Chelsea draw after underestimating Qarabag

Qarabag Men 2 Chelsea Men 2

Tottenham Men 0 Chelsea Men 1

Chelsea Women 2 London City Lionesses 0

After a one-sided away win at Spurs, hopes were high that Chelsea could carry that performance over to Azerbaijan in the Champions League in midweek - but the Blues could only manage a draw.

Teams underestimate Qarabag at their peril, and by making seven changes to the side that beat Spurs Enzo Maresca may have been at fault.

But Chelsea took the lead through teenager Estevao after 15 minutes, only for the home side to score twice – one via the spot – before half-time.

Alejandro Garnacho levelled, with Liam Delap, returning to full match fitness, assisting. But there the scoring ended.

Chelsea host Wolves on Saturday night (it's an 8pm kick-off) to try to continue their mission to keep in touch with the Premier League front-runners.

Grit and determination

They are conscious that the 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane last weekend could, and should, have been more emphatic. But despite netting the game's only goal, Joao Pedro still seems short of confidence, while sub Jamie Gittens, presented with a gilt-edged opportunity in the dying moments, inexplicably opted for Row Z.

Chelsea won this derby on grit and determination. They didn't allow Spurs to settle, or to feel comfortable on the ball. Moises Caicedo exemplified the team spirit by scurrying around like a ferocious Jack Russell, bossing midfield and preventing the home side building anything worthwhile.

The pocket-sized player, who only turned 24 this week, was saluted by manager Enzo Maresca after the game. "He's so humble. He's such a good guy; he's always there to help everybody."

It's debatable whether Tottenham should have had 11 players on the pitch for the second half after Rodrigo Bentancur stamped down on Reece James' ankle shortly before half-time. The Blues captain's teammates reacted with fury, recognising the damage that might have been done, but ref Jarred Gillett wasn't even presented with a chance to review his swift yellow card as VAR deemed nothing amiss.

Sam Kerr returns to form

Although it's Man Utd who are snapping at their heels, Saturday's lunchtime clash with Arsenal at the Emirates still feels pivotal.

Chelsea Women travel to north London fresh from watching the Wizard of Oz show the magic that has made her the most famous women's footballer in the world by scoring a stunning stoppage-time goal in a 2-0 victory against London City Lionesses at Stamford Bridge.

Sam Kerr, netting for the Blues for the 101st time, was elated, saying she was slowly getting back to form after her 634 day lay-off because of an ACL injury. "I feel good, actually. I feel like I'm slowly coming back to myself. Every game and every training session, I feel like I'm getting better. I'm definitely going in the right direction."

Of the looping strike which made Chelsea's scoreline more comfortable following fellow Australian Ellie Carpenter's opener, she said: "I just saw that the keeper was off her line, but I just thought – striker's instinct, just have a hit! Luckily, it went over the defender's head."

Still unbeaten this season, the Blues top the WSL table, but will need Sam, Ellie and Co to be firing on all cylinders to beat the Gunners.