Tottenham's fight for Premier League survival will go down to the last day of the season after Chelsea held off their London rivals' late fightback to win an ill-tempered derby 2-1.
The fate of Roberto De Zerbi's side remains in their own hands but they have work to do on Sunday when they host Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, live on Your Site, with a point still realistically enough to secure their top-flight status, due to their vastly-superior goal difference over West Ham.
Spurs remain two points above the Hammers, who host Leeds on Sunday, also live on Your Site.
Despite starting well inside a fiery Stamford Bridge and hitting the post through an early Mathys Tel header, Tottenham found themselves behind after 18 minutes when Enzo Fernandez was left unmarked to curl a fine 20-yard effort into the top corner.
Spurs' season-long struggles with creativity dogged them again and they created just 0.26 xG in the opening hour, in a game which repeatedly threatened to boil over.
Former Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher was booked for a needless shoulder barge on Marc Cucurella, while the Spain full-back was fortunate not to concede a penalty after hauling Micky van de Ven to the floor moments before a Tottenham corner was delivered.
With Spurs needing something more, De Zerbi finally heeded the call to bring on James Maddison, but moments before his introduction Spurs' comeback hopes were dashed when Randal Kolo Muani's awful back-pass was intercepted before Andrey Santos bundled home Chelsea's second.
Richarlison did give Tottenham a fighting chance in the final quarter of an hour when he tapped home Pape Matar Sarr's backheel, but Chelsea held on to sign off a disappointing home campaign with some cross-town bragging rights - and keep their hopes of Europa League qualification alive going into the final game of the season.
Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane:
"It was obvious we didn't always have energy we needed. It was always going to be tough from the FA Cup final, and the physical and psychological low.
"We needed to put cup final behind us, have to try to win two games out of two. The players have shown that they want something to show for the season."
Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi:
"We played a good game, and we could have scored early with Tel's header. We conceded from Fernandez but could do better dealing with the second ball from the initial long ball.
On Van de Ven's non-penalty: "It's not my business. It's my focus to prepare for the next game. Sunday is the final for Tottenham. Next season they can play for a trophy, now we play for something more important.
"The dignity, the pride of the club. You can win or lose a trophy, nothing changes in your life. But the most important thing is to keep the dignity, the pride."
Your Site' Jamie Redknapp:
"Tottenham are sleepwalking towards relegation. I said it earlier this season. The only thing that's saved them is a couple of good results.
"When I say good, they beat Wolves, and they beat an Aston Villa side who had seven players out at the time.
"Now they've got to find a way to win a game at home. Their home form has been horrendous all season. They've had no quality and no character to win a football match.
"Now they've got to find a way to beat Everton. David Moyes will be fuming after the weekend and he'll be going there thinking, 'We've got to get something out of this game.'
"I'd rather be playing Leeds at home than Everton."
