City’s ‘title to lose’ as Chelsea, Reds run out of steam
LONDON: Even after a weekend in which Manchester City produced the worst performance of the Premier League’s top four, the champions streaked further clear towards a fourth title in five years.
City manager Pep Guardiola admitted his side were second best despite coming from behind to beat 10-man Arsenal 2-1 with a 93rd minute winner that secured an 11th consecutive league win.
As Guardiola’s men have hit their stride, Chelsea and Liverpool have run out of steam to turn a tight three-horse race, into a procession.
Struck down by coronavirus outbreaks and injuries, the two challengers for City’s crown threw themselves into a titanic battle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but a 2-2 draw did little for either side’s hopes of reeling in the leaders.
City’s advantage now stands at 10 points from Chelsea, with Liverpool a further point back with a game in hand.
“It’s a big gap, so they have the title maybe to lose at the moment,” said Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, one of those forced into a swift return to action after testing positive for Covid-19.
“We just have to get results, play good football and win games. It sounds pretty easy but it’s tough.”
Rather than cutting the gap, there is a likelihood it could grow in the coming weeks as Chelsea and Liverpool tackle their own issues.
Both are involved in two-legged League Cup semi-finals over the next two midweeks despite calls from managers for the ties to be switched to oneoff games.
Despite Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, goalkeeper Alisson, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip all missing the match having tested positive for Covid19, the Reds looked set to close the gap on City to nine points after racing into a 2-0 lead.
Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in command inside 26 minutes with Chelsea, who left Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku out of their matchday squad following an interview in which he was critical of manager Thomas Tuchel’s tactics, all at sea.
However, a stunning strike from Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic’s powerful finish brought Chelsea level before half-time, with both sides then having chances to win a pulsating clash.
Even if Tuchel and Klopp’s men recovered their early season form, City’s relentless consistency shows no signs of offering a ray of hope.
They have averaged a total of 95 points in each of Guardiola’s three titlewinning seasons in England and are on course to hit that mark again.
“We showed our champion mentality, we never give up,” said midfielder Rodri after his late strike at the Emirates kept City’s winning run going.
Meanwhile Everton crashed to a 3-2 home defeat against Brighton as pressure mounted on manager Rafael Benitez, Leeds boosted their survival bid with a 3-1 win against fellow strugglers Burnley at Elland Road and Brentford came from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1.