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EPL: Chelsea beat Tottenham, Liverpool down Palace, Arsenal draw

January 24, 2022
Bharat Times English News

Once Hakim Ziyech’s curling, dipping strike landed in a Tottenham goal, Chelsea never looked back.

Sure, it took up to two minutes to break the deadlock in the second half. But Thiago Silva’s header in the 55th minute to seal Sunday’s 2-0 win was a snapshot of London’s most one-sided rivalry.

Chelsea should never have doubted that a four-game victory in the Premier League would end on Sunday. Not even with former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte unbeaten in nine league matches at the start of his Tottenham reign before traveling to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea now have 33 wins against Tottenham in the Premier League era – more than any other rival. Not a single Tottenham player has scored against Chelsea in the league since 2018 when the North London side last won the derby.

Tottenham will complain that Harry Kane was denied a first-half goal after his light touch was denied to Thiago Silva before running on goal to meet Ryan Sessagnon’s cross.

But for all Kane to upset referee Paul Tierney at halftime, Tottenham broke down so quickly that a Chelsea victory after the break seemed inevitable. Tottenham also missed out on a place in the final of the League Cup as Chelsea won both semi-finals this month.

The victory for Thomas Tuchel’s side took the top four, which looked shaky before winning for the first time since 26 December.

Chelsea were one point behind second-placed Liverpool, who won 3–1 in London at Crystal Palace. The results will give a glimmer of hope that Manchester City may still be caught when the Champions are held on Saturday in Southampton, now sitting only nine points ahead of Liverpool and have played a game more.

While Tottenham are in seventh place, coronavirus Adjournments distort the standings. Tottenham fell 11 points behind Chelsea but had four games in hand. And Man United are only two points ahead in fourth Champions League place, having played two more games than Tottenham.

Conte got little help as Burnley beat Arsenal 0-0 on Sunday. Arsenal moved up from Tottenham to sixth on goal difference, but played one extra game.

Tottenham could not recreate the play from Wednesday night when two stoppage-time goals converted a game at Leicester to win. And Leicester disappointed again on Sunday, drawing 1-1 with Brighton.

Frustration for Arsenal with 0-0 draw against Burnley in EPL

Burnley returned to Premier League action for the first time in three weeks as they defeated Arsenal 0-0 at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Clarets have postponed games this month due to injuries and not enough players being available due to coronavirus cases and fell in last place as their rivals were able to complete the fixtures.

Wins for fellow relegation candidates Norwich and Newcastle only put pressure on Burnley. But Shaun Dyche’s side went within four points of safety with four games to go, with Norwich finishing 17th.

The Gunners postponed their north London derby meeting with Tottenham to last weekend, losing to Manchester City in the international break and a draw with Burnley in their only league matches this month.

Arsenal are two points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with the game in hand.

Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope made a well save from Martin Odegaard and Ben Mee blocked Lacazette’s follow-up effort.

Burnley was lucky to have a full quota of players on the pitch after Ashley Westwood caught Kieran Tierney late and high, when a red card could easily have been issued by referee David Coot.

A fine effort from Bukayo Saka aside, the rest of the first half was played with a lack of quality and restraint.

Arsenal took things forward after the break, with Emil Smith Rowe forcing a fine short save from Pope after a smart corner routine. England The International then broke into the box and crossed for Lacazette, who could only go wide if he should have scored.

Liverpool beat Palace 3-1 to reduce City’s lead to 9 points

Liverpool reduced the gap at the top of the Premier League to nine points after a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Virgil van Dijk and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored in the first half but Patrick Vieira’s side cut the deficit through Odsonne Edouard’s goal after the break.

Fabinho made several saves to hold the lead for the visitors before Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Baker scored a penalty in the 89th minute to seal a win that took advantage of leader Manchester City’s draw at Southampton on Saturday.

It was Liverpool’s fifth game without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane while they are in the African Cup of Nations.

Andrew Robertson’s corner made the opener for Van Dijk’s header in the eighth minute. It was a poor goal for the hosts to lose and they could not handle Liverpool’s relentless pressure in the opening exchanges, with Oxlade-Chamberlain hitting the target twice in quick succession.

But then Robertson saw Oxlade-Chamberlain’s late run in the field and took out his teammate with a brilliant crossfield ball. The midfielder, after a minor ankle injury, took control of his chest and entered the net in the 32nd.

Jordan Henderson could have put the game to bed early in the second half, but he fired wide on the turn after another brilliant delivery from Robertson.

Palace eventually reached the scoresheet in 55th. Jean-Philippe Mateta beat the offside trap to collect Jeffrey Schlup’s excellent through ball and squared off to tap Edouard for his sixth goal of the season.

Joachim Andersen was the next man to go close to Palace with a long-range strike, which was spread just before Schlup fired into the side-netting.

The big moment came with seven minutes remaining when Anderson sent Michael Ollis away and his lobbying effort was brilliantly tipped off by Alison, who climbed into the post.

Liverpool’s Diogo Jota passed a few minutes later, but missed his kick and then collided with goalkeeper Vicente Guetta.

After referee Kevin Friend turned the appeals away, VAR called the official to take another look and pointed to the spot.

Fabinho scored a penalty with one minute remaining to close the gap at City, with Pep Guardiola’s side playing a game over Liverpool, who visit the Etihad in April.

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