Chelsea closes in on league crown
Source: Agencies |
May 3, 2010, Monday
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CHELSEA moved to within one win of the English Premier League title when, set on its way by an awful Steven Gerrard blunder, it beat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield to move four points clear of Manchester United.
The Londoners could win their first title since 2006 later in the day if United loses at Sunderland while even a draw at the Stadium of Light would effectively hand it to Chelsea as its superior 10-goal difference would mean the Blues could afford to lose their final game at home to Wigan Athletic.
Chelsea has 83 points to the 79 of United, which completes its fixture at home to Stoke City.
Liverpool, whose slim hopes of a top-four finish have now disappeared, was the better side for the opening half-hour until Didier Drogba seized on a terrible Gerrard backpass to put the visitors ahead after 33 minutes.
Frank Lampard weighed in with his 21st league goal of the season nine minutes into the second half to secure Chelsea's first league win at Anfield since 2005 and leave it firmly on course for the League and Cup Double.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti, set to reap silverware in his first season in charge at Chelsea, said he was delighted his side had maintained its focus. "It was a very important step, we played very well and deserved to win," the Italian said.
"We are very happy but we have to stay focussed. We always said this league would be decided on the last day and I think it will be so."
Despite the loss, Liverpool fans will take comfort from the fact that it could prevent United from surpassing their joint-record of 18 titles.
It has been a miserable season for last-season's runner-up, which is seventh - a Europa League spot - going into Sunday's finale against relegated Hull.
Liverpool's home form in its last 10 matches belies its league position, with Rafa Benitez's side winning nine times and drawing once. A strong finish to the season was needed to make the club more attractive to investors with co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr trying to find a buyer.
On Saturday, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City set up a Champions League showdown on Wednesday when they both won to knock Aston Villa out of the race.
Spurs beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at White Hart Lane while City came from behind at home to beat Villa 3-1. Spurs now have 67 points with two games to play, with City, which hosts Tottenham on Wednesday, fifth on 66, also with two games remaining.
Villa, with one game left, is on 64 and cannot now finish fourth. Arsenal is on 72 points and looks certain to finish third. It visits Blackburn Rovers today.
In Saturday's other games bottom club Portsmouth beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1, Birmingham City beat relegated Burnley 2-1 while Stoke against Everton was goalless.
Tom Huddlestone fired Tottenham's winner, while City got goals from Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Craig Bellamy to beat Villa at Eastlands, after John Carew had given the visitors an early lead.
Huddlestone's 38th-minute goal at White Hart Lane was a quality strike from 22 meters. Spurs dominated and should have won by a bigger margin as they chase their highest place since finishing third in 1990.
"We had good opportunities in the second half to get a second goal but we didn't manage to take one," said Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp. "But it's 1-0, three points, that's the most important thing. (Bolton) were always in it and we were missing chances."
The Londoners could win their first title since 2006 later in the day if United loses at Sunderland while even a draw at the Stadium of Light would effectively hand it to Chelsea as its superior 10-goal difference would mean the Blues could afford to lose their final game at home to Wigan Athletic.
Chelsea has 83 points to the 79 of United, which completes its fixture at home to Stoke City.
Liverpool, whose slim hopes of a top-four finish have now disappeared, was the better side for the opening half-hour until Didier Drogba seized on a terrible Gerrard backpass to put the visitors ahead after 33 minutes.
Frank Lampard weighed in with his 21st league goal of the season nine minutes into the second half to secure Chelsea's first league win at Anfield since 2005 and leave it firmly on course for the League and Cup Double.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti, set to reap silverware in his first season in charge at Chelsea, said he was delighted his side had maintained its focus. "It was a very important step, we played very well and deserved to win," the Italian said.
"We are very happy but we have to stay focussed. We always said this league would be decided on the last day and I think it will be so."
Despite the loss, Liverpool fans will take comfort from the fact that it could prevent United from surpassing their joint-record of 18 titles.
It has been a miserable season for last-season's runner-up, which is seventh - a Europa League spot - going into Sunday's finale against relegated Hull.
Liverpool's home form in its last 10 matches belies its league position, with Rafa Benitez's side winning nine times and drawing once. A strong finish to the season was needed to make the club more attractive to investors with co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr trying to find a buyer.
On Saturday, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City set up a Champions League showdown on Wednesday when they both won to knock Aston Villa out of the race.
Spurs beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at White Hart Lane while City came from behind at home to beat Villa 3-1. Spurs now have 67 points with two games to play, with City, which hosts Tottenham on Wednesday, fifth on 66, also with two games remaining.
Villa, with one game left, is on 64 and cannot now finish fourth. Arsenal is on 72 points and looks certain to finish third. It visits Blackburn Rovers today.
In Saturday's other games bottom club Portsmouth beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1, Birmingham City beat relegated Burnley 2-1 while Stoke against Everton was goalless.
Tom Huddlestone fired Tottenham's winner, while City got goals from Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Craig Bellamy to beat Villa at Eastlands, after John Carew had given the visitors an early lead.
Huddlestone's 38th-minute goal at White Hart Lane was a quality strike from 22 meters. Spurs dominated and should have won by a bigger margin as they chase their highest place since finishing third in 1990.
"We had good opportunities in the second half to get a second goal but we didn't manage to take one," said Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp. "But it's 1-0, three points, that's the most important thing. (Bolton) were always in it and we were missing chances."
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