Chelsea

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Tottenham fans

Colin: There is something wrong with Spurs' mentality when they play Chelsea. I don't know why this is as I'm not convinced by Chelsea this season and other teams have coped much better against them so we should have been in a better position to win or at least get a draw. Very disappointing against an average Chelsea team.

Joe: Absolute rubbish. No fight, no aggression, no cohesion, no ideas, no intelligence, no desire, no pride... absolutely nothing other than an embarrassing and shameful display by over-paid professionals. If this is the future of Spurs, then there is no future.

Neil: Nothing positive about that performance against Chelsea……nothing! I was bored watching us lose to Aston Villa and we have been rank rotten in the games against Bodo, Villarreal and Monaco. We flattered to deceive against Leeds and have only two or three decent performances all season (Burnley, Man City and Everton). I'm not convinced Frank is the man to take us forward, I think he was at his level at Brentford and I think things have the capacity to get an awful lot worse - the Chelsea game has now stripped me of all hope for a positive season!

Paul: Tottenham's defence looks fairly solid at the moment, conceding only eight goals from 10 Premier League matches, which must be a plus for Thomas Frank. The midfield is sadly disjointed and unable to create chances for any attacking forwards. Once the midfield has some creativity, we can create the chances. I personally think we need a 20-goal a season forward.

Jon: I am sick to death of spending both time and money going to watch a group of players who simply can't be bothered. A pathetic and abject performance - again - that was a complete waste of my effort and a complete lack of theirs.

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Chelsea fans

Jack: You love to see it. Bullying Tottenham for 90 minutes and getting some much needed positive energy under our wings. Loved Enzo Maresca's tactical response to the long throw-ins. The win hasn't solved any/all of our problems, but it certainly gives us the energy and morale to keep pushing on.

Declan: An excellent all-round performance, and the perfect response to the defeat by Sunderland last week. Very sound tactically, even managing to counter the long throw that has hurt us in recent weeks. Solid defensively with a standout performance from Moises Caicedo. The only minor criticism is that we didn't convert more than one of numerous chances meaning a nervy finish when we should have been clear by some margin.

Scott: Chelsea showed another side to their character in this game, bottle and grit. Should have been three or four as Spurs were poor. No idea what to expect game to game but more of this please, Maresca.

Chris: Another underwhelming performance against an abject Spurs team. The chances we wasted was criminal and against a better team we would have been punished. The defence, again, looked liked they had just met each other! Maresca is leading a charmed life at present but better teams will expose him and his tactics!

Nick: Apart from some wasteful finishing a thoroughly competent and gutsy performance. Chelsea never looked like conceding a goal, were commanding in midfield and created umpteen chances up front. Caicedo was immense and, surprise surprise, we still had 11 players on the pitch at the end. "Can we play you every week?"

Chelsea and Tottenham will go head-to-head to sign Porto's 21-year-old Spanish striker Samu Aghehowa, who could be made available for 80m euros (£70.5m). (Correio da Manha via Goal), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Pundits Alan Shearer and Ashley Williams join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

• Nottingham Forest 2-2 Manchester United

• Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea fans had frustrations of their own but Joao Pedro ending his goal drought against a rival was not a bad way to get the detractors off his back.

Since his last goal in August against Fulham, the Brazilian had gone 705 minutes without scoring across all competitions - and without a shot on target.

Head coach Enzo Maresca has admitted his striker has fitness concerns and must be managed on a game-by-game basis, especially with Liam Delap only recently back from a 10-week hamstring absence.

So Maresca will have been delighted to see a vintage Pedro performance that could have yielded three first-half goals and perhaps another in the second half.

Pedro also created chances, notably for Jamie Gittens, though the winger fluffed a sitter.

Despite his recent issues, Pedro has become vital to Chelsea's attack, as both a creator and goalscorer, with star forward Cole Palmer out injured until December.

But, as ever, Moises Caicedo stole the show - his ferocious, Terminator-like pressing hounded Tottenham, forcing the decisive error for the game's only goal.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has been speaking to Sky Sports after the win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: "It was a good performance for sure. Against this team, in this stadium, at this moment when they look very good, we needed a performance like this.

