Tottenham missed the chance to secure their Premier League status after suffering a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, who boosted their hopes for European qualification.
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring from distance for the Blues, with the Argentine’s strike from range finding the bottom corner of Antonin Kinsky’s goal.
Tottenham had earlier gone close when Mathys Tel saw a header come back off the post.
Chelsea doubled their advantage in the second half with Andrey Santos poking in from close range after Randal Kolo Muani cheaply gave up possession.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side pulled one back with Richarlison finishing at the back post to reduce the deficit.
Tottenham saw late appeals for a penalty waved away and will now head into the final day two points above West Ham. Chelsea moved up to eighth and will hope to secure European football on Sunday.
Daily Mail Sport’s Kieran Gill rates the players at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Fernandez scored from range as Chelsea earned a 2-1 win over Tottenham
Tottenham face a nervy final day of the season after passing up the chance to seal Premier League safety
CHELSEA
Robert Sanchez – 6
Saved by his post when Tel’s close-range header seemed destined to give Spurs an early lead. Long ball led to Chelsea’s opener. See – you don’t only score via passing from the back! Not helped by his defence when Richarlison tapped in.
Josh Acheampong – 7
First Premier League start since February 10. Grateful that Tel headed that chance into the woodwork from behind him. Had Chelsea’s bench standing up to applaud him when the academy graduate pocketed his man.
Wesley Fofana – 6
Levi Colwill was absent – having his minutes managed after completing the full FA Cup final – so Fofana started. Rushed to tell Gallagher what’s what after the former Chelsea midfielder caught Caicedo in the face.
Jorrel Hato – 7.5
Produced a match-winning sliding block to stop Maddison scoring a certain equaliser as a substitute. He deserved the congratulations he received from his team-mates.
Jorrel Hato produced a match winning tackle to deny James Maddison late on in the match
Marc Cucurella – 6
Left back on paper, but on this pitch, his pushing up to overlap Fernandez meant he was often more of a left winger. However, his poor header gifted Spurs possession for their goal, and was possibly fortunate not to give away a penalty for dragging down Van de Ven.
Moises Caicedo – 6
Sent flying into the air by Van de Ven, but Caicedo, as we know, is indestructible. Got up and got on with it. Fortunate that his clumsy stoppage-time foul on Gallagher did not cost his team as Maddison ballooned over his free-kick.
Andrey Santos – 7
One lovely-timed tackle killed a Tottenham counter and set up a Chelsea attack in one go. Doubled their lead by tapping in Fernandez’s ball back into the six-yard box.
Pedro Neto – 5.5
A small part to play in Chelsea’s opener by squaring the ball to Fernandez for his firecracker. Had the home crowd on his back when he didn’t try taking on his man, instead playing safe passes backwards.
Cole Palmer – 6.5
Thomas Tuchel names his England squad on Friday, and Palmer looked determined to use this last chance to impress early on, including being involved in Fernandez’s opener. Curled attempt was nice, stopped from going in only by Kinsky. Dragged another from distance wide.
Fernandez scored a superb opener for Chelsea and was their best player on the night
Enzo Fernandez – 8
What a glorious 30-yard goal it was to make it 1-0, whipped so hard that Kinsky did not come close. Sent the ball into the crossbar from a wide free-kick. Assisted Santos for his tap-in for 2-0. Wore the captain’s armband, and was their best player.
Liam Delap – 5
Joao Pedro had a knock, so here was a rare start for Delap. Just a battering ram, really. Spence may wake up with a shiner in the morning after receiving one whack from Chelsea’s striker.
SUBS USED
Trevoh Chalobah (for Acheampong, 74) – 6
On for the final 15 minutes to try to see through the win for Chelsea.
Mamadou Sarr (for Fofana, 81) – N/A
Dario Essugo (for Palmer, 89) – N/A
Alejandro Garnacho (for Neto, 89) – N/A
Shim Mhueka (for Delap, 89) – N/A
MANAGER (INTERIM)
Calum McFarlane – 7
Spurs may have started strong, but McFarlane’s tactics worked, including the way he used Fernandez and Cucurella.
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1)
Antonin Kinsky – 5.5
Should he have done better with Fernandez’s 30-yard wallop? At first glance, we thought so, but it was swerving somewhat. Diving save denied Palmer a rare goal from distance.
Pedro Porro – 5.5
Porro did wonder whether he should go close down Fernandez, but then got distracted by the overlapping Cucurella, and so nobody was in the way to block that banger. Involved in Spurs getting a goal back for 2-1 as he picked up possession in the build-up.
Kevin Danso – 5
Had Delap nipping at his heels throughout, though Chelsea’s striker hardly offers much of a threat.
Micky van de Ven – 5
Could he have spotted Santos earlier as he tapped in Chelsea’s second untroubled? Probably. Insisted he deserved a penalty after Cucurella dragged him down in the box. The referee cautioned the Blues defender, but simply ordered the corner to be retaken.
Destiny Udogie – 5
Tried to get forward, but once there, Chelsea graduate Acheampong usually had his number. Frustration saw him foul Fofana to earn an easy yellow card.
Conor Gallagher was booed by Chelsea fans on his first return to Stamford Bridge
Rodrigo Bentancur – 5
Repeatedly had Caicedo as a shadow when he was searching to receive the ball from his defenders. The game passed him by, in truth. Never tried to make it his own.
Joao Palhinha – 4.5
Have to wonder why Fernandez was always so much space to shoot with Palhinha finding himself stranded towards the touchline rather than in a central position.
Randal Kolo Muani – 4
Dear oh dear. Just when it looked as if Spurs were on top – and De Zerbi had a triple substitution waiting on the touchline – his loose pass gifted Chelsea possession to go make it 2-0.
Conor Gallagher – 4.5
Two years ago before a 2-0 win versus Spurs, Chelsea fans were unveiling a gigantic banner for him here. Now booed upon his return, especially when he and Cucurella had handbags.
Mathys Tel – 4
Nearly signed for Chelsea last summer. Headed into the post when he should have been scoring. Sent another shot into orbit which delighted the Matthew Harding Stand.
Kolo Muani’s dreadful pass gifted Chelsea possession, leading to the Blues doubling their lead
Richarlison – 5.5
Sent wide a header as if his head were shaped like a 50-pence piece. The assistant’s flag saved him some embarrassment. But he tapped in to make it 2-1 after Matar Sarr’s backheeled set-up.
SUBS USED
Pape Matar Sarr – 6.5
Lovely backheel to set up Richarlison, to get a goal back for Tottenham.
James Maddison – 6
Thought he was set to score the equaliser for 2-2 – then Hato appeared out of nowhere to deny him.
Djed Spence – 6
Given a whack by Delap for his troubles.
Manager
Roberto De Zerbi – 5
This was a big opportunity for Spurs – against a Chelsea side that had much of their side missing. They fumbled it, never capitalising on their early dominance.
REFEREE
Stuart Attwell – 6
Probably glad he did not have to referee another Battle of the Bridge. A few handbags here and there, but nothing overly aggressive for him to officiate.
