Matchweek 26 saw two 3 heavyweights miss out on the action as the EFL Cup final forced a change in fixtures with Manchester United and Southampton having a go for the first major trophy of the season.
Even though a couple of big teams were missing in action, the remaining teams ensured there was no shortage of thrills and spills in keeping with the design of this year’s Premier League. Let us take a look at 3 talking points from this weekend’s action.
CHELSEA TEAR AWAY FROM THE CHASING PACK
Manchester City’s and Arsenal’s absence was fully capitalised on by Chelsea as they overcame a defiant Swansea City and opened up an 11-point gap at the top of the table. Now, City will have a fair amount of pressure to deliver in their fixture in hand and need to win on the trot to have any chance of being relevant in the scheme of things. Meanwhile, the Blues, like many times lately, dug in and did not let a determined opposition manage to take the upper hand and eventually prevailed 3-1. Swansea, though, will not be disheartened and look on course to continue their revival as they couldn’t possibly expect to take any points from the Stamford Bridge.
THE OTHER SIDE OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Spurs now have the ignominy of being knocked out of Europe twice after they fell to an aggregate defeat at the hands of little-known Belgian side, Gent. They were pre-tournament favourites to progress in the Champions League and when they dropped to the Europa League, they were touted as one of the teams capable of making it to the finals.
But Pochettino would be scratching his head in trying to figure out the reason behind their drastically differing displays in Europe and England. Their 1-0 loss and a 2-2 draw in the Europa League were sandwiched either side of a 3-0 win over Fulham and a 4-0 win over Stoke City, with both having a Harry Kane hat-trick in common. The Argentine needs to sort out the continental mess which might well stop them from reaching the level of teams they aspire to match and eventually topple.
7 TEAMS IN RELEGATION BATTLE
With the final stretch of the season underway, it is perhaps not too surprising to see 7 teams who have a real chance of getting embroiled in a messy relegation battle. But what might be surprising is to see teams like Middlesbrough and Bournemouth amongst those teams. The likes of Leicester, Palace, Sunderland and Swansea have had a disappointing and somewhat shocking season till now. But Boro have given the impression they know what they are doing and Eddie Howe has come in for a lot of praise but the results show that perception will get a team only this far. The aforementioned clubs need to start churning out the results now.
