Kathmandu, Dec 23: As the premier league approaches its annual Boxing Day clashes, this weekend’s action drew to a unexpected close on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho was up surged by his apprentice, Frank Lampard, in a convincing 2-0 win away from home in what proved to be a comfortable victory for the blues. Brazillian, Willian was the chief architect as he curled in a beautiful finish from a quickly taken corner with his right foot, before coolly converting from the penalty spot to further cement Chelsea’s strong grip on the coveted 4th spot in the league. Asian star, Hyeung Min Song was later sent off via VAR for ‘conduct leading to a red card’, sealing the fate of the Lily Whites in front of their own supporters.
Earlier in the day bottom placed Watford shocked Manchester United to claim their 2nd win of the campaign and move within 6 points off safety. A nightmarish David de Gea howler had given the Hornets the lead, scored by their impressive striker, Ismaïla Sarr. It didn’t get better for United as a clumsy Aaron Wan Bissaka challenge, resulted in giving the chance to Watford captain, Troy Deeney to secure the points from the spot, which he duly dispatched to give the hornets a deserving 2-0 victory to try and get their sluggish campaign a much needed kick-start.
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The win lifts some pressure off of Hornet’s manager Nigel Prearson who can now look at building on this victory and getting his team up the table and into safety.
On Saturday, in the late kick-off, Manchester City managed to cut the gap to Leicester with a come from behind 3-1 win against the foxes, to just 1 point, and try and put some pressure on run away leaders Liverpool. Even though inform striker Jamie Vardy gave Leicester the lead, it was always the champions who were the favorites and they answered their doubters in some style as they continue to try and challenge Liverpool for the crown at the end of the season.
In the day’s early game Everton and Arsenal provided a ‘damp squib’ of a game as they drew 0-0 in a less than inspiring game, watched on by the two new incoming managers for both teams from the stands. Performances of both teams would have left both managers’ asking for a lot more, as both failed to create any clear cut chances throughout the 90 minutes, which would have left both incoming managers less than impressed and with a lot of work on their hands.
In the other games on Saturday, Burnley managed to grind out a hard fought away win with a 0-1 victory against the Cherries from Bournemouth. Jay Rodriguez the hero for them with an 89th minute winner. In what might prove to be a relegation dogfight come the end of May, Southampton produced what could be their best display of the season, as they romped home to a convincing 1-3 victory at Villa Park, which sinked the sorry Villan’s deeper into trouble. At the Amex stadium in Brighton, Sheffield United continued its fine form away from home, as they inflicted a narrow 0-1 victory against Brighton and Hove Albion.
In the cold of the northeast, Newcastle United, inspired by Miguel Almiron, who notched his first premier league goal, beat Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace side 1-0 in what proved to be only the 2nd home victory on Saturday.
In the other remaining game- away games master’s, Wolverhampton Wanderer’s secured a tough but deserving 1-2 win against Norwich at Carrow Road, with Raul Jimenez netting the winner for Nuno’s Wolves’ in a come from behind win for the impressive away team, who continue their rich vein of form.
