Manchester Metropolis’s grip on its Premier League title hasn’t been this robust all season.
A 1-0 win at Brentford on Wednesday, coupled with Chelsea conceding a stoppage-time aim to attract 1-1 towards Brighton, left the defending champions with an eight-point lead heading into the brand new yr.
It has been an virtually good 24 hours for Metropolis, which noticed Liverpool _ one other rival for the title _ surprisingly lose 1-0 at injury-hit Leicester on Tuesday. Chelsea has moved a degree forward of third-place Liverpool earlier than their assembly at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, when at the least one of many groups will drop factors.
Liverpool has a sport in hand, however will quickly lose star forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to the African Cup of Nations.
Metropolis wasn’t at its fluent greatest towards Brentford _ Pep Guardiola’s group got here into the match having scored 17 objectives in its final three matches _ however nonetheless did sufficient to earn a tenth straight win within the league.
“I’m not going to imagine you while you say it’s already achieved,” Guardiola stated. “There are 54 factors nonetheless to play for.”
But Metropolis is even successful when not taking part in its greatest.
Phil Foden grabbed the one aim within the sixteenth minute, diverting a cross from Kevin De Bruyne into the web from shut vary. Video evaluation confirmed Foden was simply onside when he utilized the end.
It was the right means for Foden to mark his return to the beginning lineup, alongside Jack Grealish, after each forwards had been dropped to the bench for Metropolis’s final two video games for disciplinary causes.
“Round Christmas it’s important to hold your foot on the gasoline and hold targeted,” Foden stated. “This group is doing that.”
Metropolis concluded a calendar yr when the group has set English top-flight data for essentially the most victories (36) and essentially the most away wins (19), whereas its tally of 113 objectives can be a Premier League document.
CHELSEA DENIED
It’s three attracts in 4 league matches for Chelsea, whose robust early-season type has disappeared.
Danny Welbeck earned Brighton a degree that was deserved on the idea of the guests’ second-half exhibiting when he headed in a cross from Marc Cucurella within the first minute of stoppage time
Romelu Lukaku scored for the second straight sport to place Chelsea in entrance within the twenty eighth minute.
Making issues worse for Chelsea supervisor Thomas Tuchel was the sight of proper wing again Reece James hobbling off halfway by means of the primary half with a hamstring harm. Chelsea additionally needed to substitute one other defender, Andreas Christensen, due to a again harm at halftime.
Tuchel seemed like he has given up on successful the title, given the variety of his gamers out by means of harm and sickness.
“How ought to we be in it?” he stated. “We’ve got seven COVID instances. We’ve got 5 or 6 gamers out for six or extra weeks. How ought to we compete in a title race?
“Everybody else who has a full squad, everyone in coaching has the total energy to return by means of this league. We might be silly to suppose we are able to do it out of COVID and accidents and simply play.”
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