[ad_1]
Chelsea moved as much as third within the Premier League desk after holding out to win a 3-2 thriller at Crystal Palace, whereas Leicester may solely handle a draw at 10-man Arsenal on Tuesday. Frank Lampard’s males edged nearer to sealing a spot in subsequent season’s Champions League as a seventh win in eight video games takes them one level forward of Leicester and opened up a five-point lead on fifth-placed Manchester United. The Blues have been lucky when opening the scoring at Selhurst Park as former Chelsea captain Gary Cahill fell to the bottom clutching his hamstring to permit Willian to tee up Olivier Giroud for his fourth aim in six video games.
Christian Pulisic’s kind because the Premier League’s restart has led to comparisons with Eden Hazard, the person he changed at Stamford Bridge, and the Belgian would have been happy with Chelsea’s second because the 21-year-old American skipped previous Joel Ward and hammered in off the within of the close to publish.
“Christian is hugely important,” added Lampard. “You look at the top attacking players in the world and they score goals and make assists regularly that win games and at the moment he is doing that, so I am delighted with him.”
As so usually this season, Lampard’s males didn’t capitalise on their dominance and have been immediately on the again foot when Wilfried Zaha thundered a shot excessive previous Kepa Arrizabalaga from lengthy vary for Palace’s first aim in 4 video games.
Chelsea appeared to have sealed the three factors once more when substitutes Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham mixed for the latter to revive a two-goal cushion 19 minutes from time.
Just over a minute later, although, Palace have been again within the recreation when a superb transfer culminated in Patrick van Aanholt squaring for Christian Benteke to faucet in simply his second aim of the season.
Questions stay over whether or not the Chelsea defence shall be sturdy sufficient to keep up a title problem subsequent season they usually have been left clinging on in stoppage time as Kepa turned Scott Dann’s header off the within of the publish and solely a last-ditch problem from Kurt Zouma denied Benteke a second.
Vardy matches Aubameyang
Leicester have now gained simply one in all their six video games because the restart to see their lead over the chasing pack for a spot within the high 4 whittled away, however have been grateful for a 1-1 draw on the Emirates after a gradual begin in opposition to in-form Arsenal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang swept house the opener for the Gunners as Kasper Schmeichel stored Leicester within the recreation with a surprising save to disclaim Alexandre Lacazette.
“In the first half we should have gone 3 or 4-0 up and kill the game against this type of opposition,” mentioned Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Lacazette additionally noticed a aim disallowed for offside after the break earlier than the sport turned when Eddie Nketiah was proven a straight crimson card after a VAR evaluation for a excessive problem on James Justin.
Leicester made the person benefit rely as Vardy pounced to fit house Demarai Gray’s cross and regain his two-goal benefit over Aubameyang within the race for the Golden Boot.
“I was really pleased with how we managed the game 11 v 10. We got a deserved goal and if we had made the final pass we could have gone on and won the game,” mentioned Leicester supervisor Brendan Rodgers.
Arsenal’s hopes of reaching the highest 4 now seem over as they continue to be 9 factors behind with simply 4 video games to go.
Welbeck makes Watford mark
At the opposite finish of the desk, Danny Welbeck’s first Premier League aim for Watford was as precious because it was spectacular because the Hornets beat Norwich 2-1 to maneuver 4 factors away from the relegation zone.
Defeat pushes Norwich ever nearer to the drop and the Canaries may very well be relegated on the weekend in the event that they fail to beat West Ham.
Promoted
Like a lot of his profession, Welbeck’s first season at Watford has been blighted by harm, however the former Manchester United and Arsenal ahead confirmed his class by adjusting his physique to hook house the winner after Craig Dawson cancelled out Emiliano Buendia’s early opener for Norwich.
“I am speechless after the goal,” mentioned Welbeck. “It means a lot to me and means a lot to the whole team. It is one that puts us on our way now. We will give it our all from now.”
Topics talked about on this article
[ad_2]
Source link