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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Tottenham v Chelsea, Premier League

Could Tottenham topple Chelsea to go top of the league? Revisit our minute-by-minute liveblog and find out.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_iepost a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Tottenham 1-1 Chelsea

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog. Here are the teams.

Spurs: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Naughton, Paulinho, Dembele, Townsend, Eriksen, Sigurdsson, Soldado. Subs: Chiriches, Lamela, Holtby, Defoe, Chadli, Friedel, Sandro.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Oscar, Torres, Hazard. Subs: Essien, Mata, Schurrle, Schwarzer, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Eto’o.

This game can legitimately be described as a top-of-the-table clash, as both sides can go top with a win (and even if Spurs draw, they’ll move into first)

So who do you think will prevail?


Poll Results:

Draw (116)
Chelsea (96)
Tottenham (59)

Michael Owen says today’s game features “two title contenders”.

The more cynical Spurs and Chelsea fans may baulk at that claim.

We’re underway…

There’s inevitably lots of talk about Juan Mata only being on the bench for Chelsea.

However, arguably as interesting is the fact that Spurs’ £30m signing Erik Lamela has again been named among the substitutes only. For such an expensive signing, it’s a surprise that he’s yet to start a Premier League match.

Spurs have looked the better side in the opening few minutes and they’re showing their customary slick passing style.

Nevertheless, as I type, Frank Lampard’s long through ball narrowly misses the onrushing Hazard, who would have been through on goal.

Still 0-0 but Hazard has taken a knock. The Belgian international eventually gingerly walks back onto the field.

Meanwhile, Sigurdsson’s free-kick into the box finds Vertonghen, but he can’t steer his header on target.

(Here is the handshake from these supposed enemies – Andrew Matthews/EMPICS Sport)

GOAL FOR TOTTENHAM!

Tottenham 1-0 Chelsea: Sigurdsson gives Spurs the lead with a superbly taken the goal (19 mins).

Eriksen shows good skill in the build-up, before Soldado lays it off intelligently to the onrushing Sigurdsson.

The Icelandic international wins a 60:40 challenge with John Terry, before slotting the ball coolly into the net.

Tottenham, who have started this match the far more purposeful of the sides, almost get a second.

Townsend finds space on the right side and his cross almost finds Soldado in the box, however Ivanovic does well to just about cut out the cross.

In the lead up to the Tottenham goal, Torres had a claim for a foul on the edge of the Spurs box.

Mourinho is not happy on account of the failure of the referee to give them that decision, but it looks like a dive judging by replays.

Tottenham continue to put Chelsea under pressure, as the visitors struggle to impose themselves on the game.

Andros Townsend, in particular, is looking a constant menace down the right.

Here’s a look at that Sigurdsson goal.

YouTube credit: 2013GoalsAll

Chelsea are starting to come into the game a bit more.

Without carving out any clear-cut chances, more of the game has been played in the Spurs half.

These top-of-the-table clashes often disappoint, but this game has been highly entertaining so far.

Walker is caught dwelling on the ball, and Hazard’s dangerous shot is deflected away for a corner.

Chelsea look well in control now — there has been a definite shift in momentum in this game.

Townsend has received a booking for allegedly diving under a Frank Lampard challenge.

Shortly thereafter, Oscar strikes a volley well but straight into Lloris’ arms.

Just before half-time, Townsend makes a good run forward and his incisive pass finds Paulinho.

The Brazilian’s shot hits the outside of the post and goes wide, as Spurs finish this half — as they started it — on top.

A Chelsea free-kick falls to Ramires and his well-executed cross finds John Terry, whose powerful header goes just over.

Not for the first time, Lloris somewhat riskily came a long way to parry the initial free.

HALF-TIME: TOTTENHAM 1-0 CHELSEA

So half-time in what has been a relatively closely fought game.

Spurs took a deserved lead thanks to Sigurdsson’s well-taken effort, however Chelsea increasingly came into it as the game developed and had one or two near-misses towards the latter part of the half.

BT Sport pundit David James claims both Lampard and Mikel were partially to blame for the goal, after failing to close down Eriksen quickly enough.

