CHELSEA were held at home by Tottenham Hotspur as they missed out on the chance to go top of the league.
And the Blues are rumoured to be one of the clubs interested in six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.
Follow all the latest Chelsea news below…
- Josh Graham
GARDEN OF EDEN
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard refused to compare his Blues new boys with old star Eden Hazard.
Lamps and the Belgian ace were team-mates for two seasons and Hazard smashed home 85 Prem goals in 245 games for the West Londoners before leaving for Real Madrid in 2019.
Frank Lampard played with Eden Hazard at Stamford BridgeCredit: Reuters Over the weekend, Lampard said: "I think it is very hard to fill one-for-one a player of Eden Hazard's talents.
"His input at the club was huge and I have been talking a lot about Harry Kane today and his impact was similar in terms of goals and assists. To lose that, you have to try and find a way around it.
"With the transfer ban last year, it was more about the younger players coming in and being efficient as a team to at least stay where we are and look further forward in improvement. I think we made good steps on that front.
"With the new players we have in now, I would hate to give any of them the job or idea of they must replace Eden. They must focus on themselves and they have brought talent into the squad, without a doubt.”
- Josh Graham
ZAK ATTACK
Chelsea face competition from rivals Manchester United and now Manchester City for Borussia Monchengladbach’s Denis Zakaria.
The 24-year-old midfielder, whose contract runs until 2022, has just returned to action after fighting back from a long-term knee injury.
THREE Premier League clubs are vying for Denis ZakariaCredit: Getty Images – Getty Swiss international Zakaria came off the bench against Augsburg on November 21 for his first game since March and has since featured twice more.
It was his performances last term that caught the eye before he was sidelined, helping Gladbach to seal Champions League football.
His return to fitness has re-ignited the interest from potential suitors, and Pep Guardiola’s City are reportedly one of those keen.
And Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano told his Here We Go podcast that City have already been in contact with Zakaria’s agent.
- Josh Graham
WELL I NEV-ER
Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink teed up Roy Keane to absolutely savage Gary Neville live on Sky Sports on Sunday night.
During a chat on Super Sunday about the importance of wingers getting in early crosses for strikers, Hasselbaink admitted he knew Neville was ‘highly rated’ but disagreed with his view.
On what forward’s want from their team-mates, Hasselbaink said: “Yeah I didn’t agree with Gary…I think, as a striker, you want that early cross. You want to know what is coming.
“You have to know what your wingers are going to do. I know Gary is really highly-rated here, but…”
Keane chuckled before interrupting with a smile, joking: “Is he? By who?”
Now in fits of laughter himself, Hasselbaink hit back, saying: “By you!”
Through a broad smile, Keane replied: “Not me.”
- Josh Graham
FIK-LE GAME
Chelsea defender Fikay Tomori could leave Stamford Bridge on loan for Newcastle in January.
The Mirror suggest Tomori could swap West London for the Toon after being starved of game time under Frank Lampard.
Chelsea centre-back Fikayo Tomori is linked with a move to NewcastleCredit: Reuters Steve Bruce's side are only likely to be able to sign new players on loan in the upcoming window, according to The Northern Echo.
Owner Mike Ashley coughed up £35million on Jamal Lewis and Callum Wilson in the summer and is unlikely to green light any more heavy spending.
And the Blues are reportedly open to a temporary move away for Tomori, who has only played three times this season.
- Josh Graham
PHIL'ING GOOD
Chelsea target Philippe Coutinho has not ruled out a Premier League return.
The Brazilian playmaker has hit some form under Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman, notching two goals and two assists in seven LaLiga appearances.
The former Liverpool man told World Soccer: "The Premier League is one of the most exciting leagues in the world and to have the chance to play there with a team like Liverpool will always be something I will feel grateful for.
"It is impossible to say what might or might not happen in the future – but what I know is that right now my only focus is on being successful with Barcelona."
- Dave Fraser
MORNING, CHELSEA FANS
Frank Lampard believes Chelsea should be table-toppers this morning.
The third-placed Blues would have leapfrogged champions, Liverpool and leaders Tottenham if they had turned dominance of possession and chances into more than a 0-0 home draw with Spurs.
And boss Lampard said: “It kind of went as I sort of expected.
"I think we created enough to win the game. So we had good control."
The Stamford Bridge legend also claimed Chelsea were "excellent" at stifling Tottenham's "amazing" counter-attacking ability – "their threat of Harry Kane and Son particularly",
Lampard added: "We didn’t really give them a sniff, [and] didn’t quite take our chances.”
But on his return with Spurs, ex-Blues manager Jose Mourinho said: “You can tell us we didn’t have many chances and I agree, but how many did they have?"
Meanwhile, Inter Miami owner David Beckham is reportedly willing to offer Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud an eyewatering package to join the new MLS club.
Giroud, 34, is said to be Becks' transfer priority, with a £4million apartment or a stunning mansion part of a possible offer.
- Ian Tuckey
LAMPS: WE DID ENOUGH TO WIN
Chelsea side “created enough” to beat Spurs rather than draw 0-0, says Stamford bridge boss Frank Lampard.
Lamps hailed the Blues for taming the visitors’ “amazing” counter-attackers.
And he said: “We had good control, the clean sheet factor against a team which we’ve seen recently are set up to counter attack and have amazing players to counter attack.
” I thought that part of our game was our excellent.
“To deal with their threat of Harry Kane and Son particularly, we didn’t really give them a sniff, [and] didn’t quite take our chances.”