"I think you have to be brave on and off the ball. Off the ball we were very good but then we created chances with the ball too. In England, a 1-0 is not finished and anything can happen. Today we can score one or two more goals, then it would've been much more relaxed, but we are very happy with the 1-0 and a clean sheet.

"We are very happy for ourselves and for the fans because it is a big derby."

On losing to Sunderland last week and then beating Tottenham this week: "I cannot explain because I don't have the answer. When I don't know things I prefer to say that I don't know. When we can become consistent, I think we can be more close to the top [of the table]."

On Moises Caicedo: "He is top. In this moment, him and Rodri are the two best defensive midfielders in the world."

On Wesley Fofana: "Wes is a top defender. Before the game, we were the team with the most goals but it was a problem of conceding too many goals. We need to be solid if we want to be up there."

Chelsea goalscorer Joao Pedro also spoke to Sky Sports following the win: "I think I needed this goal because I hadn't scored for a long time. I think the team expect that from me and today I could score, so I'm very happy.

"I always want to help the team with goals or assists. First I have to play well and if I play well the goals are going to come. The important thing is just winning games and I'm very chill about scoring the goals.

"In the last games I wasn't really shooting, but I also had problems and everyone knows that. Enzo [Maresca] said I stay out of the national team but I'm getting better. I had a lot of opportunities but I missed. If you see the other time I had the chance to shoot, I passed to Jamie [Gittens], so I play for the team."

Did you know?

• Chelsea have lost just one of their past 18 games against Tottenham in all competitions (W14 D3), winning each of the past five in a row since a 2-0 loss in February 2023.

• Joao Pedro's winner ended his goalless run of 705 minutes across all competitions, netting for the first time since August against Fulham.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Chelsea's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has selected four central midfielders as they welcome Chelsea to North London.

It may suggest that someone like Joao Palhinha may drop into the back line.

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Danso, Palhinha, Van de Ven, Porro, Bergvall, Sarr, Bentancur, Kudus, Kolo Muani

Substitutes: Kinsky, Romero, Udogie, Simons, Odobert, Johnson, Tel, Scarlett, Richarlison

Chelsea have made 10 changes from the Carabao Cup win at Wolves, playing Malo Gusto in central midfield.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, Gusto, Caicedo, Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho, Joao Pedro

Substitutes: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Hato, Lavia, Andrey Santos, Estevao, Gittens, Guiu

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea have appointed ex-Liverpool recruiter Dave Fallows to create a five-man sporting director team.

The unique approach by Chelsea will see Fallows lead football development at the club, focusing on scouting and data, loans and player pathway, and overall staff development across the men's, women's and youth teams.

Fallows forms part of a five-strong leadership structure led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, with sporting director for scouting and talent Joe Shields and sporting director for global recruiting Sam Jewell.

In keeping with the long player contracts typically favoured at Stamford Bridge, the five directors are all under contract until 2031 in the hope of adding depth, stability and continuity within the club.

Most Premier League clubs favour a single senior point of contact at director level, although Tottenham recently moved to a co-sporting director model when Fabio Paratici returned alongside respected recruiter Johan Lange, and Liverpool have two directors based in the parent company with others based at the club itself.

In addition, Chelsea owners BlueCo appointed former Brighton technical director David Weir as sporting director at their sister club Strasbourg yesterday.

Jewell will continue to take interest in the French club's activities, with three loanees developing in Ligue 1 from Chelsea and several deals having taken place between the two clubs in recent times.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Leeds

• Burnley v Arsenal - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Crystal Palace v Brentford

• Fulham v Wolves

• Nottingham Forest v Manchester United - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Tottenham v Chelsea (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Liverpool v Aston Villa (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Burnley v Arsenal" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Chelsea", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

This is always a bit of a grudge game because the two sets of fans don't really like each other.

Chelsea need the result more, and they also have a much better record in this fixture, but their home defeat against Sunderland was another example of how flaky they are at the moment.

