Chelsea has firmly established itself as a contender in the Premier League this season, defying coach Enzo Maresca’s claims about the youth of his squad. In a thrilling London derby on Sunday, Chelsea overcame an early two-goal deficit to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3, moving within four points of league leaders Liverpool.
The match began dramatically, with Chelsea conceding twice within the first 11 minutes, as Tottenham took advantage of lapses in the Blues’ defense. However, Chelsea responded emphatically, with Cole Palmer scoring two penalties, including a cheeky “Panenka” to seal the comeback.
Liverpool, the current league leader, did not play this round due to the postponement of the Merseyside derby against Everton, which gave Chelsea and Arsenal a chance to apply pressure. Chelsea capitalized on this opportunity, while Arsenal faltered, managing only a 1-1 draw against Fulham despite their recent success from set pieces.
Maresca has consistently downplayed Chelsea’s title chances, citing the inexperience of his young players. However, the team’s recent performances suggest otherwise. After an unprecedented spending spree exceeding $1.3 billion over the last five transfer windows, Chelsea has found a consistent rhythm, with Palmer emerging as a key player both on and off the field. The Blues have lost only to Manchester City and Liverpool this season and have won their last four league matches, scoring 14 goals in that span.
Despite the victory, Chelsea’s players echoed Maresca’s sentiments about the need for improvement. Defender Levi Colwill remarked, “We still have so much to improve on. Like the gaffer said, when we are ready to push for a title we won’t be 2-0 down in the first 10 minutes. That’s the levels we’re working towards.”
Arsenal, on the other hand, struggled to convert opportunities against Fulham. William Saliba scored to equalize in the 52nd minute, following a trend of goals from set pieces. Raul Jimenez had put Fulham ahead in the 11th minute, and Arsenal’s potential winning goal by Bukayo Saka was ruled out for offside in the 88th minute, marking a missed opportunity to close the gap on Liverpool, which now stands at six points.
In penalty news, Cole Palmer has set a remarkable record by converting all 12 penalties he has taken in the Premier League, surpassing the previous best set by Yaya Touré. Since joining Chelsea in the summer of 2023, Palmer has amassed 33 goals and 17 assists in 48 matches, becoming one of the fastest players to reach 50 goal involvements in the league.
In other matches, Bournemouth and Leicester City both salvaged points late in their games. Jamie Vardy scored in the 86th minute and assisted Bobby De Cordova-Reid in stoppage time, helping Leicester secure a 2-2 draw against Brighton. Meanwhile, Bournemouth scored twice in the final minutes to come from behind and win 2-1 against Ipswich, leaving the latter in the relegation zone with just one victory this season.
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