Tottenham Hotspur entertain Chelsea at Wembley stadium for their first home game of the new EPL season. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 1am AEST.
Can the second game of a new season be viewed as a must-win? In most circumstances this question would be laughed at but with storm clouds hanging around Stamford Bridge after a tumultuous summer in the transfer market and Diego Costa’s self-imposed sabbatical, Antonio Conte would welcome his side’s first three points of the season with open arms.
Coupled with a disastrous start to the new campaign with a loss at home to Burnley, Conte is enduring his first difficult spell as Chelsea Gaffer with some bookmakers already making him the favourite for first manager on the chopping block.
It could be a difficult day for Chelsea at England’s home of football as they are also missing their star man Eden Hazard due to injury and won’t be able to call upon new captain Gary Cahill and Spanish playmaker Cesc Fabregas after the pair were sent off in last week’s loss to Burnley.
One positive to come out of last week was the performance of Alvaro Morata, the summer edition hit the ground running when he entered the fray after the hour mark scoring and assisting in Chelsea’s two goals.
It was surprising that he started on the bench and many believe this was Conte’s way of playing mind games with the owners in order for them to splash the cash before the transfer window shuts on the 31st of this month.
Tottenham have also had their fair share of negative press in recent weeks with left back Danny Rose lashing out at the clubs transfer policy and wage structure.
They were able to brush it aside and beat newly promoted Newcastle last week with relative ease, star man Dele Alli proving once again why he is being talked about as England’s new hope and one of the best young players in Europe.
There is no doubt the core of Tottenham’s squad are underpaid if you look at the astronomical wages being dished out by the top six in the EPL and their argument will gather more strength if they can lay down a marker and put the champions to the sword at Wembley.
Another fascinating aspect of this game is that Tottenham have won just once in nine games at Wembley since their league cup win in 2008. It remains to be seen if they can make Wembley a fortress like they did with White Hart Lane.
Prediction
Its Tottenham for me in this intriguing encounter, Chelsea have too many of their leading men missing and I feel with the positivity of an opening day win Spurs will be brimming with confidence.
One to watch – Dele Alli will be looking to build on his impressive display from the opening game. Tenacious, energetic, creative – the lad is a joy to watch when firing on all cylinders.
Spurs 2, Chelsea 1
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 1am AEST.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
Match review Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-1 at Wembley and get their first win of the EPL season. In what was a pulsating affair Antonio Conte will be ecstatic with how his team responded to the opening day loss. Spurs will be disappointed with another defeat at Wembley and they know they will have more questions asked in the coming days about this particular hoodoo. The game started off at a frantic pace played under what sounded like an incredible atmosphere. Chelsea had the first big chance of the game with Morata heading wide when you expected to see the net ripple such is the quality that the Spaniard possess. The breakthrough came after 24 minutes when Marcus Alonso scored a stunning free kick. it was similar to his exploits against Bournemouth last season and it left Lloris with no chance in the Chelsea goal. Tottenham will fell that they controlled the first half but couldn’t break down a stubborn Chelsea defence. However they did have their moments with Harry Kane striking the woodwork after some good build up play by Alli. Spurs started the second half on fire forcing numerous corners in the first 5 minutes and it looked like a matter of time before they scored. To Conte’s credit he got his tactics spot on and his decision to play David Luiz holding in midfield was a big reason they withheld the Tottenham pressure. Luiz alongside the back 3 of Alonso, Christensen and Rudiger dealt with crosses into the box with ease and showed a real defensive resolve. Tottenham did find a way back into the game and such was the quality of defending from Chelsea it was a player in their colours that put the ball in the net. Poor old Batshuayi was only on the pitch 3 minutes when he expertly headed into his own net from a Christen Eriksen free kick and It looked like Tottenham would go onto win the game such was the momentum they had after equalising . Unfortunately for Pochettino's men a double brain fade from French no 1 Lloris contributed to the champions walking away with all 3 points. For a keeper of his standard to throw a ball out to a team mate with 2 minutes left on the clock after been under attack left me baffled. I understand he was trying to start a counter attack but it was a very risky throw and Wanyama was quickly disposed by Luiz in the middle of the park ,he then fed the ball to Pedro who in turn slipped Alonso through on goal to smash the ball under Lloris at his near post which I am sure will haunt him for the next few days. Tactically Chelsea were excellent and the display at Wembley was a solid defensive effort which will please Conte after such awful defending in the first week. Champions don't always have to play well but champions find a way to win and thats what Chelsea did here today. For Tottenham it will be back to the drawing board, and while their general play was pleasing on the eye they will be disappointed not to have troubled Courtois a bit more. MOM- It has to be Chelsea hero Alonso with a breath taking free kick and the match winer in the dying moments of the game. However I was tempted to take MOM from him when he had his phone out in the tunnel taking selfies probably 1 minute after the final whistle. This is the real question of the day- how the hell did he get his phone to take a selfie that quick after the whistle ?? was it in his sock ? did the physio have it ? Did he get in and out to the dressing room that quick ? I suppose thats modern football. Selfies and stunning free kicks. I hope you enjoyed LIVE coverage on The Roar. Kearns
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
94. FULL TIME And thats it. The whistle goes and Chelsea have their first win of the season !! Great game here at Wembley. Massive win for Chelsea.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
94. Chelsea have the ball in the corner. It could be curtains soon.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
91. Chelsea free kick after Sissoko leaves his arm on Alonso's face.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
90. 4 mins added on
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
90. Conte went nuts when that went in, you have got to love the Italian's passion.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
89. Kane booked
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
88. I take it back , not a great strike, Lloris should have done better but Conte will not be complaining with his sides lead.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
86.Goal WOW Alonso with a great strike from inside the box. They broke down Spurs right hand side. He was slipped in by Pedro and shoots through Lloris legs.SCENES at Wembley.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
86. Corner to spurs,they are throwing the kitchen sink at this.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
85. Free kick Spurs, Bakayoko gives away a free on the edge of the box.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
85.5 left on the clock and Spurs are pushing for the win.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
80.GOAL!! Spurs score through Batshuayi. Thats right, the Chelsea Sub who has only been on for 3 minutes, great delivery by Erikssen and Batshuayi turns into his own net
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
80. 10 left and Kante gives away a free kick outside the box.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
80Sub Davies OFF- Sissoko ON
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
SUB- Morata OFF - Batshuayi ON
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
76. Chelsea are defending brilliantly throwing bodies in front of shots and heading every thing away.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
75. Another Spurs corner, its end to end here at the moment.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
72. Chance Willian lets fly and hits the post from 25 after good build up play from Bakayoko and Morata.
Alan Kearney
Roar Guru
72. Chelsea are starting to have a spell, Morata put the burners on and left Davies for dead putting a good ball in the box.Still 1 nil Chelsea.