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Webster
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Apr 25 2017, 10:49 PM
Post #481
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note: cross-posted over at Conversations
NBC Sports: Chelsea Send Message To League With 4-2 Win Over Southampton

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Gary Cahill‘s first-half stoppage time marker was a momentum shifter as Chelsea topped Southampton to increase its Premier League table lead with a 4-2 win on Tuesday.
Diego Costa scored twice and Eden Hazard also scored for the Blues, and Cesc Fabregas moved into second place on the Premier League’s all-time assists list with a helper on Costa’s first goal. Former Chelsea men Oriol Romeu and Ryan Bertrand scored for Saints, as Southampton remains ninth with 40 points.
There were early lively moments for both sides, as Saints’ Manolo Gabbiadini attempted to back up Antonio Conte‘s pre-match praise as one of the best left foots in the world.
Chelsea found the opener through Hazard, as Costa held possession into the right of the box before cutting back to find Belgian. Fraser Forster couldn’t get low quick enough to stop Hazard’s low shot, and it was 1-0.
Romeu, clearly buoyed by JPW’s feature piece earlier this week, bagged an equalized off a corner kick. Gabbiadini sidled up to the ball at the back post, and pushed it off Thibaut Courtois into the path of the former Chelsea man.
Sofiane Boufal was also dangerous for Saints, and won a free for James Ward-Prowse that amounted to a corner kick from the edge of the 16. Courtois flew forward to put the ball free.
N'Golo Kante had his turn to start a threat, and Forster’s block of his cross only queued up a pair of opportunities between Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic.
Cahill made it 2-1 in stoppage time, darting in front of Costa’s scissor kick attempt to nod Marcos Alonso‘s headed pass into the goal.
Chelsea added to its lead in the first 10 minutes of the second half, with Saints allowing Cesc Fabregas a bit too much room inside the box. The Spaniard chipped a pass to countryman Costa to make it a two-goal lead.
Forster made a good save on a tricky Costa attempt in the 71st minute.
Corner kicks were not easily defended by Chelsea, and Steven Davis came close to pulling a goal back in the 79th minute. A moment later, Forster came out to stop Kante with a wild arm save after Hazard led a lightning counterattack off the ensuing corner.
Bertrand headed a goal home in stoppage time when he got in front of Cahill, but the damage was done.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Apr 26 2017, 11:38 PM
Post #482
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Three matches today in a mid-week look around the grounds......
(WE) Despite not looking as though they could scare the league leaders, Tottenham Hotspur ground out a 1-0 victory at Selhurst Park to tighten the gap to league-leaders Chelsea back down to 4 points (WE) To borrow the words of Vince McMahon...."Arsenal didn't beat Leicester City 1-0, Leicester City beat Leicester City...." and (WE) The return fixture of the Tees-Wear Derby saw Middlesbrough finally show signs of life as they beat an all-but-relegated Sunderland 2-0 at the Riverside
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Apr 28 2017, 01:58 AM
Post #483
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NBC Sports: Man City 0, Man United 0 - Mourinho's Plan Tiresome, But Effective In Draw
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Thursday’s Manchester derby, which was supposed to provide a bit of clarity in the battle between Manchester City and Manchester United as the two sides vie for a place in the Premier League’s top-four, saw one side set out to play soccer and score, while the other executed another of Jose Mourinho’s disciplined defensive performances.
The affair ended a 0-0 draw at Man City’s Etihad Stadium.
The game’s first chance came and went after 10 uneventful minutes. Kevin De Bruyne whipped in a ball of his typically high standard and found Sergio Aguero at the back post. The Argentine, who entered Thursday’s showdown in irresistible form (a goal scored in six straight games – all competitions; 12 goals in his last 12 games), hit the outside of the post from three yards out, and Red Devils the world over exhaled.
Aguero would be active and heavily involved throughout, piling up a season-high number of shots against United only five minutes into the second half.
