The Dele Alli show ends Antonio Conte’s winning run

Tottenham 2 Chelsea 0: Dele Alli double ends Blues’ 13 win streak. alli second goal. CREDIT: AFP

DELE Alli struck twice as Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-0 to end the Blues’ 13-game winning run in the Premier League and breathe new life into this season’s title race.

The 20-year-old scored with a header in each half as Spurs edged a hard-fought contest at White Hart Lane to move within seven points of leaders Chelsea and just two behind Liverpool in second.

Antonio Conte’s side suffered their first defeat since September 24 after a disappointing display in which they only briefly threatened to rally once falling behind on the brink of half time.

Alli doubled Spurs’ advantage nine minutes after the restart and was substituted to a standing ovation shortly before the end of a contest which ensures Tottenham also climb above north London rivals Arsenal ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup third round matches.

Mauricio Pochettino made three changes to the team that beat Watford with Kyle Walker, Jan Vertonghen and Moussa Dembele introduced but most significantly, Spurs used a back three for only the third time this season.

The 3-4-1-2 shape was a close approximation of Conte’s 3-4-3 system which has yielded such a dramatic upturn in fortunes that Chelsea surged clear at the top of the table since losing at Emirates Stadium.

The Blues made two changes of their own with Pedro and Nemanja Matic replacing Willian and Cesc Fabregas and the first half was something of a stalemate until Alli struck in stoppage time.

Eden Hazard wasted a good early opportunity, flashing a left foot shot wide after Matic’s clever lofted pass before Christian Eriksen fired inches wide from the edge of the box but chances were in short supply.

Of greater note was an apparent spat between Pedro and Diego Costa after the pair wasted a promising counter-attack opportunity. Pedro made a different run to the one Costa anticipated and his pass ran tamely through to Hugo Lloris, prompting a lengthy and furious exchange of words reminiscent of Conte at his combustible best.

They had more to be angry about just before the break. Kyle Walker assessed his options as he advanced down Tottenham’s right and chose to slip a short pass inside to Eriksen, who looked up and swung a cross to Alli. The England international found space easily between Cesar Azpilicueta and Victor Moses to plant an excellent header past Courtois as White Hart Lane erupted.

Chelsea started the second period strongly. Costa forced Lloris into a smart save low to his right before Hazard nodded a close range effort wide after Marcus Alonso had headed dangerously across goal.

Yet the visitors did not learn from their mistake as the same combination delivered Tottenham’s second goal in almost identical fashion. Eriksen crossed, Alli rose highest to head the ball back across Courtois and into the far corner.

Chelsea tried to muster a response as David Luiz headed over late on but Spurs retained sufficient control to see out the game comfortably. www.standard.co.uk