Chelsea stormed back from behind to end Tottenham Hotspur’s unbeaten Premier League record with a 2-1 victory on Saturday that propelled Antonio Conte’s soaring side back into top spot.
Chelsea had seen Liverpool and Manchester City steal past them earlier in the day and fell behind in the 11th minute when Christian Eriksen became the first player to score past them in seven games.
But Pedro Rodriguez’s glorious curler and a Victor Moses tap-in either side of half-time gave Chelsea a seventh successive win — their longest such run within one season since January to April 2007.
Chelsea, who visit City next weekend, restored a one-point advantage over second-place Liverpool and left London rivals Tottenham seven points below them in fifth place.
It marked a rotten end to a disappointing week for Spurs, who were knocked out of the Champions League by Monaco in mid-week and have won only one of their last 10 fixtures in all competitions.
Their run of games without victory at Stamford Bridge, where their title challenge last season ended in May, now stands at 30, their last victory there having come in February 1990.
Missing Toby Alderweireld and Danny Rose, Spurs were patched up at the back, where centre-back Kevin Wimmer filled in at left-back and Eric Dier partnered Jan Vertonghen in the centre.
But the return to a 4-2-3-1 formation, after dalliances with a back three and a 4-3-2-1 system, helped them get their press in order and they had Chelsea on the back foot in the first half.
After a couple of early threats, including a Harry Kane effort that was chalked off for offside, Mauricio Pochettino’s men took the lead with a fine goal.
Breaking from midfield, Dele Alli toed the ball to Eriksen and from outside the box the Dane let fly with a vicious left-foot shot that soared past Thibaut Courtois’ outstretched right hand.
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