It was De Bruyne who sent City fans into premature raptures not long before the hour mark, as the Belgian unleashed a powerful, dipping strike from 25 yards out that bulged the side and back netting from the outside. David De Gea likely had his near post covered should the strike have been on target, but the chance was a sign of things to come.
Wave after wave of City counter-attacks followed, and City would ultimately out-shoot United, who it should be noted were without an injured Paul Pogba, by a final tally of 19-3 (6-1 on target).
The evening’s most notable event occurred in the 84th minute. Marouane Fellaini had been booked about 30 seconds earlier, and the Belgian committed a nothing foul on Aguero as he raced through midfield. Aguero took exception to Fellaini’s challenge and voiced his displeasure as he got to his feet. Fellaini responded with a headbutt five yards in front of referee Martin Atkinson, who was looking directly at the confrontation.
City finally put the ball past De Gea in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, but Gabriel Jesus, who returned to action after missing nearly three months with a broken foot, was correctly flagged as offside.
With the draw, United remain a point back of City in their bid to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Perhaps more importantly, though, 1) their unbeaten run in PL play is now 23 games; 2) they have moved to within two points of third-place Liverpool, and have a game in hand on the Reds. While Mourinho says publicly that wining the Europa League is United’s most likely path into next season’s CL, multiple avenues for qualification through the PL have presented themselves.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Apr 30 2017, 01:08 AM
Post #484
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5 matches Saturday as we saw the first team to be officially relegated from the Premiership......
(SA) ...and that team is Sunderland, as the Black Cats could not find another life, losing 1-0 to BOurnemouth (SA) Both Stoke City and West Ham played to a somewhat listless 0-0 draw out at the Britannia (SA) Hull City almost had a chance to put the stake into Sunderland themselves; instead, they inch closer to survival with a 0-0 draw vs. Southampton (SA) Finally! Burnley get their first away win of 2016-2017 with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and (SA) Leceister City picked up three points of their own with a 1-0 win over West Brom out at the Hawthorns
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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May 1 2017, 03:14 AM
Post #485
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4 matches across the grounds Sunday.....
(SU) In the 90th and final North London Derby at the current White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotpsur that there will not a 2017 St. Totterinhham's Day as they thrashed their neighbors Arsenal 2-0 (SU) Chelsea kept their 4-pt lead over Spurs with a 3-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park (SU) Exciting?....Middlesbrough? Normally those things don't go together but they did Sunday as Boro fought to a scrappy 2-2 draw against Manchester City and (SU) A stunning Swansea free kick and a controversial penalty resulted in...you guessed it: another draw for Man United, this time 1-1 with Swansea City
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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May 2 2017, 04:28 AM
Post #486
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BBC Sport: Sublime Can Strike Gives Liverpool 1-0 Win over Watford

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Emre Can scored one of the goals of the season as Liverpool beat a poor Watford to capitalise on favourable results in the race for the Champions League.
The Reds midfielder met Lucas Leiva's delivery with a wonderful bicycle kick which flew into the top corner.
Watford rarely threatened, but almost snatched a point when Sebastian Prodl smashed against the bar in injury time.
Liverpool moved four points clear of Manchester United in fifth, while Watford remain 13th.
Jurgen Klopp's side know they will secure a top-four Premier League finish - and a return to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons - by winning their final three games.
The Merseyside club will host Southampton and relegation-threatened Middlesbrough at Anfield, either side of a trip to West Ham. -Read more: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39689205
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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May 3 2017, 02:17 AM
Post #487
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BBC Sport: Man United Striker Will Play Again After "Successful" Surgery

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Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he feels "fixed and stronger" following a successful knee operation in the United States. Ibrahimovic, 35, suffered cruciate knee-ligament damage in a Europa League win over Anderlecht on 20 April.
The former Sweden forward thanked fans for their support after the surgery. His agent Mino Raiola said United's top scorer would make a "full recovery", adding that the injury was not career-threatening.
Ibrahimovic, who scored 28 goals this season, will now begin rehabilitation in Pittsburgh.
