The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Spurs end long wait with win at Chelsea
PREMIER LEAGUE: Tottenham all but cement top four place
CHELSEA 1 TOTTENHAM 3
Dele Alli’s double drove Tottenham to a first Stamford Bridge win over Chelsea since 1990 and left the Blues’ Champions League qualification bid in tatters.
England star Alli’s goals and Christian Eriksen’s stunning long-range strike handed Spurs an eight-point advantage over their fierce London rivals with just seven matches to play.
Chelsea’s first home defeat to Tottenham in 31 matches in all competitions also turned the focus towards the future of manager Antonio Conte.
The Chelsea board may not be willing to accept failure to qualify for the Champions League from Conte, who led the west Londoners to the Premier League title just last term.
Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele were the only members of Spurs’ starting line-up to have been born the last time the north Londoners had won at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men broke that losing streak in some style however, shaking off a slow start to storm past the Blues and all-but cement their own Champions League qualification.
Alli could have hardly dreamed of better ways to toast his 100th Premier League appearance, revelling in ruining Chelsea’s Easter weekend amid raucous Spurs celebrations.
The feelgood factor was boosted still further by second-half replacement Harry Kane’s return weeks ahead of schedule after ankle ligament trouble.
Arsenal scored three times in the last 15 minutes to condemn strugglers Stoke to a heavy defeat, but it took a highly contentious spot-kick to break the deadlock at the Emirates.
The Gunners, with more than one eye on Thursday’s Europa League quarterfinal with CSKA Moscow, were not at the races for much of the game but keep a grip on sixth place following a 3-0 win.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring with a controversial penalty as Bruno Martins Indi was adjudged to have fouled Mesut Ozil, only for replays to show he won the ball.
The Gabon striker added a second soon after, before substitute Alexandre Lacazette marked his return from knee surgery with another spot-kick.
Paul Lambert’s Stoke, who had seen a host of their fellow relegation rivals lose on Saturday, looked to be on for at least a valuable point, until the late goals.
The defeat leaves the visitors three points from safety with just six games remaining.
Ruthless Manchester City swept aside Everton 3-1 to set up the chance to win the title with victory over Manchester United next Saturday evening.
Pep Guardiola’s men had the match sewn up by half-time at Goodison Park to maintain their 16-point lead at the top of the table and keep alive the prospect of clinching the crown at the Etihad against their bitter rivals.
Goals from Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling made it 3-0 at the interval and, despite Yannick Bolasie’s second-half consolation, City were rarely troubled.
Second-placed United had earlier coasted to a 2-0 home win over Swansea with a deflected Romelu Lukaku effort and an Alexis Sanchez strike in the opening 20 minutes.
Liverpool kept up the pressure on United as they came from behind to win 2-1 at lowly Crystal Palace with a late goal from Mohamed Salah.
West Ham put their recent troubles aside to beat fellow-relegation battlers Southampton 3-0 and Jermain Defoe came off the bench to net a stoppagetime equaliser as Bournemouth snatched a 2-2 draw at Watford.
Rock bottom West Brom slipped another step closer to relegation after losing 2-1 at home to Burnley.
Newcastle boosted their own survival hopes and dented Huddersfield’s with a 1-0 win at St James’ Park and Leicester scored two late goals to beat Brighton 2-0.