Tottenham Hotspur moved above Chelsea into third place in the Premier League with a 3-1 win at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.
Spurs were two in front with just 16 minutes played thanks to goals from Dele Alli - his sixth in five matches against the Blues - and Harry Kane.
Olivier Giroud came off the bench to score late on for the visitors, but only after Son Heung-min had made sure of the points with his impressive strike.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium. The pick of this weekend's top-flight action takes place in the English capital, as in-form hosts Tottenham are given the chance to leapfrog their city rivals into third place in the table. For that to happen, only three points will do for the Lilywhites.
Chelsea may sit a point better off that Tottenham after 12 matches, but it is the home side who have been in the better form over the past two months. Six wins in their last seven matches is a fine return for Mauricio Pochettino's men, particularly considering the one loss in that run came at the hands of champions Manchester City, whereas their opponents have drawn more games than they have won over the same period.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Foyth, Davies; Sissoko, Dier; Eriksen, Ali, Son; Kane
SUBS: Gazzaniga, Vertonghen, Walker-Peters, Winks, Lamela, Moura, Llorente
Starting with a look at the home team, Pochettino has made four changes on the back of the narrow win at Crystal Palace just before the international break. Serge Aurier comes in at right-back in place of the injured Kieran Trippier, while Victor Wanyama is displaced by Eric Dier in the engine room. Further forward, Christian Eriksen makes his first league start in two months after recovering from an abdominal injury and Son Heung-min is also given the nod.
Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura are the unfortunate pair to drop out in that three-man attacking midfield, with Dele Alli retaining his place through the middle. This is a fixture that the Englishman tends to perform well in, having netted five goals in his last four league and cup outings against Chelsea. There are no real surprises in the Tottenham XI, in fact, with Harry Kane the obvious choice to lead the line.
Jan Vertonghen returned to training this week but is not yet ready to take up a place in the starting lineup, while Danny Rose, Mousa Dembele, Davinson Sanchez and the aforementioned Trippier are also absent. Pochettino's hand has been forced somewhat in the defensive area, then, with rookie centre-back Juan Foyth enduring a mixed start to his Premier League career in the two weeks leading up to the international break - what a test this will be for him.
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic; Willian, Morata, Hazard
SUBS: Caballero, Zappacosta, Christensen, Barkley, Fabregas, Pedro, Giroud
There are no changes for Chelsea on the back of their goalless home draw with Everton a couple of weeks back, meaning that Mateo Kovacic - absent for Croatia's defeat to England at this ground last weekend - is passed fit to start. Ross Barkley will therefore have to settle for a place on the bench, despite his recent run of good form for both club and country. N'Golo Kante and Jorginho will complete Chelsea's midfield three.
Ethan Ampadu is the only absentee for the visitors this evening, in fact, so Sarri had plenty of big calls to make. Arguably the biggest of the lot is up top, where Alvaro Morata retains his place ahead of Olivier Giroud. The Spanish striker scored three in three prior to his blank against Everton, leading to suggestions that Giroud - on the scoresheet for world champions France in midweek - may be given the nod here. This is a big occasions for Morata, whose Chelsea career has yet to truly take off.
Willian and Hazard are given the nod either side of Morata, as expected, and the back four is also as expected. Marcos Alonso was the hero in this corresponding fixture last season, netting twice to earn the Blues a big victory, while on the opposite flank Cesar Azpilicueta has a big task on his hands keeping Son - or possibly Eriksen - quiet down the Tottenham left. In the middle, the ever-improving Antonio Rudiger continues his partnership with David Luiz.
The international break may have come at the wrong time for Tottenham Hotspur, who were on a good run of form heading into it, though it has at least given Mauricio Pochettino a couple of weeks to get his walking wounded back up to speed. Christian Eriksen is fit to start a Premier League match for the first time in a couple of months, while Jan Vertonghen is back on the bench and may be involved in what is a busy week for the Lilywhites.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Tottenham Hotspur have won three of their past seven Premier League meetings with Chelsea, matching their total from the previous 49 top-flight encounters. The Blues were 2-1 winners here in August 2017 thanks to a couple of Marcos Alonso goals, though that was only their second away league victory in 12 attempts in this fixture.
