Tottenham 3-4 Chelsea player ratings: Cole Palmer rewrites Premier League history in seven-goal thriller | OneFootball

Tottenham and Chelsea delivered a pulsating Premier League show in North London this evening.

Enzo Maresca’s men triumphed 4-3 after trailing 2-0 at one point. Cole Palmer scored twice from the penalty spot, setting a new competition record for the best 100% penalty conversion rate in history (12/12).

Having come into this game with Arsenal and Manchester City both dropping points, the Blues now find themselves as Liverpool’s nearest challengers, four points behind, although the Reds have a game in hand.

Things got off to a fantastic start for Spurs, who took a 2-0 lead by the 11th minute. Dominic Solanke and then Dejan Kulusevski netted past Robert Sánchez.

However, their momentum quickly faded as Chelsea responded with four consecutive goals scored by Jadon Sancho, Palmer (brace), and Enzo Fernández. Son Heung-Min managed to pull one back late in the match.

This result undoubtedly adds more pressure on Ange Postecoglou, who oversaw a Tottenham home defeat, despite leading twice, for the first time since September 2001 against Manchester United (3-5).

Tottenham player ratings

Fraser Forster: 62%

Continuing to deputise for the injured Guglielmo Vicario and had to retrieve the ball from his goal on four occasions. That said, it could have been much worse, as he made a further four saves.

Destiny Udogie: 50%

Udogie won two tackles but failed to succeed in his only take-on attempt, which affected his final rating. Additionally, he was rarely a significant presence in Tottenham’s attack.

Micky van de Ven: 50%

Back from injury, it’s fair to say that Van de Ven wasn’t fully up to speed. He was dispossessed in his own half and had a subpar ball retention rate of 75.51%. His ball recovery rate ranked in the 20th percentile among central defenders in the Premier League today.

Radu Dragusin: 57%

Cristian Romero returned after a four-match absence from the Premier League due to a toe injury, but his participation lasted only 15 minutes. Within moments after coming on, Chelsea pulled one back. Dragusin won 75% of his aerial duels and recorded two blocked shots.

Pedro Porro: 57%

He created another goal and was really under pressure, recording no fewer than five clearances. Once the Blues took control, Porro’s influence began to wane.

Dejan Kulusevski: 60%

Doubled the host’s lead with a fine effort from inside the penalty area. His only effort on goal was on target, and just one Spurs player registered more touches in the opposition box (five).

Pape Sarr: 39%

Conceded a penalty while achieving 60% passing accuracy, winning possession only twice in the middle third; this was another difficult outing for Sarr, who is usually better.

Yves Bissouma: 41%

His impulsiveness, following an early loss of possession, resulted in a foul on Caicedo within his own penalty area. “Some of the things Tottenham players do is ridiculous. It’s a certain penalty,” Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports commentary. “Who’d be a manager?” Cole Palmer swiftly punished the hosts from 12 yards, while Bissouma received a yellow card for his troubles.

Son Heung-min: 65%

Created two big chances and scored a consolation goal for a well-beaten Tottenham side. He can feel somewhat happy with his 100% take-on success rate, but far too often Son was playing on the periphery.

Dominic Solanke: 66%

He scored Tottenham’s earliest Premier League goal against Chelsea at 4:45. He started with strong centre-forward play but became less effective once Chelsea took control of the game. His only lay-off pass placed him below the league’s average for today’s matches.

Brennan Johnson: 75%

Had a captivating battle with Cucurella, often emerging victorious and capitalising on the Spaniard’s mistake, which led to Spurs’ opening goal. Johnson did not have a shot on goal but completed both of his attempted take-ons before leaving the game with a suspected injury in the 53rd minute.

Chelsea player ratings

Robert Sánchez: 43%

Saved two of five shots on target faced today, diving the wrong way for Solanke’s strike. Sanchez produced one moment of good anticipation in stoppage time to smother a big chance for Son, though Spurs’ captain did find the net through a sea of bodies five minutes or so later. He completed just 14% of his attempted long passes.

