Chelsea's trip to Tottenham was laced with narrative over Mauricio Pochettino's return to his former club, but chaos soon descended upon kick-off in north London.
Dejan Kulusevski's deflected effort gave Spurs an early lead but there was more drama to ensue as goals were disallowed, robust challenges allowed and red cards dished out in a fiercely contested encounter.
Here's how X - formerly known as Twitter - saw things pan out on Monday night.
Tottenham's start was electric, keeping Chelsea penned back with cool passing in midfield and pace in attack. Kulusevski's strike somewhat fortuitously found its way past Robert Sanchez via the aid of a deflection off Levi Colwill.
What a start from Spurs and Dejan Kulusevski! ⚡️
— 90min (@90min_Football) November 6, 2023
Chelsea don't know what has hit them! 😳 pic.twitter.com/wI2J5GSXjn
Poch when Kulusevski's shot went inpic.twitter.com/qk64KulAJe
— Deng™ (@UTDDengv2) November 6, 2023
Shot-shy Kulusevski is rewarded for finally letting fly, with his effort taking a huge deflection off of Levi Colwill. Spurs ahead.
— Sean Walsh (@SeanDZWalsh) November 6, 2023
That strike gave more life to those in the Tottenham sections backing Ange Postecoglou over Mauricio Pochettino, but the home side's control of the game started to slip as some wild challenges came flying in.
Destiny Udogie survived a VAR review as his two-footed jump on Raheem Sterling was deemed only yellow card worthy.
For my money Destiny Udogie is lucky to be on the pitch. Dumb
— Hunter Godson (@HunterGodson) November 6, 2023
Udogie escapes a red card for a two footed lunge but Jones gets a red for his foot slipping over the ball and shown in slow motion. No consistency.
— Samuel (@SamueILFC) November 6, 2023
VAR saving Spurs, imagine my shock.
Tottenham couldn't reclaim their composure as Chelsea started posing questions in attack, though Son Heung-min was only just denied a goal by offside.
Sterling suffered a similar fate as his finish was ruled out for handball, but Spurs' over-exuberance finally cost them as they gave away a penalty and conceded a player's advantage.
Moises Caicedo's long-range effort was again struck off for offside, but Cristian Romero - who was lucky to avoid further sanction for a kick out at Levi Colwill - was shown a red card for an overly forceful tackle on Enzo Fernandez.
Romero just absolutely has to be sent off
— Scott Saunders (@__scottsaunders) November 6, 2023
Never thought I’d see the day Cristian Romero was finally sent off against Chelsea #TOTCHE
— Krishan Davis (@krishan_davis) November 6, 2023
Chelsea penalty and red card for Romero. He has got no excuse. Absolutely reckless. He's got some nerve complaining about it. Got away with one before.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) November 6, 2023
He was dismissed and Cole Palmer converted from the spot.
33' 🟥 Cristian Romero is sent off
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 6, 2023
35' 🎯 Cole Palmer converts penalty@ChelseaFC are back on level terms with Spurs ⚖️#TOTCHE pic.twitter.com/0rgtmoNswo
Things didn't get much better for the hosts in the second half when Udogie was given his second yellow for a wild lunge, reducing Spurs to nine players. It was a fate suffered not too long ago by Liverpool in their defeat in north London earlier this year.
Destiny Udogie can't escape a red card this time! 🔴
— 90min (@90min_Football) November 6, 2023
Spurs are down to 9-men! 😳 pic.twitter.com/emQYldiBhu
Udogie will be better for that. It’s a good, albeit tough lesson for him. Romero’s lapse back into his previous character was a bit more worrying, but hopefully that’s the anomaly, rather than his vast improvement in the previous games.
— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) November 6, 2023
Chelsea looked a little lost for periods of the second half as they went about breaking Tottenham down but they still ended up providing Nicolas Jackson with enough chances for the young forward to grab a hat-trick and lead the Blues to a 4-1 win.
Nicolas Jackson’s hat trick today: pic.twitter.com/XUcpgCV4os
— Will (@WillB_2003) November 6, 2023
"Well done, it's nine players."
"Game, set and match Jackson."
Nicolas Jackson getting a hat-trick against 9 man, high-line Spurs pic.twitter.com/Hr8wwrK4dB
— Edward Walker (@edward_w97) November 6, 2023
In the end it was victory for Pochettino on his return to Tottenham, but probably not an evening he could have anticipated, even in this most bitter of London derbies.