Spurs shock United; Chelsea lose to Bournemouth at home
WIDE OPEN Only five points separate four teams chasing Champions League spots
Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen scored within 11 seconds on Wednesday to overshadow Alexis Sanchez’s League debut, while Chelsea crashed to a 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City ignored the carnage around them to march serenely on, widening their lead to an enormous 15 points with a 3-0 victory at home to West Brom with just 13 games still to play.
The build-up to Wednesday’s matches was dominated by late moves in the transfer window but Spurs ensured the focus switched back to the pitch immediately, stunning Jose Mourinho’s men with a performance full of attacking verve in a 2-0 win.
Chelsea, who earlier announced the signing of Olivier Giroud from Arsenal, conceded three second-half goals while Theo Walcott scored twice for Everton in a 2-1 win against Leicester.
“We always try to be aggressive from the beginning,” said Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino. “Our aim is to be focused from the beginning. You can win a game if you’re ready to fight. It was massive to be up early in the game.
The painful defeat for United realistically ends any lingering hopes they may have harboured of catching runaway leaders City.
Mourinho signed Sanchez this month to bolster his attacking options but Spurs caught the visitors cold at a packed Wembley, Eriksen opening the scoring from the kick-off following a long ball from inside the Spurs’ half.
The goal, timed at 10.48 seconds, was the first United have conceded in 2018 but despite some bright moments were 2-0 down just before the half-hour after Phil Jones lashed the ball into his own net.
Tottenham were a constant threat and had multiple chances to stretch their lead.
The impressive win for Spurs
LONDON:
puts them right back at the heart of the hunt for a Champions League qualification spot, just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
“It’s a performance that starts with a ridiculous goal,” said Mourinho. “That goal after a few seconds has a big influence in the game because Tottenham can play the way they like to play. In the end, we played against a very good team. Both goals were ridiculous goals.”
CHELSEA STUMBLE Pochettino’s men were further buoyed by the defeat for Chelsea, who fielded only Pedro up front, showing their need for more firepower. Callum Wilson, Junior Stanislas and Nathan Ake scored the goals for Bournemouth.
CITY EXTEND LEAD
It was business as usual for Guardiola’s City, who handed a debut to defender Aymeric Laporte, who only signed for the club from Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday.
City struck through Fernandinho midway through the first half and doubled their lead through Kevin De Bruyne in the second half before Sergio Aguero struck late on.
City earlier opted out of a bid for Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez, with reports putting the transfer package at £95 million.
In other results on Wednesday, Newcastle drew 1-1 with Burnley, Southampton drew 1-1 at home to Brighton and Stoke were involved in a goalless stalemate with Watford.