He joined the Premier League side on a one-year deal from French champions Paris St-Germain last summer, but has yet to agree a contract extension at Old Trafford.
Manchester United also posted on social media that Ibrahimovic had undergone successful knee surgery.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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May 6 2017, 02:26 AM
Post #488
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Sky Sports: Lanzini Shatters Spurs Title Hopes

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West Ham left Tottenham's Premier League title hopes in tatters as Manuel Lanzini's second-half goal secured a 1-0 victory at the London Stadium on Friday Night Football.
Lanzini's fired home from close range with 25 minutes remaining following some pinball in the Spurs area as they failed to clear Aaron Cresswell's cross. The result means Chelsea can win the Premier League by winning their next two games, at home to Middlesbrough on Monday Night Football and at West Brom next Friday, before Spurs next play at home to Manchester United on Nissan Super Sunday.
West Ham had goalkeeper Adrian to thank for keeping Spurs at bay throughout the game, producing superb saves from Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son in both halves, as the hosts held on for a vital win over their London rivals. West Ham now have 42 points, and are mathematically safe from relegation.
After a gritty opening 20 minutes, the first big chance fell to Spurs and Kane, who was denied twice by Adrian. First, his 20-yard effort was fumbled by the Hammers stopper, before Dele Alli's rebound was blocked and Kane's second effort was superbly turned over the bar by Adrian's foot.
From the resulting corner, Adrian then tipped away Eric Dier's header with a smart save as Spurs came to life. But West Ham had chances of their own and went close when Lanzini was played through by Mark Noble, only for Hugo Lloris to rush out and just about get enough on the ball outside the box to avoid a foul and red card.
With Lloris grounded, Cheikhou Kouyate tried to lob the ball into the net, but could not hit the target from the edge of the box.
Christian Eriksen wasted a good chance on the hour mark, poking straight at Adrian after a fine Tottenham move involving Son and Kyle Walker, before Adrian tipped wide Son's effort from 20 yards towards the bottom corner. But it was the hosts who took the lead on 65 minutes through Lanzini, who lashed home low from five yards out after Sam Byram and Andre Ayew had kept the ball alive in the box from a Cresswell cross.
Tottenham threatened to fall apart after falling behind, as Toby Alderweireld's mistake in defence allowed Jonathan Calleri a clear sight at goal, but his effort was saved brilliantly by Lloris.
Eriksen shot just wide from range late on, before Ashley Fletcher missed a late one-on-one on the counter attack, but it ended 1-0 to West Ham, a Premier League-high seventh win by that scoreline this season.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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May 7 2017, 02:48 AM
Post #489
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note: cross-posted over at Conversations
Six matches across the grounds as the season continues hurtling towards its' conclusion.....
(SA) A 5-goal thumping of Crystal Palace moves Manchester City - for now at least - into 3rd on the table (SA) Both Bournemouth & Stoke City played to a 2-2 draw out at the Vitality as both sides assured themselves of safety for next year (SA) Meanwhile, over at Turf Moor, Burney and West Brom also played to a 2-2 draw (SA) Despirte being relegated, Sunderland shocked Hull City with a 2-0 away win out at the KCom.... (SA) ...which allowed Swansea City, with a 1-0 win over Everton in the day's late match, to jump out of the drop zone with 2 games left in the season and (SA) Leicester City thrashed Watford 3-0 out at the King Power
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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May 8 2017, 04:03 AM
Post #490
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The Guardian: Klopp Bemoans State Of Pitch As Southampton Draws 0-0 To Liverpool
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Jürgen Klopp blamed a dry pitch for Liverpool’s laboured performance against Southampton while James Milner insisted their latest blank against Claude Puel’s team was his responsibility.
Milner had a second-half penalty saved by the England international Fraser Forster as Liverpool failed to score against Southampton for the fourth time this season. Klopp’s side have taken only two points from their last three games at Anfield, in contrast to three consecutive wins on the road, with their recent home form stalling the pursuit of Champions League qualification.
