Chelsea may have missed out on Premier League history in midweek but Cesar Azpilicueta says the squad will only work harder to ensure they bounce back stronger than ever.

The Blues were targeting a Premier League record 14^th consecutive victory but a pair of Dele Alli headers condemned them to a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Chelsea are still five points clear of Liverpool atop the table, with Spurs now third, as they chase the title in Antonio Conte’s first season in charge.

Their maiden opportunity to put the first league loss since September behind them comes against Peterborough in the FA Cup third round on Sunday and Azpilicueta admits they must cast their disappointment to one side as they look to begin a new winning streak.

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“We were expecting to win the game but we went away with zero points so obviously we are disappointed but we have to learn from this and come back stronger,” explained the defender.

“It is difficult to analyse straight after the game, it is better to have time to do that, with the manager and the staff, and then improve on what we didn’t do well.

“When you lose you can improve a lot of things but even when we had the 13 games in a row we were analysing and trying to improve.

“It was a tough night but we have to learn from this and to come back strong.

“We knew it would be tough and it was, but we tried to play our game. Sometimes we were not able to do it and we lost some balls.

“But we said before when we were winning it is still a long way to go. We have to cope with a lot of difficult games and we have to work harder.”

Match-winner Dele Alli believes Tottenham Hotspur’s demons of last season have been firmly banished after his double brought an end to Chelsea’s 13-match winning run.

The midfielder took his scoring tally to seven goals in four games with two near-identical headers, both assisted by Christian Eriksen in a superb all-round display at White Hart Lane.

But, more importantly, the result ensured Spurs remained with title ambitions – an honour they squandered last season at the home of the Blues.

Surrendering a 2-0 lead to draw at Stamford Bridge proved the end of the road for Mauricio Pochettino’s men last season, with Leicester crowned champions after those dropped points.

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But Alli – who featured in the 2-1 defeat earlier this season – believes the fans have been repaid after calling to a halt Chelsea’s high-flying streak.

“The game was massive for so many reasons,” he explained. “After last season, after earlier this season as well, we wanted to stop their run to be honest and wanted to do it for the fans, everyone had that bit of grit in their teeth, you could see that.

“The fans were singing from the start and we were so happy to get the win.

“It was one of those nights at White Hart Lane, unforgettable, the fans were amazing and we were happy to get the win for them.”

Jermain Defoe insists Sunderland have a point to prove in their FA Cup clash with Burnley this weekend, after raising the bar with their thrilling comeback against Liverpool on Monday.

The Black Cats twice came from behind as two Defoe penalties saw them win a point on home soil against Jurgen Klopp’s men, after the Reds had taken the lead on two occasions through Daniel Sturridge and Sadio Mane.

On Saturday, they welcome Burnley to Wearside for their second tie against the Clarets in a week, having suffered a 4-1 defeat at Turf Moor on New Year’s Eve.

But while the loss may still be fresh in their minds, Defoe insists his teammates are determined to turn their fortunes around.

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“We’ll bring them here and we owe them one,” he said. “It’s a cup game and we always want to do well in the cups.

“We’ve got a few injuries so I’m not sure what the manager is going to do, but we want to win games because it’s good for the confidence within the squad.

“We can’t approach it lightly and we want to win, especially with the game being at home.

“I think if you work hard and give everything but then lose the game, you can hold your hands up and say ‘fair enough’, but if you don’t do that it’s unacceptable.

“The manager wanted a reaction and he definitely got that against Liverpool.”

Diego Costa has played down his heated argument with team-mate Pedro during Chelsea’s defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday.

Dele Alli headed home twice to lift Spurs to a 2-0 win and prevent Chelsea from equalling Arsenal’s record of 14 successive Premier League wins.

And the defeat looked to be made even worse following a first-half exchange of words between Costa and Pedro when the former failed to find his fellow Spaniard with a short pass.

But striker Costa insists there is nothing in it and that he has no issue with Pedro.

“Nothing happened. We have a great understanding with each other,” said Costa, with Chelsea still five points clear at the top of the table despite the loss.

“When you have a trusted relationship and intimacy with a team-mate it is normal for these things to happen.

“It was just a moment during the game, and that’s it. It was nothing.

“I told him: ‘You have to get in there, why didn’t you go?’ He said ‘I went’ and I said he didn’t. That’s it. Pedro is my brother and we love each other.”

Hull City vice-chairman Ehab Allam insists new boss Marco Silva will receive the club’s backing in the transfer market – even though a lack of investment led to the resignation of Steve Bruce in the summer.

Mike Phelan was sacked less than three months after being appointed in permanent charge, having replaced Bruce on a caretaker basis before the start of the season.

Former Manchester United defender Bruce, now at the helm of Aston Villa, had left after falling out with the board over transfers as he looked to strengthen his side following promotion back into the Premier League.

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Hull’s position now, bottom of the table with just 13 points, seemingly justifies Bruce’s stance but Portuguese Silva – who has previously managed Sporting and Olympiacos – will not be short of funds according to Allam.

“We are already working hard with Marco and his team to deliver some key additions to our squad during this transfer window,” he said.

“He is a young coach who has impressed us with his philosophy and football style.

“He has a great track record and we feel this is a bold and exciting appointment in our aim to retain the Club’s Premier League status. Marco will be bringing in his own back-room team who have all played their part in his recent success.”

