Premier League: Chelsea 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a second straight defeat in the Premier League after losing 2-0 at bitter rivals Chelsea this evening.

Mauricio Pochettino was looking for a reaction from his squad, but saw them fail to rise to the challenge as the Blues clinched the bragging rights on this occasion.

Both goals could have been avoided with Kieran Trippier scoring an embarrassingly own-goal late on to hand the hosts a deserved three points.

Pochettino made four changes to the team which lost 2-1 at Burnley on Saturday with almost a whole new defence playing at Stamford Bridge.

Serge Aurier, Juan Foyth and Danny Rose dropped to the bench while Jan Vertonghen missed the clash with a thigh injury.

Replacing them were Trippier, Davinson Sanchez, Ben Davies and Erik Lamela with Spurs reverting to four at the back.

Most eyes were on the Chelsea team, however, with Kepa Arrizabalaga not included in the starting XI and among the replacements, after his refusal to be substituted in the League Cup final on Sunday.

Willy Caballero came in for the Spaniard, but it was at the other end where most of the action took place in the opening exchanges.

In the sixth minute Chelsea almost broke the deadlock when a neat move on the right eventually saw the ball come for Gonzalo Higuain, but he hit the post from 12-yards.

Spurs had been given a let-off and they had another one with 19 on the clock when Hugo Lloris gave the ball away and Higuian let fly, yet fired wide.

Tottenham did finally get into their groove and ended the half strongly with Harry Winks almost on target in the 44th minute when he tried his luck from range, but saw an effort crash off the crossbar.

After both sides had hit the woodwork in the first period, more cutting edge was the order of the day following the restart and the Blues showed it.

Eden Hazard passed out wide to captain Cesar Azpilicueta and he found Pedro, who got past Toby Alderweireld too easily before he drilled through Lloris’ legs in the 57th minute.

It was a poor goal for the visitors to concede and arrived via another mistake at the back for the Lilywhites.

Pochettino’s men did respond and Christian Eriksen drilled wide, while Harry Kane failed to direct Davies’ cross on goal in the 65th minute.

Fernando Llorente and Lucas Moura were introduced as the seconds ticked away at Stamford Bridge and Spurs went in search of a late leveller.

However, it was Chelsea who grabbed the crucial second goal with six minutes remaining to wrap up the London derby.

It was another terrible goal for Tottenham to concede with Trippier knocking the ball beyond the onrushing Lloris and into the empty in a clear sign of no communication or awareness.

Rose entered the fray straight after, but the ghost was up for Spurs and they fell to a second straight defeat in the league.

From being spoken about as title contenders prior to Saturday’s game, they are now only four points ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal, who visit Wembley Stadium at the weekend.

It was always going to be an important game, given it’s a north London derby, and all of a sudden Pochettino’s side are going into it out of form.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Sissoko (Rose 85), Winks; Son (Moura 81), Lamela (Llorente 70), Eriksen; Kane.

Unused substitutes: Gazzaniga, Foyth, Aurier, Wanyama.