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The race for top four has tightened up even more and so has the relegation battle. With a five point gap between fourth and eighth and a four point gap between ninteenth and fifteenth, the eleven games left will be tense and full of drama with every team concerned knowing dropped points could send them spiralling down the table. Here’s the weekend’s results:
Chelsea vs Tottenham 2-1
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle 1-0
Burnley v Bournemouth 3-0
Sheffield United vs Brighton 1-1
Southampton vs Aston Villa 2-0
Leicester vs Manchester City 0-1
Wolves vs Norwich 3-0
Manchester United vs Watford 3-0
Arsenal vs Everton 3-2
Liverpool vs West Ham 3-2
Here are the ratings:
CHELSEA 8/10
Massive win for Chelsea after some poor performances of late. Giroud made a difference up front and a back five made the whole team more composed and solid. May be worth using this against the big teams until they can properly invest in the summer.
TOTTENHAM 4/10
They may have been without Son but they ought to have defended a lot better as the goals came from mismatches and Chelsea’s high press. Got a lucky goal back but ought to have gone down to 10 men with Lo Celso’s challenge as VAR admitted it was a mistake not to send him off.
CRYSTAL PALACE 8/10
Massive win but they are not out of the weeds yet. A good goal to win the game but the attackers have to play better for the rest of the season.
NEWCASTLE 4/10
Poor loss but should not be fazed by the loss. Dubravka played very well but the attackers barely had a sniff.
BURNLEY 9/10
Smashing win for Burnley who demolished Bournemouth even without Barnes and Wood. Big win and they will want to continue away to Newcastle.
BOURNEMOUTH 4/10
They may feel aggrieved of a goal but the rules are the rules and it was handball. They were battered in the second half and they were sunk. The fixtures don’t get easier for the Cherries as they are at home to Chelsea before making the trip to Anfield the week after. They could very well get relegated if they do not sort themselves out.
SHEFFIELD UNITED 7/10
An ok performance given their current form and people forget that they were candidates for relegation at the beginning of the season. Away to Villa next and will know Villa will attack and go for the win as they are in a desperate situation and could play into Sheffield United’s hands.
BRIGHTON 6.5/10
Decent draw for Brighton and Maupay has ended his drought. A true six pointer against Crystal Palace as a win could distance themselves from relegation.
SOUTHAMPTON 8/10
Big win for Southampton as they held onto their lead well. Challenges ahead away to West Ham and hosting Newcastle and two wins will surely see them safe after a rocky start to the season.
ASTON VILLA 4/10
They need wins fast and just not getting their results. While they are out of the relegation zone, they have some difficult matches ahead and so will have to take every game as they come and try and get as many points as possible.
LEICESTER CITY 5/10
Unlucky as Vardy hit the post with a great effort and could have easily been awarded a penalty. Will want revenge against Aston Villa who knocked them out of the Carabao Cup Semi-Final and bounce back to prevent the other top four contenders from gaining ground on the Foxes.
MANCHESTER CITY 7.5/10
They were poor and only one bit of quality separated the teams. They were awarded the penalty but should have had one against them too. They have Real Madrid next and will try and win the Champions League this year as they are likely to be out of the competition for the next two years and can win more silverware against Villa at the weekend.
WOLVES 9/10
Big win after big win and have scored seven goals in two games. They have the second leg and will rest players with a trip to North London coming up and will fancy their chances against a toothless Tottenham.
NORWICH 3/10
Poor again and they look done. While they are not mathematically relegated it is almost certain.
MANCHESTER UNITED 9/10
Big win as United have dropped points in these games, especially when they can make up ground from consequential games. They have to continue and have four big games in the next two weeks as they can progress to the next rounds of the Europa League and FA Cup as well as big games away to Everton and at home to Manchester City.
WATFORD 4/10
A bit unfortunate with the VAR decision but the rules are the rules and the goal was disallowed. They will struggle against Liverpool as well and so have to get maximum points from the other ten games left in the season.
ARSENAL 8/10
Good attacking play but the defending continues to be atrocious. Lucky to scrape past with some good saves from Leno. They have a few days off before facing Portsmouth in the FA Cup and West Ham at home after.
EVERTON 5/10
Unlucky but defensively poor as well. Sidibe was at fault at times and Coleman has been missed. Ancelotti is making this squad better but the defensive errors could cost them against a counter-attacking Manchester United at Goodison.
LIVERPOOL 7.5/10
Lucky. Very, very lucky. Fabianksi was at fault for the first two goals and Mane won the game with the brilliance of Alexander-Arnold teeing him up. They worked hard for the win but didn’t really deserve it.
WEST HAM 6/10
I feel sorry for David Moyes who got his team in front at Anfield from 1-0 down and then his most consistent player lets him down and it all goes to pieces. He should be proud of the performance and will try and cause some trouble with Southampton next weekend and the mistake-happy Arsenal side the weekend after.
