Chelsea are back up into fourth in the Premier League table after edging out Tottenham in a relatively low-key London derby. Enzo Fernandez netted the only goal of the game early in the second half as the Blues responded to Manchester City and Newcastle wins to put themselves back in pole position for Champions League qualification.
The hosts were the better team throughout with Fernandez going close before Guglielmo Vicario pulled off a stunning finger-tip save to deny Jadon Sancho a goal. Tempers threatened to boil over just before half-time as a mini-melee resulted in yellow cards for Romero and Trevoh Chalobah.
The deadlock was broken five minutes into the restart as Cole Palmer picked out Fernandez in the area and the Argentina international made no mistake from close range as he planted his headed effort past Vicario. That proved to be the difference as Spurs, slumped to a 16th Premier League loss of the season. Follow the game back below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Malik Ouzia and Dan Kilpatrick at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea vs Tottenham latest news
- NO GOAL! Sarr effort chalked off after VAR check
- NO GOAL! VAR rules out Caicedo effort
- GOAL! Fernandez breaks the deadlock early in the second half
- POST! Jackson denied in opening seconds
Chelsea player ratings
22:29 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneEnzo Fernandez 8
Delightful flick for Palmer in midfield. Found plenty of space to get at back-four and made the box completely unmarked to nod key opener.
Pedro Neto 6
Teased from the right but overhit several crosses when well-placed. Booked.
Cole Palmer 7
Returned after missing the Arsenal defeat and England duty. Unlucky with ball pulled across goal line but fine cross made Fernandez’s breakthrough. Booked.
Read our Chelsea player ratings right here!
FULL-TIME
22:04 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneChelsea 1-0 Tottenham
Blues back up to fourth in the Premier League table thanks to Enzo Fernandez’s second half winner.
Both teams had goals wiped out by VAR but it’s Chelsea who claim London derby bragging rights.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
22:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+12 min: Foul and yellow card for Spence. That feels like that is it!
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:59 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+8 min: Johnson was also cautioned.
Spurs still have time on their side, but they have barely threatened.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:58 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+ 7 min: Much to the delight of the Chelsea fans, Dewsbury-Hall wins a goal-kick right by the corner flag. Porro is furious and his reaction earns him a yellow card.
You can’t react like that!
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+5 min: Sanchez wastes a bit of time before launching the ball up the field.
It comes straight back, but he holds on to Tel’s cross.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:51 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90 min: 12 minutes of injury time to be played as Palmer and Fernandez are replaced by Dewsbury-Hall and Tosin.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:49 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne89 min: CHANCE!
Johnson burns Cucurella and squares for Son but Sanchez races across his line to make a brilliant save.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne88 min: Fernandez appeals for a penalty following a challenge from Udogie, but the Spurs defender gets the ball.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne87 min: Double Spurs change.
On: Porro and Tel
Off: van de ven and Maddison
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:46 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne85 min: Booking for Palmer.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:43 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne83 min: Vicario has to adjust his feet to claw away Palmer’s cross. Looked liked it was heading for the top corner.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:41 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne82 min: End of the night for Jackson as he is replaced by James.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:41 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne81 min: Spence smashes an effort over the bar after the ball fell kindly for him.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne80 min: Neto booked for a trip on Son. Moments earlier Vicario made an important block to ensure Fernandez’s cross did not pick out a teammate in the box.
Free-kick to Spurs in a dangerous position.
Maddison to take...and his effort hits the wall.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne78 min: This is the foul that resulted in Sarr’s goal being disallowed.
Pape Matar Sarr beats Robert Sanchez from distance with a great finish, but VAR has a look and the goal is disallowed with a foul on Moises Caicedo in the build-up 🎥 pic.twitter.com/I3FH85RpKO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2025
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne73 min: Cucurella was also booked for dissent.
Standard Sport's Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
21:33 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAh the polarising force of football. You’ve got one manager furious that a foul’s been given and the other furious that a red card hasn’t.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne71 min: NO GOAL
Out of nothing, Spurs are back on level terms!
