Chelsea reclaim top spot as City drop points
Chelsea took sole possession of first place in the Premier League table after they beat Newcastle United 2-0 on Saturday and Manchester City drew 1-1 at Everton.
Chelsea began the day dead-level with City, but with the defending champions dropping points for only the second time in 10 matches, Jose Mourinho’s side moved two points clear.
Newcastle had beaten Chelsea 2-1 in the reverse fixture and despite still being without a manager following Alan Pardew’s departure, they threatened to pull off a repeat in the first half at Stamford Bridge.
Petr Cech was deputising in goal for Chelsea due to a finger injury to Thibaut Courtois and he had to save from Remy Cabella and Yoan Gouffran, while Moussa Sissoko slammed a shot against the post.
Chelsea lost Cesar Azpilicueta to an apparent groin injury in the 37th minute, but they went ahead four minutes later when Oscar tapped in Branislav Ivanovic’s cross after Willian took a quick corner.
CLEVER BACK-HEEL
Mourinho’s side improved after the break and added a delightfully constructed second goal just before the hour, with Diego Costa gathering a clever back-heel from Oscar and drilling in his 15th goal of the campaign.
At Goodison Park, Everton enjoyed the best of the first half against City, with Seamus Coleman hitting the bar.
City went ahead in the 74th minute when Fernandinho helped a shot from David Silva over the line with his head, but Steven Naismith equalised four minutes later, glancing home a cross from Leighton Baines.
Serbian winger Lazar Markovic scored his first league goal as improving Liverpool closed to within four points of the top four by winning 1-0 at Sunderland, who had Liam Bridcutt sent off for two bookable offences.
Markovic poked the ball between the legs of Sunderland goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon in the ninth minute at a gusty Stadium of Light as Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to five league games.
EPL Results:
Sunderland 0 Liverpool 1
Burnley 2 QPR 1
Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0
Everton 1 Man City 1
Leicester 1 Aston Villa 0
Swansea 1 West Ham 1
West Brom 1 Hull 0
Crystal Palace v Tottenham (8:30pm)