Who would have thought that Chelsea would eventually triumph after the 11th minute and Tottenham’s 2-0 lead?! Marc Cucurella slipped and lost the ball twice, allowing Solanke and Kulusevski to find the net! Still, once the Spaniard changed his boots, the Blues approach changed as well!Sancho reduced the gap before the break, while the second period belonged to Chelsea altogether! Two Cole Palmer’s converted penalties and Enzo Fernandez’s goal were more than enough for Chelsea’s vital victory, which Son’s dying-minutes goal only mitigated – 4-3!Cole Palmer breaks Chelsea’s record for most Premier League goal involvements in a calendar year with 37.Incredible 🥶 pic.twitter.com/q5cNhF8M5v— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 8, 2024 In one of the best first halves in the Premier League this season, the crowd enjoyed fireworks and witnessed three goals, although they could have seen at least six or seven! Already after 11 minutes, Spurs were 2-0 up thanks to Marc Cucurella, who slipped and lost the ball prior to each goal!Solanke has given lead to Tottenham Assist by Brennan Johnsonpic.twitter.com/6c7HvdtMHh— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) December 8, 2024 🚨🏴 GOAL | Tottenham 2-0 Chelsea | KulusevskiKULUSEVSKI DOUBLES THE LEAD FOR TOTTENHAM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/6ppI38VQql— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 8, 2024 Dominic Solanke in the fifth and Dejan Kulusevski in the 11th minute exploited the Spaniards’ “ballet on ice,” shocking Enzo Maresca. Interestingly, only after his two errors did Cucurella decide it was time to change his slippery boots. Luckily for him, only seven minutes after the Swede’s goal, Jadon Sancho made a terrific solo effort and reduced the gap to only one, making it 2-1!Jadon Sancho goal!!! pic.twitter.com/AOFtkTMffE— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) December 8, 2024 Regardless of three goals inside the initial 20 minutes, the pace did not drop at all, as Solanke wasted an excellent chance for a brace, and Pape Matar Sarr hit the bar after a corner on one side, while Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto were both stopped by the experienced Fraser Forster in Spurs’ goal in the span of only five seconds on the other. And all that before the break!⏱ 5′ – Marc Cucurella slips which leads to Dominic Solanke scoring 😬⏱ 11′ – Cucurella slips AGAIN, leading to Dejan Kulusevski’s goal 😱🔄 12′ – Cucurella leaves the field to swap his boots 👟We have never seen anything like this 🤯 pic.twitter.com/wtOp3IvU1D— OneFootball (@OneFootball) December 8, 2024 Once the ref, Anthony Taylor, blew the whistle for the beginning of the second 45 minutes, Chelsea’s dominance began. During the opening 15 minutes after the break, the Blues had over 80% of possession, and only thanks to Forster and his saves against Sancho and Malo Gusto were Tottenham still in the lead.Brace yourself… Chelsea are an actual title contenderNevertheless, the 36-year-old couldn’t do anything after Yves Bissouma made a late tackle on Moises Caicedo for a penalty, which Palmer sent home, making it 2-2 in the 61st minute! Only seven minutes later, Son Heung-min could have given another lead to Spurs but wasted a massive chance, missing the entire target in a one-on-one situation.🚨🏴 GOAL | Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea | Cole PalmerCOLE PALMER HAS EQUALIZED FOR CHELSEA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/pK4p7GVsvk— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 8, 2024 Yet, the Blues refused to stop there. The pressure continued and brought the complete comeback thirteen minutes after the leveller! Palmer was again involved, as his strike’s rebound came to Enzo Fernandez, who unleashed a first-touch volley into Tottenham’s net – 3-2! In the 84th minute, the popular “Cold” converted another penalty, knocking Spurs down altogether – 4-2! Son’s added-time strike for 4-3 was little comfort to the home fans… 🚨🏴 GOAL | Tottenham 2-3 Chelsea | Enzo FernandezENZO FERNANDEZ HAS GIVEN CHELSEA THE LEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/7FYW14yTnU— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 8, 2024 🚨🚨| GOAL: COLE PALMER WITH A BRACE!!!Tottenham 2-4 Chelsea pic.twitter.com/l5pkni6Ber— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) December 8, 2024 🚨🏴 GOAL | Tottenham 3-4 Chelsea | Son Heung-MinSON GOT ONE BACK FOR TOTTENHAM!pic.twitter.com/IMAyShINgt— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 8, 2024 While Maresca can be proud of his boys and the determination they showed, Ange Postecoglou will have a lot on his plate, as his team’s second-half performance disappointed. Tottenham were, forst and foremost, mentally far from the needed level and they paid the price, as they’ll await the next Premier League round in 11th position. Chelsea, on the other hand, are in second, breathing down Liverpool’s neck.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 15Saturday Everton – Liverpool POSTPONEDAston Villa – Southampton 1-0 (1-0)/Duran 24/Brentford – Newcastle 4-2 (2-2)/Mbeumo 8, Wissa 28, Collins 56, Schade 90 – Isak 11, Barnes 32/Crystal Palace – Manchester City 2-2 (1-1)/Munoz 4, Lacroix 56 – Haaland 30, Lewis 68/Manchester United – Nott. Forest 2-3 (1-1)/Hojlund 18, Fernandes 61 – Milenkovic 2, Gibbs-White 47, Wood 54/Sunday Fulham – Arsenal 1-1 (1-0)/Jimenez 11 – Saliba 52/Ipswich – Bournemouth 1-2 (1-0)/Chaplin 21 – Unal 88, Outtara 90+5/Leicester – Brighton 2-2 (0-1)/Vardy 86, De Cordova-Reid 90+1 – Lamptey 37, Minteh 79/Tottenham – Chelsea 3-4 (2-1)/Solanke 5, Kulusevski 11, Son 90+6 – Sancho 17, Palmer 61 pen, 84 pen, Fernandez 73/Monday23.00: (1.95) West Ham (3.60) Wolverhampton (4.20)***odds are subject to change***