Despite the wave of negativity surrounding Tottenham earlier this month, the Lilywhites find themselves in a strong position after a third of the season. Off-the-field matters aside, namely the delayed move into their new ground - more on which a little later - the Lilywhites can be happy with their current standing, finding themselves fourth in the Premier League and just one point behind Chelsea, who have received plenty of praise.
Tottenham have made their second-best start to a Premier League season in terms of points accrued, just a point worse off than the record set in 2011-12, thanks in large to five wins in their last six matches. In all competitions, it is now six wins from eight, leaving them in a top-four spot in the top flight, into the last eight of the EFL Cup and still in with a shout of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League. Crisis. What crisis?
That five of Tottenham's last six league victories have come by a one-goal margin says a lot, backing up the point made by Pochettino about his players showing plenty of character in the face of adversity. Home form has undoubtedly been an issue for the North London outfit, however, having collected just 22% of their points at Wembley Stadium - the lowest-such return of any side in the division.
Tottenham have seen off relegation battlers Fulham and Cardiff City here in the first few months of the season, but they also suffered defeats to title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City. It is those losses, as well as the shock reverse at the hands of Watford, that has left a blemish on what has been a strange campaign on the whole. That said, Pochettino's men did go to Old Trafford and win 3-0 in the early stages of the season.
Sticking with that previous point, Tottenham have lost four of their previous seven matches against the division's established top-six elite at Wembley, having previously gone 10 matches without a single loss at former ground White Hart Lane. If the wins over Fulham and Cardiff were par for the course, being edged out by Liverpool and Man City highlighted that there is perhaps too much for Spurs to do if they are to close the gap on those directly above them.
Keeping the momentum going with a fifth win in a row will certainly help change the mood around these parts, although another home defeat to a title rival will only compound Pochettino's problems - it really is a pivotal evening for the Lilywhites. Tottenham went down 1-0 to Man City here in their most recent home match, and they have not suffered back-to-back losses on home soil since losing to Aston Villa and City towards the end of the 2014-15 campaign.
Indeed, that was also the last time Spurs fired blanks in successive home league matches, so you would certainly fancy them to find the back of the net this evening. Pochettino has talked this week about the huge physical and emotional effects the opening third of the season has had on his players; now comes a gruelling run into December and the New Year that will push his squad to the max. Do Tottenham have what it takes to maintain their chase for silverware? The next week could well give us our answer.
DID YOU KNOW? Tottenham beat Chelsea 3-1 in the most recent meeting between these sides to end their Stamford Bridge hoodoo, and they could now make it back-to-back victories over their London rivals for the first time since August 1987. The Blues, though, have kept 21 Premier League clean sheets against Spurs - their joint-best record against any side - and have kept four shutouts in five games on their travels this season.
Tottenham Hotspur have won six of their last eight games in all competitions, leaving them in a healthy position in the Premier League and through to the last eight of the EFL Cup. This could well be a defining week for the Lilywhites, though, as they face Chelsea and Arsenal in the top flight, either side of the visit of Inter Milan in the Champions League - a must-win match.
Many expected Chelsea boss Sarri to struggle following his late appointment as manager in mid-July, but the Italian has not only quickly instilled his own style of play but also made his side incredibly tough to beat. The Community Shield loss to Manchester City aside, the Blues have yet to taste defeat under Sarri in all competitions, with the Italian becoming the first manager in Premier League history to go his first 12 games without tasting defeat.
