Toffees secure win but remain in a sticky spot
Everton kept alive their hopes of Premier League survival by shocking Chelsea 1-0 on Sunday (May 1), as Arsenal maintained their two-point lead over Tottenham in the bat
tle to qualify for next season’s
Champions League.
Everton’s huge win at a raucous Goodison Park means
Frank Lampard’s side are just two points from safety and have a game in hand to come over Leeds and Burnley, the two sides immediately above them in the table.
The only goal arrived just a minute into the second half when Richarlison pressured Cesar Azpilicueta into losing possession and the Brazilian forward finished coolly from Demarai Gray’s pass.
Former Chelsea boss Lam
pard, who took over from the unpopular Rafael Benitez at the end of January, has struggled to revive the fortunes of the Merseyside giants, who last played outside the top @thephuketnews flight in the 1953/54 season.
But he was delighted with the passion shown by his players and the supporters.
“The fans are in the middle
of this,” he told Sky Sports. “They know that and understand it. They got behind us, were nicely aggressive – this place has to be a hard place to come.”
Defeat leaves third-placed
Chelsea still with work to do to seal their place in the Champions League next season.
Arsenal were 2-1 winners at West Ham thanks to goals from both of their centre-backs Rob Holding and
Gabriel Magalhaes. The win moved them back above Spurs,
who earlier beat Leicester 3-1 thanks to a Harry Kane strike and a Son Heung-min double.
The battle for fourth could come down to a north London derby between Tottenham and
Arsenal on May 12.
But Mikel Arteta’s men will hope to extend their lead to five points this weekend when they host relegationthreatened Leeds, while Spurs face a daunting trip to titlechasing Liverpool.
At the top of the table, Manchester City maintain a one-point lead over Liverpool
with four games to go after they beat Leeds 4-0 last Saturday (Apr 30).
Goals from Rodri, Nathan Ake, Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho made sure Pep Guardiola’s team keep their destiny in their own hands.
“It’s not about the pressure
– it’s simple,” said Guardiola.
“We have to win all our games
to be champions. If we don’t, Liverpool will be champions.”
Liverpool had moved to the top of the table earlier in the day with a 1-0 win at Newcastle thanks to Naby Keita’s first-half goal.
Elsewhere, Norwich are heading back to the Championship after just one season in
the top flight after they were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa.
Burnley’s revival continued with a 2-1 win at Watford
meaning they have now taken
10 points from a possible 12 since sacking long-serving boss Sean Dyche two weeks ago.