Tottenham have made the better start to the season but it still feels like there is more to come from them when their injured players come back, which won't happen this week.

I don't really know which way to go with my prediction, so I'm going to go for a draw. I feel like I'm turning into AI.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro are all available to face Tottenham.

The trio are being "managed game by game" - amid different fitness issues - but were all on the bench for the midweek 4-3 victory at Wolves in the Carabao Cup.

When asked about their availability, Maresca said: "They are OK and available. The reason Joao didn't play against Wolves was to try to protect him. The same with Enzo and Moi - just some minutes [as substitutes]. The idea is to protect these players.

"You cannot plan with them because there are some problems and situations. It's game by game to see how many minutes we can use them but we need to use all the squad at the minute."

Chelsea starting line-up at Wolves had an average age of 21 and they raced into a 3-0 lead by half-time. However, a second-half collapse almost cost them a place in the quarter-finals - they conceded three goals and had Lam Delap sent off, but ended up going through after Jamie Gittens' late goal.

Maresca added: "After we conceded a goal we panicked a little bit. This is part of the process with this squad. It is part of the learning process. We took some risks, but it is normal that young human beings need to learn, improve, gain some experience to get better and, in the future, they will be fantastic."

The Blues boss has bemoaned the use of low blocks and back fives against Chelsea but he is anticipating either style from opposing manager Thomas Frank in north London on Saturday.

"For sure, we need to be ready [for a tactical switch]," he added.

"I don't know because they are using mostly a back four but used a back five against PSG."

Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham's top-flight away form has helped Thomas Frank's side rise to third in the Premier League table. However, they now face their nemesis Chelsea, who have inflicted years of nightmares on their London rivals. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes ahead of Saturday evening's game.

Chelsea derby dominance at Tottenham

Chelsea have had the run of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since it opened in 2019, posting a stunning record of six wins, one draw and one defeat in all competitions.

The Blues scored four goals on both of their last two visits, taking full advantage of former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou's tactics that played right into their hands.

Whereas Postecoglou lost all four of his Premier League matches against Chelsea by an aggregate scoreline of 11-4, new Spurs boss Thomas Frank was beaten just twice in eight league games in charge of Brentford against the Blues (W3, D3, L2). Perversely, though, he never managed to beat them at home.

And it is home form that Frank desperately needs to address at Spurs. Their eight-game unbeaten run on the road may have been ended in the Carabao Cup at Newcastle on Wednesday, but Frank's side have the best away record in the top flight.

They have accrued 13 points from their opening five games for only the second time in the Premier League. However, only the bottom three of Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Wolves have won fewer points on home soil than Spurs' four so far, and over the last year they have claimed just four wins out of 19 league games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Blues struggling for consistency

Chelsea's shock home loss to Sunderland last Saturday means they have won only two of their last six league games and languish down in ninth.

They have dropped eight points from winning positions so far to ramp up the pressure on head coach Enzo Maresca, who is desperate for his side to show more consistency.

Another defeat on Saturday would see the Blues register four losses in their opening 10 matches to a league campaign for only the third time in the last 30 seasons after 2015-16 (five defeats) and 2023-24 (four).

Discipline remains a problem with Liam Delap's red card against Wolves their sixth in their last nine games (including Maresca's dismissal against Liverpool).

Historically, though, Tottenham are exactly the side Chelsea would want to face to get their season back on track.

They have lost just one of their last 17 fixtures against Spurs in all competitions and have completed a league double against their London rivals in back-to-back seasons for the first time since a run of three between 1999-00 and 2001-02, when Tottenham's home was known to Blues fans as 'Three Point Lane'.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca faced more questioning on Friday about Liam Delap's red card at Wolves, the club's disciplinary issues and set-pieces.

When it came to the six dismissals in nine matches, Maresca was very precise with his language, clarifying his view that "some red cards they can avoid and some they can't".

Equally, he clarified his comments about Delap on Wednesday night, having previously said the striker "plays for himself". The Italian said his language skills got in the way and he meant Delap is only focused on competing with the central defender and shuts off noise from the touchline.

