Underdogs have their day as leading teams blow EPL chances
ON a standout day for the English Premier League’s underdogs and local managers, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have all dropped points.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City was held 2-2 by Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace, further boosting Liverpool’s title hopes, after Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham drew 0-0 with Nigel Pearson’s Watford earlier on Saturday.
City’s draw gave Liverpool a chance to extend its lead to an almost insurmountable 16 points overnight against Manchester United (3.30am today).
Arsenal’s underwhelming form under new manager Mikel Arteta continued in a 1-1 draw with Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United.
Meanwhile, Chelsea looked headed for a draw until Isaac Hayden headed in to give Newcastle a 1-0 win in stoppage time.
Not even Sergio Aguero’s fearsome goalscoring form could earn City a win over a tenacious Crystal Palace.
With City staring at a possible defeat courtesy of Cenk Tosun’s 39th-minute goal for Palace, Aguero scored twice in the last 10 minutes, taking him to six goals from his last three EPL games. However, Palace wasn’t done and levelled in the 90th when Wilfried Zaha’s ball went in off Fernandinho.
“I think we did everything,” City manager Guardiola said.
“They defended so deep. We knew that, so we attacked – crosses and corners, put the ball inside. They didn’t do much but they win one point.”
Leicester had the chance to move level on points with City against Burnley overnight (1am).
Amid the draws, Chelsea was on target for another point in the last game, but Newcastle had other ideas. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Newcastle won a corner to roars from their fans.
Matt Ritchie took the set piece poorly, but Chelsea could only clear it to Allan SaintMaximin, who swung in another cross from deep which Hayden headed in.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang suspended, Arsenal lacked the attacking firepower to see off Sheffield United in a 1-1 draw. John Fleck salvaged a draw for Sheffield with a bouncing shot in the 83rd after Gabriel Martinelli scored right on half-time.
Dele Alli was left fuming in the Tottenham dugout as last season’s Champions League finalist slipped further away from qualifying for next season’s competition with a goalless draw at Watford.
A penalty save by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga kept Tottenham in the game before a goal line clearance from Watford’s Ignacio Pussetto stopped Tottenham sneaking a win in stoppage time.
Jose Mourinho’s team last won in the league against Brighton on December 26. Watford is now unbeaten in six league games and has picked up 14 points from a possible 18 in that time.
Meanwhile, Wolverhampton showed plenty of hunger to win, coming back from two goals down to beat Southampton 3-2.
Teemu Pukki’s penalty gave last-placed Norwich some hope of avoiding the drop in a 1-0 win over fellow relegation contender Bournemouth.
Both teams finished the game with 10 men after receiving a red card apiece. Jack Grealish scored to rescue a 1-1 draw for Aston Villa at Brighton, while West Ham and Everton also drew 1-1.