Following a week of FA Cup action, the Premier League returned this weekend with a few big games in match week 21.
Chelsea continued their dominance and are clear favourites to win the title with 17 games still to play. Current champions Leicester City, were condemned to a resounding 3-0 defeat to the favourites to take their crown. Wing-back Marcos Alonso netted a surprise brace before Pedro sealed the three points with a neat header.
The Blues have Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool seven points behind in joint second. Spurs were able to catch up with the Reds over the weekend as they beat West Bromwich Albion 4-0 at White Hart Lane, a game that included a stunning Harry Kane hat-trick, while Liverpool were pegged back late on by Manchester United in a game that ended 1-1.
Arsenal leapfrogged Manchester City in the table, moving up to fourth, following their 4-0 win against struggling Swansea City. Two own goals from the Swans followed Olivier Giroud’s opener, before Alexis Sanchez’s fourth inflicted the big defeat on the Welsh side. Meanwhile, youngster Tom Davies starred as Everton overcame City by the same score line. The 18-year-old’s solo effort was the goal of the game and came after Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas had given the Toffees a two-goal lead. Premier League debutant Ademola Lookman, signed from Charlton Athletic last week, netted a fourth in added-time.
West Ham United earned their biggest win of the season with a 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace. Sofiane Feghouli opened the scoring with just twenty minutes remaining, before Andy Carroll’s spectacular bicycle kick doubled the score line. To add further punishment to Palace, Manuel Lanzini scored his fourth goal in as many games against the Eagles to secure the victory.
Sunderland also continue to struggle and find themselves in a relegation battle with Palace. Stoke City cruised to an early 3-0 lead at the Stadium of Light with Marko Arnautovic netting a double and Peter Crouch out-jumping Vito Mannone to head home, before Jermain Defoe added a consolation for the hosts late in the first half.
With Palace and Sunderland both losing, Hull City took the opportunity to move closer towards safety with a surprising 3-1 win against Bournemouth. Junior Stanislas scored a third minute penalty for the Cherries but Abel Hernandez turned the game around with a brace. Tyrone Mings, making his first top flight start for the South Coast side, put through his own net late on to give Marco Silva a maiden Premier League win.
Joey Barton marked his return to Burnley with a late winner against Southampton. The Clarets’ excellent home form continued when Barton came off the bench to net a deflected free-kick late on. Remarkably, Sean Dyche’s side are now tenth, exceeding pre-season expectations.
Finally, Watford drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough in a game that will be remembered more for the tributes to the late, legendary former manager Graham Taylor, who passed away last Thursday following a suspected heart attack. Taylor had two spells in the dugout at Vicarage Road, combined together to make a 15-year career with the Hornets. The Nottingham-born boss also managed England from 1990 to 1993. The game itself will certainly not be remembered as a classic, with neither sides creating many chances.