Chelsea have a poor record at defending long throw-ins and corners this season, which is high on Maresca's to-do list before Saturday's game at Tottenham, who have excelled at attacking in these ways under new manager Thomas Frank.

With Chelsea playing two games per week in three competitions, it is that point in the season where it feels like the manager is a bit over-exposed and news conferences seem a bit more flat.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Tottenham at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca confirmed that they are still taking time with Cole Palmer's return: "I met him in the canteen this morning and I say 'in one week, you will be back' – he was laughing. But no, the plan is exactly the same. We will wait and hopefully he can be back soon."

• He also confirmed that Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro are all available, but added: "Game-by-game, we can't plan with them because of their problems, their situations. So, it's about taking it game-by-game and seeing how many minutes we can use them. We try to use the whole squad because, at this moment, we need the whole squad."

• After Liam Delap was red-carded on his injury return in midweek, the Chelsea boss said the striker was "aware of the situation, aware he made a mistake" and that "straight after the game in the changing room, yes, he apologised to everyone".

• On his own comments after the game when he suggested Delap struggles to listen to anything else when inside the pitch: "I'm not from England, when I sometimes translate from Italian it doesn't work. He is more focused to do battle against central defenders than the rest, that is what I was trying to say after the game."

• When asked whether he had sat the players down about the number of red cards, he responded: "Again, some red cards we could avoid. Some reds we cannot avoid," and added: "Something we need to learn. Something we have to do better. In future we will be better on that."

• On his evolution as a young manager and whether he can become more forceful on discipline: "I like to learn, I like to evolve. In this moment we are trying to do everything to avoid this kind of situation. Hopefully we can learn and be better in the future."

• Maresca said they are "aware" of Tottenham's long-throw tactics and "are working" on defending these after conceding from them in recent games.

• On the choice between Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho: "They are both adapting to the way we work every day. Both doing well. Giving what we want from our wingers - goals and assists. Both are doing well so it is good we can choose one or the other."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea's inglorious 4-3 win away at Wolves in the Carabao Cup saw them through to the quarter-finals but has left people questioning the team.

The Blues - 3-0 up at half time - conceded three in the second half and were subject to their sixth red card in nine matches, but Jamie Gittens' fantastic strike saw them through.

Returning striker Liam Delap is now banned for the upcoming match at Spurs, having been dismissed in his 26-minute cameo.

Chelsea remain capable of winning silverware and are just three points outside the top four but after losing to Sunderland last weekend, they could do with a positive result a their fiercest rivals Spurs.

For Chelsea fans, this is one of the most important matches of the season which only adds to the occasion.

Manager Enzo Maresca is speaking to the media at 10:30am today, he is likely to discuss:

• Has Delap or the wider squad been subject to any further talks on disciplinary issues?

• Criticism of his defence

• The fitness of struggling striker Joao Pedro

• And the improving form of Gittens

Come back to this page and there'll be a summary of what Maresca says.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter at Molineux Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Andrey Santos says he lived his "dream" when scoring his first goal for Chelsea having joined nearly three years ago.

The 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder joined in January 2023 but returned to Vasco da Gama on loan before joining Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg on temporary moves.

Santos made two appearances in six months at Forest, but felt Chelsea were "always clear" and that he "felt well" at Strasbourg, a club under the same ownership as the Blues, getting his career back on track in an 18-month spell.

After his best moment in a Chelsea shirt, an early goal at Wolves during a 4-3 Carabao Cup win on Wednesday, Santos said: "I'm so happy to score my first goal for Chelsea.

"It's an amazing moment in my career. I always dreamed of scoring this goal, as my wife and my family know. I'm happy and enjoying life with my team-mates."

Santos then set up his compatriot Estevao Willian, who chipped goalkeeper Jose Sa just before half-time.

He added: "Me and Joao (Pedro) are helping Estevao a lot. He's in a new country with a different language. It's a process. He's doing very well.

"He did amazing in Brazil with the national team and it was an amazing goal."

However, Santos echoed manager Enzo Maresca's comments after the match, when he lambasted the team for losing their way in the second half, saying he was "very upset" that his team almost threw away a three goal lead.

