The Daly Brief | Spurs vs Chelsea, Premier League | OneFootball

"Chelsea have enjoyed great wins over Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Ajax recently but last weekend’s shock home loss to promoted Sunderland highlighted some vulnerabilities..."

Rob Daly, official club commentator, presenter and pundit

Struggles against Sunderland...

Defeat at Stamford Bridge last Saturday came thanks to a 93rd-minute strike from a hopeful long-ball into Chelsea territory. Black Cats’ striker Brian Brobbey won it, held it up for five seconds - before Chemsdine Talbi joined the attack to score. In truth, Enzo Maresca’s side didn’t look secure at the back in those closing stages, while at the other end, with Cole Palmer out injured, they struggled to find a way through Sunderland’s resolute 5-4-1 formation. Estevao, Jamie Gittens and Tyrique George were all thrown on to find a solution to no avail, having started with Alejandro Garnacho, Joao Pedro, Marc Guiu and Pedro Neto in the front four.

Crosses, throws and playing out...

Chelsea also seemed vulnerable from crosses into the area last week. Towering Sunderland defender, Dan Ballard, was able to meet many of his side’s attacking free-kicks or corners while the opening goal, scored eventually by Wilson Isidor, came from a long throw. Thomas Frank wants his team to cross as much as possible, and will hope to strike gold potentially by launching the ball into a congested area from a long throw. Despite all this, at the other end, the Blues have scored eight set-piece goals already - the second most in the Premier League.

Settled midfield...

While many moves were made by Chelsea in the summer, little needed to be done in central midfield. Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, scorer of a recent screamer against Liverpool, remain their strongest pairing. Romeo Lavia is also impressing, while Reece James has been used in that double pivot position along with Brazil’s Andrey Santos, after a couple of loan spells away. Caicedo can play at right-back too and invert, as Maresca likes, but he and Fernandez are the team’s top scorers too right now with four goals each.

The next Hazard?

Chelsea brought in two strikers and a host of new wide players in the summer transfer window as Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Facundo Buonanotte, Gittens and Garnacho came through the door. But Estevao has really caught the eye of late, the 18-year-old Brazil winger who joined in the summer after a transfer agreed back in June 2024 for £29m from Palmeiras. He slid in to score the dramatic late winner against Liverpool, while he’s also shown moments of real skill to beat players - operating out wide, or centrally, as he did in the 5-1 win over Ajax. Maresca says he’ll be able to play in the No 10 position more regularly, once he develops physically to the levels of the Premier League.

There's no passing Palhinha!

Last weekend’s 3-0 win at Everton was a perfect example of what qualities Joao Palhinha brings to Spurs. A series of tackles (4), crucial ball carries upfield to relieve pressure and pinpoint passes too (85% completion) helped guide the team to another away day success. The Portugal midfielder leads the Premier League for tackles won (39), eight more than any other player and Thomas Frank was delighted with him and Rodrigo Bentancur after the victory on Merseyside. “I think they were excellent defensively and landed on the second ball when they needed to,” said the Spurs Head Coach. “So, in a time where we are building and going to the next level, I think they are extremely important."

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