnerable. Moura’s pass found Giovani Lo Celso, but the Argentine failed to feed Harry Kane, and the chance went begging.
It was a wild ending to what had been an incredibly tight, cerebral game, but it was a swift reminder that nothing could be taken for granted in the Premier League. As far as goalless draws go, this wasn’t a dull one by any means.
#5 Tottenham Hotspur’s horrible run of matches hasn’t been so bad to them....yet
When Tottenham Hotspur climbed to the top of the Premier League table for the first time this season following their 0-1 win over West Brom, it was clear to anyone analysing their fixtures that tougher tests awaited them.
Following that win over the Baggies, Jose Mourinho’s side were scheduled to face Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Leicester City while also needing to negotiate a path into the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Well, that horrible run is now three matches deep, and thus far it hasn’t been too bad for Tottenham Hotspur at all. Spurs beat Manchester City 2-0 last weekend, brushed aside Ludogorets Razgrad on Thursday and picked up a valuable point against Chelsea.
Sure, they still have another six games to negotiate during this tricky run, but realistically, one will have to fancy them to come out on top against LASK on Thursday and then against Arsenal in the North London derby.
If Tottenham Hotspur could then beat Crystal Palace on December 13th, they will have a total of 27 points from 12 games, an impressive run by any stretch of imagination.
Essentially, if Mourinho’s men manage to come out of this run unscathed, it’ll be hard to doubt their Premier League title credentials. At this point, it has been so far, so good for Tottenham.