The goalless draw against Everton earlier this month ensured that Sarri overtook Frank Clark in that regard; the former Nottingham Forest boss going 11 matches without losing at the start of the 1994-95 season. Not since 2014 have Chelsea started the season on a longer unbeaten run, when putting together a 14-match unbeaten streak, though they did lose their momentum somewhat with that stalemate against the Toffees.
Chelsea now trail Man City by seven points and Liverpool by five, as the two sides directly above them have already picked up victories in today's 3pm kickoffs. That is also bad news for Tottenham, with Man City putting four unanswered goals past West Ham United and Liverpool rallying to claim a 3-0 win at Watford, despite skipper Jordan Henderson's red card. This match at Wembley has therefore become even more important.
Champions in two of the last four seasons, it is still difficult to ascertain what exactly a successful campaign for Chelsea would involve. A return to the top four is the absolute minimum, but Sarri will want more than just that - ideally some silverware, either in one of the domestic cups or even on the continent. After drawing four of their last seven league games, being held by West Ham United, Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton, surely another title success is out of the question?
Before firing a blank against Everton two weeks ago, Chelsea had racked up five wins in a row in all competitions, beating Crystal Palace and Burnley in the Premier League, Derby County in the EFL Cup last 16 and BATE Borisov home and away in the Europa League. With their place in the knockout rounds of the Europa now assured with a couple of games to spare, all focus now switches to domestic matters until February.
Chelsea follow up this trip to Tottenham with games against Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City before Christmas. Throw an EFL Cup tie with Bournemouth into the mix, and it is all systems go for Sarri over the next month. The Italian will be desperate to kick off this defining period in his first campaign at the Stamford Bridge helm with a massive three points against Spurs.
Chelsea have beaten Tottenham four times at Wembley Stadium - more than any other club has managed to beat another - most recently triumphing 2-1 15 months ago. However, the Blues have won just one of their last eight matches away to an established top-six rival - that victory here last year - so they need to rectify that if they are to prove a lot of people wrong and sustain their title challenge.
MANAGERS' COMMENTS!
Mauricio Pochettino: "We're pushing players to the limit. The line between getting injured or not is so thin. We don't realise that we're playing with the health of the players. They're human. It's so tough. They are young. They need to enjoy life, too. They need to spend energy with families, kids, girlfriends. And the guys that are not with girlfriends need to go to try to find one."
Maurizio Sarri: "At the moment, in the Premier League there is a team above the others. This team is Manchester City. Then there is a very good team, Liverpool. For sure, they will be in the first four positions. Then there are four or five teams who will have to fight for the Champions League places: Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, [Manchester] United, maybe somebody else."
Pochettino admits that his players have been 'pushed to their limits', with the season only a few months old. This was always going to be an incredibly tough campaign for the Lilywhites after failing to bring in any new players last summer, but Pochettino has again worked admirably and Spurs are in a good position ahead of the January window. Unlike his opposite number, Sarri was backed financially in pre-season and Chelsea are reaping the rewards, going 12 matches unbeaten to start this latest new era.
KICKOFF: Tottenham Hotspur, who have won their last six London derbies, get us up and running at Wembley Stadium in what is the pick of this weekend's Premier League fixtures. Third place is up for grabs in the English capital this evening.
Tottenham win themselves a corner inside the opening 60 seconds, which Willian is able to clear behind at the near post. From the next set-piece delivery, Eric Dier was unable to keep his headed attempt down under pressure from David Luiz.
A poor clearance from Kepa Arrizabalaga gives Tottenham hope of an early breakthrough, but the attack broke down when Serge Aurier drifted into an offside position down the right. Kepa was then well positioned to get to a long ball ahead of Dele Alli.
SAVE! Chelsea have been caught cold in the early stages of this match. Serge Aurier sends a delightful ball into the middle, which Harry Kane - a matchwinner for England here last weekend - could only head against Cesar Azpilicueta and into the hands of Kepa.
