Chelsea and Liverpool’s draw at Stamford Bridge may have been thrilling but it only serves to shorten City’s odds in the title race, writes Ryan Baldi…
“It was a far-from-convincing performance from the reigning champions, but these are often the kind of victories upon which title campaigns hinge. City can be backed at 1.121/8 on the Betfair Exchange in the Premier League Winner market.”
Chelsea and Liverpool engaged in a thrilling battle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon that, in the end, did little for either side’s Premier League title ambitions.
In one of the most thrilling halves of football of the 2021-22 season so far, Liverpool roared to a 2-0 lead.
Sadio Mane – who was fortunate to be on the pitch after an elbow-charge challenge on Christian Pulisic in the game’s opening seconds – profited from Trevoh Chalobah’s botched clearance to round keeper Edouard Mendy and slot home the opening goal.
Then Mohamed Salah – the outstanding PFA Player of the Year candidate, who can be backed to win the award at 1.68/13 on the Exchange – raced clear down the inside-right channel and lifted a delicate finish over the Blues’ keeper to make in 2-0 with just 26 minutes played.
But the home side soon fought back. In the 42nd minute, midfielder Mateo Kovacic arrowed a stunning 25-yard volley into the top corner. And in stoppage time at the end of the first period, Pulisic broke clear and lashed in an equaliser.
The second half brought no further goals, but it wasn’t without incident, with both sides exchanging chances to win the game.
In the end, though, the 2-2 draw will be regarded by both clubs as points dropped in the title race.
Liverpool, by virtue of having played one game fewer, now sit third, a point behind the Blues. The Reds are available to back at 1413/1 in the Betfair Exchange’s Premier League Winner market.
Chelsea, a distant second place, can be backed at 4443/1.
City limits
Elsewhere in the title race, league leaders Manchester City were pushed to their limit at the Emirates.
In the type of last-gasp drama for which their cross-city rivals United were renowned at their 1990s and 2000s peak, Pep Guardiola’s side required a 93rd-minute strike from Spanish midfielder Rodri to secure a 2-1 win over 10-man Arsenal.
The Gunners enjoyed the better of the early exchanges. Martin Odegaard was denied a first-half penalty after referee Stuart Attwell saw nothing wrong with goalkeeper Ederson’s sliding challenge and VAR upheld the on-pitch decision. And Bukayo Saka fired the home side into the lead with a tidy low finish on 31 minutes.
With almost an hour played, City were denied a penalty of their own when Granit Xhaka collided with Bernardo Silva. But this time VAR did intervene and Attwell reversed his initial call after viewing the pitch-side replay. Riyad Mahrez scored the spot kick to level the score.
Shortly after, Arsenal’s Brazilian centre-back Gabriel was dismissed for a second yellow card. City slowly turned up the pressure until Rodri late winner arrived with time almost up.
It was a far-from-convincing performance from the reigning champions, but these are often the kind of victories upon which title campaigns hinge. City, whose advantage at the top is up to 10 points after Sunday’s Stamford Bridge stalemate, can be backed at 1.111/9 on the Betfair Exchange in the Premier League Winner market.
Top-four tightening
Arsenal hold on to fourth place despite defeat to City, but their grip on the final Champions League-qualifying spot has loosened.
West HamDeclan Rice run set up Manuel Lanzini for a goal-of-the-month contender, as the Argentine playmaker tidily shifted the ball between his feet before lashing it into the net.
West Ham are fifth in the table, just a point behind Arsenal. David Moyes’ Hammers are available to back at 5.59/2 on the Exchange in the Top 4 finish market.
Like City, Tottenham required a late goal at Vicarage Road to overcome strugglers Watford on Saturday, with centre-back Davinson Sanchez heading home from a stoppage-time set piece.
The victory keeps Spurs undefeated in the Premier League under new manager Antonio Conte and gets them back to winning ways after a midweek draw with Southampton.
Tottenham sit sixth, just two points behind Arsenal in fourth. But, crucially, they have two games in hand over their north-London rivals. Spurs can be backed at 3.613/5 on the Exchange to finish inside the top four this term. The Gunners, meanwhile, are available at 3.45.
Rafa on thin ice
The pressure is building on Everton manager Rafa Benitez after yet another defeat, their ninth from 18 Premier League fixtures this term.
Brighton were the Merseysiders’ conquerors this time around, fending off a late rally from the home side to record a 3-2 victory at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Toffees, who began the season with ambitions of breaking into Europe, are 15th in the table and have won just once since September.
Benitez was always an uncomfortable fit at Everton due to his history on the other side of Stanley Park. He is now available to back at 2.01/1 on the Exchange in the Next Manager to Leave Position market.
Source: Betfair Premier League