However, VAR intervenes again and the goal is ruled out as Pape Matar Sarr fouled Moises Caicedo in the build up.
Sarr is booked for the tackle to add insult to injury.
Standard Sport's Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
21:29 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIt really is as if both teams are so focused on their own frailties that they don’t quite appreciate how vulnerable the other are. Spurs look ripe to implode but Chelsea haven’t been able to put them away and things will get nervy in here if it remains 1-0.
Standard Sport's Dan Kilpatrick at Stamford Bridge
21:27 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThere were loud chants of 'you don't know what you're doing' from the away end when Lucas Bergvall was replaced by Pape Matar Sarr. The Spurs travelling fans, who have previously blamed Daniel Levy for the club's difficult season, appearing to be turning on Postecoglou.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne67 min: Poor corner delivery from Son but Spurs keep the ball alive and it falls to van de Ven but he can’t generate any power on his effort and the ball rolls into Sanchez’s arms.
Jackson is then booked for catching Romero late.
Sancho is replaced by Madueke.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne63 min: Double Spurs substitution.
On: Sarr, Johnson
Off: Bergvall, Odobert
Standard Sport's Dan Kilpatrick at Stamford Bridge
21:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA reprieve for Spurs but you really do sense that it's just delaying the inevitable. What little confidence they had has drained out of them since the Chelsea goal.
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne59 min: GOAL DISALLOWED
Tottenham partially head away a free-kick but only as far as Moises Caicedo who hits a lovely volley from 15 yards out and the ball flies in to the net.
However, after a lengthy VAR check, the goal is disallowed!
Still 1-0
Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
21:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne54 min: As things stand, Chelsea are back up to fourth in the Premier League table whilst Spurs are staring down the barrel of a 16th defeat.
Fernandez attempts an acrobtic effort in search of a second goal but doesn’t make a clean connection with the ball.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham | Enzo Fernandez '50
21:11 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne50 min: GOALLLLLLLL
Deadlock finally broken as Cole Palmer picks out Enzo Fernandez for a free header and the Chelsea captain, for tonight, makes no mistake.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
21:09 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne49 min: Palmer does well to get a shot away but Vicario is equal to the effort.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
21:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBack underway at Stamford Bridge!
HALF-TIME!
20:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneChelsea 0-0 Tottenham
Goalless at the break, Chelsea have come closest to scoring but Guglielmo Vicario made a stunning save to keep out Jadon Sancho's effort.
Standard Sport's Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:48 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA strange old game. Spurs are so porous through midfield but Chelsea haven’t been able to capitalise, in part through their own hesitance. When Sancho did finally get a shot off, he was denied by a magnificent save.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:46 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45 min: Two minutes of injury time is signalled as tempers threaten to boil over.
Romero, of course, is involved and is booked along with Chalobah.
First flashpoint of the derby, perhaps not the last?
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne44 min: Much better from Sancho as he controls Neto’s cross and then fires an effort at goal which Vicario pushes over the bar with a superb finger-tip save.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:43 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne42 min: Spurs have enjoyed a lot more possession in the last five minutes but they’ve not forced Sanchez into anything meaningful.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne37 min: It’s not the greatest of deliveries from Son as Sanchez gets a strong hand to the cross. Spurs are able to retain possession until Maddison cheaply gives the ball away to Gusto. Fortunately for the visitors, Chelsea are unable to take advantage.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:37 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne36 min: Son stings the hands of Sanchez with a cross-cum-shot. Udogie then forces a corner for Spurs.
Encouraging signs for the visitors.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne35 min: Frustration from the Chelsea fans towards Sancho as he elects to pass instead of shooting after Spence had conceded possession in a dangerous area.
Standard Sport's Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:34 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneEnzo Maresca had quite a simple instruction for Jadon Sancho in his press conference yesterday: Shoot more.
It’s not been followed so far.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne33 min: Bergvall finds himself in a promising position, throws in a couple of step-overs to create space but sees his effort charged down.