- Ian Tuckey
- Ian Tuckey
WE TAMED KANE AND SON
Frank Lampard believes his Chelsea side "created enough" to beat Spurs rather than draw 0-0- but hailed his side for taming the visitors' "amazing" counter-attackers.
Lampard said: "We had good control, the clean sheet factor against a team which we’ve seen recently are set up to counter attack and have amazing players to counter attack.
" I thought that part of our game was our excellent.
“To deal with their threat of Harry Kane and Son particularly, we didn’t really give them a sniff, [and] didn’t quite take our chances.”
- Joshua Mbu
AS IT STANDS
Here's a look at the live Premier League table.
Spurs are top of the league on goal difference, while Chelsea leapfrog Leicester into third, although the Blues have played a game less.
- Joshua Mbu
JOSE'S ANALYSIS
Here's what Jose Mourinho has to say at full time:
“The one thing that I take from the game is that a draw in here, normally is a positive result.
“To stay top of the league with that result is also a positive thing, and my dressing room is not happy.
“That's the best thing that I take from the game, we are not happy, and that for me is fantastic.
“It's a complete change of mentality, a complete change of personality.
“You can tell us we didn't have many chances and I agree, but how many did they have?
“And that's the thing that makes me really really happy, we are not happy with a draw at Stamford Bridge.”
- Joshua Mbu
FRANK'S THOUGHTS
Here are the full time thoughts of Chelsea boss Frank Lampard:
“It kind of went as I sort of expected.
“I expected us to have a lot of the game, a lot of possession [and] we did.
“I thought it would be hard to create chances, I think we created enough to win the game.
“So we had good control, the clean sheet factor against a team which we've seen recently are set up to counter attack and have amazing players to counter attack, I thought that part of our game was our excellent.
“To deal with their threat of Harry Kane and Son particularly, we didn't really give them a sniff, [and] didn't quite take our chances.”
- Joshua Mbu
CHELSEA VERDICT
Jose Mourinho has a reputation of being one of the best football managers to ever grace the game.
And it is hard to argue that when you look at how successful he has been.
Chelsea know first hand what a great manager he is, having led them to the most successful period of their existence.
He knows how to win, he knows how to grind out results, and he knows how to be successful.
However, with Mourinho you can never count on pretty football and this has been no more evident than during his spell with Tottenham.
READ MORE
- Joshua Mbu
ACTION AREAS
Here's a look at the full time action areas. Chelsea dominated possession, as well as having 13 shots, although just 3 were on target.
Spurs in comparison had 5 shots in the entire game, with just one effort on target over the 90 minutes.
- Joshua Mbu
SUNDAY STALEMATE
Tottenham jumped back to the top of the Premier League table after holding Chelsea to a Sunday evening stalemate.
Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge to face a star of his West London days, in Frank Lampard, was billed as a clash of the titans.
But, much like another old hero's comeback to the ring this weekend, neither side could land a telling blow and it ended all-square.
Timo Werner was closest to breaking the deadlock for the hosts, seeing a fine finish chalked off by the linesman's flag – a decision backed up by VAR.
Both sides squandered huge late opportunities, Olivier Giroud placing a tame lob straight at Hugo Lloris before Giovani Lo Celso wasted an opening down the other end.
The point leaves Chelsea third, two points back from leaders Tottenham and defending champions Liverpool.
- Joshua Mbu
CHELSEA 0-0 SPURS
92. CHANCE!
That could be the chance, Rodon fails to deal with a bouncing ball, meaning Giroud can get an effort away.
The striker can't quite get enough air on the ball to lob Lloris, and the goalkeeper grabs onto it gratefully.
- Joshua Mbu
CHELSEA 0-0 SPURS
87. James crosses in long towards the back post again.
Pulisic gets on the end of it, trying to head the ball back across goal into the path of Giroud, but can only find Lloris.
- Joshua Mbu
CHELSEA 0-0 SPURS
Just over ten minutes left in the game and neither side has managed to find a breakthrough.
As it stands, Tottenham sit top of the table!
- Joshua Mbu
HELSEA 0-0 SPURS
64. CHANCE!
Werner whips in a delicious ball to the feet of Abraham.
Dier is caught out and Abraham has a chance to get an effort on target, but he can't sort his feet out and scuffs the ball wide of goal.
That's a real waste.
- Joshua Mbu
CHELSEA 0-0 SPURS
46. Spurs get the game back underway and are immediately on the front foot.
Some neat footwork from Ndombele sees the midfielder feed the ball to Son, but the forward's pass forward is poor and Chelsea win possession.
- Joshua Mbu
CHELSEA 0-0 SPURS
PEEEP! SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!
Top spot is up for grabs! Massive 45 minutes to come.
- Joshua Mbu
ACTION AREAS
Here's a look at the action areas from the first half.
It hasn't been a great opening 45 minutes in footballing terms, but it's a fascinating tactical battle.
- Joshua Mbu
HALF TIME: CHELSEA 0-0 SPURS
Nothing to report from the minute of added time, and the sides head in to the break level at 0-0.
- William Pugh
CHELSEA 0-0 SPURS
Half an hour has gone and it's still 0-0.
Timo Werner did have the ball in the back of the net but it was flagged for offside shortly after.
FOLLOW ALL THE LATEST WITH THE LIVE MATCH BLOG
- William Pugh
TOTTENHAM STARTING XI
And here is Jose Mourinho's XI for the 4:30pm kick-off!
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