Chelsea Cement Top Four Spot, Liverpool Drop Points
25 April, 2021
West Ham United 0-1 Chelsea
Timo Werner's first Premier League goal since February handed Chelsea a 1-0 make an impression on top-four hopefuls West Ham United.
The Blues made six changes from the medial side that drew with Brighton and Hove Albion, as shot-stopper Edouard Mendy, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, N'Golo Kante, Cesar Azpilicueta and Timo Werner were all recalled.
Werner had a chance to break the deadlock for Thomas Tuchel's charges on the half-hour mark after exchanging passes with Mason Mount to have a clear sight of goal but he fired his strike wide.
Werner finally gave the Blues the lead just before the break with a tap-in at the trunk post after a pleasant teasing cross by Chilwell.
Tuchel's men were on the front foot from the break and Werner must have doubled their lead 10 minutes from the break after shot-stopper Lukasz Fabianski spilled Mount's shot on his path but the German somehow guided his shot wide from close range.
The overall game was on the edge in the closing phase and Tuchel made his first change within the last quarter of an hour, seeking to kill off the game with the next goal as Hakim Ziyech came on Christian Pulisic.
West Ham's likelihood of getting back into the overall game diminished in the last nine minutes once they were reduced to ten men after Fabian Balbuena was dismissed for a studs up late challenge on Chilwell after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
The Blues had a couple more chances, but one goal was enough to complete the job as they stay in fourth place but three points above fifth-placed West Ham.
Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle United
Mohamed Salah set an impressive record but Liverpool's top four hopes took a large dent after dropping points against Newcastle United.
Liverpool hit the ground running following a first 3 minutes after Salah swirled around his marker at the back-post to volley home a flick on by Roberto Firmino.
With that goal Salah becomes the first Reds player to score 20 or more league goals in three straight season.
The Magpies should’ve brought matters back on level conditions through Sean Longstaff from a ball outrageous on 20 minutes but after running clear, didn't beat goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Back-to-back chances came the host’ way two minutes later from a looping strike within the area by Diogo Jota accompanied by a smart volley, but both went off target.
Salah could’ve entered halftime with a brace carrying out a one-on-one in the closing stages, but goalkeeper Martin Dubravka parried before Sadio Mane skewed a teasing cross wide.
Salah continued to search for a brace in the closing stages carrying out a move from a good angle, however the Egyptian went in to the side-netting before Mane forced a diving save off Dubravka.
Newcastle clawed level at the death when Callum Wilson ran onto a through ball to slot home, nonetheless it was disallowed for a handball in the build-up.
The away side launched another attempt and struck gold with the last kick of the overall game after a knockdown from Dwight Gayle found Joe Willock who saw his low shot deflect home and deny the Reds fourth spot.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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