Troubled Chelsea labour to draw
Misfiring Chelsea missed the chance to climb into second place in the English Premier League by drawing 0-0 at home to 10-man Leicester yesterday. It was a third straight goalless draw involving Chelsea in all competitions, and a fourth in the team’s last seven matches.
Leicester dominated until Leicester left back Ben Chilwell was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the 68th minute for a lunge at Victor Moses.
Chelsea, who had Gary Cahill leave the field in the 33rd minute with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, applied pressure after that but rarely threatened Kasper Schmeichel, who easily clawed away a free kick from Marcos Alonso in injury time.
The result means Chelsea stay in third place, behind second-place Manchester United on goal difference and 15 points off leader Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Harry Kane became Tottenham’s record scorer in the league by grabbing a secondhalf double in a 4-0 home win over Everton.
The England striker moved onto 98 goals, surpassing the previous mark of 97 set by Teddy Sheringham, thanks to two tap-ins at Wembley Stadium.
Son Heung-min put Tottenham ahead in the 26th minute, courtesy of another close-range strike, and produced possibly the highlight of the game with his spin and driving run to set up the first goal for Kane, who is the league’s top scorer, with 20, three more than nearest rival Mohamed Salah.
There was a hint of luck about Kane’s second goal, with his finish from Eric Dier’s cross coming off his studs and flicking up over goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and into the corner.
Christian Eriksen wrapped up victory in the 81st minute, smashing home from the edge of the area, after good work by Son and Dele Alli.
Fifth-place Spurs moved level on points with Liverpool, whose game in hand is against Manchester City at Anfield.
Everton, which had a headed goal by Wayne Rooney disallowed when it was 0-0, hasn’t won any of its last five games in the league and sit ninth.
Elswhere, Jonny Evans helped to end West Bromwich Albion’s long wait for an EPL win with a 2-0 home victory over Brighton.
All Whites captain Winston Reid wasn’t part of a revitalised West Ham side, whose new boss David Moyes registered his 200th top-flight win as a manager with a 4-1 victory away to Huddersfield.
Newcastle United stretched their winless home run in the league to seven games and continued to slide towards the relegation zone after a 1-1 home draw with bottom-placed Swansea City.
Crystal Palace continued their rise up the table under former England manager Roy Hodgson by winning 1-0 at home against Burnley.