That is the brightest Spurs have looked from an attacking sense so far.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne29 min: Jackson gets the better of Romero and then Spence after latching on to a ball over the top. Looks to bend one into the top corner, but gets his angles wrong and sends an effort over the bar.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne28 min: Great cross from Neto, Palmer is free in the area but can’t get his head on the ball. Cucurella returns the ball into the box but Udogie clears it behind for a corner.
Only a corner, but it could have been so much more for Chelsea.
Neto takes this set-piece but gets too much on the cross and it sails behind for a goal kick.
Standard Sport's Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:26 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIt’s been a hideous advert for goalkeepers playing football so far.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:26 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne25 min: Vicario’s kicking has been a massive concern for Spurs early on as he needlessly puts the ball out for a throw-in.
Standard Sport's Dan Kilpatrick at Stamford Bridge
20:23 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSpurs are so easy to play through. It just takes one Chelsea pass and they're running at Spurs' back line.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne22 min: “EVERY TIME”
Something has angered Ange Postecoglou as he screams at one of the Spurs players from the touchline.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:19 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne18 min: CHANCE
Vicario manages to hold on to the ball right on the goal-line as Fernandez attempts to sweep home Palmer’s cut-back.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne16 min: Disappointing cross from Gusto halts a promising Chelsea attack.
There was an incident off the ball as the Blues poured forward, it left Romero on the deck and he wasn’t happy.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne14 min: Solanke pleads for a penalty after being bumped in the back by Chalobah. Nothing given though as play continues.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne13 min: Delay over the taking of the corner as the referee intervenes to stop the usual pushing and shoving in the box.
Palmer eventually takes the corner and Vicario punches it clear, then makes a strange decision to punch the ball when it’s returned and is a bit fortunate to see Jackson’s effort fly straight at him.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:12 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne11 min: Loose pass form Udogie puts Spurs on the back foot, Palmer sweeps the ball out to Sancho who cuts in and sees an effort deflected for a corner.
Palmer to take...
Standard Sport's Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCaicedo is still trotting about, shaking his leg out and trying to get feeling back but he’s not moving well at all. Maresca’s been trying to catch his attention to ask if he needs to come off but is being ignored. Bergvall just breezed away from him.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne9 min: Vicario almost gifts the ball straight to Neto. Spurs keeper got away with one there, but it allows the visitors to keep possession.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne6 min: Caicedo is back on with Chelsea on the attack, Cucurella whips the ball in from the left which Spurs clear but only to Gusto who fires an effort into the side-netting,
Some supporters thought the Frenchman had scored.
Standard Sport's Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThat looks a dictionary definition playground dead leg for Moises Caicedo. He’s going to try to run it off but that’s easier said than done.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne4 min: Concern for Chelsea as Caicedo requires treatment. It is a result of a coming together with Spence. Totally accidental.
Standard Sport's Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:03 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWell, Enzo Maresca promised the return of Nicolas Jackson would give Chelsea more of a threat in behind and we’ve seen it inside 60 seconds. A straight long ball over the top and Spurs are lucky not to be behind.
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
20:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne1 min: POST
Almost a dream start for Chelsea and a dream return to action for Jackson as he cuts straight through the middle of the Spurs defence but is denied by Vicario before hitting the post from the rebound.
Standard Sport's Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA bit of extra decor around Stamford Bridge this evening, with displays behind both goals as the players wait in the tunnel.
The atmosphere’s been pretty flat here of late, with dissent towards the ownership and criticism of the Blues’s playing style, even as they’ve won five on the spin at home across competitions. All of those have come against sides Chelsea were expected to beat comfortably.
A win tonight, you suspect, would be celebrated a little more passionately.
KICK-OFF!
20:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWe are underway in this Premier League clash.
Chelsea chasing Champions League qualification, Tottenham out to end a poor Premier League season on a high note.
Here we go!
19:56 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe two teams are out onto the pitch.
Kick-off just a few minutes away, as Chelsea and Tottenham look to claim three points as well as London derby bragging rights.
