Tottenham Hotspur fell short once again at Stamford Bridge despite needing a point to secure their Premier League status for next season.
Let us take a look at the five things we learned from Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham.
Tottenham still hold advantage over West Ham
It is still very finely poised heading into the final gameweek of the season, despite Spurs needing just a draw tonight to secure their Premier League status.
For sure, it is another golden opportunity missed by the Lilywhites, who have left West Ham with a lifeline for the second week running after failing to punish their two consecutive defeats in the league.
The latest result now leaves Tottenham Hotspur still two points clear of the drop zone and with a far superior goal difference.
Spurs’ fate remains in their hands heading into the final gameweek, where a draw against Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be enough for them to secure safety, even if West Ham beats Leeds United.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 16 |  Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest | 37 | 11 | 10 | 16 | 47 | 50 | -3 | 43 |
| 17 |  TottenhamTottenham | 37 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 47 | 57 | -10 | 38 |
| 18 |  West HamWest Ham | 37 | 9 | 9 | 19 | 43 | 65 | -22 | 36 |
Randal Kolo Muani should not start again for Spurs
It is yet another week where individual errors have proven costly for Tottenham. Last gameweek, it was Mathys Tel, who attempted an overhead kick in his own box and gave away a penalty against Leeds United.
Tonight, it was Randal Kolo Muani who made the costly error. The Frenchman was too loose in possession and gave the ball away in midfield, a mistake Chelsea were quick to punish.
It is another case of “what if” for Spurs as they continue to inflict pain on themselves. Kolo Muani has not settled into the side and has struggled for most of the Premier League season.
Against Chelsea, it was more of the same from the Frenchman, who simply did not offer enough going forward. He did not take on his man and often looked to play things safe.
One thing is for sure, after today’s performance, Muani has shown that he does not have what it takes to perform in the Premier League and should not be starting any more games for Spurs.
Roberto De Zerbi left Tottenham changes too late
Since Roberto De Zerbi came to Tottenham, few can question the impact he has had. This is only his second defeat in six games as Spurs manager.
He is also the reason Tottenham are still in with a chance of survival, thanks to his four-match unbeaten run before tonight.
However, questions have to be asked about the timing of his substitutions against Chelsea. It felt as though he left things a little too late, only reacting once the second goal went in.
In fairness, before Kolo Muani‘s mistake, Spurs looked as though they were growing into the game and had started to take control.
Still, had De Zerbi acted earlier, perhaps the outcome could have been different, especially considering the impact the substitutes eventually made.
Spurs continue run of bad VAR luck
Spurs will certainly be wondering where their luck has gone this season after yet another penalty appeal did not go their way.
Tonight’s moment came in the dying stages when Micky van de Ven was manhandled in the box by Marc Cucurella, who had no eyes on the ball as Spurs prepared to take a corner.
On most days, that is usually given as a stonewall penalty, and that could easily have been the case for Tottenham tonight.
However, after a VAR review, the appeals were waved away as the ball was apparently not yet in play at the time of the incident. Although, some images appear to suggest otherwise. That leaves Spurs still without a penalty in the Premier League this season.
Tottenham’s Stamford Bridge record gets worse
Winning at Stamford Bridge was never going to be easy for Tottenham, especially when you look at the historical record. Throughout the Premier League era, Spurs have managed just one win against Chelsea in 34 visits to the Bridge.
The last time Tottenham secured a victory on Chelsea’s ground was back in 2018. Following the latest defeat, Spurs’ wait for another win there continues. They have now played 34 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge, losing 22, drawing 11 and winning just once.
Spurs now head into the final gameweek still needing a result to guarantee their Premier League safety after another frustrating night at Stamford Bridge.