Chelsea vs. Tottenham score, takeaways: Giroud, Alonso lead Blues to pivotal Premier League win

The Blues come away with three crucial points at home against Jose Mourinho's side

Chelsea ended its poor run of form on Saturday as Olivier Giroud and Marcos Alonso found the back of the net in a 2-1 over Tottenham to increase its fourth-place cushion in the Premier League standings. Frank Lampard got the best of his former manager Jose Mourinho in a match where the Blues were the sharper side. Each team was missing key players due to injury, but Tottenham's inability to field a striker came back to bite as it recorded just three shots on goal. 

Here three takeaways from the match:

1. Lampard gets the team selection right

Due to so many injuries, including Christian Pulisic (adductor) still being sidelined, Lampard was forced to count on players he usually doesn't. He gave Giroud and Alonso the start after each had played little as of late. Alonso hadn't started for two months and Giroud's last start came late in 2019, but they came in and delivered.

We saw a glimpse of what Giroud could do in his appearance against Manchester United on Monday when he had a goal harshly overturned by VAR. His goal in this one, which came just 15 minutes in, was taken expertly. It came after an initial shot from Giroud and a rocket off the post by Ross Barkley. Watch as Giroud settles the ball and fires home with his left foot.

Alonso then doubled up Spurs early in the second half with Giroud, Mason Mount and Barkley combining ahead of the goal:

That result snapped a four-match winless streak in the league that saw the Blues' lead in fourth place reduced to just one. Tottenham had won three straight league games entering this contest.

2. Little hope for Spurs without strikers

With Harry Kane (hamstring) and Heung-min Son (arm fracture) sidelined, Spurs had to once again go with no strikers. The lack of depth has directly translated to how you think it would on the pitch. In the last 180 minutes of action in which Tottenham used wingers up top, Spurs have scored zero goals, getting just the own goal from Antonio Rudiger. The club isn't a threat on wide set pieces, there isn't a pure goal scorer to put balls away and this team may fall out of the top four race before long. It might be time to risk it with 18-year-old Troy Parrott up top.

3. VAR blows a clear red card

So in the second half, Giovani Lo Celso clearly got Cesar Azpilicueta with his studs on the shin. The referee only called a foul, it was then reviewed by VAR, and shockingly a red card wasn't given. Just look at where his foot lands.

Clear red card, right? Well, according to BT Sport, officials at the review center at Stockley Park admitted before the game ended that the call was incorrect and that Lo Celso should have been sent off.

The Premier League, as of full time, had not issued a statement about the call, but it does make you wonder. There is a monitor where the referee could review it himself and make a better decision, obviously. Why not use it? If the league cannot even rely on VAR officials in a room who look at the replay scores of times to see that's red, then what is the point?

Chelsea 2, Tottenham 1 

⚽ Chelsea - Giroud (15')
⚽ Chelsea - Alonso (48')
⚽ Tottenham - Rudiger, own goal (89')

Download the free CBS Sports app for complete coverage of the Premier League and much more. We will be with you the entire way providing updates, analysis and highlights below.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 9:42 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Full time

Chelsea 2, Tottenham 1. Massive win for the Blues.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 9:21 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Four added minutes

Time for a chance or two for Spurs?

[Feb 22, 2020 at 9:18 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Goal Spurs!

89' Game on! Lamela gets the ball past Caballero on a deflected effort, and Spurs are back in it. 

[Feb 22, 2020 at 9:11 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Off the crossbar

A beautifully curled free kick from Alonso hits the crossbar. It looked like 3-0, but Lloris is saved by the woodwork. 

[Feb 22, 2020 at 9:07 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

15 minutes to go

Not long to go now. Blues are on the verge of a huge win to end a rough run of form. Now it's all about holding on with Tottenham pushing forward to cut the lead in half. 

Dele Alli and Aurier come on for the final 15. 

[Feb 22, 2020 at 8:55 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Better from Spurs

67' Tottenham is showing some attacking intent after bringing Erik Lamela on. A free kick from the Argentine hits the wall, but Spurs are at least looking sharper on the ball. Need a goal in the next 15 minutes to have a real chance.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 8:44 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

No red

No red card is given, and Lo Celso stays on. Why? Nobody knows. Baffling.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 8:40 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Red card?

Lo Celso just gave Azpilicueta a nasty cleat to the shin. Just a foul called, but it could be VAR time. That's a red in my book.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 8:39 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

2-0 to Chelsea!

48' It's all Blues now! A fantastic goal. A long throw to Giroud, who heads it to Mount, and he dazzles with a pass to Barkley. The ball ends up on the left foot of Alonso, and he blasts it home with a low effort. Gorgeous. Blues in control!

[Feb 22, 2020 at 8:34 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Second half is underway!

Here we go -- the second 45 begins.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 8:33 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Changes to come for Spurs?

Erik Lamela and Dele Alli are contenders to come on in the second half. Something is needed, though the team doesn't have a striker to put in.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 8:18 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Halftime

Chelsea 1, Tottenham 0. Giroud earned the start and gives back with a goal in a strong first half for the Blues. Frank Lampard will be bothered to not be up 2-0, while Jose Mourinho will like the fact his team is only down a goal and still in it. 

[Feb 22, 2020 at 8:11 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Here's the Alonso chance

So, so close! That would have been the goal of the week for sure.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 8:05 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Spurs fan making plenty of noise

33' "Oh as the Spurs, go marching in. Oh as the Spurs go marching in!" rings around Stamford Bridge as Blues fans respond with strong boos. The away fans are trying to boost their fans a bit, and it works with a close chance off a corner kick with Caballero doing a fantastic job to tip a corner header over the bar.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 7:56 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Almost 2-0

22' A fantastic strike from Marcos Alonso off a set piece as he settles the ball at the top of the box and almost picks out the top corner. He had Lloris beat, but it went just above the crossbar. The Blues are improving as the game goes on and aiming to build on that 2-0 lead.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 7:51 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Giroud goal video

Here's how it looked. Look at his touch and fine finish low to the near post.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 7:47 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Goal stands

There was a review for offside, just like in their last Premier League match where his goal was overturned, but this one stands. Chelsea 1, Tottenham 0.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 7:46 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Giroud scores the opener

15' It's a goal for the Blues! A wild sequence that included a Lloris save on Giroud and Barkley hitting the post, third times a charm! He gets a loose ball inside the box after all of that, settles it and blasts home a beautiful shot with his left foot.

VAR checking now ... 

[Feb 22, 2020 at 7:43 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Now it's Chelsea's turn

12' Lloris is now forced to make a save after a lovely effort from Mason Mount. The Englishman entered the left side of the box, made a little move outside and fired low, but Lloris saved it out for a corner at the near post. 

[Feb 22, 2020 at 7:41 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

First fantastic chance

10' It's great pressure from Spurs to take the ball back from a Chelsea side trying to get out of its final third, as Lucas makes a move to get off a clean shot at the top of the box, but his powerful shot down to the left is saved well by Caballero. 

[Feb 22, 2020 at 7:40 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Quality closing in defense for Chelsea

Tottenham is trying to use low diagonal balls through to spring Lucas and Bergwijn forward, but the Blues have been attentive so far in defense with Antonio Rudiger leading the way.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 7:36 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

A physical start

5' A couple early fouls for Chelsea in this one. Not a lot of fluidity with the ball movement for either team. Game slowly starting to settle in.