Marc Cucurella: 46%

Cucurella lost possession for both Spurs opening goals. Then he changed his boots and five minutes later played the ball for Jadon Sancho’s goal. Sancho had to cover too much ground for this to qualify as an ‘intentional assist’, however.

Levi Colwill: 50%

Perhaps could have bailed Cucurella out for Spurs’ second but gave Kulusevski enough room to get his shot off comfortably. He did manage to make three blocks overall, though, the most in the game to go with two clearances.

Benoît Badiashile: 52%

Looked uncomfortable in the first half and moved over to the LCB position. The second 45 minutes were far less calamitous for Chelsea’s defence on the whole. Badiashile had one shaky moment late on, losing the ball and allowing Spurs a chance in the 90th minute. But he was the more involved Blues centre-back defensively. He won two tackles and two aerial duels, recovering possession five times.

Moisés Caicedo: 63%

Caicedo played the first half at right-back but his move into midfield coincided with Chelsea dominating the game. Bearing down on goal to draw Bissouma’s challenge, he won the penalty that helped his team draw level. He won two tackles, two aerial duels and recovered the ball for Chelsea six times in their defensive third.

Enzo Fernández: 67%

Buried Chelseas’s go-ahead goal when the ball fell to him in box in the 74th minute. He should have ended this game with an assist, too, but Palmer uncharacteristically messed up what should have been a simple finish at 22 minutes. Fernandez played four successful passes into the penalty area, the second-most of the match.

Roméo Lavia: 58%

Lavia was replaced after 45 minutes, which Chelsea said was tactical and unrelated to being elbowed in the head by Kulusevski. Carragher called the midfielder one of the first half’s two best players on the pitch and he scored 68% through winning three tackles and making three interceptions, both game-high figures. Malo Gusto replaced him and earned a respectable rating of 54%, recording two shots on target, two interceptions and 14 passes into the final third.

Jadon Sancho: 79%

Sancho carried the ball from the left flank about 40 yards from goal and unleashed an effort from outside the area to half Tottenham’s lead. He also megged Kulusevski early in the second half and nearly bought Chelsea level minutes later after a one-two with Cucurella in the box. Sancho completed three take-ons overall and played more successful passes into the penalty area than anyone at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium today (5).

Cole Palmer: 80%

Missed a big chance after 21 minutes just outside the six-yard box. He then made amends from the penalty spot for Chelsea’s equaliser. After this he looked more like the Premier League’s best player, as many believe him to be. His weaving run and blocked shot fell to Fernandez for the goal that put Chelsea ahead. Just under ten minutes later Palmer won and converted another spot-kick to seal the win for Chelsea. A panenka no less, to set a new record for the most Premier League penalties scored without missing. He won nine duels overall, the most of the match, and created four chances, also the most.

Pedro Neto: 66%

Spent much of the game driving at Porro without much effect. His tracking back probably made this less frustrating for Chelsea fans, until he earned a yellow card and a suspension just before being replaced by Noni Madueke. Neto did create three chances, though, and made five ball recoveries.

Nicolas Jackson: 56%

His inventive back-heel to Fernandez would have produced Chelsea’s equaliser in the first half had Palmer finished. Jackson managed nine touches in the opponent’s box, more than any other Premier League striker today. However, he posted no shots on target. He looked visibly frustrated when substituted for Christopher Nkunku on 76 minutes, perhaps a sign he felt he could have contributed more.

How do Squawka player ratings work?

Squawka’s new player rating system is wholly stats-based. Player scores are based on the numbers they put up across a range of on-ball events, from goals scored to tackles won.

We tailored each score to the players’ respective positions using extensive research and expertise. For example, forwards are rated on metrics like shots on target, touches in the opposition box, and big chances created. Meanwhile, centre-backs are rewarded for winning aerial duels, making blocks, successful long-range passes, etc.

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