Postecoglou delighted with Spurs team
19:54 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAnge Postecoglou spoke to Sky Sports ahead of kick-off and the Tottenham manager couldn’t hide his delight at being able to pair Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven in central defence...
"We've missed it"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2025
Ange Postecoglou is pleased to have Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero defensive pairing back! pic.twitter.com/kRMkp5HQsf
As it stands
19:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA win for Chelsea will be enough to reclaim fourth place in the Premier League table. A draw takes them back above Newcastle in fifth due to a superior goal difference.
Tottenham start the night in 14th but can leapfrog Manchester United with a victory.
Standard Sport's Dan Kilpatrick at Stamford Bridge
19:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThis is a bigger game for Chelsea in the context of their push for a place in the top four / five.
For Spurs, it's hard to know what to make of the stakes. It doesn't materially change anything for their season if they lose but would be damaging for Ange Postecoglou if they can't produce a performance with close to his best XI available.
Plus, they need momentum and the fans onside for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt next week, when the team will look very similar to tonight.
Enzo Maresca speaks
19:43 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA word from the Chelsea boss ahead of kick-off...
🗣️ "Finally they are back!"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2025
Enzo Maresca shares his thoughts ahead of Chelsea vs Spurs 💭 pic.twitter.com/WILX6OAPiE
Final preparations
19:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe players are going through their final preparations ahead of tonight's London derby.
Kick-off is in 20 minutes!
Jackson back
19:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneNicolas Jackson and Trevoh Chalobah both scored in the corresponding fixture against Tottenham last season and they start tonight.
Perhaps this was on Enzo Maresca’s mind when naming the starting XI...
Nico in #CHETOT. 👊 pic.twitter.com/zNUwcGiK0P
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 30, 2025
A reminder of tonight's team news
19:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneChelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez (c), Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, James, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Madueke, Nkunku
Tottenham XI: Vicario, Spence, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie, Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison, Odobert, Solanke, Son (c).
Subs: Kinsky, Porro, Davies, Gray, Bissouma, Sarr, Moore, Johnson, Tel.
Tottenham away form
19:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTottenham have won just one of their last five away games across all competitions, and that was against relegation threatened Ipswich.
Worryingly, Ange Postecoglou's side have failed to score in three times in this sequence.
Chelsea dressing room
19:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBehind the scenes at Stamford Bridge as the Chelsea dressing room is prepared ahead of kick-off.
Chelsea vs Tottenham: Match facts
19:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne- Chelsea have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League games against Spurs (W9 D2), winning the last three in a row by an aggregate score of 10-4
- Tottenham have lost each of their last three Premier League games against Chelsea, last losing more consecutively against the Blues between January 2000 and March 2002 (6).
- Chelsea have won more Premier League games (36) and scored more Premier League goals (120) against Tottenham than they have vs any other opponent.
Standard Sport's Malik Ouzia and Dan Kilpatrick at Stamford Bridge
19:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneStandard Sport's Malik Ouzia and Dan Kilpatrick are at Stamford Bridge tonight and they have reacted to the Chelsea and Tottenham team news!
🗣 "Enzo Maresca boosted by the returns of Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) April 3, 2025
🗣️ "The only slight surprise is Djed Spence over Pedro Porro at right-back."@MalikOuzia_ and @Dan_KP react to the Chelsea and Tottenham team news!
LIVE: https://t.co/3tPygtL3sl#CHETOT | #CFC |… pic.twitter.com/vriG373uvi
Tottenham changes
19:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCristian Romero and Micky van de Ven start together for Tottenham in the Premier League against Chelsea for the first time since the reverse fixture in north London in December, in which they were both injured.
In total, Ange Postecoglou has made five changes to the team that started last time out at Fulham.
Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison, Wilson Odobert and Heung-Min Son also come into the team.
Jackson returns for Chelsea
19:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneNicolas Jackson’s return to action is no doubt a massive boost for Chelsea as Enzo Maresca makes four changes to the side that lost to Arsenal before the international break.
Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah and Cole Palmer are also back in.
