Tottenham top after Chelsea stalemate, Cavani sparks Manchester United
TOTTENHAM moved to the top of the Premier League with a goalless draw against title rivals Chelsea, while Edinson Cavani inspired Manchester
nited’s thrilling 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday.
ose Mourinho’s side climbed above previous leaders Liverpool on goal difference after a sterile London derby at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham are unbeaten in nine league games and Mourinho seemed happy to frustrate his former club as they adopted a cautious approach with little attacking ambition.
“That was a game where we respected them and they respected us. Nobody gambled today or tried to change the direction of the game,” Mourinho said.
“I like the feeling of being top. We came from a difficult position last season and we are happy with that.”
Chelsea have not lost in their last 11 games in all competitions and sit in third place, two points behind Tottenham and Liverpool, who drew 1-1 at Brighton on Saturday.
“It went as I sort of expected. I thought we’d have a lot of possession. We created enough to win the game,” Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said.
“The clean sheet against a side set up to counter-attack, that was excellent. We didn’t give Kane or Son a sniff.”
Timo Werner thought he had put Chelsea ahead early in the first half with a superb finish, only for an offside flag to thwart the Germany striker.
Chelsea’s Mason Mount forced a good save from Hugo Lloris in the second half, while substitute Olivier Giroud should have done better than shoot straight at the Tottenham keeper in stoppage time. United fight back
The drab clash in west London was a stark contrast to nited’s dramatic fightback from two goals down at St Mary’s.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were facing a dismal defeat after first-half goals from
an Bednarek and ames Ward-Prowse put Southampton in control.
But ruguay striker Cavani sparked nited’s escape act after coming on at the interval.
Cavani set up Bruno Fernandes to reduce the deficit and the former Paris SaintGermain star grabbed the equaliser from his teammate’s deflected shot.
The 33-year-old netted again in the final moments as his third goal since signing as a free agent in October extended nited’s winning to four games in all competitions.
“Great impact of course. He is a number nine who wants to be in between the posts, he is always on the move. I’m very pleased with him,” Solskjaer said.
“On the training pitch, in the dressing room and during meal times, how meticulous he is. He knows what he wants to eat, how much he wants to recover everything ”
Results: Chelsea 0 Tottenham 0; Southampton 2 (Bednarek 23, Ward-Prowse 33) Manchester United 3 (Fernandes 59, Cavani 74, 90+2).