EPL round-up: Chelsea on the brink, Swansea rise, and hope for Arsenal
Spurs' race is run
Spurs made a cross-town trip to West Ham looking to keep the pressure on Chelsea with games running out. A 10th consecutive win would've put them within a point of the Blues ahead of their game against Middlesbrough, so they could ill afford a slip-up.
It just wasn't to be.
Mauricio Pochettino will look back at Friday as the night his side's title challenge was dealt the telling, fatal blow. Manuel Lanzini's 9th goal in 14 London derbies was enough to see his side over the line, and halt Tottenham just short of it.
Chelsea, meanwhile, put one hand (and a few fingers) on their 5th League title, winning 3-0 at home against Middlesbrough. Goals from Costa, Alonso and Matic were part of a performance that was as professional and sublime as many before it.
Whether it was Fabregas's silky midfield play, Hazard's lightning feet or Pedro's endless movement, the Middlesbrough defence were at sea and were lucky to escape with relatively little damage, as their relegation was confirmed with a whimper.
Conte stated before the game that trophies and success were an expectation at Chelsea, whereas at Tottenham they are a hope. Few would argue.
By the time Spurs kick off against United in the White Hart Lane farewell next week, Chelsea will likely be crowned Champions.
For the second time in as many seasons, Spurs failed to survive a title shootout. Add that to recent cup disappointments and there's a growing fear in North London that they may always be the bridesmaids and never the bride.
City rampant, Liverpool toothless and Arsenal holding on in Top 4 race
Crystal Palace are flirting with danger after putting their survival party on hold for another week with their 5-0 thrashing at Man City. It was a disastrous performance from start to finish for the Eagles who suffered their third defeat on the trot to stay stuck in 16th.
Their cause wasn't helped with playmakers David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in particularly sublime form as they both got onto the scoresheet before laying on further goals to strengthen their side's grip on 3rd place.
If City were devastating in front of goal, Liverpool were just as poor. Claude Puel's Southampton had the measure of the Reds yet again, shutting them out for the fourth time in a row.
Defending deep and relinquishing possession from the off, the Saints starved the home side of goalmouth action.
For all their bullish resilience, Southampton's good work was on the verge of being undone when the referee pointed to the spot having spotted centre-half Jack Stephens's handball. Out of nothing, Liverpool were handed a lifeline but for once the nerveless James
Milner, who had never failed from the spot for Liverpool, saw his cool desert him. Fraser Forster stretched every sinew of his 6'6" frame to parry the ball wide and preserve as hard-earned a point as any for his side.
Another damaging result for the home side, who have failed to win at Anfield for the third game running. The Top four spot should've been wrapped up long ago but for below par performances against lesser opposition that could come back to haunt them.
Wenger got the better of Jose Mourinho at last in what may well be his final clash against his most bitter rival as Arsenal snapped United's unbeaten run with a 2-0 win.
Mourinho's weakened XI made it clear before kick-off where his priorities lay — with one foot in the Europa League final, Thursday's semi took precedence over League duties.
For fleeting moments courtesy of some decent play by Martial, it seemed as if the "second-string" side might just do a number on the Gunners as they had done on Chelsea last month, but Cech kept them in the game, carrying over his form over from last week.
The value of those saves was realised as the home side hit the front early in the second period. Granit Xhaka's harmless effort from range took a massive deflection off Herrera to loop over De Gea into the net.
If there was an element of luck involved in the opener, the second was down to the pure brilliance of Danny Welbeck's centre-forward play.
Getting in between the United backline he powered Chamberlain's cross off the bar to make it two.
Reeling from the double blow there was no coming back for United whose sole hope for the Champions League lies in their fate in the Europa League.
Swansea and Hull swap places
Hull City, who have been near invincible at home under Marco Silva, slipped to a hugely damaging 2-0 defeat to relegated Sunderland.
A combination of wasteful finishing and an inspired 'keeper in Jordan Pickford kept the scores level until defender Billy Jones headed home from a corner to put his side in front.
Pickford stood tall as Hull poured forward in desperation but the Tigers suffered a sucker punch moments from time as a cross bounced off Jermain Defoe's midriff into the net to drag them into the relegation zone.
To make matters worse, Swansea secured the biggest win of their season so far thanks to Fernando Llorente's header against Everton. The Spaniard rose highest from Jordan Ayew's cross for the only goal of the game.
At the other end, just as important was Alfie Mawson's colossal performance to keep Romelu Lukaku quiet, as Paul Clement's side clawed their way out of the Bottom 3 with just two games to go.
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