Tottenham team in full
18:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTottenham XI: Vicario, Spence, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie, Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison, Odobert, Solanke, Son (c).
Subs: Kinsky, Porro, Davies, Gray, Bissouma, Sarr, Moore, Johnson, Tel.
Chelsea team in full
18:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneChelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez (c), Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, James, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Madueke, Nkunku
Confirmed Tottenham XI
18:46 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAnd in the Spurs corner...
Your Spurs XI to face Chelsea 🫡
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 3, 2025
🔢 @krakenfx pic.twitter.com/acxkDFLyt3
Chelsea lineup confirmed
18:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLining up for the hosts tonight...
Your Blues to face Spurs! ✊#CFC | #CHETOT pic.twitter.com/zEmXa3EVya
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 3, 2025
Team news imminent
18:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTeam news from Stamford Bridge will drop soon...
Behind the scenes at Tottenham training
18:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe Tottenham squad have been put through their paces all week in preparation for tonight's London derby...
Go behind the scenes of training ahead of our Premier League clash with Chelsea 💪 pic.twitter.com/wUgqleCjVp
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 2, 2025
Double boost for Chelsea
18:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLooks like Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke are back in the Chelsea squad tonight!
1️⃣5️⃣#CFC | #CHETOT pic.twitter.com/J4uZd4JpGG
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 3, 2025
🔵👌#CFC | #CHETOT pic.twitter.com/6HFwutS7JQ
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 3, 2025
Maresca looks ahead to tonight's London derby
18:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneChelsea boss Enzo Maresca understands the importance of three points tonight...
Words from the boss. 🗣️#CFC | #CHETOT pic.twitter.com/ML4KqC8ocT
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 3, 2025
Atmosphere building
18:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneYou can tell it’s a London derby at Stamford Bridge tonight!
Predicted Tottenham XI
18:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are tonight set to start together for Tottenham in the Premier League against Chelsea for the first time since the reverse fixture in north London in December, in which they were both injured.
Ange Postecoglou is likely to go with his strongest side for Thursday's game at Stamford Bridge, and rest players for Sunday's visit of Southampton ahead of the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Predicted Tottenham XI (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Bergvall, Maddison; Odobert, Solanke, Son
Predicted Chelsea XI
18:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleynePedro Neto has been deputising as a No9 but could return to the wing, with Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku at risk of losing their places.
Meanwhile, the timing of the FA Cup quarter-finals has eased Chelsea’s usual post-international break headache, with first-choice midfield pair Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez having had sufficient time to recover from their trips to South America.
That pair will be needed, with Maresca revealing that Romeo Lavia has suffered another injury setback and is a major doubt.
Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Around the grounds
18:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTonight is the final Premier League fixture from a special round of midweek games.
Liverpool have taken another step towards lifting league title number 20, Nottingham Forest are on course to qualify for the Champions League and there was a massive win for Ipswich down at the bottom of the table.
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
Wolves 1-0 West Ham
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Manchester United
Newcastle 2-1 Brentford
Man City 2-0 Leicester
Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace
Brighton 0-3 Aston Villa
Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
Ange Postecoglou: I hope Mauricio Pochettino does return to Tottenham
18:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has insisted that he does not feel "disrespected" by Mauricio Pochettino saying he wants to return to the club, as the Australian dismissed the impact of speculation about his future.
Pochettino, who is currently in charge of the US men's team, reiterated his desire to manage Spurs again "one day" in a series of interviews during the recent international break.
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Tottenham can prove to be perfect guests for Chelsea
17:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIt was not quite the perfect international break for Chelsea, as a training ground defeat to the club’s Under-21s and a cancelled day off will attest.
But an 18-day break since the defeat to Arsenal last month does feel as if it has done Enzo Maresca’s side more good than harm, applying something of a reset to a campaign that had been clinging stubbornly, but not convincingly, to the rails for a while.
This feels like a good fixture for Chelsea, in more ways than one.
