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Top-four aspirants Chelsea welcomed Tottenham Hotspur to Stamford Bridge for their Premier League matchday 24 clash on Sunday afternoon. Having failed to register a single win in their last four Premier League matches, the Blues were desperate for a positive result. Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva made sure their fans did not endure a fifth consecutive heartbreak by taking the hosts to a comfortable 2-0 win.
Determined to prove themselves, Chelsea, draped in a new 4-3-3 system, started on the front foot right at Stamford Bridge. Their talisman Romelu Lukaku went through on goal in the first minute itself but could not keep his effort on target. Callum Hudson-Odoi also had the opportunity to shell-shock Spurs, but failed to make Hugo Lloris work with his effort.
The Lilywhites, who were firmly on the back foot for the first half, saw Harry Kane’s goal ruled out just before half-time. Kane’s one-handed shove on Thiago Silva in the buildup was soft but it was enough for VAR to snatch away the goal.
Two minutes into the second half, Chelsea got their noses ahead through a sublime Hakim Ziyech strike. Eight minutes later, Silva sealed the win with a thumping header past Lloris. Kane came close once again in the closing minutes, but Kepa was more than up for the task.
Here are Chelsea’s five best performers in their crucial 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday:
#5 Malang Sarr
Playing as a left-back in Thomas Tuchel’s four-man backline, Malang Sarr put in an impressive shift on Sunday afternoon. He was quick to sniff out danger, was always on his toes, and was impressively reliable in possession.
Most importantly, he used his pace well to thwart Steve Bergwijn and Lucas Moura’s advances.
Against the north London outfit, Sarr had two clearances, blocked one shot and won two duels, making sure the west Londoners didn’t crumple on the left-side.
If Tuchel decides to stick to his new system in the future, Sarr’s performance on Sunday might just allow him to outrank Marcos Alonso.
#4 Callum Hudson-Odoi
After being widely criticized for his miss against Brighton & Hove Albion, Callum Hudson-Odoi was under the microscope against Spurs on Sunday.
Thankfully, he rose above criticism to put in a decisive performance in a rather critical Premier League encounter.
Apart from assisting Ziyech for the hosts’ opener, Hudson-Odoi also came close to finding the back of the net himself. Unfortunately, his header was a little wide of Lloris’ Tottenham goal.
On Sunday, the Englishman made two key passes, won eight duels and attempted a tackle. Overall, it was an impressive shift from a man who desperately needed it.
#3 Mason Mount
Chelsea poster boy Mason Mount was not in the best of form coming into the match against Tottenham Hotspur. He could not manage to inspire his team in the disappointing draw against Brighton and needed to do something special to win over his critics.
On Sunday, we saw the best of Mount, skillful, graceful, and absolutely committed to the cause.
Playing as a number eight, the Chelsea academy graduate passed the ball around with perfection and intent. His pressing, as always, was on point, and he rarely allowed Spurs to settle into the game.
Most importantly, his set piece-delivery was on point and led to Thiago Silva’s second-half strike.
In the 55th minute, Mount got the opportunity to put a threatening ball into the box from a set-piece on the left flank. The cross, as expected, was sublime and saw Silva head home with precision.
#2 Thiago Silva
Chelsea’s 37-year-old central-defender Thiago Silva has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League this season. The former Paris Saint-Germain man has been calm, collected and decisive on either end of the pitch.
On Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur found themselves on the receiving end of the Brazilian’s fury.
Silva was asked to keep a lid on the brilliant Harry Kane on Sunday afternoon. The veteran read Kane’s movement brilliantly all night long and kept his threat to a minimum. He was also responsible for drawing the foul that saw Kane’s first-half goal canceled out.
Having impressed with his defensive shift in the first half, Silva showcased his aerial threat in the second 45.
Ten minutes after the restart, Silva latched on to Mount’s impeccable set-piece to glance his header past Lloris. The Frenchman, who was left rooted to the spot, had no way of saving Silva’s bottom-right bound header.
#1 Hakim Ziyech
Playing uncharacteristically on the right-wing, Hakim Ziyech arguably produced his best performance in a Chelsea shirt on Sunday afternoon. He was majestic with his movement, untouchable with his pace, and produced a strike that could be in the running for the Puskas Award.
Ziyech exchanged positions with Mount frequently and forced Lloris into action in the first half itself. A couple of minutes after the restart, the Morocco international came again and, this time, succeeded sumptuously.
From 20 yards, Ziyech decided to go for a curler and gloriously arched it into the top-right corner. The goal marked Ziyech’s third in the Premier League this season, with the last two coming in two consecutive games.
The winger went for his double only a couple of minutes later, but his half-volley was denied by the Tottenham keeper’s acrobatic effort. All in all, it was a perfect performance from the former Ajax man and should help him stay in the starting XI for the foreseeable future.
