The Corner greets 2017 with a shock for Chelsea, and the continent's clubs back in action after the break. Plus our predictions for next weekend's standout games.
ADVERTISEMENTSpurs strike to down the Blues
The change of year has not been good for Chelsea, who started 2017 in the wrong way. White Hart Lane was the theatre for a London derby more important than ever. Tottenham and Chelsea are two of the strongest candidates to lift this season’s Premier League trophy.
Chelsea came into this match looking all-but-unstoppable, the team infused with manager
Antonio Conte’s keep on winning philosophy and on the back of a club record run of maximum points. Until last Saturday Chelsea had only dropped eight points in half the season, and had only lost to Tottenham five times out of 50 premier league encounters since the 1990s. Was it because the players had too many festive mice pies or is this more than a blip? Chelsea’s rivals should beware their reaction.
Battle of the managers
Both coaches had plenty to say after the match.
“For me the most important thing was that we showed a great character. We were very competitive. Maybe that was the problem last season, that we failed to compete in a better way. What it means to be competitive is like today, play, sometimes suffer. Play against a very good team like Chelsea,” said Tottenham’s Maurico Pochettino.
Chelsea’s Antonio Conte said the defeat did not detract from the progress his players had made.
“I think this defeat is totally different if you compare it to our defeats in September because against Liverpool and Arsenal at that moment we weren’t a team. Tonight, we showed that we are a team and we are a strong team, and it is important this.”
Up & Down
As always, every match has its heroes and villans. Do you want to know who has won a place in our weekly Up & Down?
UP is certainly Dele Alli. Tottenham’s hitman is on a roll, scoring twice in each of his last three matches. One of the few England players to impress in last year’s Euro, could this be his and Spurs’ year?
Also UP is Alli’s manager Mauricio Pochettino, sitting pretty because he has tightened the previously fragile Spurs defence, leading them to have conceded only 14 goals so far, the premier league’s best.
But DOWN are Chelsea, failing to beat Arsenal’s 2002 winning run of 14 games after their first Premier League loss since 24th September. They have also seen their comfortable league lead and goal difference eroded.
We might be wrong
Everything is going back to normal in the continental European leagues after the Christmas break. These are our predictions for some of the most important matches this upcoming week. Join us and send us yours through the hashtag #TheCornerScores.
England –
Manchester United 1-3 Liverpool
Spain –
Sevilla 2 – 2 Real Madrid
France –
Olympique de Marseille 0-2 Monaco
ADVERTISEMENTFrom Munich to Paris…with love
The winter transfer window has opened and, until today, Julian Draxler’s move to PSG has been one of the most important. Don’t miss the joke his new team mates prepared for his arrival. The Corner returns next Monday.