Meanwhile, David Ginola reckons Andros Townsend has been “fantastic”.

Your alternative half-time summary is provided by The Daily Telegraph’s Henry Winter.

“C’MON LIVERPOOL” shouts Steve ‘not the most impartial pundit in the world’ McManaman as they’re mentioned by the BT Sport presenter.

Meanwhile, the second half is underway and Juan Mata is on the field.

Mikel was the one to make way for Mata by the way, with Ramires dropping into the former’s position.

Chelsea have the first big chance of the half, as Torres breaks free down the right, but Mata can’t connect properly with his cross.

Great run from Torres who has looked very dangerous at the start of this second half.

He takes the ball past Dawson, but then finishes tamely, with Lloris doing well to smother his effort.

The Spaniard, however, is lucky to be on the pitch still after raising his arm to Vertonghen’s face amid a confrontation with the Belgian player.

This is undoubtedly one of the best games of the season so far.

The BT Sport co-commentator’s allegedly boring analysis is provoking Twitter’s ire.

“The flag was long up, the flag was long up!” says Ian Darke repeatedly, after Juan Mata bangs in an offside goal.

It’s as if the commentator is trying to personally inform the Spaniard of this fact, such is his eagerness to express it.

The magnificent Townsend comes off for Chadli in what looks a direct swap.

The latter has been great today but isn’t fully fit apparently.

GOAL FOR CHELSEA!

An unmarked John Terry guides home Juan Mata’s perfectly delivered free kick to score what is a deserverd equaliser (65 mins).

Was it great management to bring on Mata, or does it merely expose the folly of Mourinho’s initial selection?

While Chelsea have done well to recover, Tottenham have been disappointing in this second half.

They have failed to play with any real conviction since the break, as if they have been affected by all the hype surrounding them and the prospect of going top of the table.

AVB has at least attempted to stem the Chelsea tide, taking off the quiet Eriksen and bringing on Holtby.

Jermain Defoe replaces the ineffectual Soldado. The striker is in terrific form, so it’s no surprise to see him.

Meanwhile, substitute Schurrle is played through on goal by the ever-threatening Torres, but Lloris does well to come off his line extremely rapidly and make the save.

Tottenham would surely take a point at this stage.

RED CARD FOR FERNANDO TORRES!

It’s very harsh on Torres who receives a second booking for what appeared an accidental clash with Vertonghen.

However, the Spaniard arguably deserved to go for the earlier incident with the defender, so perhaps justice has been belatedly served.

Having looked under the cosh, Spurs will now be more hopeful of getting a winner.

The psychological effect of Torres’ departure is immediately noticeable, with Tottenham playing with far more confidence now.

Defoe is played through on the edge of the area, but his snapshot is comfortably saved by Cech.

Sigurdsson’s pot shot from the edge of the area goes narrowly wide.

Chelsea are living on the edge now.

Here’s another look at that Terry goal.

YouTube credit: LexusBaktus

Amid the chaos of that sending off, I forgot t0 mention that Cesar Azpilicueta replaced Oscar in an obviously defensive-minded substitution.

Meanwhile, Defoe has another shot that deflects just wide.

Chadli blasts a shot well over and wide after a clever flick-on from Defoe.

Tottenham have produced those type of wild efforts far too often today.

FULL-TIME: TOTTENHAM 1-1 CHELSEA

So that’s that then.

The draw is probably a fair result, with both sides enjoying periods of dominance.

Jose Mourinho will arguably be the happier of the two managers. His side recovered from a poor start to grow increasingly dominant, before being forced back into their shell after Torres’ controversial sending off.

There is no doubt, however, who the main man will be in tomorrow’s headlines — Juan Mata. The Spaniard’s introduction had the desired effect for Chelsea, as he played well throughout and set up his side’s equaliser.

Will it be enough for him to earn a permanent place in the side though?

(Mourinho consoles Torres after his sending off – Sean Dempsey/PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Right, that’s your lot from me. Thanks for reading and commenting.

See you next time.

Ever wondered what it’s like to be given the run-around by a team of ex-Man United players?>

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