EPL round-up: Chelsea drop points, Leicester and Sunderland flounder, Liverpool back on track
Chasing pack keep up the pace
It seems like a foregone conclusion that Chelsea are going to be the next Premier League winners. Champions in all but name, the only thing more commanding than their nine-point lead heading into Matchday 25 was their performance on the pitch. The ball was in the court, then, of the rest of the top six to put pressure on the Blues ahead of their tricky game at Burnley.
And they kept their end of the bargain. Liverpool, Arsenal and the Manchester clubs picked up 2-0 wins which meant that with Spurs' loss, the gap between 2nd and 6th is now just four points. Runaway leaders notwithstanding, the top of the table makes for an enticing narrative.
Arsenal kicked things off on Saturday, by welcoming the much-improved Hull City. With the Gunners’ title challenge over on the back of successive defeats, and Marco Silva's men impressing in their fight for survival, the tie wasn't going to be an open-and-shut case.
The hosts took the lead deservedly and controversially through Alexis Sánchez in the first half, as replays showed the ball bounced off the Chilean's arm before crossing the line. Silva was right to feel aggrieved after the game and revealed that referee Mark Clattenburg apologised to his team for the decision. Another handball, this time from the Tigers' Sam Clucas in second half stoppage time resulted in a red card and penalty that Sánchez had no problems in dispatching to seal the win. With his brace, the ex-Barcelona striker now leads the race for the golden boot.
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| Alexis Sanchez. |
United later hosted Watford and breezed past thanks to goals from Anthony Martial and Juan Mata. The duo put on a fantastic show at Old Trafford, combining to deadly effect for almost all of the attacking play from Jose Mourinho's men.
Martial was banging in the goals this time last season, but has struggled to nail down a regular berth in the starting XI this, and he didn't let his latest chance go to waste amidst speculation that he was seeking a move away from Manchester last month.
Liverpool's clash against Tottenham was the pick of the bunch. Klopp's men were looking to end a miserable start to 2017 and were hoping that the return of talisman Sadio Mane in front of the Kop would finally give them their first league win of the year. Spurs, for their part, were on an excellent run of form and looking to close the gap on Chelsea.
The Reds raced out of the blocks and Mane landed a double blow, scoring twice inside 20 minutes. Irresistible, fast and razor sharp in attack, this was the Liverpool that was so impressive in the first half of the campaign. From then onwards, there was no way back for the second-best Spurs whose title hopes were seriously dented on another torrid night at Anfield.
Manchester City played Bournemouth on a wet Monday night and continued their fine run of form with a classy display. Their main man in the recent weeks, Gabriel Jesus, hobbled off the field with injury, but there was no let-up from Pep Guardiola's side as Sane and Sterling proved too hot to handle for the Cherries. The win takes the Sky Blues to 2nd on the table with 52 points, eight behind Chelsea.
Leicester running out of time in the race for survival
At the foot of the table, Claudio Ranieri billed his side's clash with Swansea as the “most important game of the season so far” in an effort to rally his troops ahead of their visit to Wales. It didn't work, however, as goals inside the first half gave the Swans an easy 2-0 win as the Champions continue to nosedive. With no goals in over 10 hours of play, an unwanted record, and the serious possibility of becoming the first side to get relegated a season after winning the League since Manchester City in 1937 is facing the midlands club.
As for Swansea, a season that looked so hopeless for them before Paul Clement's arrival could end with them securing Premiership status after all. Their sharp upturn in form sees them four points clear of the drop zone.
Elsewhere, Hull went down fighting at Arsenal and remain 18th. Palace were beaten again, this time at Stoke, who won through a solitary goal from Joe Allen. But the worst display of the week came from Sunderland, who instead of building on their 4-0 triumph last week, were on the receiving end of the same scoreline at home to Southampton.
An abysmal display from David Moyes's side was capitalised on by the Saints and their new signing Manolo Gabbiadini, who bagged two goals to go with his debut strike last week. Rock bottom with such fluctuating fortunes, hopes for safety seem bleak, even for the Premier League's survival specialists.