Reds, Everton play out draw
London, April 7: With Chelsea’s reign as Premier League champions all but over, it’s fitting Antonio Conte approaches that dispiriting conclusion in the same tetchy mood he began their doomed title defence.
Conte has cut a frustrated figure from the moment he warned of difficult season in store during their pre- season tour.
Irritated by the failure of Chelsea’s hierarchy to land his top transfer targets and driven to distraction by his public feud with Diego Costa, Conte wasted no opportunity to make it clear there was trouble ahead.
The former Juventus coach was proved correct as Chelsea have laboured so badly that they go into Sunday’s London derby against West Ham on the brink of missing out on a top four finish.
Meanwhile, Alexandre Lacazette’s form has mirrored Arsenal’s disappointing season but the forward insists he is now ready to play a full role in the final weeks of a season he hopes can still have a successful ending.
Meanwhile, the meeting with Southampton has diminished in importance for Arsenal who lie sixth and with no chance of qualifying for the Champions League via their Premier League position. Arsene Wenger’s men can, though, book a place in Europe’s elite competition by winning the Europa League and in that respect, signs of Lacazette’s improved form could hardly be better timed. Liverpool ( England), April 7: Everton wasted late chances in the 231st Merseyside derby on Saturday to draw 0- 0 against Liverpool at Goodison Park in the Premier League.
Liverpool striker Danny Ings was handed his first start as Juergen Klopp named a stronger lineup than anticipated.
Ings was part of a front three including Sadio Mane and Dominic Solanke, with Mohamed Salah ( groin) not risked ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg at Manchester City, with Liverpool leading 3- 0.
Despite a late rally in which Seamus Coleman and substitute Dominic Calvert- Lewin could have snatched victory, the Toffees’ 7 1/ 2- year wait for a derby win was extended to 17 matches.
Solanke, on his first start since New Year’s Day, should have scored his first Liverpool goal when Coleman diverted a cross from Nathaniel Clyne, making his first appearance of the season, into his path but he shot straight Pickford.
Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius produced an even better save to tip Yannick Bolasie’s curling shot around the post before Pickford did the same to deny James Milner.
Wayne Rooney was replaced by the more defensively minded Idrissa Gana Gueye 10 minutes into the second half but it was not until the last 15 minutes that midtable Everton came alive.
Coleman failed to connect with Cenk Tosun’s header back across goal after Theo Walcott finally beat Klavan one- on- one and Calvert- Lewin steered wide with only Karius to beat. Liverpool is third with 67 points. at Jordan