Chelsea staged a stunning comeback to defeat Tottenham 4-3 in a thrilling Premier League encounter, with Cole Palmer scoring twice from the penalty spot to inspire the Blues to victory. The result, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, added further pressure on Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou.
The dramatic win brought Enzo Maresca’s youthful Chelsea side within four points of league leaders Liverpool, but it could have gone differently in a pulsating clash between the London rivals.
Tottenham got off to a dream start, taking a 2-0 lead within 11 minutes. Dominic Solanke opened the scoring in the fifth minute after capitalizing on Marc Cucurella’s slip, finishing off a cross from Brennan Johnson. Cucurella’s nightmare continued as another slip allowed Dejan Kulusevski to dribble into the box and fire Spurs’ second goal past Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea responded quickly through Jadon Sancho, who unleashed a 25-yard strike to reduce the deficit in the 17th minute. Moments later, controversy struck when Moises Caicedo was lucky to escape a red card after a reckless challenge on Pape Sarr, a decision upheld after a quick VAR review.
Chelsea turned the tide early in the second half. Caicedo, whose earlier tackle was pivotal, won a penalty after being fouled by Yves Bissouma. Palmer coolly converted the spot kick to level the score.
The visitors surged ahead in the 73rd minute when Palmer’s deflected cross found Enzo Fernandez, who smashed the ball into the net. Palmer then sealed the win with a cheeky Panenka penalty after being fouled by Sarr in the 84th minute.
Despite a late consolation from Son Heung-min in stoppage time, Spurs fell short, marking their second consecutive defeat after losing 1-0 to Bournemouth earlier in the week. Postecoglou, who faced fan frustration after the Bournemouth loss, now finds himself under increasing scrutiny.
Chelsea’s resilience showcased their potential under Maresca, with Palmer and Fernandez standing out as key players. Tottenham, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly to maintain their push for a top-four finish.