Martin Keown has questioned Xabi Alonso's surprising tactical decisions following Chelsea's disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Tottenham. The former Arsenal defender could not understand why the manager opted for a false nine setup rather than deploying an experienced striker from the bench.
Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi was full of praise for his squad’s psychological shift following a dominant display in west London. The Italian tactician highlighted the performance of Mateus Fernandes, who remained composed throughout a high-tension London derby that saw tempers boil over in the second half.
Gary Neville tore into Chelsea’s discipline during their 2-0 defeat to Tottenham, insisting Morgan Rogers deserved a red card for a late challenge and that Cole Palmer could have been sent off earlier. The former Manchester United defender also urged Xabi Alonso to take action as a 14-man brawl and a red card overshadowed a miserable evening at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer when they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Wednesday following his dismissal against Tottenham. Xabi Alonso has been handed a major selection headache after Palmer received two yellow cards in their 2-0 Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge, though domestic competition rules mean he will only serve a one-match ban.
Roberto De Zerbi has urged his Tottenham players to believe they can rewrite the club's history following their monumental 2-0 Premier League victory against Chelsea. De Zerbi praised the squad's fighting spirit and tactical execution after they secured a rare win at Stamford Bridge, capitalising on a chaotic second half that saw Cole Palmer sent off.
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