Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham: Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva score for Blues

Two second-half goals, including a brilliant strike from Hakim Ziyech, helped Chelsea beat Tottenham for the third time in three weeks.

After a goalless first half, Ziyech scored within two minutes of the restart, superbly curling the ball into the top corner from 20 yards after a fine run from Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The hosts doubled their lead eight minutes later when defender Thiago Silva headed in from Mason Mount's excellent free-kick delivery.

In the first half, Tottenham thought they had taken the lead as Harry Kane slotted past Kepa Arrizabalaga, but the goal was ruled out as the England striker was adjudged to have pushed Silva to the ground.

This victory follows Chelsea's wins in both legs of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Spurs, cruising through 3-0 on aggregate to set up a Wembley final against Liverpool.

It is Tottenham's first defeat in the league since Antonio Conte, a Premier League and FA Cup winner while in charge of Chelsea, replaced the sacked Nuno Espirito Santo in November.

Chelsea keep their title hopes alive

For Chelsea this was a welcome return to winning ways in the league.

They were top of the Premier League after a 2-1 win at Watford on 1 December but a run of only 11 points from their next nine games has severely damaged their hopes of becoming English champions for the first time since Conte guided them to the title in 2016-17.

They remain third and are 10 points behind leaders Manchester City, although Thomas Tuchel's side will not play in the league again until 19 February as a result of their participation in the Fifa Club World Cup, following their Champions League success.

Conte opted for a back four, the first time he has done so in a league game at Tottenham, as he looked to keep it tight and hit his former team on the counter attack.

But the hosts nearly broke through inside the opening minute when Romelu Lukaku shot over on the turn, before Chelsea failed to convert further chances through Hudson-Odoi, Silva and Ziyech.

Lukaku, who has only scored eight times in 24 appearances in all competitions following a £97.5m move from Inter Milan last summer, had another glorious chance following good work by Mount, but missed the ball when eight yards out.

While Conte was unhappy with the officials for ruling out Spurs' first-half goal, Tuchel was also furious that Japhet Tanganga, who had already been booked, was not shown a second yellow card when he had a hold of Hudson-Odoi's shirt late in the first half.

It was the second time Chelsea thought their opponents should have had a player sent off after Matt Doherty had earlier caught Malang Sarr by standing on his ankle - but a video assistant referee check decided it had been accidental.

However seventh-placed Tottenham, who would have moved into the top four with a win, saw their resistance broken early in the second half thanks to Ziyech's wonder strike, before Silva's goal took the game beyond them.

Chelsea could have won by a bigger margin as Lukaku, Mount and Cesar Azpilicueta missed chances.

Tottenham scored two injury-time goals in their last match to come from behind and beat Leicester 3-2 in a remarkable match on Wednesday but there was to be no dramatic repeat at Stamford Bridge.

Arrizabalaga did well to keep out Kane's powerful header late on as Chelsea maintained their clean sheet for their first Premier League win in three matches.

Player of the match

ZiyechHakim Ziyech

Chelsea

Squad number22Player nameZiyech

Squad number19Player nameMount

Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva

Squad number8Player nameKovacic

Squad number2Player nameRüdiger

Squad number20Player nameHudson-Odoi

Squad number1Player nameArrizabalaga

Squad number7Player nameKanté

Squad number31Player nameSarr

Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta

Squad number5Player nameJorginho

Squad number3Player nameAlonso

Squad number17Player nameSaúl

Squad number9Player nameLukaku

Line-ups

Chelsea

Formation 4-1-4-1

1Arrizabalaga

28Azpilicueta2Rüdiger6Thiago Silva31Sarr

5Jorginho

22Ziyech19Mount8Kovacic20Hudson-Odoi

9Lukaku

Substitutes

Tottenham

Formation 4-4-2

1Lloris

25Tanganga15Dier6D Sánchez33Davies

2Doherty8Winks5Højbjerg19R Sessegnon

10Kane23Bergwijn

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Chelsea 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0.

Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0.

Foul by Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea).

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea).

Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Chelsea. Saúl Ñíguez replaces Hakim Ziyech because of an injury.

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Bryan Gil replaces Harry Winks.

Substitution, Chelsea. Marcos Alonso replaces Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Attempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Harry Winks with a cross.

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Antonio Rüdiger.

Attempt missed. Steven Bergwijn (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Harry Kane.

Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).

Steven Bergwijn (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Eric Dier tries a through ball, but Oliver Skipp is caught offside.

Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ben Davies.

Attempt saved. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Hakim Ziyech.

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