The Liverpool manager denied his team have a psychological issue on home soil but claimed their problems against Southampton stemmed from the state of the Anfield pitch, its dry condition undermining their passing game.
Klopp, who claimed the wind was a factor in Liverpool’s EFL Cup defeat by Southampton in January, said: “It is not what I want. To be successful you have to have a fortress at home. That is very important. We had that here for a long period. Now we have had a few results which are not that good.
“I know nobody wants to hear it but I am brave enough to say it. The pitch was really dry today. We gave it all the water we had but after 15 minutes it was really dry again with the wind. It was difficult. You could see it … a lot passes you thought ‘why are they playing this?’ But it was difficult. In a possession game you need to have the best circumstances, if possible, in a home game especially, but today we couldn’t have this. That is nobody’s fault; it is only a description.
“It is not nice to drop points at home but now we play away and then we have another home game. We really still enjoy playing at home. It is only a mental issue if you think it is one. We don’t see this. The boys like it here, they like playing in front of their crowd. That is all. Today the atmosphere was really good. People were really in the game. Everybody tried everything and it didn’t work out finally.” -Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/may/07/jurgen-klopp-bemoans-dry-anfield-pitch
The Guardian: Arsenal's Danny Welbeck Rises High To Finish Off United 2-0 At The Emirates
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For Granit Xhaka the pain was excruciating. It came after a bang to a nerve in the back of his lower leg at Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, only 20 minutes in, and the Arsenal midfielder feared he would have to come off. He gritted his teeth and battled on but when he eventually succumbed in the 65th minute his team were 2-0 down and heading for a morale-shattering defeat.
What a difference a week makes. Xhaka felt the same injury here and he was removed from the fray in the 76th minute. This time Arsenal were 2-0 up and coasting towards victory in a game they had to win.
Xhaka departed to a rousing ovation. He had made the difference, turning the afternoon in his team’s favour with a deflected pot-shot, and no one could say the break was not overdue for Xhaka, who has endured a difficult first season in England after his big-money move from Borussia Mönchengladbach, or his club.
There had been little on when the Swiss picked up possession early in the second half, 25 yards out and with this contest rather meandering. And so he shot. The Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera turned his back, the ball hit him there and it looped up. In what felt like slow-motion, it began its descent and David de Gea watched as it plopped under his crossbar.
Arsenal were up and running, their early nerves a distant memory, and when the former United striker Danny Welbeck rose to head home Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain’s cross, after Anthony Martial had been robbed by Rob Holding, the die was cast. United had offered little in an attacking sense and, when they were asked to respond, it was no surprise they could not.
At the 16th time of asking Arsène Wenger could celebrate victory in a competitive match against a José Mourinho team. Arsenal will need a favour from elsewhere if they are to finish a difficult season in a Champions League position but at least they are still fighting.
As for United, this was the limpest of defeats and Mourinho’s post-match press conference, when he wrote off his team’s top-four chances and had a pop at Wenger for pressuring the fourth official, was much more entertaining than what his players served up on the pitch. -Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/may/07/arsenal-manchester-united-premier-league-match-report
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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May 8 2017, 08:54 PM
Post #491
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BREAKING........
 ...Middlesbrough have been relegated from the Premier League after one season back; they are the fourth team to go down four times from the Premier League (joining Crystal Palace, Norwich and Sunderland)....
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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May 8 2017, 08:55 PM
Post #492
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(BBC Sport) Chelsea 3-0 Middlesbrough --The Middlesbrough players go over and give a big hand to their travelling fans who have endured a lot tonight.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte goes over and does the same, and shakes the hands of the Boro players, before going for selfies with the little Blues supporters waiting patiently in the stands.
The man is all class, in my humble opinion.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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May 8 2017, 11:25 PM
Post #493
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NBC Sports: Chelsea One Win Away From 6th Premier League Title

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The Blues are one win away from Premier League glory after a brilliant display at home on Monday, while their opponent will spend next season in England’s second-tier.
