• Thursday, 16 January 2025

Chelsea beat Spurs to state Premier League title credentials

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London, Dec. 10: Chelsea roared back from two goals down to beat Tottenham 4-3 on Sunday, moving just four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after Arsenal were held by Fulham.

The Gunners and Chelsea both started the day seven points adrift of Arne Slot's side, whose game this weekend was postponed due to stormy weather.

Arsenal were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw but Enzo Maresca's Chelsea, kicking off later Sunday, mounted a stunning comeback at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski put Spurs two goals up inside 11 minutes but Jadon Sancho quickly pulled one back with a fine strike and the second half belonged to the visitors.

Cole Palmer equalised from the penalty spot in the 61st minute and Enzo Fernandez put Chelsea ahead 12 minutes later.

Palmer's ice-cool "Panenka" spot-kick gave the visitors a two-goal cushion before Son Heung-min added a late third for Spurs.

Second-placed Chelsea now have 31 points after 15 games, two points ahead of London rivals Arsenal. Liverpool, with a game in hand, are on 35 points.

But the Italian, in his first season at Stamford Bridge, played down his team's title chances.

"Arsenal, (Manchester) City and Liverpool probably don't slide like (Chelsea defender Marc) Cucurella did. To be serious, we are not ready, we are far from these teams but we focus on day-by-day and trying to improve the team."

The defeat is a disastrous result for under-pressure Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, whose side hammered champions Manchester City 4-0 just two weeks ago.

Earlier, Bukayo Saka had a late winner ruled out for offside by a VAR review as the Gunners' four-match winning streak was halted in west London.

Raul Jimenez fired Fulham into an early lead before William Saliba levelled after yet another Arsenal goal from a corner.

"We are very disappointed not to win the game -- overall we absolutely dominated the game from start to end," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told the BBC.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester struck twice late on to deny Brighton in a 2-2 draw at the King Power.

Bournemouth also scored twice in the dying minutes to deny struggling Ipswich a first home win in the top flight for 22 years in a 2-1 win at Portman Road.

Napoli hand Serie A lead to Atalanta 

Napoli conceded top spot in Serie A to red-hot Atalanta on Sunday after falling to a 1-0 home defeat to Lazio and dropping to two points from the summit.

Fiorentina earlier remained on Napoli's heels after their 1-0 home win over Cagliari in their first league match since midfielder Edoardo Bove's sudden collapse last weekend.

In soaking wet Naples, Gustav Isaksen stunned the home fans with a brilliant strike, which rifled past Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret and kept Lazio right in a crowded league title race.

Marco Baroni's Lazio are fifth but only three points behind new leaders Atalanta, who sit top of the pile thanks to a club record-equalling ninth straight league win over AC Milan on Friday.

Napoli now have three teams just a point behind them, including Inter Milan and Lazio who also dumped Antonio Conte's team out of the Italian Cup on Thursday.

Griezmann seals Atletico comeback 

Antoine Griezmann struck a 94th-minute winner to snatch Atletico Madrid a thrilling 4-3 victory over Sevilla on Sunday in La Liga.

Diego Simeone's side, third, have won nine matches straight across all competitions and the win pulled them a point behind second-placed title holders Real Madrid and three behind leaders Barcelona.

Atletico showed character and quality as they fought back from two goals down in the second half to triumph.

Rodrigo De Paul powered Atletico ahead but Dodi Lukebakio equalised for 13th-placed Sevilla.

Isaac Romero sent the visitors ahead after half-an-hour and Juanlu Sanchez gave them a 3-1 lead before the hour mark.

However, Griezmann pegged one back before substitute Samuel Lino scored a stunning effort from the edge of the box and the Frenchman then blasted home in stoppage time to continue Atletico's superb run of form.

"We're a united group, all going the same way, and we see that when new players come on in the 60th minute, the 70th, they change the game and that was the case today," Griezmann told Movistar.

"So (it shows) that this is the way to keep dreaming big...

Earlier, Athletic Bilbao tightened their hold on fourth place with a 2-0 victory over Villarreal, fifth.

Aitor Paredes and Inaki Williams struck to help the Basques move six points clear of their opponents, who have played two fewer games.(AFP)

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