Ben Mee marked his 200^th appearance for Burnley with a goal against his former club but the defender insists the team comes before any personal milestones.

Mee scrambled the ball home on Monday in their 2-1 reversal against Manchester City – his sixth goal for the Clarets.

Next up for Sean Dyche’s side is an FA Cup third round clash with Sunderland and Mee is confident that the Clarets are on the right track, currently sat 12th in the Premier League table.

“I was really pleased with that [playing 200th game]. From leaving Man City and making the move it’s been a very good move for me and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

“I’ve improved, I’ve got a lot more experience. It’s about improving all the time and continuing to get better.

“I came as a centre half and now I’m back playing there and I want to prove that I’m a Premier League centre half, that’s a big aim for me.

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“I think a lot of people will be worried about us. We’re playing well, we’re winning at home and we’re tough to beat. We’re confident and it’s looking okay for us, but we want to push on this year and see where we can go.

“We won’t take anything for granted, we need to keep going and get more points. We’ll look to improve this year and kick on from where we are, now sit back and think it was a good year. We wanted to kick on and do well and see where it takes us.”

Rudy Gestede has already been reacquainting himself with a few familiar faces at the Riverside with the new Middlesbrough forward confident he can help boost the team’s firepower in the Premier League.

Benin international Gestede signed on the dotted line on Wednesday to complete his move to the North East from Championship side Aston Villa.

The 28-year-old is Aitor Karanka’s first acquisition of the January transfer window with the manager admitting previously he wanted to strengthen his squad ahead of the second half of the season.

(Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

The move not only represents a return to the Premier League for Gestede but also sees him link up with former Villa teammates Adama Traore and Brad Guzan as well as striker Jordan Rhodes – a player he enjoyed a strong strike partnership with at Blackburn Rovers.

“It’s a pleasure to see them,” he said.

“I was in touch with Jordan over a few texts and I’m happy to see Adama [Traore] and Brad [Guzan] as well.

“It’s always good to see someone you know and they’re good people so that helps. I’ve been welcomed very well by everyone in the changing room.

“When I watched the last game especially I saw a lot of crosses and passes into the box.

“One of my assets is how I can play in the air and making myself a threat in the box – I think I have shown that before.

“The move has happened early in the window so I can focus on showing everyone what I’m capable of and why I deserve this move.”

Oriol Romeu admits he and his Southampton teammates have to harness their rage at their recent slump in form and turn it into something positive.

The Saints lost three in a row over the festive period in the Premier League to slide down to tenth in the table – 15 points off the top six.

The 3-0 defeat to Everton last time out at Goodison Park was particularly tough to take but a New Year brings new opportunities.

And the former Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder is confident his side can turn the tables in 2017.

“Of course (we are) angry, frustrated,” said Romeu.

“We have conceded so many goals recently and probably we have to do better. The feelings are that we have to change the situation.

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“The situation has to change and we are the first ones to do it. From us, it has to come and be much better, doing less mistakes and playing better. Even if we score or they score, keeping the same that we have done always and not to change depending on the result.

“We haven’t been strong enough in set pieces, we haven’t been strong enough in second balls and this league punishes you massively in those things, so those are the things that we need to get better and hopefully will improve next year.”

Callum Wilson has the Democratic Republic of Congo to thank for his starring role against Arsenal – but the Bournemouth striker believes he’ll need no help kicking on from here.

Wilson scored Bournemouth’s second goal on Tuesday night, only for the Gunners to come back from 3-0 down to draw after launching a second-half offensive.

But all in all it was a positive night for the 24-year-old, who likely only played because strike partner Benik Afobe was refused permission to play by DR Congo despite pulling out of their Africa Cup of Nations squad.

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Wilson has been slow to get back into the groove after seeing last season wrecked by a knee ligament injury, but he is confident that he has made Cherries boss Eddie Howe sit up and notice.

“I’ve not been playing recently so I’ve had a lot of frustration and I was trying to prove a point to the manager,” said Wilson.

“I’m trying to up my standards really which is why I’ve found myself on the bench.

“I got my chance in strange circumstances, moving forwards now a goal is great for my confidence. I feel sharp, I feel strong, so hopefully I can take that into the next game if I’m selected.”

Time on the pitch has come at a premium in recent times for Peter Crouch, but the Stoke City striker insists he has never lost confidence in his own ability on the park.

The 35-year-old scored in his second successive match against Watford on Tuesday, now just two short of reaching 100 Premier League goals despite completing 90 minutes just twice this season.

It’s a trend that has followed Crouch over the past two years, making just 18 appearances in all competitions last season, failing to register a goal in the top flight.

But despite playing a bit-part role behind the likes of Jon Walters and Bojan, the former England international is adamant his faith never wavered in his bid to return to Mark Hughes’ plans.

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

“It’s great for me. I haven’t played much in the last 18 months and it has been very frustrating but I have always believed in myself and have always known I can impact games at this level.

“Thankfully the manager has thrown me in for these last few games and hopefully I have proven that I can still do it at this level and I will keep playing.

“That first goal (in the 2-0 victory against Watford) was so important.

“They came here to defend and hit us off long balls and set pieces so getting the goal at that time really settled us down and I always felt like we were going to get the second.”