Chelsea handled Middlesbrough, 3-0, at Stamford Bridge after a trio of goalscorers helped pace Antonio Conte‘s side to a comfortable victory, the team’s 27th of the 2016/17 campaign.
Meanwhile, the Boro will be playing Championship soccer in the fall after failing to pick up at least a point in Monday’s match. Steve Agnew‘s side sit on 28 points with two matches remaining and join Sunderland as two of the PL’s already-relegated sides.
Nemanja Matic put the game to bed in the 65th minute when the holding midfielder chested down a flick-cross from Cesc Fabregas inside the penalty area and proceeded to finish the chance.
Marcos Alonso scored 11 minutes from halftime after stretching near the Boro end line and blasting a near-post shot into the back of the net.
The Chelsea midfield tortured the Boro backline all day with their switching of field, and Cesc Fabregas linked up with his fellow Spaniard for the game’s first goal.
Diego Costa scored his 20th goal of the season in the 23rd minute after the striker controlled Fabregas’ through ball over the top of the Boro defense and finished between the legs of U.s. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Brad Guzan. According to Opta Sports, Costa joins Didier Drogba and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as the third Blues player to score 20-plus goals in multiple seasons for the club.
Chelsea continued its dominating performance after the halftime whistle, with Pedro coming close to making it 3-0 just seconds into the second stanza after clipping his shot off the crossbar.
The Blues nearly enjoyed a dream start when Alonso blasted a volley from a Fabregas cross, but Guzan made a tremendous save and pushed the ball onto the crossbar.
With three matches remaining, Chelsea now hold a seven-point lead over second-place Tottenham at the summit of England’s top flight. A victory on Friday against West Brom would clinch the PL title for the Blues.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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May 11 2017, 12:31 AM
Post #494
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NBC Sports: Sanchez & Giroud Keep Arsenal's Top-4 Hopes Alive
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It wasn’t always the prettiest performance from the Gunners, but Arsene Wenger‘s side still has hopes of finishing top four thanks to Alexis Sanchez’s second-half winner.
Arsenal secured a narrow 2-0 victory over Southampton on Wednesday afternoon at St. Mary’s behind the Chilean’s 20th Premier League goal of the 2016/17 season, while Olivier Giroud added a late second for the visitors.
With three matches remaining, Arsenal now sit three points out of fourth place in the PL — currently held by Manchester City — and leapfrog Manchester United to move into fifth.
The Chilean was architect again on the second goal after picking out a great curled cross to the far post to find Aaron Ramsey, who headed the ball back across the face of goal to Giroud.
Sanchez put Arsenal ahead on the hour mark when the South American put on a tremendous dribbling display inside the Saints box and beat goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Despite long spells of possession from the Gunners during the first half, it was the hosts with the first real chance of the match in the 29th minute when Manolo Gabbiadini nearly broke past Petr Cech.
The Italian had another phenomenal opportunity to break the deadlock two minutes later but Cech made himself big once more and stopped the close-range attempt to preserve the 0-0 scoreline.
Arsenal struggled to find opportunities during the first stanza, and to make matters worse, Arsene Wenger was forced to make a change before halftime after Alex Oxlade Chamberlain picked up a knock.
The midfielder was replaced in the 36th minute by Hector Bellerin.
Wednesday’s match also marked the first time all season where Southampton has gone five matches without a victory in PL play.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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May 11 2017, 12:22 PM
Post #495
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 (BBC Sport) Benitez has £100m to spend --Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez can expect up to £100m to spend on new players following "positive" discussions with owner Mike Ashley.
Benitez guided the Magpies back to the Premier League at the first attempt. However, he was seeking assurances that he would be able to strengthen his squad again after the club's promotion.
In a club statement, Ashley said Benitez and managing director Lee Charnley can have "every last penny the club generates" to build for next term. -Read more: https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/club-confirms-positive-discussions -Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39878063
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