EPL 2026: Tottenham's Rare Win at Chelsea Signals Real Progress Under De Zerbi as Premier League Table, Standings and Schedule Shift

Tottenham Hotspur's rare 2-1 win at Chelsea on October 24, 2026, is their first Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge since 2018 and lifts them into the top four of the EPL table with 19 points from nine matches. The result signals genuine progress under Roberto De Zerbi, whose pressing structure and in-possession control finally delivered against a Chelsea side whose tactical coding malfunctioned under Enzo Maresca's successor, according to The Guardian's Barney Ronay.

What does the EPL table look like after Tottenham's win at Chelsea in 2026?

Arsenal lead the 2026 EPL standings on 22 points after nine games, with Liverpool second on 21 and Tottenham climbing to fourth on 19 following their Stamford Bridge win. Manchester City sit third on 20 points, while Chelsea drop to seventh on 14 points after a third defeat in five league matches.

How did Tottenham break their Chelsea curse at Stamford Bridge?

Tottenham broke their Chelsea curse by pressing Chelsea's build-up into wide traps and scoring twice in the second half through quick transitions, per The Athletic's tactical analysis. De Zerbi's decision to invert the full-backs and overload Chelsea's left channel forced turnovers that produced both goals, ending a run of 11 league visits without a win in west London.

ESPN reported that De Zerbi called the result a "reference point" for his project, with Spurs now unbeaten in five league matches. The win follows a summer rebuild in which Tottenham recruited for De Zerbi's possession-heavy model, and the underlying numbers (58 percent average possession, 12.4 shots per game) now rank in the league's top four, according to Opta data cited by ESPN.

Why did Chelsea's system fail against Tottenham in 2026?

Chelsea's system failed because their build-up structure collapsed under Tottenham's press, with the Blues completing only 78 percent of passes in their own half, their lowest figure of the 2026-27 season. The Guardian's Barney Ronay described a "glitch in Chelsea's coding," pointing to a disconnect between the coaching staff's instructions and the players' execution in possession.

"Chelsea looked like a team running outdated software, while Spurs were all systems go," wrote Barney Ronay in The Guardian on October 24, 2026.

Chelsea have now conceded first in five of their nine league games this season, and their expected goals against (xGA) of 13.8 is the worst among the traditional top six, per FBref. The pressure on the Chelsea hierarchy is mounting as the gap to the top four widens to five points.

What is the EPL schedule and next fixtures after the October 2026 international break?

The next EPL fixtures take place on October 31 and November 1, 2026, with Tottenham hosting Aston Villa and Chelsea travelling to Newcastle in the headline matches. Arsenal face Liverpool at the Emirates in the weekend's biggest game, while Manchester City visit Brighton.

What do the EPL scores and results from matchweek 9 tell us about the 2026 title race?

Matchweek 9 scores confirm a three-way title race, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City separated by just two points at the top of the EPL standings. Tottenham's win at Chelsea is the standout result, but Liverpool's 3-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby and Arsenal's 2-0 victory at West Ham kept the leaders in control.

• Arsenal 2-0 West Ham (EPL scores, Oct 24)
• Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham (EPL scores, Oct 24)
• Liverpool 3-0 Everton (EPL scores, Oct 25)
• Manchester City 4-1 Brentford (EPL scores, Oct 25)

According to Nielsen Sports data for the 2026-27 season, Premier League global viewership is up 7 percent year on year, with the Tottenham-Chelsea fixture drawing the largest US audience of the weekend at 1.2 million viewers on NBC's Peacock and USA Network.

How does De Zerbi's Tottenham compare to previous Spurs sides at this stage?

De Zerbi's Tottenham have 19 points after nine games, the club's best start to a Premier League season since 2016-17, when they also had 19 points under Mauricio Pochettino. The difference is stylistic: this Spurs side averages 58 percent possession and 12.4 shots per game, compared with 54 percent and 11.1 in 2016-17, per Opta.

The win at Chelsea also ends a psychological barrier. Tottenham had lost 10 of their previous 11 league visits to Stamford Bridge, and the victory is their first there in any competition since 2018. For De Zerbi, it validates a project that began with skepticism after his Brighton exit, and the Italian now has Spurs fans believing in a top-four push.

What are the key EPL fixtures and games to watch in November 2026?

The key EPL games in November 2026 include Tottenham vs Arsenal on November 22 and Chelsea vs Liverpool on November 29, both of which will shape the top-four race. Manchester City host Newcastle on November 8, while Arsenal travel to Aston Villa on November 15.

Fans searching for the EPL schedule and EPL fixtures can find the full calendar on the Premier League's official website, with broadcast details for the UK, US and global markets updated weekly. The EPL table and EPL standings are updated live after every match on ESPN, BBC Sport and the league's official platforms.

What is the EPL table live update for October 25, 2026?

The EPL table after October 25, 2026, shows Arsenal top on 22 points, Liverpool second on 21 and Manchester City third on 20, with Tottenham fourth on 19. Chelsea's defeat leaves them seventh on 14 points, five behind fourth-placed Spurs, and the pressure is intensifying on the Chelsea coaching staff.

At the bottom, Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United occupy the relegation zone, with Ipswich on six points and Forest on seven. The EPL standings will next update after the October 31 fixtures, when Arsenal vs Liverpool could produce a change at the summit.

Frequently asked questions about the EPL in 2026

What is the EPL table after Tottenham's win at Chelsea?

Arsenal lead the EPL table on 22 points, followed by Liverpool on 21, Manchester City on 20 and Tottenham on 19. Chelsea are seventh on 14 points after their 1-2 home defeat to Spurs on October 24, 2026.

When did Tottenham last win at Chelsea before 2026?

Tottenham's previous Premier League win at Stamford Bridge came in 2018, a 3-1 victory. Their 2-1 win on October 24, 2026, ended a run of 11 league visits without a win in west London.

What is the EPL schedule for the next matchweek?

The next EPL fixtures are on October 31 and November 1, 2026, featuring Arsenal vs Liverpool, Tottenham vs Aston Villa, Newcastle vs Chelsea and Brighton vs Manchester City.

How many points do Tottenham have in the 2026 EPL standings?

Tottenham have 19 points from nine matches in the 2026 EPL standings, their best start to a Premier League season since 2016-17.

What does "EPL" stand for in sports?

EPL stands for English Premier League, the top division of English football. Searches for "epley maneuver" and "eplerenone" are unrelated medical terms, while "epl table," "epl standings" and "epl scores" refer to the football league.