Vardy continues Leicester’s charge
Leicester City underlined their credentials as English Premier League title contenders, while Chelsea extended their winning run
Could Leicester do it again? Even if another shock Premier League title isn’t on the cards, the outsiders who won in 2016 are firmly a part of English football’s top four this season.
Beating Arsenal 2-0 yesterday leaves Leicester second, five points off leader Liverpool, and with a nine-point cushion to the fifth spot.
It also deepens the gloom at Arsenal, where Unai Emery is dealing with a five-game winless run as well as the now former captain Granit Xhaka’s rift with fans.
Chelsea are third, level on points with Leicester, after winning their sixth league game in a row – a 2-0 victory against Crystal Palace.
Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham has been on strong scoring form all season, and now American midfielder Christian Pulisic has joined him.
After Palace kept the game goalless in the first half with solid defending and more than a little luck, Chelsea did the job in the second to secure the three points.
Abraham scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season in the 52nd off a neat backheel pass from Willian, and Pulisic made sure of the win in the 79th, heading in a looping, deflected shot from Michy Batshuayi.
Tottenham drew 1-1 with Sheffield United in a game full of video-review controversy and haven’t won consecutive games since April.
Liverpool and fourth-placed Manchester City play today.
Jamie Vardy remains the Premier League’s top scorer after another dominant game against Arsenal.
Vardy opened the scoring in the 68th minute with his 11th league goal of the season off a square ball from Youri Tielemans, finishing off a slick team move.
Vardy set up the second for James Maddison in the 75th, holding up the ball in the penalty area before feeding it for the onrushing Maddison to hit a powerful low shot from outside the penalty area.
Arsenal had chances to score in the first half, with Alexandre Lacazette in particular wasting good opportunities. After scoring two, Leicester came close to a third.
Arsenal sit sixth and are dropping away from the race for Champions League spots.
Xhaka was out of the squad again for the Leicester game as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remained captain.
Everton travelled to struggling Southampton on the verge of the relegation zone but eased the pressure with a 2-1 win.
Everton now enjoy a six-point cushion over 18th-place Watford, while Southampton are 19th and winless in their last seven league games.
Tom Davies headed home Everton’s first goal and Richarlison got the winner after former Liverpool striker Danny Ings had equalised for the Saints.
Newcastle beat Bournemouth 2-1, while Burnley turned around a run of three defeats with a 3-0 win at home to West Ham. All Whites striker Chris Wood scored Burnley’s second goal after having an earlier effort ruled out by VAR for offside.