A first sight of goal for Alvaro Morata, given the nod over Olivier Giroud today, as he guides a right-sided cross over the frame of the goal. Signs that Chelsea are perhaps just starting to grow into the match following a very slow start.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1-0 CHELSEA (DELE ALLI)
He just loves playing against Chelsea! Dele Alli scores his sixth goal in five meetings with the Blues by glancing Christian Eriksen's right-sided free kick right through the hands of Kepa Arrizabalaga, who perhaps should have done better.
Kepa got a couple of hands to Dele Alli's flicked header, but could not push the ball over the crossbar. Good movement from the Englishman, and you have to say that goal had been coming on the basis of Tottenham's dominant start here.
CHANCE! Tottenham should have a second goal, as Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min exchange passes inside the opposition box, only for the latter to fire the ball over the bar with just Kepa Arrizabalaga to beat. Chelsea are looking very sluggish.
SAVE! Another big opportunity comes and goes for Tottenham - one that they may rue if Chelsea finally wake up. Son Heung-min cuts in from the right and forces Kepa Arrizabalaga into a save down low with his legs. Up the other end, Foyth brings down Hazard but no penalty is awarded.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2-0 CHELSEA (HARRY KANE)
Tottenham have themselves a second, and what a strange goal it was for Harry Kane - the derby-day king! The English striker picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, eased past a couple of challenges and tucked it out of a stunned Kepa Arrizabalaga's reach from outside the area. The home side have some daylight.
It must be said that David Luiz hardly covered himself in glory for that second Tottenham goal, seemingly arching his body out of the way so that Harry Kane's shot could fly past him and into the back of the net. Kepa was therefore deceived - he did not expect the long-ranger to go all the way through.
YELLOW CARD! An action-packed opening quarter to the match, then, in what is a fixture that always tends to deliver. Spurs are running their opponents ragged, with Antonio Rudiger earning a yellow for dragging Harry Kane down to the ground.
Replays of that Juan Foyth challenge on Eden Hazard at 1-0 suggest that a penalty perhaps should have been awarded - a big call that went against Chelsea. Willian's shot/cross has just gone right the way through the opposition box without a touch.
David Luiz has just been clattered into and is in need of some treatment. Sarri will be furious with his side's inability to grow into this game, deservedly finding themselves a couple of goals down already. That unbeaten start is at serious risk.
The game is now going through a quiet period - not that Pochettino will care. His side were brilliant in the opening quarter of the match, racing a couple of goals to the good. Alvaro Morata has just had a close-range shot kept out by Hugo Lloris, but the offside flag was up.
The average positions map shows that only Juan Foyth and Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham's outfielders have spent more of the match inside their own half. Chelsea have been pinned in and have barely managed to put an attacking move together.
SAVE! Kepa Arrizabalaga is furious with his teammates. Toby Alderweireld flicks Christian Eriksen's cross on target and the Spanish keeper makes a good save. Kepa felt that the ball should have been closed down and Alderweireld should have been marked tighter.
Son Heung-min has a go just outside the box, curling the ball a yard wide of the target. That came directly from a poor Mateo Kovacic cross at the other end of the field; the Croatian opting for a rabona when he could have played a far simpler pass.
Chelsea have showed few signs of growing into the game since falling two goals behind. Dele Alli and Harry Kane have put the home side in complete control of proceedings, with 55 minutes to play.
The visitors have offered very little in this first half, producing what has just about been their poorest display of the season in one of their biggest games yet. Tottenham know, though, that it may take a third goal to kill the match off.
SAVE! Well here is the warning sign that we have been waiting for. Eden Hazard carries the ball 20 yards, taking it past a couple of players, and unleashes a shot from outside the box that Hugo Lloris was simply happy to push behind.
Tottenham are the side on top as the opening 45 minutes edges towards its conclusion. The Lilywhites have had a few chances to hit their opponents on the counter since going two goals ahead, but they have been unable to make the most of them.
Willian belts the ball goalwards from 20 yards, only succeeding in picking out a sea of bodies. The ball did eventually make its way into the middle of the opposition box, but Hugo Lloris had a comfortable catch to make.
