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EPL: Revived under Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea hands Spurs 3rd straight loss

A Chelsea victory that extended the team’s revival under Thomas Tuchel left Tottenham experiencing new lows under Jose Mourinho.

Not since 2012 has Tottenham endured three consecutive Premier League losses. Never before in his managerial career has Mourinho lost back-to-back home league games.

Being top of the league two months ago is becoming a distant memory for Tottenham after losing 1-0 to Mourinho’s former side on Thursday.

Tottenham’s poor form was punctuated by the way Eric Dier recklessly tripped Timo Werner to concede the penalty, which Jorginho converted in the 24th minute.

Now it’s Chelsea on the up again since Frank Lampard was fired 10 days ago, with two wins and a draw under Tuchel moving the London club up to sixth, four points from Liverpool in fourth place.

While only a single goal separated the sides, Chelsea controlled the game and avoided being unsettled by defender Thiago Silva limping off in the first half.

Chelsea vs Spurs Chelsea’s Jorginho scores a penalty shot during the English Premier League match between Tottenham and Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (Clive Rose/Pool via AP)

“It is the style the manager wants us to play and it has been working well,” said Mason Mount, who was so often the impetus of Chelsea’s attacking threat. “It is new, it is different for some of us players. We are all learning but it is obviously going well so far.

“It makes it difficult for any team we play against they don’t know what we are going to be coming with. I have been playing a bit deeper so being up in the box a little bit more I need to work on my finishing.”

While Chelsea’s pursuit of the Champions League places was given a lift, Tottenham is slipping away from the top four in a disappointing second season in charge for Mourinho.

Tottenham is seven points from fourth in eighth place having played a game less, and is sorely missing the injured Harry Kane, who could return from ankle injuries next week. Tottenham was also beaten at its stadium last Thursday by Liverpool, before collapsing at Brighton.

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