Chelsea vs Tottenham LIVE updates: Premier League score; Alvaro Morata nets opening goal

Premier League defending champions Chelsea face London rivals Tottenham at Stamford Bridge in a battle for the final Champions League spot.

Spurs head into the Easter game in fourth – one place above Antonio Conte’s side – but a win for the Blues would narrow the gap to just two points.

Tottenham have not beaten Chelsea away since 1990, when former England striker Gary Lineker scored the winning goal in a 2-1 league victory.

However, Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs side are unbeaten in the Premier League in 2018, with seven victories and three draws, and come into the mouthwatering clash high on confidence.

CHELSEA 1-0 TOTTENHAM

44: Nearly a second before the break as Fabregas releases Alonso. He strikes it sweetly but Lloris parries it away to safety.

42: Eriksen powers a swerving effort at Cabellero, who spills it before diving on the loose ball.

39: So how long before Harry Kane is introduced? £10 says Pochettino brings him on at half-time. Spurs look good going forward, but they’ve got no aerial presence.

36: Seven of Alvaro Morata’s 11 goals in the Premier League this season have been headers; more than any other player in the competition.

35: Spurs don’t appear too flustered by Morata’s opener. They are sticking to the task and continue to boss possession in midfield.

32: Close! There’s almost an immediate response from Spurs as Eriksen nearly prods a throughball beyond Willy Caballero, but the goalkeeper beat him to the punch.

Gary Neville thinks the Dane bottled it there. Having seen the replay, I think Eriksen might just have pulled out.

CHELSEA 1-0 TOTTENHAM – MORATA

30: Antonio Conte must be delighted that Alvaro Morata was dropped from the Spain squad because two weeks of hard training at Cobham has done the trick!

Victor Moses delivers from the byline and Alvaro Morata rises highest to nod the hosts in front.

29: Chelsea are breaking nicely. Fabregas sprays it out wide to Moses, but he goes for goal instead of standing it up for Alonso and Hazard at the back post.

26: Harry Kane gets a round of applause from the travelling Tottenham contingent as he warms up on he sidelines.

I doubt Poch is thinking of bringing him on – probably a few mind games in play.

23: It’s only a matter of time until we have some goals, surely? Morata is marginally offside when collecting Hazard’s smart flick-on.

20: Chelsea on the front-foot now. Willian’s low shot is deflected and Lloris does well to push it away.

Disallowed goal! Alonso has the ball in the net as he calmly volleys Kante’s cross, but he is just offside. Encouraging signs for the hosts.

18: Erik Lamela is a bit naughty when backing into Christensen and leaving him on the deck. Out of sight of the referee though.

15: It’s been a bit of a struggle for Chelsea in the early stages. Alvaro Morata is completely isolated in attack and the Spurs defence are swarming him at every opportunity.

12: Christian Eriksen with perhaps the cross of the season. His faded inswinger is inch-perfect for Dele Alli, who nods wide under pressure from Azpilicueta.

9: Christensen makes a vital interception to clear Trippier’s whipped cross from the right. Eriksen delivers the resulting corner, and Vertonghen scuffs it miles wide.

6: There’s a pause in play with Victor Moses lying in a heap. Dembele looks to have accidentally stood on the defender’s shoulder. Squirt of water and he should be fine to continue.

I’m not a doctor…

3: Fairly low-key opening here at Stamford Bridge folks. Neither side have managed to stamp their authority on the game or create any chances.

1: And we’re underway folks. Chelsea simply have to win today to drag themselves back into Champions League qualification contention. Big 90 minutes ahead.

AFTERNOON

15:50: Hello everyone, welcome to our LIVE coverage of Chelsea vs Tottenham from Stamford Bridge.

Sorry that we’ve started a little late. I was preoccupied with Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Stoke and celebrating my decision to captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in my fantasy football team.

I spent about 9 minutes punching the air…

Anyway, I’m here now and we’ve got a cracking prospect ahead of us. I will now be talking predictions. Fire!

TEAM NEWS

15:45: Harry Kane has been named on the bench for Tottenham’s clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The England striker was due to be out until mid-April with ankle ligament damage but has made a speedy recovery in time for a pivotal top-four clash.

There was no place in the matchday squad for Toby Alderweireld, however, as his Spurs future continues to look bleak.

Thibaut Courtois misses out for Chelsea in goal, with Willy Caballero coming in.

CHELSEA vs TOTTENHAM

15:40: Here are your line-ups folks. Sir Harold of Kane makes the bench after a miraculous recovery.

Chelsea XI: Caballero, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Moses, Fabregas, Kante, Alonso, Willian, Hazard, Morata.

Subs: Drinkwater, Bakayoko, Giroud, Cahill, Emerson, Eduardo, Hudson-Odoi.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Alli, Eriksen, Son.

Subs: Rose, Kane, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura.

Referee: Andre Marriner.

CHELSEA vs TOTTENHAM

Thibaut Courtois and Andreas Christensen are doubts for Chelsea. Goalkeeper Courtois sustained a hamstring problem before the international break, meaning Willy Caballero could deputise, while centre-back Christensen has been struggling with fatigue.

Defender David Luiz (knee) is definitely out, along with midfielder Ross Barkley who is set to feature for the club’s under-23 side.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino will give Harry Kane every chance to prove his fitness. Kane suffered ankle ligament damage three weeks ago and Pochettino said on Thursday that he cannot rule his striker out of the game at Stamford Bridge. Harry Winks is definitely missing as he sees a specialist over his own ankle injury.

STREAM DETAILS

Coverage of today’s Premier League game between Chelsea and Tottenham will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event (Sky channel 401, Sky HD 435, Virgin channel 511) and Sky Sports Premier League (Sky channel 402, Sky HD 436, Virgin channel 512).

The pre-match build-up starts at 3.30pm on Sky Sports Premier League and on Sky Sports Main Event before kick-off at 4.00pm.

This means that all the action can be followed on your desktop or laptop via the Sky Go app, which if you’re an existing customer, is also available on iOS and Android smartphone and tablet devices.