Moussa Sissoko tracks back and makes a challenge on Eden Hazard inside the opposition box, but there was not enough contact to convince the referee to point to the spot. Chelsea had a far bigger penalty shout earlier in the match.
SAVE! What a big save this could turn out to be. More great play from Christian Eriksen, lifting the ball up for Son Heung-min to strike towards the bottom corner. Kepa Arrizabalaga was equal to it down low, keeping Tottenham's lead at just the two goals.
HALF TIME: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2-0 CHELSEA
Referee Martin Atkinson blows his whistle for half time, bringing to an end an excellent opening 45-minute display from Tottenham Hotspur. The Lilywhites have two goals and maybe should have had more, giving Maurizio Sarri plenty to ponder at the midway point.
Tottenham had lost four of their seven meetings against the division's top-six elite here since the start of last season, but they were quick out of the blocks in this latest tussle against a side that started the match a point above them. Kepa Arrizabalaga had already kept out a deflected Harry Kane header by the time that Dele Alli flicked Christian Eriksen's right-sided free kick into the back of the net inside eight minutes.
Dele's sixth goal in five matches against Chelsea gave Tottenham something to build on, and they did exactly that as Kane tucked a long-range shot out of the reach of Kepa, who perhaps expected David Luiz to block the ball rather than move out of the way. Son had forced Kepa into a save down low prior to that vital second goal, though it may well have been a different story at 1-0 had Eden Hazard been given a penalty after being caught in the box by Juan Foyth.
Stunned by Tottenham's second goal, Chelsea simply could not sustain any pressure and again relied on Kepa to keep out Toby Alderweireld and Son Heung-min inside the box, pulling off fine saves to keep out both players. The Blues' best opening fell the way of star performer Eden Hazard, but his 20-yarder was easy enough for Hugo Lloris to deal with.
BENCH WATCH!
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBS: Gazzaniga, Vertonghen, Walker-Peters, Winks, Lamela, Moura, Llorente
CHELSEA SUBS: Caballero, Zappacosta, Christensen, Barkley, Fabregas, Pedro, Giroud
KICKOFF: Chelsea get proceedings back underway at Wembley Stadium, where they trail Tottenham Hotspur by a couple of goals. No changes made by Maurizio Sarri at the break, but he no doubt had more than a few words to say to his players.
Should Spurs hold on to inflict a first defeat on Sarri's Chelsea, they will move up to third place in the Premier League. N'Golo Kante is playing high up the field and sends a reverse pass towards the penalty spot, but nobody in yellow was around.
Alvaro Morata, not for the first time today, is flagged for offside. A pretty evenly matched start to this second half, suggesting that Sarri will surely be tempted to turn to his bench sooner rather than later.
A free kick is sent into a dangerous zone towards Marcos Alonso, who netted twice here last season. The full-back headed the ball back into the middle, but no player in a yellow shirt was able to turn it goalwards.
CHANCE! Chelsea are finally starting to enjoy some sustained pressure now. The ball is pulled back for Willian, who blasts it over the bar from eight yards, though it did take a deflection on its way through. Better from the visiting side.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3-0 CHELSEA (SON HEUNG-MIN)
Some terrible defending from Chelsea gifts Tottenham a third goal, which surely kills off the contest. A simple ball into the opposition half was latched on to by Son Heung-min, who knocked it past Jorginho, David Luiz and then past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
CHELSEA SUB! That was a goal of some quality from Son Heung-min, but my word the Chelsea defending was poor - as it has been all evening. Sarri has finally taken action, bringing on Ross Barkley for Mateo Kovacic. Pedro is also on for Alvaro Morata.
Handbags at Wembley now, as Dele Alli pushed Jorginho away after having his shirt pulled back by the Italian. Tottenham are cruising towards all three points; Chelsea require a miracle if they are to keep their unbeaten run intact.
