Accurate Palmer celebrates Chelsea’s comeback win in a seven-goal thriller at Spurs | Premier League

It was Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham in microcosm. A few steps forward; rather in the opposite direction. The biggest question for the manager was where he was as Chelsea came back from 2-0 down to win again and climb to second place in the Premier League table.

They are ahead of Arsenal and just four points behind Liverpool, although the league leaders still have a game in hand. It is becoming increasingly difficult to believe manager Enzo Maresca when he argues that Chelsea are not title contenders. There was so much good here. Most notably, they had Cole Palmer.

With about 15 minutes to go, the television cameras made the obligatory cuts to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, inviting everyone to wonder what he will do with Postecoglou, who had said two weeks ago that he would be with his team in We were still in the middle of the table at Christmas. Until then they only have two games left – away to Southampton, home of Liverpool.

It’s not just that they’re 11 now^Th. One of the key takeaways was how little faith they showed, even when Son Heung-min scored a late goal to make it 4-3. Then it was over.

Security is not a problem for Chelsea. Or Palmer. He had already made it 2-2 from the penalty spot when he trapped Destiny Udogie and three other Spurs defenders on the right before sending a cross over the ball that deflected in and found Enzo Fernández, who Chelsea took the lead.

It looked like the Spurs had had enough of Palmer being driven to distraction. It was the only explanation as to why Pape Sarr charged into his back on the right side of the penalty area. It was another clear penalty. Palmer managed a bold panenka; the ultimate snapshot of Chelsea’s dominance.

After everything that happened in Bournemouth last Thursday between Postecoglou and the traveling Spurs support team, it felt significant to see the coach applaud profusely from the South Stand before kick-off. Friends again? This was the case after 11 minutes when Spurs got off to a dream start. It never looked like it would last.

The first exchanges were a nightmare for Chelsea and especially for Marc Cucurella, who lost his footing twice – with devastating consequences. The first was the real screamer, Cucurella, who tried to capitalize on a square pass from Levi Colwill but felt no grip in his cleats. Brennan Johnson ambushed him and burst down the right to cross, but that was thanks to Dominic Solanke, whose movement inside the penalty area was too sharp for Colwill. The first finish was fatal.

Maresca couldn’t believe his players’ mistakes at the start, even if they looked threatening as they moved up the field. That was the case throughout. It was déjà vu as Cucurella slipped again and Spurs regained possession. Dejan Kulusevski ran from right to left along the edge of the penalty area before sinking a low shot into the near post. That was Cucurella’s reason to rush over and change his shoes.

Chelsea never panicked. They never lost the feeling that they would have enough to come back. The first half was wild, continuous, so open, and it was no surprise when Chelsea equalized. Spurs had been boosted by the returns from injuries of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven; The latter was the surprise. Romero didn’t last long. In the eighth minute, he appeared to feel something in his thigh after pulling a risky backheel in his own penalty area, and he realized he couldn’t continue.

Radu Dragusin came on as a substitute and he was one of the Spurs defenders unable to get to the excellent Jadon Sancho as the Chelsea winger shot inside from the left. Sancho’s low shot was beautiful and landed in the far corner. Van de Ven would be substituted before the end, another injury adding to the insults.

There was controversy before half-time and we’re not talking about the South Standers who threw jumbled pieces of tifo cardboard at Chelsea’s corner players, including Palmer. They were told to intervene at half-time, which was a bit late. Maybe Palmer took it personally.

Moisés Caicedo was lucky when he hit Sarr’s lower shin hard. Anthony Taylor missed the focal point and the VAR, Jarred Gillett, said there was no serious foul play and therefore no red card. Kulusevski would also get away with an elbow to Roméo Lavia. There was no action here either.

Chelsea, who were quick and adventurous in possession, had a chance to equalize before the break, the big chance being created by Fernández for Palmer; Incredibly, he missed his shot from close range. Pedro Neto extended Fraser Forster after throwing him into the near corner.

Spurs also had their chances in the first half. The son curled up just beyond the very top corner; Sarr headed against the crossbar after a Son corner; Solanke was unable to complete a flat Son cross.

Maresca made a substitution in the second half, with Malo Gusto coming on at right-back and Caicedo coming into midfield on a full-time basis. Previously he had only had possession of the ball there. Lavia made room. It should be prepared against the threat of Son.

Chelsea pushed forward. They could sense Spurs’ vulnerability as a defensive unit. Anyone could. Probably even Postecoglou. After the restart, there was one-way traffic. Sancho parried Forster brilliantly. Fernández deflected a shot just wide of the goal.

Spurs lost Johnson to a muscle injury and it was clear the equalizer was coming. Postecoglou’s team was nervous. The stadium was a sea of ​​fear. When the goal made it 2-2, it was a rush of blood from Yves Bissouma. He had initially lost the ball on Spurs’ left and when Sancho, again on the other side, passed the ball through for Caicedo, Bissouma jumped in to knock him down. Spurs substitute Timo Werner had his head in his hands before the penalty was taken.

The outcome was never in doubt for Palmer. He was outstanding in the second half and there would be much more from him. Son and Van de Ven came close at 2-2, but the result was inevitable.