"We have to play like we did in the first half," he continued. "It's hard against teams that play with long throws. We have to be better. We are disappointed with the second half."

This - it seems - is the season of the set piece.

The Premier League debates are more about dead balls than ever before, with some sides enjoying immense success from corner kicks, throw ins or well-worked free-kicks.

What fine timing then for BBC Sport to launch a column with former manager Tony Pulis, a man who seemed to finely extract the fine margins from the game.

You can take in Tony's column on set pieces here

Chelsea have emerged as favourites to sign 20-year-old Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz, after tabling an exciting proposal for the Turkey international, but Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool are keen as well. (Teamtalk), external

Chelsea are actively working to sign Joaquin Panichelli from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, but AC Milan have also shown interest in the 23-year-old striker. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Barcelona defender Eric Garcia has agreed terms on a new Barcelona contract, despite the 24-year-old Spain international attracting interest from Chelsea and Tottenham. (TBR Football), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland U-17 international Chris Atherton has signed his first professional contract with Chelsea.

The 17-year-old made headlines in 2022 when he became the youngest senior footballer in the United Kingdom aged 13 years and 329 days.

He came on as a second-half substitute in Irish Premiership side Glenavon's 6-0 win over Dollingstown in the League Cup.

Atherton was courted by Premier League clubs after his breakthrough in Northern Ireland before signing for Chelsea's academy in July, where he has been a regular in the side's U18 and U17 teams.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Chelsea progressing to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after a 4-3 win over Wolves at Molineux.

Here are some of your comments:

Terence: Chelsea are their own worst enemies at times. The desire for winning is too great to see out games. This is also down to team management, which seems to also lack experience. Far too much exuberance to score six instead of winning 3-0.

Alan: The first half was excellent, but what went wrong in the second half? We were cruising and just like we always do, took our foot off the throttle and just about survived, despite yet another red card. It seems to me that Maresca has lost total control of the discipline within the players, which didn't help with his own red card recently.

Danny: 10 changes from the previous game. We have too many players. The manager has not got a clue. I know we won, but from being totally in control at half-time, we conspired to let Wolves back in with inept defending and then a sending-off that leaves us short of options at Tottenham on Saturday. You can't take this manager seriously.

Graham: Good first half. Poor second half. When is this team going to put in a good 90 minutes? It's a problem Maresca must sort out. As for Delap, what's he trying to prove? You can't just keep running around banging into players. Yes, be physical, but use your brain a bit. This team is crying out for an old head to calm things down.

Trevor: I think it showed that our young boys have an attitude problem. Believing they are above the rest, they showed against Sunderland. We need a calming figure to come in and be a captain who can control them.

APG: The wonderfully excitable, erratic puppy that is Chelsea bound on to Cardiff.

Wellsy: Cucurella should be embarrassed by his ridiculous antics, rolling around on the floor and trying to wind the crowd up. What was he trying to prove?

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca speaking to BBC Sport after beating Wolves 4-3 in the Carabao Cup: "Very happy first half, very upset second half.

"It's always complicated to go away and score three goals. We were playing nice [going] forward, great chances.

"Second half, we were not doing the right things. The first goal we conceded opened a little bit the game - gave them the boost and the energy to come back into the game. And then I think all of [the three goals conceded] we can avoid. Also, we had a very stupid red card that is completely unnecessary."

On whether Liam Delap's red card was deserved: "Absolutely, yes. A stupid foul and we can avoid that.

"I completely understand when there are red cards like Brighton or Manchester United as that is difficult, but the red card against Nottingham Forest and this red card we can avoid. We have to avoid that.

In response to whether Chelsea's disciplinary record is embarrassing: "Yes, it's embarrassing when it's a red card like this because it's two yellow cards in five minutes, 10 minutes, I don't know, seven minutes. We can avoid that. So it's not good.

"After the yellow card, I told him [Delap] four or five times to keep calm. But Liam is a player that when he's inside the pitch, he'll be playing the game for himself and he struggles to realise and to listen around him."