Tottenham 0-3 Chelsea: Clinical European champions ease to derby win

 

Chelsea maintained their unbeaten record this season with an away victory at Tottenham as tributes were paid to Jimmy Greaves.

Thiago Silva, N'Golo Kante and Antonio Rudiger struck in the second half as Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 derby victory over Tottenham on an emotional Sunday in north London. 

Tributes were paid to Jimmy Greaves, Spurs' record goalscorer following a prolific spell with Chelsea, before kick-off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after the legendary striker died aged 81. 

It was fitting that two clubs Greaves served so magnificently met on the day of his passing – and it was Chelsea who came out on top courtesy of a storming start to the second half. 

After Silva headed Thomas Tuchel's side in front, Kante's deflected shot doubled their lead and Rudiger fired home in stoppage time, sending the Blues top of the Premier League, though they are level on 13 points with Liverpool and Manchester United.

Spurs were on top in the opening stages following a rapturous minute's applause for 1966 World Cup winner Greaves, but it was Chelsea who had the first real opportunity.

Tottenham were caught out by a blistering break, but Mason Mount's shot was well blocked by Emerson Royal after the England midfielder had played a one-two with Romelu Lukaku.

The alert Rudiger prevented Sergio Reguilon from picking out Giovani Lo Celso for a tap-in and Son Heung-min's touch let him down when he was played through during an entertaining first half, although the fit-again forward may have been offside. 

Kante replaced Mount before the resumption and Chelsea went ahead four minutes after the break, Marcos Alonso whipping in a corner that Silva met with a downward header. 

The European champions were dominant, Eric Dier clearing a close-range volley from the unmarked Alonso off the line after Cesar Azpilicueta had picked his fellow wing-back out. 

Chelsea doubled their lead in fortunate fashion after 57 minutes, though, with Kante's shot taking a huge deflection off Dier to give Lloris no chance. 

Timo Werner wasted a chance to add a third Chelsea goal when he got the ball stuck under his feet after Lukaku slipped him in, before the Germany forward was denied by Lloris amid panic in the Spurs area. 

Mateo Kovacic failed to beat Lloris from a tight angle with Spurs on the ropes, but Rudiger did add insult to injury in stoppage time, firing home Werner's pass with his right foot. 

What does it mean? Ruthless Blues could take some stopping 

A devastating second-half display moved Chelsea, who kept another clean sheet with Kepa Arrizabalaga replacing the injured Edouard Mendy in goal, to the summit - they look every inch potential champions, too.

Solid at the back with a ruthless cutting edge, they have now won three in a row away at Spurs in the top flight for the first time since August 2005. As for Tottenham, who had no answer after the break, they have suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats after winning their opening three under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Silva an imposing presence at both ends 

Silva was outstanding at the heart of a rock-solid Chelsea back three along with Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. 

Aged 36 years and 362 days, he is the second-oldest Premier League scorer for Chelsea behind Didier Drogba. The Brazilian made six clearances and won 83.3 per cent of his duels in a commanding display. 

Frustration for Kane 

Harry Kane is yet to get off the mark in the Premier League this season and was restricted to only one shot on target.

Linked at one stage with Chelsea before deciding to stay at his boyhood club, the England captain was unable to influence proceedings as the home side had just two attempts after the break, despite chasing the game.

Key Opta facts

- Chelsea have won each of their last six away league London derbies – their longest such streak in their league history.
 - Tottenham have lost consecutive Premier League games without scoring a single goal for the first time since February 2021, when the second game in that run also came at the hands of Chelsea.
 - Chelsea have only lost one of their 12 away games in the Premier League under Thomas Tuchel (W8 D3) – no Blues manager has lost fewer away games in their first 12 outings in the competition (level with Guus Hiddink and Jose Mourinho).
 - Kane has failed to score in his first four Premier League appearances of a season for the first time since 2015-16, with the England striker attempting just four shots in this campaign.
 - Three of midfielder Kante's last four Premier League goals have been scored from outside the penalty box, after netting just one of his first seven in the competition from range.

What's next? 

Spurs travel to Wolves for an EFL Cup tie on Wednesday, when Chelsea are up against Aston Villa in the third round.