Chelsea gave their top-four chances a massive boost with a big win against rivals Liverpool as Mason Mount’s first-half strike made it five straight losses for the Reds at Anfield.
Thomas Tuchel remains unbeaten since joining Chelsea and his side dominated the first half, scored on 24 minutes only for VAR to rule it out for Timo Werner being marginally offside.
However, Chelsea continued to control the game and got their breakthrough when Mount fired past Alisson to give the Blues a deserved lead.
After the break, Liverpool showed more urgency but they struggled to find their fluency in attack and failed to create many clear-cut chances as Chelsea held on for what could prove to be a crucial three points in the race for Champions League qualification.
The victory moves Chelsea up to fourth in the Premier League table ahead of another crucial game at home against Everton on Monday.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s difficult season continues as Jurgen Klopp’s side, who stay seventh – four points behind Chelsea – go into the record books for the wrong reason after a fifth straight home defeat.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MATCH
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- After going 68 games without a league defeat at Anfield, the second-longest such run in English top-flight history, Liverpool have lost each of their last five at Anfield – it is the first time they have ever lost five consecutive games at Anfield.
- Klopp’s side have become the first English top-flight reigning champions to lose five consecutive home league games.
- Chelsea have conceded only two goals in 10 games in all competitions under Thomas Tuchel, the same return as they had after 10 games under José Mourinho – both managers’ 10th game was a 1-0 win against Liverpool.
- Liverpool have earned just 10 points from 11 Premier League games in 2021 – only West Brom (nine), Newcastle (seven), and Southampton (four) have picked up fewer points since the turn of the year.
Fulham 0-1 Tottenham: Tosin Adarabioyo own goal made all the difference
An own goal from Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo saw Tottenham steal a narrow 1-0 win at Fulham, with the hosts once again frustrated in front of goal.
At the weekend against Crystal Palace, Fulham had a host of chances to put a couple past the Eagles but ended up with a barren draw due to lack of cutting edge upfront and was the case once again on Thursday against Spurs.
They were unable to keep a third successive home clean sheet when Adarabioyo, unfortunately, turned Dele Alli’s flick into his own net to ultimately hand Spurs their first league away win since January 17.
Fulham, however, dominated the second half and thought they had deservedly equalised when Josh Maja scored, but the ball had hit Mario Lemina on the arm just before and VAR ruled out the strike.
A victory would have taken the hosts, Fulham, out of the bottom three for the first time since Christmas but they remain in 18th.
Meanwhile, the win bolstered Tottenham’s chances of finishing in an European spot, and they have won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since November. They are four points from Everton in fifth and five off Chelsea, who went into fourth after their 1-0 win against Liverpool.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MATCH
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- This was only Tottenham’s fourth Premier League 1-0 win where the only goal was an own goal, but the second to come under Jose Mourinho (also vs Everton in July 2020).
- Tottenham have won each of their last six away Premier League games against Fulham, a run which began back in the 2010-11 season.
- Fulham have failed to score in eight home Premier League games this season – the joint-most of any side in 2020-21 (also West Brom).
- Tosin Adarabioyo was the first Fulham player to score a Premier League own goal since Denis Odoi v Burnley in January 2019. His was also the first own goal that Spurs have benefitted from in this season’s Premier League.
West Brom 0-1 Everton: Richarlison back to his best?
Everton’s been flirting with the top 4 all season long and they might end up securing an European spot for next season if this fine form continues after their win against West Brom moved them up to fifth in the Premier League.
Richarlison knicked the only goal of the game with a 65th-minute header that proved enough to secure a 1-0 win over West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Mbaye Diagne scored a dramatic late equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time but the finish was ruled out for offside.
The striker also had an early header brilliantly kept out by Everton’s top choice goallie Jordan Pickford before Dominic Calvert-Lewin went close a few moments later
But Everton took control in the second period and found the breakthrough when substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson’s cross was turned in by Richarlison for his fourth goal in as many games.
The visitors’ third straight league win moved them temporarily into the Champions League places but Chelsea’s 1-0 victory at Liverpool later on Thursday squeezed them out to fifth. West Brom remain in 19th place after 27 games, nine points adrift of safety.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MATCH
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- This was Everton’s fifth Premier League double against West Brom – against no side have they done so more in the competition’s history.
- Everton have won nine Premier League away games this season, their joint-most on the road in a single campaign in the competition (also 2008-09).
- Everton have scored more headed goals than any other Premier League side this season, with Richarlison’s winner their 11th such goal this term.
- No team has failed to score in more different home Premier League games this season than West Brom (8), with the Baggies also conceding a league-high 33 goals in home games this term.
Richarlison is on fire, glad to see Liverpool crumble.