The returns to fitness of Palmer, Madueke and Jackson - all of whom Maresca says are fit to start - have promised to loosen a forward line lacking in invention and incision from its shackles. A liberation of sorts, if you will. But Maresca insisted on Wednesday that his team’s tediously slow football of late has been as much down to their opponents’ approach as their own.
Last time out
17:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIt was a seven-goal thriller in the reverse meeting earlier in the season as Chelsea fought back from 2-0 down to eventually run out 4-3 winners in north London.
Last time out 🆚 Spurs. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/m9GBUk8Vey
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 2, 2025
Postecoglou admits mistakes
17:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has admitted he was mistaken to use certain players, including Cristian Romero, from the start of the campaign because they had experienced "disruptive" pre-seasons following international tournaments.
Postecoglou's Spurs, who face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, have been decimated by injuries this term, with Romero featuring in just 17 of their 46 matches so far.
The centre-half was part of Argentina's Copa America-winning squad last summer, while Rodrigo Bentancur also featured for Uruguay at the finals.
Chelsea’s £1billion Stamford Bridge decision that could tear the club apart
17:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTo get a handle on the complexities involved in Chelsea’s long-stalling plan to redevelop their stadium, consider the series of players and events that have scuppered past attempts.
There were the Malaysian property developers who swooped to buy Battersea Power Station more than a decade ago, trumping Chelsea’s bid for the site they viewed as the ideal new home.
There was the single family, the Crosthwaites, who lived near Stamford Bridge and secured an injunction against a rebuild that would have infringed on the “right to light” in their home.
Today's setting
17:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSensational conditions in west London this evening!
Chelsea vs Tottenham match odds
17:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneChelsea to win: 4/7
Draw: 5/2
Tottenham to win: 10/3
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Chelsea vs Tottenham: Head to head (h2h) history and results
17:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneChelsea wins: 80
Draws: 43
Tottenham wins: 55
Score prediction
17:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWhile Chelsea are realistically the more likely candidates for the win on Thursday, one must remember that the Blues do nothing the easy way.
See, for instance, the away loss to Servette which nearly saw them miss out on Conference League qualification or last month’s laboured 1-0 win over Leicester. Perhaps low on morale after a string of shaky performances, Chelsea will be vulnerable.
Whether Spurs can take advantage of said weakness, though, is another question entirely. They historically do not perform well at Stamford Bridge, failing to win there since 2018, and are winless - and pointless - in their last three against Chelsea, who will hope to continue the trend.
Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
Tottenham team news
17:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWhile several players have returned to training during the international break, Spurs will still be without a handful of key names tonight. Ange Postecoglou said on Wednesday that Kevin Danso and Dejan Kulusevski are likely to return “in a couple of weeks,” thus ruling both out of next week’s Europa League semi-final first leg.
Richarlison is also training with the first team and nearing a return after two months out with a calf problem. Lucas Bergvall is available after recovering from illness.
Chelsea team news
17:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe Chelsea camp will be boosted dramatically by Cole Palmer’s return after he suffered an injury in training shortly before the international break. The young attacking midfielder has proven influential even amid a dip in goal-scoring form and has been sorely missed.
Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson are both back in the fold, too.
Enzo Maresca confirmed in his pre-match press conference that he is still managing Reece James’ minutes as he looks to protect his injury-prone captain.
He added that Romeo Lavia has suffered another setback in his recovery from a persistent hamstring issue which has limited the Belgian to just 12 league appearances since joining Chelsea in 2023.
How to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham
17:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTV channel: In the UK, Chelsea vs Tottenham is being shown live via Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. Coverage begins at 7pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off at Stamford Bridge.
Live stream: Sky Sports and Now TV subscribers can also follow the match live online via the SkyGo app and website and NOW.
Live blog: You won’t miss any of the action with Standard Sport’s dedicated live match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Malik Ouzia and Dan Kilpatrick.
Welcome
17:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Chelsea vs Tottenham!
Can Chelsea reclaim fourth place in the Premier League table, or will Spurs record a rare win in this fixture?
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here ahead of kick-off, which comes at 8pm BST from Stamford Bridge. Stick with us!