Harry Kane celebrates scoring the second of Tottenham Hotspur's three goals. This has been a stroll for the hosts, in truth, with Chelsea showing very little of the fighting spirit we have become accustomed to under Maurizio Sarri.
CLOSE! A good opportunity to drag his side goes begging as N'Golo Kante guides Ross Barkley's cross wide of the target from eight yards. Chelsea need inspiration from somewhere if they are to give their opponents something to think about.
That is now 50 goals in Tottenham colours for Son on his 154th appearance - quite the return for a player who so often goes under the radar. The South Korean forward has scored the pick of today's goals with that sublime third.
CHANCE! Harry Kane will be livid that he has not added another goal to his tally. A patient Tottenham move culminates in Serge Aurier picking out the Englishman in the middle, but he got under the shot and sent it over the bar from six yards.
CLOSE! Yet another near-miss for Tottenham - Sarri cannot believe what he is seeing here, as his side continue to struggle. Dele Alli is given time and space to curl the ball towards the top corner, but it dips agonisingly onto the roof of the net.
YELLOW CARD! With less than 20 minutes of the match remaining, and little chance of finding a route back into the match, Chelsea could do with full time around about now. Jorginho is cautioned for dragging his boot down the Achilles of Dele Alli.
The points now in the bag, Mauricio Pochettino has the luxury of being able to rotate his side for the closing stages here. There is some movement down on the Chelsea bench, too - it looks as though Olivier Giroud will soon be introduced.
The good news for Chelsea is that they are being given a chance to rack up their pass count, which was already 400 better off than the next best side ahead of this weekend's matches. The bad news, though, is that Tottenham are happy to watch them do so - they will sit back for these next 15 minutes.
CHELSEA SUB! Olivier Giroud, who will wonder why it has taken this long to enter the fray, takes over from Willian, meaning that Chelsea now have a recognised striker on the pitch once again. Pochettino holding off from making a change for now.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Son Heung-min has produced another fine display this evening, and he makes way to a standing ovation from the home fans in attendance. Erik Lamela is brought on for the final 10 minutes of the match.
A worrying moment for Chelsea in more ways than one, as Eden Hazard stays down after an awkward landing. The Blues have already made all three changes this evening, though more worryingly Sarri will fear being without his star forward should he fail to shake off this knock.
SAVE! Eden Hazard is back on the pitch and seemingly OK after picking up that injury. Harry Kane clearly wants a second goal, driving forward and testing Kepa Arrizabalaga down low with a half-decent effort. Yet more poor defending from Chelsea, it must be said.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3-1 CHELSEA (OLIVIER GIROUD)
Chelsea have themselves a consolation goal, as Olivier Giroud powers Cesar Azpilicueta's delivery across Hugo Lloris and into the back of the net. A simple goal, but surely it has come too late in the match to mean anything?...
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Erik Lamela wants a penalty after being caught by Marcos Alonso inside the box, though once again, contact appeared to be minimal. Harry Winks is now on for Dele Alli to see through the remaining minutes of the contest.
We have played the first of four-added on minutes at Wembley Stadium. Chelsea's goal has given the match a slight edge in the closing stages, but they have not really looked like scoring a second - Pedro's long-ranger the closest they have come to doing so.
Tottenham just seeing through the remaining 60 seconds or so of the match now. This is now the toughest period of Sarri's Chelsea's tenure, whereas Pochettino's Tottenham side are on a real high on the back of this convincing victory.
FULL TIME: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3-1 CHELSEA
Tottenham Hotspur see things through to claim a 3-1 victory over London rivals Chelsea, ending their opponents' unbeaten start to the season in their 19th outing under Maurizio Sarri. More importantly from a Spurs perspective, though, they move into third place in the Premier League table.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from Wembley Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to stick around as updates from Barcelona's trip to Atletico Madrid in La Liga can be followed here. Thanks for joining!
